PROFINET is the innovative, open standard for real-time industrial Ethernet in automation technology. The PROFINET Standard is specified and published by PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International – http://www.profibus.com).

PROFINET provides solutions for process automation, factory automation and motion control. PROFINET enables the integration of existing fieldbus systems, like PROFIBUS, Interbus, DeviceNet and other technologies to an open Ethernet based network.
PROFINET uses Ethernet standard as well as TCP, UDP and IP as protocols for communication, configuration and diagnosis in the network.

 

The PROFINET standard defines three different performance levels which cover the various requirements from different applications.
For non-realtime applications, PROFINET NRT (Non Real Time) is defined. It uses standard protocols as UDP/IP. With cycle times > 100 ms PROFINET NRT targets for applications in process automation.

For applications with higher requirements on cycle time like factory automation, PROFINET RT (Real Time) is the right choice. I/O data is exchanged directly using the Ethernet protocol, while diagnosis and configuration uses standard UDP/IP. PROFINET RT enables applications with cycle times > 10 ms.

The highest requirements come from the control of complex industrial drive systems like packaging machines or robotics. With PROFINET IRT (Isochronous Real Time) applications with cycle time < 1 ms and jitter < 1 µs are possible. This is accomplished by the usage of specific hardware for the Ethernet interface.

On the application side three different device types are defined: IO-Controller – the classic PLC (Master), which establishes connections to the devices, exchanges data and controls the system, IO-Device – the device (Slave) which is assigned to the controller to exchange data, and IO-Supervisor – the interface for programming, commissioning and diagnosis in the network.


Beside communication and exchange of I/O data the PROFINET standard also defines the topology and structure of the network. Guidelines for the cabling, the selection of suitable connectors and topology components facilitate the planning and the commissioning of a PROFINET network. The user has the choice between a star structure using (managed) switches which is common in IT business, the classical line structure used in PROFIBUS systems and tree structure which combines both principles.

The migration of existing PROFIBUS systems to real-time PROFINET systems can easily be achieved by using Proxies (Gateways) which enable the communication and the data exchange between both networks.

The device profiles already known from the PROFIBUS world can also be used for PROFINET. With PROFIdrive a powerful profile for the implementation of high-performance drive solutions is available.

For safety-relevant applications, the PROFIsafe profile for PROFINET and PROFIBUS DP systems is defined.

The PROFINET IO-Developer’s Kit enables developers of embedded products to add quickly PROFINET IO-Device functionality to a product’s feature set.

Function Overview

PROFINET IO-Device functionality:
- Cyclic and acyclic data exchange with a PROFINET IO-controller
- Sending and receiving of diagnostic and process alarms, and plug and pull alarms
- Assignment of IP addresses and device names via Ethernet

Supported Target Systems
The PROFINET IO-Developer’s Kit is delivered for NetSilicon® NS9360 Development Kit and is instantly running on this system with the demo application.

An adaptation to other systems is possible for the PROFINET IO-Developer’s Kit. A suitable operating system as well as TCP/IP protocol stack must be already available for the target system, they are not content of delivery of the PROFINET IO-Developer’s Kit.

This adaptation can also be done by IXXAT.

Content of Delivery
- PROFINET IO-Device source code and include files
- Demo application for NetSilicon® NS9360 Development Kit
- Manual
- GSD-File for integration with Siemens STEP 7

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Flexible and cost-effective solution for the integration of PROFINET RT

Highlights
The Industrial Ethernet Module for PROFINET RT provides the customer with a complete IO-device in accordance with the PROFINET RT standard. The area of application is wherever intelligent devices such as drives, frequency converters, IO-modules, valves and other components of automation technology are to be equipped with PROFINET and for which flexibility and extendibility in conjunction with transparent costs are important.

Description of functions
The basic functions of the Industrial Ethernet Module are described on the page "Industrial Ethernet Module".

The Industrial Ethernet Module for PROFINET RT provides customers with a complete IO-device for integration into their own device. The following functions are supported in accordance with the PROFINET RT standard:

 

• IO-device as per PROFINET conformance class B
• Cyclic real-time data exchange with cycle times ≥ 2 ms
• Acyclic TCP/IP communication
• Transmission and reception of PROFINET diagnostic and process alarms, plug and pull alarms
• Allocation of IP addresses and device names via Ethernet

The exchange of PROFINET IO data of the host application with the Industrial Ethernet Module for PROFINET RT is performed separately for input and output data via a configurable memory image in the DPRAM of the module.

The technical details and functions of the Industrial Ethernet Module for PROFINET RT (IO-Device) may change.

Contents of delivery

• Industrial Ethernet Module for PROFINET RT (IO-Device)

Supplementary products

• Evaluation Kit for the Industrial Ethernet Module

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