brief introduction

Today's factories are increasingly adopting intelligent technology, with devices such as machine tools, robots, actuators, and sensors capable of generating, transmitting, and receiving data.

In order for all these independent devices to communicate reliably, the factory needs to adopt secure and reliable protocols. In the past, communication relied on the mixed use of multiple network protocols including HART, RS-485, Modbus, DeviceNet, Profibus, and CAN. This fragmentation means that expensive gateways are needed to connect different standards, and maintenance becomes both difficult and expensive.

Instead, Ethernet networks are rapidly becoming the preferred backbone network for factory workshops. In this article, we will explore why 10BASE-T1S, as a single pair Ethernet standard, has become the preferred communication protocol for replacing traditional Ethernet and hard wired solutions in industrial automation.

Understand 10BASE-T1S and its advantages

10BASE-T1S is defined by IEEE specification 802.3gg and is a multi-point, conflict free Ethernet standard. It runs on unshielded, twisted pair, single pair Ethernet (SPE) cables, and as the name suggests, its data transmission rate is 10 Mb/s, much faster than many traditional factory networks.

10BASE-T1S can be used in both peer-to-peer (P2P) configurations and multi-point topologies, which is the main advantage compared to traditional Ethernet standards that require P2P connections.

Multi point configuration means that each link between two devices in the network does not need to have its own dedicated point-to-point connection. This reduces the complexity, cost, and weight of wiring, enabling 10BASE-T1S to provide secure and reliable data transmission that meets industrial application requirements.

For smart factories, adopting 10BASE-T1S can improve interoperability, achieve seamless integration with existing systems, and make it easier to deploy. Compared with point-to-point Ethernet networks, 10BASE-T1S can reduce power consumption due to its multiple technical features such as turning off the PHY (physical layer) transmitter when not sending data.

Although the IEEE 802.3cc specification does not define Power Over Data (PoDL) for multi-point network segments, both DC and Ethernet data can be transmitted through the same cable. This "Engineering PoDL" is a system that can provide data line power to multi-point 10BASE-T1S network segments without any negotiation protocol. The 10BASE-T1S multi-point "engineering PoDL" is currently available for use, and the IEEE802.3da standard is about to officially determine the 10BASE-T1S multi-point PoDL, which is expected to be approved by the end of 2024 or the first quarter of 2025.

Connectivity of Industry 5.0

The number of sensors, actuators, and other networked devices in factories has significantly increased, and is expected to exceed 200 million units by 2030 (81.7 million units in 2020). Although some of these devices will adopt wireless connections, there is still a significant demand for the robustness of wired networks, especially as artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly applied to edge devices in smart factories.

As mentioned earlier, the emergence of 10BASE-T1S Ethernet is rapidly replacing traditional fieldbus technology in smart factories, providing reliable wired communication for Industry 4.0. 10BASE-T1S seamlessly integrates various systems into a unified network, eliminating the need for bulky gateways.

The wiring requirements for 10BASE-T1S have been reduced, which helps to achieve a lighter and more flexible network while also reducing costs. Looking ahead to Industry 4.0, 10BASE-T1S will become one of the future wired connection standards in the field of industrial automation, laying the foundation for Industry 5.0.

In one example, a customer of onsemi switched from electromechanical devices to networked electronic versions in their smart factory, greatly reducing wiring complexity and deployment time due to the use of 10BASE-T1S technology. Compared to peer-to-peer (P2P) non Ethernet networks, the multi-point topology of 10BASE-T1S is an important factor in achieving this simplification.

The 10BASE-T1S system requires less wiring, thus reducing the required cabinet space and saving valuable ground space. Since there is no need to identify, add, or remove scattered wires, maintenance is also easier.

Ansenmei supports 10BASE-T1S technology

The Ansenmei 10BASE-T1S Ethernet controller series meets the multi-point network requirements in harsh industrial environments with reliability and excellent performance.

NCN26010 is an Ethernet transceiver that complies with the IEEE 802.3gg standard. It includes a media access controller (MAC), a physical layer collision avoidance (PLCA) conditioning sublayer (RS), and a 10BASE-T1S physical layer (PHY) specifically designed for industrial multipoint Ethernet. It provides all the physical layer functions required for transmitting and receiving data through a single unshielded twisted pair cable.

The NCN26000 also provides the physical layer functionality required for transmitting and receiving data through a single unshielded twisted pair cable, and communicates with existing half duplex 10 Mb/s Ethernet MAC controllers through a standard Media Independent Interface (MII). This means that it supports use with existing infrastructure and more complex devices (based on FPGA or SoC), enabling 10BASE-T1S devices to work in conjunction with low to medium complexity FPGAs.

NCN26010 and NCN26000 can reduce up to 71% of physical wiring while increasing bandwidth. Compared to traditional hard wired solutions, they can significantly reduce wiring time and provide enhanced data reporting capabilities and overall efficiency improvements. Their compact size allows for flexible installation inside the chassis, optimizing space utilization.

Overall, these devices have improved the reliability, scalability, and versatility of industrial networks. The two options shown in Figure 2 highlight the flexibility and scalability of the 10BASE-T1S controller architecture.

The NCN26010 with MAC, PHY, and PLCA only requires a 5-pin SPI connection to the matching MCU. Although the IEEE 802.3gg specification only specifies support for up to 8 nodes and a range of 25 meters, laboratory experiments have shown that Anson's controllers can support a range that exceeds this requirement by twice. By utilizing Anson's proprietary Enhanced Noise (ENI) feature, the NCN26010 can achieve a transmission distance of up to 50 meters while supporting 16 nodes; With support for 6 nodes, the transmission distance can reach 60 meters. By carefully selecting cables and connectors, longer distances and/or more nodes can be achieved.

conclusion

In today's smart factories, 10BASE-T1S provides a robust and efficient network standard that can replace decentralized traditional networks, thereby redefining connectivity.

The advanced technology implemented in the Anson Mei NCN26010 MAC/PHY and NCN26000 PHY devices can easily support the connectivity requirements of Industry 4.0 and establish a roadmap towards Industry 5.0 and future industrial development.