Process plants must be safe for people, products and the environment. Ethernet is the de facto communication standard, but it does not meet the requirements of process automation without modification. Ethernet with an Advanced Physical Layer (Ethernet-APL) enables long cable lengths, explosion protection, communication and power supply over two wires. Based on IEEE and IEC standards, Ethernet-APL also supports the Profinet automation protocol and will become an important, long-term stable technology for the entire process automation.
Ethernet-APL is the logical extension of Ethernet and provides the features required for reliable operation in the field of a process plant. It is an extended physical layer for single-pair Ethernet (SPE), based on 10BASET1L, communicating at 10 Mbit/s full-duplex over cable lengths of up to 1000 m. Compared to HART or the fieldbus, this is more than 300 times faster. As a physical layer in the OSI layer model (layer no. 1), Ethernet-APL supports every other higher-level protocol in OSI layers 5 to 7, as of course does PROFINET.
Field devices often contain a lot of data such as self-diag-nostic functionalities. With Ethernet APL, this data can be accessed in real time in parallel with process control. This makes it possible to develop additional services, business models and unique selling points to differentiate field devices. Ethernet-APL significantly reduces the cost of accessing this useful data compared to traditional technolo-gies by eliminating the need for protocol converters, addi-tional system components or retrofit solutions that would otherwise be required.
Siemens has been using components of SEGGER's all-in-one embedded operating system emPower OS for many years, namely the RTOS embOS and the IP stack emNet. To achieve the power budget and meet the ex specifications, an ultra-low power STM32L4 microcontroller from ST Microelec-tronics is used, paired with the ADIN1110. SEGGER then also supplied the appropriate driver to support the ADIN1110. This results in a generic solution platform consisting of IP stack, driver, MCU and MAC-PHY, which is ideal for many applica-tions in process technology.
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