The Move to Standardize a Universal Single-Pair Ethernet Connector Face
Since some of the first industrial products using single pair Ethernet (SPE) were introduced a little more than five years ago, this new Ethernet cable type has garnered a lot of attention for its ability to transmit 1 Gbit/sec of data at distance runs of up to 40 meters while also providing power over data line to terminal devices — all while using just one pair of wires rather than the more common four- or eight-wire configurations.
The process industries were among the first to adopt SPE because of its ability to bring Ethernet to intrinsically safe areas.
And at a time when industrial companies are moving toward a strategic integration of their IT and OT (operations technology) departments, the SPE format has been well received for its design that accommodates both IT and OT standards to provide communication, power and extended distance cable runs.
Plus, as noted by the SPE Industrial Network, SPE delivers “enormous space and weight savings” due to its use of fewer wires.
Profinet and Weidmuller support standardized, universal SPE connector face
The most recent news on the SPE front comes from Profinet as part of its support for a new, harmonized SPE connector system — based on industry application requirements — which has been submitted for international standardization. According to Profinet, this new connector has a “standardized mating face for applications in the control cabinet, in the field and for hybrid installations.”
Profinet’s goal for standardization of this new connector is to make it possible for use across all SPE products, even at higher speeds and independently of Profinet over SPE.
Weidmuller has already announced its support for this SPE connector standardization and is expanding its product family to include this new connector face.
“With its end-to-end communication from the sensor to the cloud, SPE offers real added value for the industry,” said Simon Seereiner, business development manager at Weidmuller. “This makes it all the more important that the industry has now agreed on a uniform connector face. The international standardization now initiated by ISO/IEC and the acceptance of this interface by Profinet will create clarity, security and unambiguity for manufacturers and users and thus accelerate the breakthrough of this technology.”
More Automation World coverage of single pair Ethernet:
