The Future of Ethernet in Industrial Automation

In industrial automation, human machine interfaces (HMIs) evolve by the second. The introduction of programmable logic controllers (PLCs), factory floor robotics, machine vision and machine learning changes the way people interact with technology in business. With high computing power, automation can collect, process, and analyze data throughout the factory for improved process flow, decreased costs and boosted efficiency. Achieving these results requires higher speed and increased connection distances in addition to other needs.  

Ethernet ranks at the top of the list for most successful communications protocols in our new connected world. The most popular physical layer choice for Ethernet remains copper twisted pair cable, making the RJ45 jack one of the most common components used in industrial machines.

The constant drive to process more data with each generation of new equipment places pressure on copper’s inherent bandwidth and link length limitations. This is why various categories (Cat 5, Cat 6, etc.) of twisted pair cables exist. Additionally, physical layer ICs (PHYs) use various signaling and encoding methods, which increase the effective data throughput over bandwidth limited cable connections.

The advantage of twisted pair cable is its low cost and ubiquitous install base. Cable cannot easily be upgraded each time new Ethernet equipment is purchased. One way to increase data rate on without upgrading cable infrastructure, is by introducing intermediate data rates. By offering the choice to increase data rate by 2X or 5X rather than 10X, PHYs can boost data throughput on existing cabling. New standards such as 5GBase-T, 2.5GBase-T, actually NBase-T, permit the optimum use of bandwidth over any installed twisted pair cable. 

Check out Abracon’s ARJM11s for samples.

Other information about Arbacon's line of RJ45s: 

ARJM11 Product Flyer

Multiport RJ45 Jacks Flyer