PROFINET (Process Field Net) is an industry technical standard for data communication over Industrial Ethernet, designed for collecting data from, and controlling equipment in industrial systems, with a particular strength in delivering data under tight time constraints. This automation standard is 100% Ethernet-compatible as defined in IEEE standards and is maintained and supported by Profibus & Profinet International.
PROFINET Components
PROFINET IO is used for data exchange between I/O controllers (PLC) and I/O devices (field devices). A PROFINET IO system consists of the following:
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IO Controller: Controls the automation task.
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IO device: Field device that is monitored and controlled by an IO controller.
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IO Supervisor: Software typically installed on a PC for setting parameters and diagnosing individual I/O devices.
PROFINET Network Connections
Cables: Twisted copper cables (100Base-TX) are used for electrical signal transmission at a rate of 100 Mb/s (Fast Ethernet) in full duplex mode.
Connectors: PROFINET cable can be directly connected to all connectors. The connectors used for PROFINET are shielded and designed for use in harsh industrial environments. PROFINET supports only two connector types:
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RJ45
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M12
Switches: A network switch is a device that physically connects devices together in a network. Multiple cables can be connected to a switch to enable networked devices to communicate with each other. Either a managed or an unmanaged Ethernet switch can be used with PROFINET.