Real-Time Ethernet Solution is based on SERCOS interface.
Press Release Summary:
Designed for industrial networking applications, SERCOS III combines SERCOS real-time mechanisms and standardized parameter set with universal communications based on Industrial Ethernet. Both SERCOS III master and slave are hosted by single Spartan(TM)-3 FPGA on Xilinx industrial networking platform. Solution has been defined such that any standard Ethernet frame can be transmitted in non-real time slot, parallel to real-time processing.
Original Press Release:
Xilinx Delivers SERCOS III Real-Time Ethernet Solution
HANNOVER, Germany, April 18 -- At the Hannover Messe show today, Xilinx, Inc. (NASDAQ:XLNX), the world's leading programmable logic supplier, announced immediate availability of a SERCOS III real-time Ethernet solution. The low-cost Spartan(TM)-3 FPGA enabled SERCOS III solution provides a low-cost flexible alternative for industrial networking applications. SERCOS III is supported by SERCOS International e.V., the world-wide user organization for SERCOS technology. SERCOS International e.V. will showcase the Xilinx-based networking platform at this week's Hannover Messe, April 16-20, Hall 9, Stand D23, at the Exhibition Grounds in Hannover, Germany.
Both the SERCOS III master and slave are hosted by a single Spartan-3 FPGA on the Xilinx industrial networking platform. "FPGAs offer an ideal platform for the diverse requirements within industrial automation. The flexibility and scalability of the Spartan-3 devices provide an ideal platform for innovative and cost-efficient automation products," stated Peter Lutz, managing director of SERCOS International.
"Due to its real time capabilities and performance, the SERCOS III interface has become a widely accepted Ethernet-based networking standard worldwide," said Niladri Roy, senior manager for ISM at Xilinx. "The implementation of SERCOS III on the Spartan-3 generation not only adds to our growing library of industrial networking IP, the solution allows for the most optimized application of SERCOS III and effective cost management for a broad spectrum of customers."
About SERCOS III
SERCOS III is based on the established real time mechanisms of the original SERCOS interface, still using the principle of cyclic data transfer with deterministic timing. This hardware-based synchronization is the indispensable prerequisite for the reliable implementation of challenging motion applications, such as packaging machines, multi-axis machine tools and electronic line shafts in printing machines. SERCOS III has been defined such that any standard Ethernet frame (e.g., TCP/IP) can be transmitted in a non-real time slot, in parallel to the real time processing. Thus, SERCOS III combines the established SERCOS real time mechanisms and standardized parameter set with universal communications based on Industrial Ethernet.
About SERCOS International
SERCOS International (SI) is the responsible user organization for the technical development, standardization, certification and commercialization of the real time communication standard SERCOS interface (IEC 61491). At present, more than 1.75 million SERCOS nodes have been implemented world-wide in over 350 thousand applications. SI offers conformance testing to help ensure that products built to its specifications operate in multi-vendor systems. The organization with its headquarters in Germany has presently more than 60 member companies all over the world as well as own trade associations in North America and Asia. For more information, visit the SERCOS web site at http://www.sercos.org/.
About Xilinx Spartan-3 Generation FPGAs
Based on its industry leading performance and low price points, the Xilinx Spartan series has been broadly adopted in industrial, scientific, medical, high-volume, consumer applications such as DVD players, plasma displays and HDTV. With the recent introduction of its Spartan-3A, Spartan-3AN and Spartan-3A DSP family, Xilinx continues to add new market-specific features to its low cost Spartan series FPGAs while reducing the cost by 30X since its introduction. Visit xilinx.com/spartan for more information.
About Xilinx
Xilinx, Inc. is the worldwide leader of programmable logic solutions. For more information, visit http://www.xilinx.com/.
