5
CompoNet Networks Section 1-1
1-1-4 Features of CompoNet Networks
Programless
Communications
With the use of only Round Cable I, Round Cable II, Flat Cable I and Flat
Cable II cables, cyclic data exchange or remote I/O communications can be
achieved between a Master Unit mounted in a PLC and multiple Slave Units.
High-speed Multi-point
Processing
Remote I/O communications for up to 2,560 I/O points can be achieved at
approximately 1,000 points per millisecond (at 4 Mbps, see note). This
enables configuring CompoNet Network systems to replace systems previ-
ously configured with Basic I/O Units.
Note Branch lines cannot be used at 4 Mbps. Slave Units with Cables
(i.e., Bit Slave Units) can thus not be used.
Easy Introduction
Remote I/O communications can be started merely by connecting the Master
Unit and Slave Units with communications cables, setting the switches on the
Master Unit, and turning ON the power to the Slave Units and PLC.
Repeater Units for Greater
Flexibility
Repeater Units can be used in a network to enable the following network
expansions.
• Extending the cable length
• Increasing the number of nodes
• Branching from the trunk line
• Changing the type of cable
Repeater Units can be used to extend up to two segment layers (called sub-
trunk lines) from the trunk line. Up to 64 Repeater Units can be connected per
Master Unit and up to 32 Repeater Units can be connected to the trunk line.
Note Communications power is supplied to a sub-trunk line from the Re-
peater Unit.
Bit-level Distribution Slave Units with industry-standard e-CON connectors or clamping terminal
blocks can be used to distribute I/O at the bit level. This enables distributed
control in distributed devices, such as sensors and other devices located over
a wide area on conveyors or in warehouses.
Bit Slave Units are available in two types: IP20 and IP54.
Five Communications
Modes According to
Number of Nodes, I/O
Points, and Allocated
Memory
There are five communications modes that can be used according to number
of Slave Units, the number of I/O points, and the location of allocated memory.
Memory can be allocated to Slave Units in the Special I/O Unit portion of the
CIO Area or, if the CX-Integrator software settings are used, in any part of the
CIO, DM, Work, and Holding Areas.
This enables efficient application of memory according to the size of the sys-
tem.
Data Exchange with
Message Communications
Message communications can be used from the CX-Integrator running on a
host computer or from the CPU Unit of the PLC to access Slave Units and
Repeater Units on the CompoNet Network. This enables easily improving net-
work and system maintenance.
Easy Maintenance with
Complete System
Monitoring Functions
The CompoNet Network is constantly monitored to enable confirming system
safety by quickly isolating errors and checking communications status.
■ CX-Integrator
The CX-Integrator provides the following network functionality.
• Uploading the network configuration
• Editing and transferring software setting tables
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