German embedded systems software developer SEGGER Microcontroller GmbH is collaborating with Massachusetts based semiconductor manufacturer Analog Devices. The two companies are working together on a new solution for the development of industrial Ethernet applications including the new Ethernet-APL standard.

The collaboration between the two companies revolves around emNet, SEGGER’s IP stack, and the ADIN1110, Analog Devices’ low-power industrial 10BASE-T1L Ethernet MAC-PHY device. 

The emNet IP stack is designed as an Ethernet application for a low-power host processor to operate at maximum transmission rates. It combines high performance with low memory requirements and simple integration. The ADIN1110 MAC-PHY is designed to simplify connectivity to low-power processors through an SPI interface, allowing greater flexibility on processor selection.

With emNet and the ADIN1110, ultra-low-power microcontrollers with minimal flash memory and without their own MAC can be selected as processors. By design, emNet supports external MACs such as the ADIN1110, enabling any standard microcontroller to attach to Ethernet. 

Thanks to their low power consumption, these processors combined with the ADIN1110 can be safely operated in explosive environments in the process industry, among others.

SEGGER’s emNet in combination with the ADIN1110 supports the new Ethernet-APL standard and is compliant to IEEE802.3cg for 10BASE-T1L Technology. This enables both data and power over 1 km of single twisted pair cables at 10 MBit/s full-duplex. This provides access to new data and insights from devices located in remote and hazardous areas, supporting real time configuration in the field of a process plant.

According to the two companies, Ethernet-APL-based sensors and actuators for the process industry are currently being developed by numerous suppliers.

“The joint effort by SEGGER and Analog Devices enables customers to quickly integrate a TCP/IP-based solution in their devices,” said Stefan Lueder, Project Manager Ethernet-APL integration at SIEMENS.

“ADI’s new ADIN1110 10BASE-T1L MAC-PHY and SEGGER’s emNet combine to provide an extremely fast path to market for low power, single pair ethernet communications solution. This is ideal for sensor or actuator nodes for many use cases including those in hazardous areas,” said Mick McCarthy, Director of Industrial Ethernet Technology at Analog Devices.

“What customers want from an IP stack is a combination of maximum performance and the simplest implementation without major configuration effort,” said SEGGER’s CEO Ivo Geilenbruegge. “Through our collaboration with Analog Devices, industrial customers get the best possible solution because of its high performance, lowest power and ease of implementation.”