EtherCAT device and communication system

Abstract

The utility model discloses EtherCAT equipment and a communication system, and relates to the field of industrial communication. The EtherCAT device comprises a processing module, a photoelectric switching module, a first optical port, a second optical port and a first network port. The processing module is connected with a first end of the photoelectric switching module, a second end of the photoelectric switching module is connected with the first optical port, and a third end is connected with the first network port. The processing module is connected with the second optical port. The photoelectric switching module is used for establishing connection between the processing module and the first optical port or connection between the processing module and the first network port. The EtherCAT equipment comprises the processing module, the photoelectric switching module, the first optical port, the second optical port and the first network port, connection between the first optical port and the processing module and connection between the first network port and the processing module can be switched through the photoelectric switching module, so that connection between the network ports and the optical ports can be compatible, networking and debugging use of the EtherCAT equipment are facilitated, and the debugging efficiency of the EtherCAT equipment is improved. And a photoelectric converter is not needed, so that the cost is saved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of industrial communications, and in particular to an EtherCAT device and a communication system. Background Art

[0002] EtherNet Control Automation Technology (EtherCAT) is an open Ethernet-based fieldbus system, first developed by Beckhoff Automation GmbH of Germany. EtherCAT uses a "processing on the fly" technology to achieve high-speed EtherCAT frames, and can interact with all nodes in the network through one frame.

[0003] With the rapid development of industrial control, EtherCAT, as a high-speed field bus, is applied to various complex control systems. At present, in general control systems, EtherCAT master devices and EtherCAT slave devices must have the same interface, such as both network ports or both optical ports. If the EtherCAT master device needs to access both the optical port EtherCAT slave device and the network port EtherCAT slave device, it can only be connected to the same network through an optoelectronic converter. Utility Model Content

[0004] The present application provides an EtherCAT device and a communication system for improving the compatibility of an EtherCAT master device or a slave device, and enabling compatibility with both an optical port and a network port when accessing a network.

[0005] In a first aspect, an EtherCAT device is provided, the EtherCAT device comprising a processing module, an optoelectronic switching module, a first optical port, a second optical port, and a first network port. The processing module is connected to a first end of the optoelectronic switching module, a second end of the optoelectronic switching module is connected to the first optical port, and a third end is connected to the first network port. The processing module is connected to the second optical port. The optoelectronic switching module is used to establish a connection between the processing module and the first optical port, or a connection between the processing module and the first network port.

[0006] In the present application, an EtherCAT device including a processing module, an optoelectronic switching module, a first optical port, a second optical port and a first network port can switch the connection between the first optical port and the first network port and the processing module through the optoelectronic switching module. This makes the connection between the network port and the optical port compatible, facilitates the networking and debugging of EtherCAT devices, and does not require an optoelectronic converter in the present application, saving costs.

[0007] In a possible implementation of the present application, the processing module includes a first physical interface and a second physical interface. The first physical interface is connected to the first end of the optoelectronic switching module, and the second physical interface is connected to the second optical port.

[0008] In a possible implementation of the present application, when the EtherCAT device is a master station device, the processing module also includes a controller, which is used to send first control information to the optoelectronic switching module, and the first control information is used to indicate that the first physical interface is connected to the first optical port, or to the first network port.

[0009] In a possible implementation of the present application, when the EtherCAT device is a slave device, the EtherCAT device further includes a microcontroller unit. The microcontroller unit is used to send second control information to the optoelectronic switching module, and the second control information is used to instruct the first physical interface to be connected to the first optical port, or to be connected to the first network port.

[0010] In a possible implementation of the present application, the first control information or the second control information is level indication information or dial control information.

[0011] In a possible implementation of the present application, the processing module is an EtherCAT slave control chip, and the micro control unit communicates with the EtherCAT slave control chip.

[0012] In a possible implementation of the present application, the EtherCAT device further includes: a network transformer. The network transformer is connected between the photoelectric switching module and the first network port, and is used to stabilize the voltage inside the EtherCAT device.

[0013] In a possible implementation of the present application, the first optical port or the second optical port includes a transceiver matching circuit and a fiber optic transceiver.

[0014] In a possible implementation of the present application, the optoelectronic switching module is a single-pole double-throw switch, and the single-pole double-throw switch connects the first physical interface of the processing module with the first optical port and the first network port.

[0015] In a second aspect, a communication system is provided, the system comprising: a master station device and multiple slave station devices, the multiple slave station devices including at least one EtherCAT device as described in the first aspect.

[0016] It can be understood that the beneficial effects of the second aspect mentioned above can be found in the relevant description of the first aspect mentioned above, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0018] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of an EtherCAT device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0019] Figure 2 It is a specific structural diagram of an EtherCAT device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0020] Figure 3 It is a specific structural diagram of an EtherCAT master station device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0021] Figure 4 It is a specific structural diagram of an EtherCAT slave device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0022] Figure 5 It is a structural schematic diagram of a first optical port and a first network port in an EtherCAT device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0023] Figure 6 It is a specific structural diagram of a first optical port and a first network port in an EtherCAT device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0024] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a conventional EtherCAT master station device structure provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of a topological structure of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Fig. 9 It is a schematic diagram of the topological structure of another communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In order to facilitate the clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, the words "first", "second" and the like are used to distinguish the same items or similar items with basically the same functions and effects. For example, the first optical port and the second optical port are only used to distinguish different optical ports, and their order is not limited. Those skilled in the art can understand that the words "first", "second" and the like do not limit the quantity and execution order, and the words "first", "second" and the like do not necessarily limit them to be different.

[0028] It should be noted that, in this application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in this application should not be interpreted as being more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present related concepts in a specific way.

[0029] The business scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field can know that with the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0030] In the present application, "at least one" means one or more, and "plurality" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can mean: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0031] Before explaining the embodiments of the present application in detail, the application scenarios of the embodiments of the present application are first described.

[0032] Ethernet Control Automation Technology (EtherNet Control Automation Technology, EtherCAT) is an open Ethernet-based fieldbus system, which includes an EtherCAT master device and multiple EtherCAT slave devices. Among them, both the EtherCAT master device and the EtherCAT slave device must have the same interface. For example, the interfaces of the EtherCAT master device and multiple EtherCAT slave devices are all Ethernet network interfaces (hereinafter referred to as network ports), or are all optical fiber interfaces (hereinafter referred to as optical ports), so that they can be connected to the same network topology. If you need to simultaneously access an EtherCAT master device / slave device with an interface type of network port and an EtherCAT master device / slave device with an interface type of optical port in the same network topology, you need to use a practical optoelectronic converter to convert different interfaces into the same interface.

[0033] However, there are many types of optical ports, including SC (Subscriber Connector) type interface, FC (Fiber Connector) type interface, LC (Lucent Connector) type interface, ST (Straight Tip) type interface, etc., which are divided into single-mode optical ports and dual-mode optical ports. After determining the optical port type of the EtherCAT master device or the EtherCAT slave device, the corresponding optical-to-electrical converter is required. For example, if the optical port type of the EtherCAT slave device is an SC single-mode optical port, a corresponding optical-to-electrical converter is required.

[0034] As can be seen from the above, firstly, the compatibility of EtherCAT master devices or EtherCAT slave devices in the prior art is poor, and can only meet one of the interface types of optical port or network port. Secondly, in order to meet the simultaneous access of EtherCAT master devices / slave devices with network port interface type and EtherCAT master devices / slave devices with optical port interface type, it is necessary to introduce a photoelectric converter, but the photoelectric converter also needs to adapt to a fixed optical port type, and some types of optical ports do not have corresponding photoelectric converters, such as Plastic Optical Fiber (POF) dual-mode optical port.

[0035] In order to solve the above problems, the present application proposes an EtherCAT device and a communication system, which enables the optoelectronic switching module to switch the circuits of the optical port and the network port through software or dial codes, so that when different EtherCAT master station devices or EtherCAT slave station devices are connected to the optical port, they can also be compatible with the access to the network port.

[0036] The following is a detailed explanation of an EtherCAT device and a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0037] like Figure 1 The figure shows an EtherCAT device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The EtherCAT device includes a processing module 101 , an optoelectronic switching module 102 , a first optical port 103 , a second optical port 104 and a first network port 105 .

[0038] The processing module 101 is connected to a first end of the optoelectronic switching module 102, a second end of the optoelectronic switching module 102 is connected to the first optical port 103, and a third end is connected to the first network port 105. The processing module 101 is also connected to the second optical port 104. The optoelectronic switching module 102 is used to establish a connection between the processing module 101 and the first optical port 103, or a connection between the processing module 101 and the first network port 105.

[0039] The processing module 101 is used for receiving and sending signals and processing signals. For example, the first optical port 103 or the first network port 105 receives a signal and transmits it to the processing module 101 for processing; or the processing module 101 sends a signal through the second optical port 104 .

[0040] Among them, the optoelectronic switching module 102 is connected between the processing module 101 and the first optical port 103 / first network port 105. When the EtherCAT device needs to connect to the optical port, the optoelectronic switching module 102 establishes a connection between the processing module 101 and the first optical port 103; when the EtherCAT device needs to connect to the network port, the optoelectronic switching module 102 establishes a connection between the processing module 101 and the first network port 105.

[0041] Exemplarily, the optoelectronic switching module 102 can switch the first optical port 103 and the first network port 105 through a relay or a dip switch.

[0042] In the present application, an EtherCAT device including a processing module 101, an optoelectronic switching module 102, a first optical port 103, a second optical port 104 and a first network port 105 can switch the connection between the first optical port 103 and the first network port 105 and the processing module 101 through the optoelectronic switching module 102, so that the connection between the network port and the optical port can be compatible, which is convenient for the networking and debugging of the EtherCAT device, and no optoelectronic converter is required in the present application, saving costs.

[0043] In one embodiment of the present application, Figure 2 As shown, the processing module 101 includes a first physical interface 1011 and a second physical interface 1012 . The first physical interface 1011 is connected to a first end of the optoelectronic switching module 102 , and the second physical interface 1012 is connected to the second optical port 104 .

[0044] For example, the photoelectric switching module 102 is a single-pole double-throw switch. Figure 2 As shown, PHY0 (first physical interface 1011) is connected to the first end a of the single-pole double-throw switch, the second end b of the single-pole double-throw switch is connected to the optical port (first optical port 103), and the third end c of the single-pole double-throw switch is connected to the network port (first network port 105). PHY1 (second physical interface 1012) is connected to the optical port (second optical port 104). When the switch is connected to the second end b, the EtherCAT device supports communication of the optical port; when the switch is connected to the third end c, the EtherCAT device supports communication of the network port.

[0045] In one embodiment of the present application, in the case where the EtherCAT device is a master device, Figure 3As shown, the processing module 101 further includes a controller 1013. The controller 1013 is used to send first control information to the optoelectronic switching module 102, and the first control information is used to instruct the first physical interface 1011 to connect to the first optical port 103 or to connect to the first network port 105.

[0046] Exemplarily, the controller 1013 is a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU is connected to the input end of the optoelectronic switching module 102, and sends an interface switching instruction to the optoelectronic switching module 102, so that the optoelectronic switching module 102 switches the optical port or the network port.

[0047] The first control information may be level indication information or dial control information.

[0048] As an example, after the controller 1013 receives the instruction of the photoelectric switching, the controller 1013 outputs high and low levels to the photoelectric switching module 102 to control the switching of the optical port and the network port.

[0049] For example, taking the controller 1013 as a CPU, when the CPU outputs a high level to the optoelectronic switching module 102, the optoelectronic switching module 102 establishes a connection between the optical port and the EtherCAT master device, and the EtherCAT master device can support optical port communication; when the CPU outputs a low level to the optoelectronic switching module 102, the optoelectronic switching module 102 establishes a connection between the network port and the EtherCAT master device, and the EtherCAT master device can support network port communication.

[0050] As another example, after the controller 1013 receives the instruction of the optoelectronic switching, the controller 1013 outputs the dial control information to the optoelectronic switching module 102 to control the switching of the optical port and the network port.

[0051] For example, taking the controller 1013 as the CPU, when the CPU outputs the dial code 0 to the photoelectric switching module 102, the output voltage value is 0V, and the photoelectric switching module 102 establishes a connection between the optical port and the EtherCAT master device. At this time, the EtherCAT master device can support optical port communication; when the CPU outputs the dial code 1 to the photoelectric switching module 102, the output voltage value is 3.3V, and the photoelectric switching module 102 establishes a connection between the network port and the EtherCAT master device. At this time, the EtherCAT master device can support network port communication.

[0052] In a possible implementation of the present application, the EtherCAT master device can implement time-division multiplexing, such as Figure 3As shown, at the first moment, the optoelectronic switching module 102 receives the first indication information of the controller 1013, controls the first physical interface 1011 to establish a connection with the first optical port 103, and at this time the EtherCAT master station device is used to transmit optical signals; at the second moment, the optoelectronic switching module 102 receives the second indication information of the controller 1013, controls the first physical interface 1011 to establish a connection with the first network port 105, and at this time the EtherCAT master station device is used to transmit electrical signals.

[0053] In one embodiment of the present application, when the EtherCAT device is a slave device, Figure 4 As shown, the EtherCAT device further includes a micro control unit 106. The micro control unit 106 is used to send second control information to the optoelectronic switching module 102, and the second control information is used to instruct the first physical interface 1011 to connect to the first optical port 103, or to connect to the first network port 105.

[0054] The specific implementation method of the micro control unit 106 controlling the photoelectric switching module 102 is the same as that of the controller 1013 in the above embodiment, which will not be described in detail here.

[0055] In one embodiment of the present application, the processing module 101 is an EtherCAT slave control chip, and the micro control unit 106 communicates with the EtherCAT slave control chip.

[0056] As an example, the communication between the micro control unit 106 and the EtherCAT slave control chip can be implemented through a serial peripheral interface (Serial Peripheral Interface, SPI) or a system bus (Localbus).

[0057] In a possible implementation of the present application, the EtherCAT slave device can implement time-division multiplexing, such as Figure 4 As shown, at the first moment, the optoelectronic switching module 102 receives the first indication information of the micro control unit 106, controls the first physical interface 1011 to establish a connection with the first optical port 103, and at this time the EtherCAT slave device is used to transmit optical signals; at the second moment, the optoelectronic switching module 102 receives the second indication information of the micro control unit 106, controls the first physical interface 1011 to establish a connection with the first network port 105, and at this time the EtherCAT slave device is used to transmit electrical signals.

[0058] In one embodiment of the present application, reference Figure 3 or Figure 4The EtherCAT device further includes: a network transformer 107. The network transformer 107 is connected between the photoelectric switching module 102 and the first network port 105, and the network transformer 107 is used to stabilize the voltage inside the EtherCAT device.

[0059] In one embodiment of the present application, the first optical port 103 or the second optical port 104 includes a transceiver matching circuit and an optical transceiver.

[0060] As an example, Figure 5 The figure shows a connection diagram between the first physical interface 1011 of the processing module 101 and the optoelectronic switching module 102. When the optoelectronic switching module 102 establishes a connection between the first physical interface 1011 and the first optical port 103, the signal is transmitted to the transceiver matching circuit through the optoelectronic switching module 102, and the transceiver matching circuit is connected to the optical transceiver. When the optoelectronic switching module 102 establishes a connection between the first physical interface 1011 and the first network port 105, the signal is transmitted to the network transformer 107 through the optoelectronic switching module 102, and the network transformer 107 is connected to the first network port 105. Among them, the first network port 105 includes a transceiver matching circuit and a network port circuit. The specific structure of the network port circuit is as shown in FIG. Figure 5 As shown, it may also be other circuits that can realize network port communication, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0061] For example, the signal transmitted by the first physical interface 1011 includes: sending a positive differential signal Txp, sending a negative differential signal Txn, receiving a positive differential signal Rxp, and receiving a negative differential signal Rxn. Figure 6 It is a specific schematic diagram of the first physical interface 1011 transmitting signals, and the optoelectronic switching module receives control information (such as the first control information or the second control information) to switch the optical port or the network port.

[0062] In one embodiment of the present application, the optoelectronic switching module is a single-pole double-throw switch, and the single-pole double-throw switch connects the first physical interface of the processing module with the first optical port and the first network port.

[0063] For example, the signal transmitted by the processing module 101 through the first physical interface 1011 includes: sending a positive differential signal Txp, sending a negative differential signal Txn, receiving a positive differential signal Rxp, and receiving a negative differential signal Rxn, refer to Figure 6 The photoelectric switching module 102 includes four single-pole double-throw switches, namely switch S0, switch S1, switch S2 and switch S3, corresponding to four signals respectively.

[0064] Optionally, the signal transmitted by the processing module 101 through the first physical interface 1011 may further include a signal detection (Signal Detect, SD) signal.

[0065] An embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, the system comprising: a master station device and multiple slave station devices, the multiple slave station devices comprising the EtherCAT device in the above embodiment.

[0066] The master station device may be the EtherCAT master station device described in the embodiment of the present application (eg Figure 3 ), or a conventional EtherCAT master device (such as Figure 7 The conventional EtherCAT master station device is an optical port device or a network port device.

[0067] In the following, the EtherCAT master device is referred to as the master, and the EtherCAT slave device is referred to as the slave.

[0068] For example, when the master device is a conventional EtherCAT master device, a topological structure diagram of a communication system is as follows: Figure 8 As shown, taking the interface type of the master station as network port as an example, network port 0 of the master station is connected to network port 1 of slave station 1, network port 0 of slave station 1 is connected to the first network port of slave station 2, the second optical port of slave station 2 is connected to optical port 1 of slave station 3, optical port 0 of slave station 3 is connected to the second optical port of slave station 4, and the first network port of slave station 4 is connected to network port 1 of the master station.

[0069] It is worth noting that the first optical port of slave station 2 can also be connected to other slave stations whose interface type is an optical port or a master station whose interface type is an optical port (not shown in the figure). At this time, the time-division multiplexing feature of slave station 2 can be utilized to switch the optical port and network port of slave station 2, thereby realizing the transmission of different signals at different times.

[0070] Among them, slave station 2 and slave station 4 are EtherCAT slave station devices in the embodiment of the present application, slave station 1 and slave station 3 are conventional EtherCAT slave station devices, the interface type of slave station 1 is a network port, and the interface type of slave station 3 is an optical port.

[0071] For example, when the master station device is the EtherCAT master station device described in the embodiment of the present application, a topological structure diagram of a communication system is as follows: Fig. 9 As shown, the first network port of the master station is connected to the network port 0 of the slave station 1, the network port 1 of the slave station 1 is connected to the first network port of the slave station 2, the second optical port of the slave station 2 is connected to the optical port 0 of the slave station 3, and the optical port 1 of the slave station 3 is connected to the second optical port of the master station.

[0072] It is worth noting that the first optical port of the master station can also be connected to other slave stations whose interface type is an optical port or a master station whose interface type is an optical port (not shown in the figure). At this time, the time-division multiplexing feature of the master station can be utilized to switch the first optical port and the first network port of the master station, thereby realizing the transmission of different signals at different times.

[0073] In the above embodiments, the description of each embodiment has its own emphasis. For parts that are not described or recorded in detail in a certain embodiment, reference can be made to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0074] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of this application.

[0075] The embodiments described above are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, a person skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments may still be modified, or some of the technical features may be replaced by equivalents. Such modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and should all be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. An EtherCAT device, characterized in that: The EtherCAT device includes a processing module, an optoelectronic switching module, a first optical port, a second optical port and a first network port; The processing module is connected to a first end of the optoelectronic switching module, a second end of the optoelectronic switching module is connected to the first optical port, and a third end is connected to the first network port; The processing module is connected to the second optical port; The optoelectronic switching module is used to establish a connection between the processing module and the first optical port, or a connection between the processing module and the first network port.

2. The EtherCAT device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The processing module includes a first physical interface and a second physical interface; The first physical interface is connected to the first end of the optoelectronic switching module, and the second physical interface is connected to the second optical port.

3. The EtherCAT device according to claim 2, characterized in that: In the case where the EtherCAT device is a master station device, the processing module further comprises a controller, The controller is used to send first control information to the optoelectronic switching module, where the first control information is used to instruct the first physical interface to be connected to the first optical port or to be connected to the first network port.

4. The EtherCAT device according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the case where the EtherCAT device is a slave device, the EtherCAT device further comprises a micro control unit; The micro control unit is used to send second control information to the optoelectronic switching module, where the second control information is used to instruct the first physical interface to be connected to the first optical port or to be connected to the first network port.

5. The EtherCAT device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: The first control information or the second control information is level indication information or dial control information.

6. The EtherCAT device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The processing module is an EtherCAT slave station control chip, and the micro control unit communicates with the EtherCAT slave station control chip.

7. The EtherCAT device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The EtherCAT device further comprises: a network transformer, The network transformer is connected between the photoelectric switching module and the first network port, and is used to stabilize the voltage inside the EtherCAT device.

8. The EtherCAT device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The first optical port or the second optical port includes a transceiver matching circuit and an optical fiber transceiver.

9. The EtherCAT device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The optoelectronic switching module is a single-pole double-throw switch, and the single-pole double-throw switch connects the first physical interface of the processing module with the first optical port and the first network port.

10. A communication system, characterized in that: The system comprises: a master station device and a plurality of slave station devices, The plurality of slave devices include at least one EtherCAT device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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