ODVA network standards ‘blossom’ in sunny Phoenix

ODVA’s been a hotbed of activity, with six related network protocols now under its purview, so balmy Arizona was an appropriate venue for ODVA’s the association’s recent 2006 CIP Networks Conference & 11th Annual Meeting. Below are the highlights of the four-day conference. For those unaware, it’s not the same old ODVA of 1999, with only a DeviceNet focus. Since then its stable has expanded to include:

• 2000: EtherNet/IP;

• 2005: CIP Safety;

• 2006: CIP Motion;

• 2006: CompoNet (to compete with AS-i); and

• 2006: CIP Sync.

Standards are ODVA’s largest asset, constituting the vast amount of intellectual property that ODVA has acquired or created over the last decade. The organization expects to continue strengthening and expanding its portfolio of standards. To this end:

• ODVA has approved a new participation agreement for special interest groups (SIGs) that unifies all ODVA technologies under one document and will extend this unified approach, in conjunction with ControlNet International, to the Participation Agreement for joint special interest group (jSIGs) in 2006; and

• ODVA has been granted the rights to develop a new network adaptation of CIP-based network technology developed by ODVA founding-member Omron. The new network is under development in the “Project CipNet SA SIG.” The new network is targeted at applications dominated by simple sensors and actuators. ODVA has named the new adaptation “CompoNet.”

Additionally, ODVA will recognize and support its members who are part of the group known as “The CIP Conformity Club.” It comprises vendors committed to conformance testing. ODVA says conformance testing aims to reduce problems in the field and increase market demand for conformance-tested devices.

On the support front, ODVA cited:

• A major upgrade of the EtherNet/IP installation guide (EtherNet/IP Physical Layer jSIG);

• Release of the DeviceNet troubleshooting guide (Automotive SIG);

• Creation of sample EtherNet/IP code; and

• EZ-EDS: Easy Feature-driven EDS Generator (EtherNet/IP Implementor Workshops, European Tour).

ODVA笔记以太网/ IP的崛起,和它的游戏plan to win the industrial Ethernet wars comprises:

• Establishing EtherNet/IP as a standard in major industry segments, such as semiconductors and automobiles;

• Establishing EtherNet/IP as a standard in China—supporting this achievement with increased ODVA presence in China;

• Increasing EtherNet/IP awareness in general;

• Industry and know-how in the vendor community; and

• Boosting the application coverage of EtherNet/IP in key growth areas, such as motion and functional safety.

For more information visit:www.odva.org

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