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First SERCOS III Controllers Available
New FPGA-based controllers for SERCOS III, the new Ethernet-based implementation of the SERCOS interfaceŽ for motion control, are now available. They include all hardware functions, such as timing, synchronization and processing of cyclic and non-cyclic data on the basis of two integrated Ethernet MACs.
Cores for two controllers are available, based on the low-cost Spartan-3 FPGA platform of Xilinx, a leading supplier of programmable logic solutions. The SERCON100 Master and Slave Controllers are available for a Spartan-3 FPGA with 400K system gates (XC3S400).
Both controllers are integrated in a FT256 BGA housing so that a common hardware design can be realized. This makes a very powerful, low-cost standard hardware platform available, which not only reduces implementation efforts, but also ensures a high acceptance by suppliers. In addition, the SERCON100S Slave Controller is available for a Spartan-3 FPGA with 200K system gates (XC3S200) in a TQ144 housing, which further reduces the costs and efforts for a slave hardware design.
Detailed documentation on the SERCOS III controllers, reference designs and example Ethernet interface diagrams are available on request to
p.lutz@sercos.de. Spartan-3 FPGAs can be purchased from any of Xilinx' worldwide distributors. The SERCOS III core can be licensed from the SERCOS organizations by contacting
p.lutz@sercos.de.
SERCOS III is based on the established real time mechanisms of the original SERCOS interface, using the principle of cyclic data transfer with deterministic timing. This hardware-based synchronization is the indispensable prerequisite for the reliable implementation of challenging motion applications, such as packaging machines, multi-axis machine tools and electronic line shafts in printing machines.
SERCOS III has been defined such that any standard IP telegram (e.g., TCP/IP) can be transmitted in a non-real time slot, in parallel to the real time processing. A SERCOS III control system is able to exchange these telegrams with super-ordinate devices in the network. Thus, SERCOS III combines the established SERCOS real time mechanisms and standardized parameter set with universal communications based on Industrial Ethernet.
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