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Texas Instruments first semiconductor company to license EtherCAT® technology for embedded ARM®- and DSP+ARM-based devices

-- New license demonstrates TI's commitment to industrial markets

-- TI implementation of EtherCAT technology allows design flexibility as industrial standards evolve

-- TI devices featuring EtherCAT technology coming in 4Q 2011

HANNOVER, Germany, April 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In conjunction with Hannover Faire, the world's largest industrial trade show, Texas Instruments (TI) (NYSE: TXN) demonstrates its commitment to the industrial market and announces it is the first semiconductor company to license Ethernet for Control Automation Technology (EtherCAT®) for its ARM®- and DSP+ARM-based embedded processors.  This new, ground-breaking industrial Ethernet technology will be featured in TI's upcoming Sitara(TM) ARM microprocessors (MPUs) planned for the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2011 and in TI's C6-Integra(TM) DSP+ARM processors beginning in 2012.

Benefits of EtherCAT technology

    --  Increases efficiency: EtherCAT technology is based on the principle of
        fast processing on the fly.  EtherCAT messages are passed from node to
        node and processed while they are passed, which improves speed and
        efficiency in industrial systems. Overall industrial application
        performance is also improved with shorter reaction times, enabling
        increased operational efficiency.
    --  Ease of use: EtherCAT uses the standard IEEE 802.3 frames and physical
        layer.  No external switches or hubs are necessary because the EtherCAT
        slave controllers forward the frames automatically.  Most devices embed
        two RJ-45 ports, which are commonly utilized data ports for Ethernet
        connections.  Auto-configuration of the EtherCAT technology is
        supported.  No manual address setting is required and no network tuning
        is needed.
    --  Lowers costs:  With the use of standard cabling and no external hubs or
        switches needed, this lowers the EtherCAT technology costs.  There are
        also lower configuration costs with the auto-configuration support.

Benefits of TI embedded ARM-based solutions:

    --  Integration:  System-on-chip solution based on TI's most advanced
        silicon technology, integrating the EtherCAT slave controller. This
        on-chip integration allows the user to be tightly coupled to the
        application processor which provides high throughput, low latency
        access, board space savings and lower total costs.
    --  Flexibility:  The programmable real-time unit (PRU) allows for flexible
        implementation that can more easily adapt as industrial standards evolve
        over time.

"The EtherCAT Protocol technology sets new standards for the real-time performance and flexibility that are critical for TI's embedded ARM-based devices geared toward the industrial market. With its popularity today in industrial drive and input/output applications, EtherCAT, a leading industrial communication protocol, is used to allow master and slave controllers to communicate with each other without a host computer in high-noise industrial environments," said Ram Sathappan, industrial automation manager, TI.  "The TI approach to EtherCAT with the programmable real-time unit (PRU) on TI's Sitara ARM MPUs and C6-Integra DSP + ARM processors allows for flexible implementation that can more easily adapt as industrial standards evolve over time."

"With TI's integration of an EtherCAT interface in several product lines, this turns EtherCAT into a mainstream technology beyond the automation world," Martin Rostan, executive director, EtherCAT Technology Group.  "We are thrilled about this milestone development which will open entirely new markets for EtherCAT and help EtherCAT to establish a strong position in a wide range of embedded applications, further accelerating the adoption of EtherCAT in the industrial market."

Learn more about EtherCAT at Hannover Fair

To learn more about EtherCAT technology, please visit the EtherCAT Technology Group at the Hannover Fair, Hall 9, booth D18.

About Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments semiconductor innovations help 80,000 customers unlock the possibilities of the world as it could be - smarter, safer, greener, healthier and more fun.  Our commitment to building a better future is ingrained in everything we do - from the responsible manufacturing of our semiconductors, to caring for our employees, to giving back inside our communities.  This is just the beginning of our story.  Learn more at http://www.ti.com.

Trademarks

Sitara and C6-Integra are trademarks of Texas Instruments.  All other trademarks and registered trademarks belong to their respective owners.

SOURCE  Texas Instruments

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20010105/NEF016LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Texas Instruments

CONTACT: Christi Davidson of GolinHarris, +1-972-341-2584, cdavidson@golinharris.com, for Texas Instruments; or Amy Szeto of Texas Instruments, +1-214-567-7513, a-drozd@ti.com (Please do not publish these numbers or e-mail addresses.)

Web Site: http://www.ti.com

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