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User Manual
EtherCAT / NMEA 2000
Document code: MN67E19_ENG Revision 1.000 Page 10 of 26
ETHERCAT
EtherCAT
(Ethernet for Control Automation Technology) is an Ethernet-based fieldbus system, invented by Beckhoff Automation.
The protocol is standardized in NMEA 2000 and is suitable for both hard and soft real-time computing requirements in automation
technology.
With EtherCAT, the standard Ethernet packet or frame (according to IEEE 802.3) is no longer received, interpreted, and copied as process
data at every node. The EtherCAT slave devices read the data addressed to them while the telegram passes through the device, processing
data "on the fly". In other words, real-time data and messages are prioritized over more general, less time-sensitive or heavy load data.
The converter has two EtherCAT ports, one is used as Input port (Connector7) and it will receive the incoming messages from the Master,
the other is used as Output port (Connector8) and i twill forward the messages to the others nodes of the network.
