EtherCAT® Series, Controllers

Products in this category serve as essential tools for establishing connectivity and enabling communication between endpoints that utilize different communication protocols or signaling methods. Their main purpose is to bridge the gap between diverse interfaces and ensure smooth interoperability. For instance, these products include devices that connect an I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) bus to a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter), USB (Universal Serial Bus) to I2C, SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface), Ethernet, or UART. They act as intermediaries, allowing seamless data exchange between these disparate interfaces. Ethernet MACs (Media Access Controllers) and PHYs (Physical Layer Transceivers) are also part of this family. These components are responsible for handling the Ethernet communication protocol, enabling wired network connections. Additionally, these products encompass devices used to establish multi-way connections utilizing point-to-point communication interfaces. For example, USB hub controllers allow multiple USB devices to connect to a single USB port, expanding the connectivity options and facilitating efficient data transfer. In summary, products in this category play a crucial role in providing informatic connectivity between endpoints with different communication protocols or signaling methods. They include devices that bridge interfaces such as I2C, UART, USB, SPI, and Ethernet. They also encompass Ethernet MACs, PHYs, and devices facilitating multi-way connections like USB hub controllers.