Industrial Single Pair Ethernet Standard

While standard Ethernet has been a mainstay for business enterprise and work center solutions, and industrial Ethernet has brought high-speed communication capabilities to work stations and control devices within the manufacturing setting, there’s been a gap at the field device level. The sensors on the machines that have advanced so incredibly in recent years were held back from communicating with the rest of the network by analog and fieldbus technologies that do not speak the same “language” as high-speed Ethernet. Fortunately, with the newly announced industrial Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) standard, industrial communication will become more transparent, enabling virtually barrier-free connection from the cloud to the field devices connected at the edge.

The new version of IEC 63171-7 (Edition 2) is a significant step in the further development of industrial connectivity and the faster introduction of Industry 4.0. TE's active SPE network components support both M8 and latest M12 connectors. SPE is considered the next step towards end-to-end IP-based communication architectures down to the field level, as it can connect entire production sections, and will also play a vital role in future warehouse logistics. As a single, open, scalable Ethernet-based network within an automation system, SPE helps reduce the complexity and cost of connectivity.

Aligning on the IEC 63171-7 standard is a key step in making the bold future of Industry 4.0 possible. This slim, lightweight yet powerful connectivity solution enables the industry to digitize at the field level and is a critical part of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) infrastructure.

To prepare for the move to smart manufacturing, businesses need to transition their traditional communication and bus system solutions to an Ethernet-based infrastructure. However, without an SPE standard for the industrial market, manufacturers were understandably reluctant to take the leap. Fortunately, that barrier has been lifted with the announcement of the IEC 63171-7 industrial SPE standard.

Creating a universal standard clarifies and streamlines manufacturers’ connectivity choices so they can confidently invest in installing industrial SPE in their field devices (sensors, etc.). Aligning on the IEC 63171-7 standard also enables businesses to use a standardized interface, which improves planning security. It also allows businesses to gain efficiencies in real-time communication and transparency from the cloud to the field level thanks to the Ethernet-based hybrid power/data solution. These two areas are key motivators for manufacturers to make the transition to SPE

Because the M12 connector defined for the hybrid concept is already in wide use throughout the industrial market, the IEC 63171-7 standard will be easier for manufacturers to adopt. It will provide businesses further flexibility to design the network that works for their specific manufacturing needs and gives engineers more leeway to configure software and data so they can create a barrier-free communication ecosystem from the sensor to the cloud, enabling seamless communication from machine to machine and machine to human. This is necessary for businesses to tap into machine learning, artificial intelligence, and other next-generation innovations that are revolutionizing the IIoT. 

The hybrid configuration of the IEC 63171-7 standard also provides increased flexibility to distribute power across networks vs. the point-to-point connection that power-over-data-line Ethernet requires. That means it is possible to distribute higher currents to several cascaded power devices.

After years of driving SPE innovation in the automotive industry, there is a lot of excitement within TE to finally bring the technology’s powerful advantages to manufacturing. Industrial Ethernet connectors and cables have their uses and benefits, but the opportunities inherent in a truly integrated system capable of real-time communication that the IEC 63171-7 industrial SPE standard brings about are staggering. The acceptance of this universal SPE standard will unlock technological advancements for the industrial market and help more businesses optimize their manufacturing.

At TE Connectivity, we deliver next-generation solutions that meet the diverse needs of customers who are looking to gain speed in driving IIoT forward and to help make smart manufacturing a success. TE Connectivity has a robust portfolio of SPE products to help customers meet their ambitious Industry 4.0 goals, the applications expertise to get them there, and offices around the world to serve customers wherever they are.