Ethercat Connections (Fh-1000 Series/Fh-3000 Series Only); Introduction To Ethercat - Omron FH series User Manual

EtherCAT Connections (FH-1000 series/FH-3000 series only)

This section explains the communication settings required for communication by EtherCAT between the Sensor
Controller and an external device, communication specifications, input/output formats, and the communication
timing chart.

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.
How EtherCAT Works
In EtherCAT communication, 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.
EtherCAT master
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EtherCAT Connections (FH-1000 series/FH-3000 series only)

Slave Slave
Data
OUT IN
• The slave reads output data addressed to it.
• The slave writes input data.
Ethernet frames
Slave
Vision System FH/FZ5 Series User's Manual
for Communications Settings (Z342)