am4377: EtherCAT Slave support

Clifford Geschke

Part Number: AM4377
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: AM4377, AM4376

I am trying to decide between the AM4377 and the cheaper AM4376. The only significant difference I see is EtherCAT for the AM4377. Does anyone know if that is EtherCAT slave support? Or is is just some special hardware hooks for making EtherCAT master easier. I would expect any Ethernet device to support EtherCAT master software.

over 8 years ago

0 Biser Gatchev-XID over 8 years ago

TI__Guru**** 393215 points

Hi,

You are correct, this difference concerns only EtherCAT Slave support. EtherCAT Master is supported on all AM437x devices.

0 Clifford Geschke over 8 years ago in reply to Biser Gatchev-XID

Prodigy 160 points

Thanks for the info. One more question:

In most cases, an EtherCAT slave interface requires custom hardware such as an ASIC. Do you know if the AM4377 supports an EtherCAT slave interface with no additional hardware, except for a PHY?

Cliff

0 Biser Gatchev-XID over 8 years ago in reply to Clifford Geschke

TI__Guru**** 393215 points

Yes of course. The low level is implemented on the PRU-ICSS hardware in the processor. Only an external PHY is needed. See this document: www.ti.com/.../spry187e.pdf

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am4377: EtherCAT Slave support