Downloads

• Drivers & Software

  • Softing Protocol IP V1.22 for EtherCAT on Altera FPGAs

• Manuals & Documentation

  • Softing Protocol IP Guideline License Authentication
  • Softing Protocol IP - Simple Device Application Interface Manual, V1.80

• Articles & White Papers

  • Industrial Ethernet Implementation using FPGAs | White Paper

• Data Sheets & Brochures

  • EtherCAT Slave Protocol Software Altera FPGA Data Sheet
  • Softing Protocol IP - EtherCAT Data Sheet

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.

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

Additional Products and Services

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.