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ODVA to publish first edition of CompoNet™ Specification

  • August 21, 2006
  • News

Summary

August 21, 2006 – Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. ODVA announced today 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, the 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. Further, CompoNet offers an advanced physical layer that minimizes 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 up to 1500 meters with repeaters. "CompoNet will provide users with a network that is easy to configure and maintain, with comprehensive built-in error detection functions," states Katherine Voss, executive director of ODVA. "This makes CompoNet a high availability network optimized for production efficiency." "CompoNet allows the user to send and receive bit and byte size data, efficiently and rapidly, to and from simple sensors and actuators,” states Jeff Jurs, a 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 floor, information can be available throughout the enterprise.” The development of the CompoNet Specification has been conducted by the ODVA CompoNet Special Interest Group and consists of participants from leading control suppliers, including 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. About CompoNet CompoNet provides users with a bit-level network to control small, high speed machines and the CIP Network services to connect to the plant and the enterprise. Complementary to the family of CIP Networks (DeviceNet, ControlNet and EtherNet/IP), CompoNet fulfils all 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. CompoNet utilizes Time Division Multiple Access ("TDMA") in its network layer. This approach combines with a physical layer designed to minimize 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 addition, CompoNet includes an option for power (24V DC, 5A) and signal in the same cable with the ability to remove and replace nodes under power. Originally announced under the project name "CipNet SA," ODVA announced in April 2006 that the official name would be "CompoNet." About ODVAODVA, founded in 1995, is an international association comprised of members from the world's leading automation companies. Collectively, ODVA and its members support network technologies based on the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP). These currently include the network adaptations of CIP—EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet and CompoNet—and major application extensions to CIP—CIP Safety, CIP Motion and CIP Sync. ODVA manages the development of these open technologies, and assists manufacturers and users of CIP Networks through tools, training and promotional activities. In addition, ODVA offers conformance testing to help ensure that products built to its specifications operate in multi-vendor systems. ODVA also is active in other standards development organizations and industry consortia to drive the growth of open communication standards. Learn More

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