Safety over EtherCAT
Ethernet ofr Control Automation Technology.
EtherCAT® is an open, high-performance Ethernet-based fieldbus system.
The development goal of EtherCAT is to apply Ethernet to automation applications which require short data update times (also called cycle times) with low communication jitter (for synchronization purposes) and low hardware costs. (FcSoE) enables Enable signal for the drive, Hardware-Enable with 24V signal to X8, Software-Enable command by setup Software, fieldbus or permanently set.
Both are required for enabling the drive. safety-related communication and control communication on the same network.
- The safety protocol is based on the application layer of EtherCAT, with no influence on the lower layers.
- It is certified according to IEC International Electrotechnical Commission - A not-for-profit, non-governmental international standards organization that prepares and publishes International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies. 61508 and meets the requirements of Safety Integrity Level (SIL) 3.
Figure 1: Safety over EtherCAT Software Architecture
