The 2009 CIP Networks Conference & 13th Annual Meeting of ODVA was Held in Orlando, Florida, the week of February 22-26, 2009. This conference is for the automation industry, attended by executives, marketing professionals, and technical experts from around the world. The conference features technical, marketing, and training sessions and was attended by more than 100 members. A number of pieces presented at the conference are available in the ODVA 2009 Library. These include a Report on the Affairs of the Corporation Presentation, by Katherine Voss and Rich Harwell, ODVA, (in which POF is highlighted on page 23) as well as both a paper and presentation by Bob Lounsbury of Rockwell Automation on "Polymer Optical Fiber for EtherNet/IP Networks". The EtherNet/IP Chapter 8 Volume 2 ed. 1.6 was published as of November 2008 and has included 1mm POF fiber in two classes of numerical apertures: 0.5NA and 0.3NA. This standard also includes the connectorless transceivers like the Optolock ® and the AVAGO clip style. These are bare cable retaining mechanisms that hold the fiber jacket. This is very big news for the POF industrial community. The connectorless transceiver will be used inside the cabinet (IP-20). This will be welcome news for installers for the ease of routing a bare cable (no connectors), no patch cords, no predetermined lengths, and for the final installation into the transceivers. This installation lets the installer just finish the bare cable using a disposable razor cutter like the FiberFin® model and then simply insert the finished cable into the end of the transceiver and lock it in. It really is that simple! Designers will like it since this is one of the most cost-effective ways to interconnect and has one of the lowest costs of ownership. The new release, Chapter 8 Volume 2 Ed. 1.7, which should be passed in April, will have two 1mm POF connectors: the SCRJ, which is an IP-20 connector, and the IP-67 SCRJ variant 1 shell. This SC-RJ version has a sealed variant 1 shell that is compliant to the IEC standard. These two connectors will cover the industrial needs very well, as the SCRJ, which was founded by Reichle & De-Massari (R&M), is a very robust connector but still fits the small form factor for duplex connectors. ODVA was founded in 1995 and is an international association with members from the world's leading automation companies. Collectively, ODVA and its members support network technologies based on the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP™). These currently include the networks adaptations of CIP — DeviceNet™, EtherNet/IP™, CompoNet™, and ControlNet™, along with the major application extensions to CIP — CIP Safety™ and CIP Motion™. ODVA manages the development of these open technologies and assists manufacturers and users of CIP networks through tools, training, and marketing activities. In addition, ODVA offers conformance testing to help ensure that products built to its specifications operate in multivendor systems. ODVA also is active in other standards development organizations and industry consortia to drive the growth of open communication standards. For more information, visit its Web site at www.odva.org. Paul Mulligan
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