Industrial

EtherCAT Slave for Intel FPGA

Integration of EtherCAT into Field Devices using Intel (Altera) FPGA

Easy-to-integrate field device solution based on the EtherCAT slave code and the EtherCAT Slave IP Core from Beckhoff. Supports the CAN Application Protocol Over EtherCAT (CoE) and Ethernet Over EtherCAT (EoE).

Easy and Inexpensive Development of EtherCAT Field Devices Using Altera FPGAs

  • Ready-to-use EtherCAT Qsys system
  • Demo application included
  • Future versions can easily be integrated

One API For Quick Integration

  • Simple Device Application Interface (SDAI) designed as efficient protocol abstraction layer to use different protocols with same application
  • PROFINET IRT, EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, POWERLINK and Modbus TCP using the same API
  • Single and dual processor systems supported

Improved Performance

  • Minimum I/O data delay between physical layer and application
  • Process data processed by DMA logic
  • Guide to efficient application programming included

Standard IT Support in Parallel with Industrial Ethernet

  • Direct forwarding of IT packets to application
  • No need to change existing IT structure
  • Socket interface for simple integration
Technical Data  
Functionality Full Slave Device (Data Link Layer) with two Ethernet Ports
Performance Characteristics FMMUs 3(configurable)
  Sync Managers 4(configurable)
  EtherCAT State Machine Supported
  Distributed Clocks Supported
  Generation of Synchronous Outputs (SYNC0/1)
  CAN Application Protocol Over EtherCAT(CoE) Supported
  Object Dictionary with Standard CoE Objects
  • Device Type
  • Manufacturer Device Name
  • Manufacturer Hardware Version
  • Manufacturer Software Version
  • Identity
  • RxPDO Mapping (up to 32 instances)
  • TxPDO Mapping (up to 32 instances)
  • Sync Manager Communication Type
  • Sync Manager 2 PDO Assignment
  • Sync Manager 3 PDO Assignment
  SDO Upload/Download, SDO Information Services Supported
  Complete SDO Access Supported
  Ethernet Over EtherCAT (EoE) Supported

Softing's EtherCAT Slave for Altera FPGA can be activated by per unit licenses. Corresponding license devices are available from Intel and authorized Intel distributors. See Softing Protocol IP Guideline License Authentication.

Scope of Delivery    
Software EtherCAT Slave Protocol Software
  • Stack software in binary format (based on source code from Beckhoff)
  • Simple Device Application Interface in source format
  Sample Program in Source Format
  • Application program with simulated I/O, runs on Altera FPGA
  • Program can be expanded and customized by users
  XML File for Sample Program Used by engineering/configuration tools
  TwinCAT Project for Interaction with EtherCAT Device Project for a Beckhoff PLC for accessing an EtherCAT Slave with the sample program
Documentation Interface description, guide on using the sample program
Additional Products and Services
SIA-YY-012501 Integration workshop for implementing field devices based on Altera Cyclone FPGA family
SIA-YY-012503 Integration support provided by e-mail or phone

Simplifying EtherCAT 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 EtherCat implementation based on the Altera FPGA. It provides an identical Application Programming Interface (API) for integrating various Industrial Ethernet protocols onto one hardware platform.

Easy and Inexpensive Development of EtherCAT Field Devices Using Altera FPGAs

  • Ready-to-use EtherCAT Qsys system
  • Demo application included
  • Future versions available for free download

One API For Quick Integration

  • Simple Device Application Interface (SDAI) designed as efficient protocol abstraction layer to use different protocols with same application
  • PROFINET IRT, EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, POWERLINK and Modbus TCP using the same API
  • Single and dual processor systems supported

Improved Performance

  • Minimum I/O data delay between physical layer and application
  • Process data processed by DMA logic
  • Guide to efficient application programming included

Standard IT Support in Parallel with Industrial Ethernet

  • Direct forwarding of IP packets to application
  • No need to change existing IP structure
  • Socket interface for simple integration

Scope of Delivery

Qsys Component Available under "Downloads"

Additional Products and Services

KEL-AB-010001 Altera Cyclone V E FPGA Development Kit and MAX V licensing board
SIA-YY-012501 Integration workshop for implementing field devices based on Altera Cyclone FPGA family
SIA-YY-012503 Integration support provided by e-mail or phone

Fast Implementation of Custom Industrial Ethernet Connectivity Solutions

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.

Proven in a Wide Range of Applications

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.

Efficient Universal Application Interface

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.

Implementation of Any IT Services

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.

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Softing Inc.

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