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 UA————check————
PROFINET————check————
EtherCATcheck*check*checkcheck*check————
EtherNet/IP————check————
POWERLINK—————————
ModbusTCP————check——check—
SercosⅢ—————————
CC-Link IE TSN—————————
CC-Link IE Field—————————
FieldbusIO-Link————check*check*———
PROFIBUS———————check—
CANopen————check——check—
DeviceNet—————————
Modbus RTU/ASCII————check——check—
CC-Link—————————
ASi-5————————check

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*checkcheck———check—
PROFINETcheck*
RT/IRT		—check
RT		check*
RT/IRT		check
RT		check
RT		check
RT		check
RT		check
RT		check
RT		—check
RT/IRT		—check
RT		—
EtherCATcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheck——checkcheck——check—
EtherNet/IPcheck—checkcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheck———check—
POWERLINKcheck*——check*checkcheckcheck————————
ModbusTCPcheck—checkcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheck———check—
SercosⅢ————checkcheckcheck————————
CC-Link IE TSN
A: ClassA
B: ClassB		check*
A		—check*
A		check*
A		check*
A		check*
A		check*
A		check
A, B		check
A		check
A		———check
A		—
CC-Link IE
F: Field
FB: Field Basic		check*
FB		—check*
FB		check*
FB		check*
FB		check*
FB		check*
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*—————check———check—
Modbus RTU/ASCIIcheck*—checkcheck*checkcheckcheckcheckcheckcheck———checkcheck
CC-Link————————checkcheck—————
ASi-5————————————check——

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

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.

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.

OPC Unified Architecture Diagram