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The netX is a highly integrated network controller with a new system architecture optimized for communication and maximum data throughput.

Via an integrated dual-port memory it works as an companion chip to a host CPU and realises the complete scope of industrial communication from fieldbus systems up to the Real-Time Ethernet systems. Allows the application no own CPU the host interface can be configured as Extension Bus or directly as digital input and output. The 32-Bit CPU ARM 966E-S is clocked with 200 MHz and has 112 KB internal RAM and 64 KByte ROM memory. The memory can be expanded flexible by the 32-Bit memory controller with SDRAM, SRAM or FLASH externally. Extensive periphery functions, serial interfaces such as UART, USB, SPI, I²C, as well as the integrated IO-Link and CCD controller allows a large scope of applications. The central data switch and the free configurable communication channels with its own intelligence are the unique selling proposition of the netX as an “high end” network controller.

The data switch connects via five data paths to the ARM CPU and the communication, Host and DMA controllers with the memory or the peripheral units. In this way the controllers transmit their data in parallel, contrary to the traditional sequential architecture with only one common data bus and additional bus allocation cycles.

The controllers of the two communication channels are structured on two levels and are identical to each other. They consist of dedicated ALUs and special logic units that receive their protocol functions via Microcode. For Ethernet the PHYs are integrated which means that the external circuit for Ethernet is reduced to passive componets: transformer and RC components. The Medium-Access-Controller xMAC sends or receives the data according to the respective bus access process and encrypts or converts these into Byte depictions. The Protocol Execution Controller xPEC compiles these into data packets and controls the telegram traffic. Large data amoutns are exchanged in DMA blocks over the memory of the ARM. In addition, every channel has a Dual-port-memory available for status information. Alternatively a triple buffer logic is implemented for a conflict free data exchange which always gives the address of the next free buffer.

With the intelligent communication ALUs, the netX carries out the most varied protocols and protocol combinations on one chip – an absolutely new feature in industrial communication technology.