Hilscher has integrated the SERCOS III core into a General Purpose Communication Controller (GPCC), the netX, an ARM926-based System on Chip network communication controller. Evaluation boards, starter-kit and board support packages for Windows-CE and Linux for the netX 100 and netX 500 are available from Hilscher.

netX Block Diagram

The netX controllers are able to support a number of different Industrial Ethernet protocols. Thus, it is possible to implement control and drive devices that can easily be adjusted to the respective Industrial Ethernet protocol simply by using the appropriate driver software. This is a huge advantage, not just for the manufacturers of components. The OEM needs to handle only one type of wiring. The end user profits from not having to use different hardware configurations in case he is using several different Industrial Ethernet protocols in his plant, such as SERCOS III, Profinet and Ethernet IP.