February 23, 2007 – Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA and Kyoto, Japan – ODVA announced today that the first edition of The CompoNet Specification has been published. The CIP Networks Library of specifications include EtherNet/IP™, DeviceNet™, ControlNet™, CIP Safety™ - and now CompoNet™. CIP™, the Common Industrial Protocol, is a single, media-independent protocol that provides the interoperability and interchangeability essential to open networks and open systems.
Complementary to the entire family of CIP Networks, CompoNet meets the requirements of applications using large numbers of simple sensors and actuators by providing high speed communications with configuration tools and combining this with efficient construction, simple set-up and high availability – all on a single network.
"CompoNet will provide users with a network that is easy to configure and maintain, with comprehensive built-in error detection functions," states Katherine Voss, executive director of ODVA. "Whenever large numbers of sensors and actuators are involved, wiring effort becomes a major cost consideration. CompoNet offers quick and easy installation using cost-effective flat network cable with pressure-clamping IDC connectors or round cable that allow for flexible cabling topologies including daisy-chain and trunk-line."
Hiroyuki Usui, chair of ODVA’s Territory Alliance Group in Japan, states “The Japanese market has been longing for a high speed sensor and actuator network that incorporates advanced configuration and diagnostics capabilities. CompoNet will meet this need and is expected to gain rapid widespread adoption. As the newest member of the family of CIP Networks, CompoNet promises to become a de facto standard for sensor and actuator networks, joining DeviceNet, the number one fieldbus in Japan market, and EtherNet/IP, one of the fastest growing industrial Ethernet networks in the Asian market.”
In addition to The CompoNet Specification, vendors can obtain toolkits directly from ODVA. These developers’ toolkits, which include hardware and software, will provide vendors with assistance in getting started in the process of building products. ODVA expects to see vendor adoption initially in Japan, with products expected to be available in 2007.
About CompoNet
CompoNet provides users with a bit-level network to control small, high speed machines and the CIP Network services to connect to the plant and the enterprise. Complementary to the family of CIP Networks (DeviceNet™, ControlNet™ and EtherNet/IP™), CompoNet fulfils all the requirements of applications using large numbers of simple sensors and actuators by providing high speed communications with configuration tools and combining this with efficient construction, simple set-up and high availability – all on a single network. CompoNet utilizes Time Division Multiple Access ("TDMA") in its network layer. This approach combines with a physical layer designed to minimize transmission delays and automatically compensates for potential collisions within the CompoNet hierarchy to provide a deterministic network with the ability to update large numbers of nodes at state-of the-art update rates. In addition, CompoNet includes an option for power (24V DC, 5A) and signal in the same cable with the ability to remove and replace nodes under power. Originally announced under the project name "CipNet SA," ODVA announced in April 2006 that the official name would be "CompoNet."
About ODVA
ODVA, founded in 1995, is an international association comprised of members from the world's leading automation companies. Collectively, ODVA and its members support network technologies based on the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP™). These currently include the network adaptations of CIP—EtherNet/IP™, DeviceNet™ and CompoNet™—and major application extensions to CIP—CIP Safety™, CIP Motion™ and CIP Sync™. ODVA manages the development of these open technologies, and assists manufacturers and users of CIP Networks through tools, training and promotional activities. In addition, ODVA offers conformance testing to help ensure that products built to its specifications operate in multi-vendor systems. ODVA also is active in other standards development organizations and industry consortia to drive the growth of open communication standards. For more information, visit its web site at www.odva.org.
For more information, contact:
Adrienne Meyer
Manager, Marketing Communications
ODVA
4220 Varsity Drive, Suite A, Ann Arbor, MI 48108-5006 USA
tel ++1 734 975 8840; fax ++1 734 922 0027; email ameyer@odva.org
CIP, CIP Safety, CIP Motion, CIP Sync, DeviceNet, CompoNet and CompoNet CONFORMANCE TESTED are trademarks of ODVA. EtherNet/IP is a trademark of ControlNet International under license by ODVA. Other trademarks are property of their respective owners.