"EtherCAT standard is a proven and robust industrial communication protocol that is expanding its market presence in drive and I/O applications," said Mitch Obolsky, vice president of Microchip's USB and Networking Group. "By adding this technology to our Ethernet controllers, we plan to provide engineers with compelling new connectivity options for their designs."
EtherCAT offers 'on the fly' processing and allows the use of standard Ethernet cabling. EtherCAT has also been shown to have the highest throughput of any industrial Ethernet standard.
"Microchip's decision to implement EtherCAT technology will further accelerate the adoption of our communication standard within the industrial control segment and beyond," said Martin Rostan, executive director of the EtherCAT Technology Group. "We welcome this move, which expands the choice of EtherCAT Slave Controller chips for our members. Microchip is making a clear statement by adding EtherCAT technology to its silicon, as a real-time Ethernet option for its customers."
