Today, chips smaller than a fingernail have more computing power than our desktop computers 25 years ago. Even network connections and the necessary device electronics have shrunk in size thanks to Single Pair Ethernet (SPE). SPE can therefore also be used to connect small sensors via Ethernet.
IP-capable sensors in particular are becoming increasingly important. Virtualization, whether in the cloud or at the edge, also only works thanks to network communication. Without a common medium, system boundaries would have to be constantly overcome. Thanks to the network, a sensor or actuator becomes a fully-fledged member of IoT applications.
With the periCORE SPE Communication Module, Perinet has developed the world's first SPE-based electronics for direct integration into simple sensors and actuators. Thanks to its small form factor, it can be installed in sensor housings to connect them directly to the IT world and thus seamlessly provide data to the outside world. Instead of analog raw values, physical values are then transmitted in the respective units of measurement and thus generally understandable information.
The module gives these devices both hardware and software network capability so that they can be easily integrated. This turns formerly passive sensors and actuators into intelligent devices that can pre-process data and work on an event basis. At the same time, the entire network technology, including state-of-the-art security and firmware management, is already implemented and ready for use.
The intended use of the periCORE module is in an OEM customer's end product. As a white label product, the periCORE firmware architecture supports extensions by the OEM customer.
The periCORE communication module offers a variety of external interfaces to meet the requirements of an IIoT Industry 4.0 environment. It is also part of Perinet's other Smart Components, which include a media converter, a 3-port switch and the periNODE adapter.
In addition, it is possible to rebrand and customize customer devices with minimal development effort. With the additional periCORE Development Kit, Perinet provides the infrastructure for software development. This allows the customer to create specific firmware for the periCORE.
The periCORE Development Kit - consisting of the periCORE Development Board and various daughter boards - is a set of tools for creating and testing customized IIoT sensor and actuator applications that can be implemented with the periCORE SPE communication module. The aim is to create a corresponding IIoT environment that enables this efficiently.
The idea from a software perspective is to develop customized applications using the basic functionalities. OEM providers can use the development kit to upgrade their devices for specific applications. This results in great savings potential for predictive maintenance and asset management.
The periCORE Development Board is designed to simplify this. The hardware design of the board consists of different parts on both the network communication and sensor side to support a wide range of applications. This allows the user to evaluate different network and sensor interfaces on the periCORE Development Board.
A special security concept ensures full data protection through end-to-end encryption. The software is updated regularly, but Perinet's customers, as the owners of the licenses, have complete freedom of choice when it comes to version management.
