Renesas Electronics Europe Announces New Low-Power, High-Speed Industrial Ethernet Controllers

The devices support high-speed, real-time operation by minimizing fluctuation of CPU processing time for more production efficiency in the industrial environment. Along with reducing bill of materials for industrial automation applications, the new controllers also ensure low power operation as the multiple Ethernet protocols are embedded in the hardware.

The new controllers deliver a rich feature set including a 32 bit CPU, Ethernet hardware accelerator, industrial Ethernet communication switch, two general Ether MACs (MII, GMII) and 10/100Mbps PHY. As a result, the new controllers provide everything needed for 10/100Mbps industrial communication apart from the voltage supply and a serial flash for programs. System designers may also add an external gigabit PHY if they are running applications that require gigabit communication.

Renesas’ new controllers join the existing members of the company’s range of industrial Ethernet controllers that includes the ERTEC200, the ERTEC400 and the TPS-1. The new products combine the following key features in a single chip:
- Support for multiple Ethernet protocols including CC-Link IE, EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP
- Ethernet functions and part of the CPU operation are hardware-based
- Integrated 1.3 Mb SRAM and Ethernet PHY for 10/100Mbps operation
- Standard fieldbus communication device supporting CC-Link, CAN, UART, CSI and others.

Renesas also has short-term plans to release another new product that will support the SSCNET III/H protocol. This uses fibre optic cables for communication and is a standard requirement in the motor control market due to its propensity for high speed and high accuracy.

Samples of all the products are expected to be available by the end of 2012.