ODVA is publishing specification for Componet network protocol, which complements existing CIP family of Devicenet, Controlnet and Ethernet/IP
ODVA is announcing that the first edition of the Componet Specification has been approved by its Technical Review Board and is scheduled to be published by ODVA in the next publication cycle of the CIP Networks Library and associated network specifications.
These specifications include Ethernet/IP, Devicenet, Controlnet, CIP Safety – and now Componet. CIP (Common Industrial Protocol) is a single, media-independent protocol that provides the interoperability and interchangeability essential to open networks and open systems.
Complementary to the entire family of CIP Networks (Devicenet, Controlnet and Ethernet/IP), Componet meets the requirements of applications using large numbers of simple sensors and actuators by providing high-speed communications with configuration tools and combining this with efficient construction, simple set-up and high availability – all on a single network. Furthermore, Componet offers an advanced physical layer that minimises signal degradation and transmission delays, while providing the user with a flexible network architecture offering a range of data rates – 4, 3 and 1.5 Mbps and 93.75 kbps – and overall network lengths of up to 1500m using repeaters.
Componet will provide users with a network that is easy to configure and maintainwith comprehensive built-in error detection functions states Katherine Voss, executive director of ODVA. This makes Componet a high-availability network optimised for production efficiency.”
“Componet allows the user to send and receive bit- and byte-size dataefficiently and rapidlyto and from simple sensors and actuators” states Jeff Jursa member of ODVA’s Technical Review Board since 1998. “Combined with CIP’s distinctive advantages providing the ability to configure and collect data on the plant floorinformation can be available throughout the enterprise.”
The development of the Componet Specification has been conducted by the ODVA Componet Special Interest Group (SIG) and consists of participants from leading control suppliersincluding Omron and Rockwell Automation. The next step in creating the open standard for this new network technology is the release of the ODVA Conformance Test for Componet devices. ODVA expects to see vendors start offering Componet Conformance Tested products in 2006.
Componet is intended to provide users with a bit-level network for the control of smallhigh-speed machines; the CIP Network services connect such machines to the plant and the enterprise. Componet utilises time division multiple access (TDMA) in its network layer; this approach combines with a physical layer designed to minimise transmission delays and automatically compensates for potential collisions within the Componet hierarchy to provide a deterministic network with the ability to update large numbers of nodes at state-of the-art update rates. In additionComponet includes an option for power (24V DC5A) and signal in the same cable with the ability to remove and replace nodes under power. Originally announced under the project name Cipnet SAODVA announced in April 2006 that the official name would be Componet.
For more informationvisit www.odva.org
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