Renesas Electronics unveils TPS-1 component

The chip is based on a licensing agreement with KW-Software, a subsidiary of Phoenix Contract Group that specialises in providing industrial technologies. According to Renesas, the collaboration has enabled it to provide the device and first level support through its sales network, while KW-Software is providing second level system support. The TPS-1 component, a single chip PROFINET I/O device interface, has been jointly developed by Siemens and Phoenix Contract. According to Renesas, it is a highly integrated single chip device used to build factory and machine networks that support PROFINET – an Ethernet based next generation industrial protocol that has more than 1400 members. The device features two Ethernet connection ports with integrated IRT capable switch and PHYs. It has built in PROFINET industrial protocol with RT and IRT support, Conformance Class C, and not external ram is required. Renesas says the TPS-1 is suitable for applications such as compact remote I/O devices, drives and other industrial peripherals. Samples are available now, with mass production scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2012 in Europe, the US and Japan.