EtherCAT master (M112)

The latest generation of embedded PCs can be ordered ex factory with an EtherCAT master interface (M112). On the devices the optional M112 interface is referred to as X300. With this option a total of three EtherCAT masters are available, whereby two EtherCAT masters are fed out from the front of the device and one EtherCAT master from the right side of the terminal segment.

The EtherCAT masters are fully DC-synchronous due to the direct FPGA connection. External synchronization is not necessary in order to synchronize the EtherCAT masters or EtherCAT rings with one another. This function is particularly interesting for smaller XTS systems that require synchronously running EtherCAT masters. The optional interface can additionally be used for EtherCAT redundancy, while the two upper Ethernet interfaces are available for other applications.

The incoming EtherCAT signal is connected to the upper LAN interface. The lower LAN interface relays the signal to other EtherCAT master devices.