Industrial
The future of connectivity; Single Pair Ethernet
Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) will be one of the technological cornerstones that helps to shape the success of the IIoT. The factory of the future will require high data streams and the industrial sector needs connectivity solutions which adapt themselves to increasingly growing demands
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p until now, industrial Ethernet has only been able to reach the control level before it needs to switch to BUS systems via gateways. SPE, delivered via
HARTING’s T1 Industrial connector, allows equipment to connect via end-to-end IP-based communications right up into the field level.
The T1 Industrial supplies both data and power via Power over Data Line (PoDL) across a single pair of wires in an IEC 63171-6 industrial interface, bringing Ethernet from the cloud to every sensor and enabling Industry 4.0. Innovative aspects of the T1 include the space-saving and weight reduction benefits achieved by the move to a single pair of wires. This means the compact T1 can be easily incorporated into smaller products and Ethernet interfaces can be designed onto simple sensors, cameras, reading/ID devices or similar miniaturised equipment. For maximum flexibility, the T1 mating face can be integrated into standard housing forms as required, including interfaces in M8 and M12 housings. HARTING not only has connectors and other components in mind but a complete Single Pair Ethernet system which will quickly and securely deliver higher bandwidth and large volumes of data, right down to the printed circuit board. Aside from the benefits for the IIoT, there is immense potential for this new
Matthias Fritsche
Ethernet cable weighs approximately 4.6kg per 100 metres, whereas an SPE cable only 3kg. Over an average train carriage lifetime of 40 years, each kilogramme of saved weight delivers savings of around £12,000 per carriage. If you consider how many carriages the average train has and how many miles of cable are found in the train, it soon becomes apparent how great the savings potentials are.”
technology across a range of industries. As sensors, actuators, and network nodes can be networked and supplied with power via the T1, there are applications in automation technology, robotics, machinery, and plant manufacturing. Other uses include traffic control, intelligent lighting, smart farming and mobile machinery.
In industries such as robotics where the cables are subjected to strong torsional forces, the reduced number of wires means thinner and more flexible cables, which prolongs their service life.
SPE technology is fast, space-saving, cost- efficient and ready to implement as the driver of topics like Integrated Industry and the IIoT.
Marian Duemke
To discover more about the T1 and SPE, we spoke to Matthias Fritsche, HARTING’s Ethernet communications expert and Marian Duemke, global product manager.
Can you please summarise the idea behind Single Pair Ethernet? Matthias Fritsche: “SPE is about conveying the Ethernet protocol with another physical layer using only a single pair of wires. So just as one is currently using four-pair copper cables, fibre-optic cables or radio today, SPE is another form of physical layer, designed for communication down to the field level.”
user?
Marian Duemke: “The idea behind SPE is to bring Ethernet to the field level, where it isn’t available yet. SPE means Ethernet interfaces can now be integrated onto simple sensors, cameras, reading/ID devices or similar miniaturised equipment. As a result, there is immense potential in the T1, which can supply both data and power across a single pair of wires in an IEC 63171-6 industrial interface.”
Which other markets or industries Marian Duemke: “Within transportation, an
14 September 2023 Components in Electronics
How was the HARTING T1 Industrial connector developed? Matthias Fritsche: “For the concept, we examined the trends of recent decades and what the ideal plug connector should look like. To do this, we looked at the pain points of the RJ45. We decided on a pin and socket system as these are already established for many industrial connectors. We also enabled a safe interlock so that shocks and vibrations don’t interrupt the data transmission.
Could you tell us more about the SPE Industrial Partner Network? Marian Duemke: “The SPE Industrial Partner Network is an association of companies that are working together to promote Single Pair Ethernet technology as the basis for the IIoT. The aim is to offer an SPE ecosystem by not only pooling the knowledge of infrastructure providers, but also by bringing people together on the device side.”
SPE?
Matthias Fritsche: “Companies are starting to understand its benefits and are working on projects already. This has shown us that we are on the right track and that people understand that this is not just some kind of new Ethernet interface. It’s a completely new world that harbours an incredibly great potential.”
www.harting.com/UK/en-gb/single-pair- ethernet
www.cieonline.co.uk.uk
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