Tab: EtherCAT Slave ­­­– DC Settings

Select DC

List box with all distributed clocks (saved in the device description file)

Example: DC-Synchron

The specific settings for the clock selected here are displayed below.

Enable

: The DC functionality of the EtherCAT Slave controller is enabled.

Sync unit cycle (µs)

Cycle time µs

Example: 4000

The cycle time for the clock synchronization of the EtherCAT Slave with the reference clock is ultimately determined by the master clock and allows for synchronously clocked data exchange.

Enable Sync 0

: Synchronization unit Sync0 is used.

The synchronization unit can be used to synchronously exchange sets of process data.

Sync unit cycle

: Cycle time of the synchronization unit Sync0

Factor

List box with factors

The selected factor is included in the calculation of the slave cycle time.

User-defined

: A custom cycle time (in microseconds) can be specified in the Cycle time (µs) field.

Cycle time (µs)

Displays the cycle time of the slave

Example: 4000

This is either the result of multiplying the set factor by the master cycle time (Sync unit cycle option enabled).

Or it is user-defined (User-defined option enabled).

Shift time (µs)

Manual shift time of the slave (in µs)

Based on Input Reference

: Time calculation based on the input reference

Enable Sync 1

: Synchronization unit Sync1 is used. A synchronization unit describes a set of process data that is exchanged synchronously.

Sync unit cycle

: The master cycle time (multiplied by the factor selected from the list box) is used as the synchronization cycle time for the slave. The Cycle time (µs) field displays the cycle time currently set.

User-defined

: A custom cycle time (in microseconds) can be specified in the Cycle time (µs) field.

Enable Sync 1

: Synchronization unit Sync1 is enabled.

The synchronization unit can be used to synchronously exchange sets of process data.

Sync unit cycle

: Cycle time of the synchronization unit Sync1

Factor

List box with factors

Synchronization cycle time used for the slave.

User-defined

: The desired cycle time (in microseconds) can be specified in the Cycle time (µs) field.

Cycle time (µs)

Displays the cycle time of the slave

Example: 4000

This is either the result of multiplying the set factor by the master cycle time (Sync unit cycle option enabled).

Or it is user-defined (User-defined option enabled).

Shift time (µs)

Manual shift time of the slave (in µs); offset to the global shift time

Based on Input Reference

: Time calculation based on the input reference

Interface for communicating of the DC functionality of the EtherCAT Slave with another controller (another electronic unit)

One or more options for the Distributed Clock function can be activated here that should be used on the local microprocessor. The check is performed in the register at 0x980 in the EtherCAT Slave.

The settings are shown below:

Cycle unit

: The external electronic unit (local microcontroller) is controlled with the DC functionality.

Latch unit 0

: In the slave in the capture unit, the time of an external event is saved in the Latch 0 buffer.

Latch unit 1

: In the slave in the capture unit, the time of an external event is saved in the Latch 1 buffer.