Overview

Seamless real-time communication is the core prerequisite for all Industry 4.0 and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) implementations. Renesas offers best-in-class communication components for all leading industrial communication protocols such as PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, Modbus, CC-Link, and more. All of these silicon solutions come with comprehensive software support.

Industrial Network

Industrial Ethernet and Fieldbus Network Image

Recommended MCU/MPU/LSI

For Master

Fieldbus RZ/T2MRZ/T2LRZ/T1RZ/N2LRZ/N1DRZ/N1SRZ/N1LRX72MASI4U-V5
Industrial EthernetOPC UAcheck
PROFINETcheck
EtherCATcheck*check*checkcheck*check
EtherNet/IPcheck
POWERLINK
ModbusTCPcheckcheck
SercosⅢ
CC-Link IE TSN
CC-Link IE Field
FieldbusIO-Linkcheck*check*
PROFIBUScheck
CANopencheckcheck
DeviceNet
Modbus RTU/ASCIIcheckcheck
CC-Link
ASi-5check

For Slave

Fieldbus RZ/T2MRZ/T2LRZ/T1RZ/N2LRZ/N1DRZ/N1SRZ/N1LR-IN32(CL3)R-IN32(CL)R-IN32(EC)EC-1TPS-1ASI4U-V5RX72MRL78
Industrial EthernetOPC UAcheck*checkcheck*checkcheckcheckcheck*checkcheckcheck
PROFINETcheck*
RT/IRT
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RT
check*
RT/IRT
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RT
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RT
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RT
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RT
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RT
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RT
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RT/IRT
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RT
EtherCATcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheck
EtherNet/IPcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheck
POWERLINKcheck*check*checkcheckcheck
ModbusTCPcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheck
SercosⅢcheckcheckcheck
CC-Link IE TSN
A: ClassA
B: ClassB
check*
A
check*
A
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A
check*
A
check*
A
check*
A
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A, B
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A
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A
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A
CC-Link IE
F: Field
FB: Field Basic
check*
FB
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FB
check*
FB
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FB
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FB
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FB
check check*
F  FB
check check*
F  FB
check*
FB
FieldbusIO-Link**check
PROFIBUScheck*check*check*check
CANopencheck*check*check*check
DeviceNetcheck*check*check*checkcheck
Modbus RTU/ASCIIcheck*checkcheck*checkcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheck
CC-Linkcheckcheck
ASi-5check

* Under consideration. Contact a sales person for details.
** Multiple MCUs cover IO-Link Slave requirements. Learn more at IO-Link Device Applications.

Future Projects

Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN)

One of the core entities in the center of Industry 4.0 are cyber-physical systems. By definition, these systems require a representation in cyberspace. For that, the operations technology (OT) networks that connect the production equipment and the information technology (IT) networks from the upper factory layers will need to converge.

However, most of the industrial Ethernet standards from the current generation require proprietary hardware. This makes the convergence of networks close to impossible. The consequences are island networks that need gateways to be connected to other hierarchies.

To meet these trends, Renesas is working on realize Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN).

TSN contains all the ingredients to overcome the current limitations of the proprietary implementations. It offers a truly unified network architecture and unlike most of the current industrial Ethernet standards, it is not limited to 100Mbps. The TSN technology is defined by the IEEE 802.1 TSN task groups which combine a set of IEEE standards in order to achieve real-time deterministic behavior while being both vertically and horizontally scalable.

Renesas is a leading supplier of industrial network solutions for the relevant industrial Ethernet standards of the current generation. Renesas will be able to combine the current generation industrial network technology with TSN.

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Time-Sensitive Networking Diagram

OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA)

With the advancement of Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), the various systems (things) need to connect to and communicate with each other. As a result, the use of Ethernet-based networks in factories is becoming more widespread, as deterministic, safe communications across all levels of the factory are more critical than ever.

To meet these trends, Renesas is working on realizing the OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) on various Renesas MCU/MPU/ASSP. OPC UA is a machine-to-machine communication protocol for industrial automation developed by the OPC Foundation. Renesas already has various communication technologies for industrial ethernet, industrial fieldbus, sensorbus, and more. By adding OPC UA, Renesas will continue to contribute to a smart society via a secure, real-time, end-to-end gateway solution.

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OPC Unified Architecture Diagram

Related Resources

IEC 61508 Functional Safety for Industrial Applications
Accelerate your functional safety design by leveraging Renesas’ portfolio of Certified SIL3 Solutions for both Arm® Cortex®-M23, -M33-based RA and RX MCUs.