Ahrweiler, September 2005

Profi Net transmission via Fast Ethernet interface to optical waveguide

Morgan-Rekofa and the automotive industry - close partners for decades!  As already announced in the March News, our engineers have been working almost exclusively for the automotive industry in recent months and have now developed a new product:
The first FastEthernet rotary distributors that offers continuous rotary transmission of up to 100 MBd via polymer optical fibres (POF) in the ProfiNet standard!

AIDA.  In cooperation with members of the AIDA project, we have developed a rotary distributor that comprises both proven standard components and new developments. The heart of the rotary distributor is the new printed circuit board developed by us. This not only converts the electronic signals into light signals via the "MC6652" module, but also amplifies and controls the signals, thus acting as a repeater. With our well-known Interbus optical waveguide rotary distributors, your data are transmitted contact-free and without interference!   

At present (as of July 2005), a HARTING 3A Industrial RJ45 connector has been used for these prototypes. Following AIDA standardization, these can be replaced later e.g. with a SC-RJ optical waveguide connector!

The proven Harting HAN 25D connector has been used for the transmission of signal currents up to max. 16 A, but an increase in the number of contact decks and hence a connector change is quite feasible in the present prototype phase. Apart from the optical waveguide technology from Morgan-Rekofa, which has been proven over 300 times since 1999, the customer will in future have a choice of different media distributors. As a combined standard, a 1/2" air distributor has been used as in the Interbus rotary distributors that are also still available, but on request this can be expanded to include vacuum, water, oil or gases.

The Ethernet interface between PC and rotary distributors can be made with a commercially available cross-over cable. The electric power supply to the pcb and the downline periphery comes via the contact decks inside the appliance. The 10/100 MBps changeover is performed automatically. At DOS level, the customer receives a constant status check of the rotary distributor via the "ping" command.

Key benefits of the new rotary distributor F 5538 X:

- Standardised data communication
- High-speed and wear-free data exchange
- Compact design in accordance with VDE and EMC
- Modular and flexible design
- Sturdy, yet lightweight and protected to IP54
- From 2006: Complete optical waveguide interface in the customer's complete plant via SC-RJ
- From 09/2005: Test phase on the customer's turntable

Technical Data of the F 5538 X (Prototype):

- 2 x ProfiNet ( optical waveguide ) 100 MBps via RJ45
- 1 x 16 mm2 ground via M8 earthing stud
- 25 x 24V, max. 16A (via Harting  HAN 25D)
- Height above mounting flange: 310 mm
- Housing outside diameter: 120 mm
- Overall weight: 23 kg
- Mounting: 4 x dia. 14, 180 x 280 mm
- Driver: 4 x M8 or 2 x dia. 12 mm