The major advantages of the FPGA-based implementation are the flexibility, the vendor independency, the reduced development time and the low development costs. Furthermore, the reconfiguration possibility of the FPGA solution allows the implementation of various real-time Ethernet based protocols on the same hardware platform.
Besides the POWERLINK functionality, the MN IP Core includes a standard Ethernet controller, an Ethernet hub and a PCI controller for the host communication.
The MN IP Core was already successfully implemented on the Powerlink PC interface from IXXAT. The board offers a powerful and cost effective solution to set-up PC-based automation systems based on POWERLINK.
The MN IP core board ensures response times in the range of the Ethernet interframe gap, independent of the number of network nodes. The synchronization by the start of cycle frames is done with a jitter of less than 50 ns. Therefore it is possible to operate systems with cycle times of 200 ?s or with up to 240 controlled nodes.
The PCI interface provides a simple application programming interface including process image to the host application and a control and status interface. Based on that, it is easy to connect PC applications to the POWERLINK network, like a soft PLC.
Range of application
PC independent POWERLINK MN implementation
Extension of any host controller with powerful POWERLINK MN functionality
Implementation of customer specific POWERLINK MN solutions at a reasonable price
Technical date / Features
Design-in solution for Altera Cyclone 2C20 or higher
Support of MN/CN functionality according to the POWERLINK specification DS 1.1.0
PCI slave according to the specification 2.2 (32 Bit / 33 MHz)
Synchronous SRAM interface
2 port hub
MII interface for lowest possible Ethernet delay times
Synchronization of several MN IP cores via external sync line
Contents of delivery
Reference circuit diagram
Encrypted net list
10 runtime licenses for prototype implementations
POWERLINK software as binary code
Host API in ANSI-C source code
Manual
Further Information
Besides the POWERLINK MN IP Core and the POWERLINK PCI board, IXXAT offers the development of customer specific POWERLINK MN adapters, consulting services and training.
