System overview EtherCAT
CXxxxx-B110
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Version: 1.3
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System overview EtherCAT
The Beckhoff Embedded PCs can be ordered ex works with an optional interface, e.g. PROFIBUS,
CANopen or RS232. Some of the optional interfaces can be delivered as master or slave.
The following Embedded PCs can be ordered with an optional interface:
• CX9020
• CX50x0
• CX51x0
• CX20x0
EtherCAT slave (B110)
The optional interface B110 is an EtherCAT slave and enables an Embedded PC to be used as subordinate
decentral controller for configuring complex or modular systems.
The optional interface B110 offers the possibility to operate an Embedded PC as an EtherCAT slave device,
which can then be integrated into an existing topology with further EtherCAT devices.
The EtherCAT slave receives external process data from the master and processes them or returns data
from its own process periphery to the master after processing.
The optional EtherCAT slave interface is parameterized and configured in TwinCAT.
Further Information
https://infosys.beckhoff.com/content/1033/ethercatsystem/index.html?id=7792317249389602120
https://www.ethercat.org/default.htm
Further information about EtherCAT and features such as cable redundancy, distributed clocks or
diagnostics can be found in the EtherCAT system documentation or on the website of the EtherCAT
Technology Group.
Functioning
EtherCAT is the real-time Ethernet technology from Beckhoff, which makes the familiar Ethernet telegram
real-time capable. In contrast to Ethernet, the telegram is no longer initially received and interpreted in each
connection, before the process data are copied. Instead, each EtherCAT device picks up the data intended
for it while the telegram passes through the device. In the same way, input data are dynamically added to the
data stream.
The slave detects the commands intended for it and executes them accordingly. The process is hardware-
implemented in the slave controller and is therefore independent of the protocol stack software run times or
the processor power. The last EtherCAT slave returns the processed telegram, so that it is sent from the first
slave to the controller as a response telegram.
