Advanced Communication Capabilities

Within the FF H1 or PROFIBUS PA implementation of a field device or host, the UFC100-L1 fieldbus ASIC addresses the time-critical Physical layer and Data Link layer parts of these protocols. For performing fieldbus communication, it works with additional hardware and software, including an additional processor for executing the protocol stack as well as the Media Attachment Unit. The UFC100-L1 is based on a state-of-the-art hardware design using CMOS 3.3V technology, which provides advantages like improved jitter tolerance, very low power consumption, and a larger FIFO memory with fewer interrupts to the processor. The UFC100-L1 is fully pin-compatible with the Yamaha YTZ420 (“FIND1+”).

Committed to Long-term Availability and Strict Quality Standards

Softing is committed to ensure the long-term availability of the fieldbus ASIC. Thus, when the semiconductor manufacturer terminated the UFC100-L1 predecessor’s package assembly, a migration path to the current version has been provided. The UFC100-L1 is manufactured and marketed using a state-of-the-art quality management system complying with ISO 9001:2008, and is DNV certified, which assures strict product quality standards.

Enhanced Mode Providing Optimized Communication Features

The UFC100-L1 provides an Enhanced Mode feature, allowing the performance of additional communication functionality in the fieldbus controller. For instance, this mode reduces the CPU load related to the pure bus communication of the field device and thus leaving more CPU for the application software. Another benefit of the Enhanced Mode feature is an improved frame handling by the UFC100-L1,  which results in an increased utilization of the bus communication capacity by analyzing incoming messages and rejecting irrelevant ones already at the fieldbus ASIC level.