CompoNet™ provides users with a bit-level network to control small, high speed machines and the CIP Network services to connect to the plant and the enterprise. Complementary to the family of CIP Networks (DeviceNet™, ControlNet™ and EtherNet/IP™), CompoNet fulfills all the requirements of applications using large numbers of simple sensors and actuators by providing high speed communications with configuration tools and combining this with efficient construction, simple set-up and high availability – all on a single network.
CompoNet uses Time Division Multiple Access ("TDMA") in its network layer. This approach combines with a physical layer designed to minimize transmission delays and automatically compensates for potential collisions within the CompoNet hierarchy to provide a deterministic network with the ability to update large numbers of nodes at state-of the-art update rates. In addition, CompoNet includes an option for power (24V DC, 5A) and signal in the same cable with the ability to remove and replace nodes under power.