Early this summer [2010] I received an email announcement from Innovasic Semiconductor about the RapID "platform" for EtherNet/IP in industrial equipment. The communications use the company's fido1100 communications controller chip. Engineers and designers can download a complete RapID package of tools and documents from the Innovasic website for a free 180-day evaluation (registration required). I registered, got a password, and viewed information online. The package looks quite interesting because unlike some companies, Innovasic supplies everything needed to implement hardware and software for Ethernet/IP (industrial protocol) or PROFINET industrial communications. For more information, visit: www.innovasic.com/products/in/.  For information about EtherNet/IP, visit: www.odva.org/default.aspx?tabid=67.

The company stressed that the free package is not a demo version.  It provides a complete set of information, code pre-tested for EtherNet/IP conformance, and it includes schematic diagrams, a bill of materials, and PCB layout files, as well as all fully functional software, stacks, and a development environment. Engineers can evaluate the RapID tools by downloading a package from the Innovasic site, or by performing operations on hardware via the Internet. (Running the RapID tools locally requires a PC that runs Windows 7, Windows  XP (SP3), or Windows Vista (SP2). The software also needs two Gbytes of memory, 500 Mbytes of disk space, and one open USB port. (A one-time license fee applies if you use the RapID platform to create and sell a product. The company does not charge a royalty.)

Innovasic noted engineers can use the RapID platform as a network processor connected to any host microcontroller or as a standalone processor that also runs the engineers' application code.  In stand-alone operation, the fido1100 chip requires no code development for use in a network.

"All software is royalty-free with no hidden fees," noted the Innovasic information.  "The schematic has been carefully designed to provide robust, long-life, industrial-class performance at the lowest possible bill of material (BOM) cost.  The Ethernet physical interface includes protection circuitry, bicolor LEDs, and magnetics integrated in the connector.  The RapID Platform achieves an EtherNet/IP packet interval of 1 ms and supports the full CIP Specification including Identity, Message Router, Assembly, Connection Manager, Ethernet Link, and TCP/IP Objects."

In addition, engineers can choose the EtherNet/IP or PROFINET protocol and either one or two channels.  The dual-channel approach lends itself to daisy-chained equipment, while the single-channel approach works in star-type networks.

The Innovasic approach competes with Ethernet modules from other companies. But not every Ethernet module will provide EtherNet/IP or PROFINET support and not every company will guarantee a long life for its products. Innovasic does both, so if you need a "drop in" design that works right away in industrial networks, the company's RapID deserves a look.

Do you use, or have you used, stand-alone Ethernet communication modules in industrial networks? If so, what was your experience like?