Kollmorgen EtherCAT® Bus Coupler Features

The EtherCAT® Bus Coupler connects the real-time Ethernet system

with modular, extendable electronic terminal blocks. A complete unit

consists of a bus coupler, a set of bus terminals and one end terminal.

Features

The EtherCAT Coupler connects EtherCAT, the real-time Ethernet system,

with the modular, extendable electronic terminal blocks. A unit consists

of a Bus Coupler, a set of terminals, and one end terminal.

The Bus Coupler recognises the connected Bus Terminals and automatically

allocates them into the EtherCAT process image. The Bus Coupler is

connected to the network via the upper Ethernet interface. The lower RJ 45

socket may be used to connect further EtherCAT devices in the same strand.

In the EtherCAT network, the EtherCAT Coupler can be installed anywhere in

the Ethernet signal transfer section (100BASE-TX) – except directly at the switch.

EtherCAT (Ethernet Control Automation Technology) is the Ethernet solution for

industrial automation, characterized by outstanding performance and particularly

simple handling. EtherCAT enables the Ethernet star topology to be replaced with

a simple line structure. Optionally, EtherCAT may also be wired in the “classic”

way using switches, in order to integrate further Ethernet devices. The master

requires no special plug-in card and can be implemented on any existing Ethernet

controller using a very simple interface. EtherCAT is therefore also well suited to

small and medium control applications, where it will also open up new areas of

application for distributed I/Os.

For EtherCAT a separate I/O system in protection class IP 20 is available in the 

form of EtherCAT Terminals. In contrast to Bus Terminals, where the fieldbus

signal is implemented within the Bus Coupler on the internal, fieldbus-independent

terminal bus, the EtherCAT protocol remains fully intact down to the individual terminal.

The EtherCAT Coupler supports the operation of all Bus Terminals. As far as the

user is concerned, handling of the analog inputs/outputs is not different to other

series. The information is available in the process image of the controller for

processing in the form of a byte array.

The analog and multifunctional Bus Terminals can be adapted to each specific

application. Depending on the type, the analog Bus Terminals’ registers contain

temperature ranges, gain values and linearisation characteristics. The Bus

Terminals store settings permanently and in a fail-safe manner. Optionally,

the Bus Terminals can also be controlled by the control system. Via function

blocks (FBs), the programmable logic controller (PLC) handles configuration

of the complete periphery during the start up phase. If required, the controller

can upload the decentralized created configuration data in order to centrally 

manage and store this data. Therefore, new adjustments are not necessary in

the event of replacement of a Bus Terminal. The controller automatically sets

the required setting on power up.