IP Core and Protocol Software have been designed to implement an EtherNet/IP communication based on a hardware supporting an Ethernet interface and an Altera FPGA. This solution provides uniform interfaces for supporting additional Industrial Ethernet protocols at a later stage.
The EtherNet/IP firmware comes ready to integrate and allows the flexible implementation of additional Industrial Ethernet functionality at any time. Besides EtherNet/IP, these include EtherCAT, Ethernet POWERLINK, PROFINET and Modbus TCP and are available as standard solutions for the Altera Cyclone FPGA families. Additional protocols can be added upon special request. The IP Cores provide two independent Ethernet interfaces to support different topologies according to the relevant Industrial Ethernet standard.
The use of an FPGA allows the flexible implementation of the device hardware. The firmware provided by Softing offers a uniform software interface for the above standard protocols. The Simple Device Application Interface (SDAI) is an efficient protocol abstraction layer that is designed to offer a single application interface for the standard solutions including EtherNet/IP helping to significantly speed up device integration and time-to-market, while simplifying support and maintenance. The SDAI is designed to support single and dual processor systems.
The Transparent IT Channel provides access to embedded IT applications through the same communication interface and operates simultaneously to the real-time communication. These applications, e.g. web server, email, or even custom services, can run either on the FPGA or on a separate processor.
Cycle Time | 4ms | ||
I/O Data | 505Bytes Output, 509Bytes Input | ||
Number of IO Connections | 10 (Default; Configurable Depending on Available Socket Resources) | ||
Number of Encapsulation Sessions | 10 (Default; Configurable Depending on Available Socket Resources) | ||
Number of Explicit Messaging Connections | 2 Explicit Messaging Connections per Encapsulation Session (20 Explicit Messaging Connections in Total, Configurable) | ||
Number of User-Specific Objects | Unlimited | ||
Maximum Number of Connections | 2 Explicit Messaging Connections x 10 Encapsulation Sessions + 10 I/O Connections (30 Connections) | ||
Predefined Standard Objects |
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Functional Scope |
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Application Programming Interface | Simple Device Application Interface | ||
Certificate | Plugfest 2013 |
ISL-YY-013310 | EtherNet/IP Field Device Protocol Stack, Single Use License for FPGA Family |
Ethernet/IP Adapter Stack |
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Documentation |
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Sample Program |
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SPL-CC-011001 | Pre-Certification Service for Ethernet/IP Adapter Field Device |
SIA-YY-012501 | Integration Workshop for Implementing Industrial Ethernet Devices Based on FPGA |
Simplifying EtherNet/IP Design for Devices Using Altera FPGA | ||
Softing Protocol IP is a combination of IP Cores and protocol software designed to offer all required communication capabilities for an EtherNet/IP Adapter implementation based on the Altera FPGA. It provides an identical Application Programming Interface (API) for integrating various Industrial Ethernet protocols into one hardware. |
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Easy and Inexpensive Development of EtherNet/IP Field DevicesSofting Protocol IP supports a combination of Softing‘s IP and software stack with Altera‘s FPGA, resulting in an easy and inexpensive way for field device manufacturers to develop an EtherNet/IP platform with no license negotiation, no up-front licensing costs, and no individual API programming when adding additional Industrial Ethernet protocols. The protocol IP and reference designs are hardware tested on the Altera Industrial Networking Kit (INK) featuring the Cyclone IV FPGA and further evaluation kits. Universal Firmware – Future Proof and Cost SavingThe Softing firmware comes ready to integrate and allows the flexible implementation of additional functionality at any time. The Industrial Ethernet protocols – EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, PROFINET RT and IRT, Ethernet POWERLINK and Modbus/TCP – are available as standard solutions for the Altera Cyclone families. Further protocols can be added upon special request. The IP Cores provide two independent Ethernet interfaces to support different topologies according to the relevant Industrial Ethernet standard. One API for Quick IntegrationThe use of an FPGA allows the flexible implementation of the device hardware. The firmware provided by Softing offers a uniform software interface for the various protocols. The Simple Device Application Interface (SDAI) is an efficient protocol abstraction layer that is designed to offer a single API for standard solutions helping to significantly speed up the device integration and time-to-market, while simplifying support and maintenance. The SDAI is designed to support single and dual processor systems. |
Qsys Component | Available under "Downloads" |
Available From Altera Sales Representative |
FTR-NO-1000 | Integration Workshop for Implementing EtherNet/IP Field Devices based on Altera Cyclone FPGA Family |
In addition to the IP cores for FPGA integration, Softing Industrial Automation also offers the development and production of FPGA-based communication interfaces. This offer is based on a pre-engineered reference design that reduces the time to market to a minimum. The Softing reference design includes the required hardware and software for field device implementation and is the result of decades of experience in industrial communication. The solution features a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) core combining a future-proof design with a flexible implementation that can be optimally adapted to meet individual customer requirements. It has already been prepared to support common Industrial Ethernet protocols – EtherCAT, Ethernet POWERLINK, EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP and PROFINET.
Many leading automation providers trust and rely on Softing's expertise. The Softing reference design thus is already in use in numerous customer implementations and in Softing's own products. It proves its capabilities, functionality and performance every day in a vast range of applications in many vertical markets and all around the world.
Uniform, simple-to-use interfaces are available to ensure easy connectivity of the application. The Simple Device Application Interface (SDAI) for device integration and the Simple Controller Application Interface (SCAI) for controller integration are designed to offer efficient access to the protocol functions and support many different hardware architectures. The protocol-independent implementation eliminates the need to modify the application when changing to another Industrial Ethernet protocol.
Softing's reference design allows to integrate standard IT services into the field device by using the same cable and the same Ethernet interface. This transparent IT channel enables versatile use, for example, to implement a web server, download data, use email services or implement custom services within a field device.