Omron NX-ECC201 User Manual

1 EtherCAT Networks
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NX-series EtherCAT Coupler Unit User’s Manual (W519)
1-1 Introduction to EtherCAT
EtherCAT (Ethernet Control Automation Technology) is a high-performance industrial network system
that enables faster and more efficient communications based on Ethernet.
Each node achieves a short communications cycle time by transmitting Ethernet frames at high speed.
Although EtherCAT is a unique communications protocol, standard Ethernet technology is used for the
physical layer, which means you can use Ethernet cables for wider application.
And the effectiveness of EtherCAT can be fully utilized not only in large control systems that require
high processing speeds and system integrity, but also in small and medium control systems.
With EtherCAT, Ethernet frames pass through all of the slave nodes.
When a frame passes through a slave node, the slave node reads and writes the data in the area that is
allocated to it in the frame in a few nanoseconds.
The Ethernet frames that are transmitted by the EtherCAT master pass through all EtherCAT slaves
without stopping. The last slave returns all of the frames, which again pass through all of the slaves
before returning to the EtherCAT master.
This mechanism ensures high speed and realtime data transmission.
1-1-1 How EtherCAT Works
EtherCAT master
Slave Slave
Slave
Ethernet frames
IN
OUT
Data
•
The slave reads output data addressed to it.
•
The slave writes input data.

Omron NX-ECC201 Specifications

General

Brand	Omron
Model	NX-ECC201
Category	Controller
Language	English