1. Skip to navigation
  2. Skip to content
  3. Skip to sidebar

Frequency Asked Questions: FT 5000 Smart Transceiver & Neuron 5000 Processor

Find answers to many common product questions here.

For electrical and mechanical specifications, download the FT 5000 Smart Transceiver datasheet (PDF) or the Neuron 5000 Processor datasheet (PDF). For detailed information about both products, download the 5000 Series Chip Data Book (PDF).

General Information

General Information

What are the members of the 5000 Series of products?
The term "5000 Series" describes these new products:

  • FT 5000 Smart Transceiver
  • Neuron 5000 Processor
  • Router 5000

What are the members of the 3100 Series of products? Are these new products?
The members of the 3100 Series of products are not new, but the term "3100 Series" is. It's used to describe any or all of the following existing Echelon products:

  • FT 3120 Free Topology Smart Transceiver
  • FT 3150 Free Topology Smart Transceiver
  • FTXL 3190 Free Topology Transceiver
  • PL 3120 Power Line Smart Transceiver
  • PL 3150 Power Line Smart Transceiver
  • PL 3170 Power Line Smart Transceiver
  • Neuron 3120 Chip
  • Neuron 3150 Chip

The term "3100 Series" lets us contrast prior-generation Neuron Core products with the 5000 Series of next-generation Neuron Core products.

What are the key benefits of the 5000 Series chips over the current FT 3120/3150 Smart Transceivers, or the 3100 Series Neuron Chips with FTT-10A Free Topology Transceiver solution? Why should I migrate to the new solution?

The FT 5000 Smart Transceiver and Neuron 5000 Processor provide the following benefits:

  • Faster Performance and New Features
    • Many higher-performance features
    • Increased memory space for application and data
  • Smaller
    • Small QFN package
    • Use small external memories (8-pin SOIC packages)
  • More Cost-Effective
    • 3.3V chip
    • Less interface circuitry and/or on-board power supplies
    • Lower-cost device designs

Chip Availability and Sampling

How do I order 5000 Series chips? How will they be shipped?
You can order any of the Series 5000 products through Echelon’s sales channels.  

Product

Model Number
FT 5000 Smart Transceiver 14235R-2000
Neuron 5000 Processor 14305R-2000
FT-X3 Communication Transformer 14255R-400
Router 5000 14315R-100

How do I order samples? How will they be shipped?
Samples will be available directly from Echelon or Echelon distributors in various geographic regions.Here are the model numbers for ordering the samples: 

  • FT 5000 Smart Transceiver Sample Kit (contains 5 units of FT 5000 Smart Transceivers and 5 units of FT-X3 Communication Transfromer): Model number 14235R-ES.
  • Neuron 5000 Processor Sample Kit (contains 5 units): Model number 14305R-ES.
For more information, contact your Echelon sales representative.

Neuron Firmware Version Information

Will the 5000 Series chips need new firmware? How will it be distributed?
The FT 5000 Smart Transceiver and the Neuron 5000 Processor require Neuron Firmware Version 19. Each chip will be pre-programmed with the Version 19 system firmware in the 16KB on-chip ROM. Older versions of the Neuron firmware cannot be used with the FT 5000 Smart Transceiver or the Neuron 5000 Processor.

What are the implications of the new Version 19 firmware?
You will need to recompile your existing application code

Will I be able to update the system firmware in the future?
Yes. The external non-volatile memory can be programmed with a newer system firmware image (when available), which the 5000 Series chip can copy into RAM during device reset.

Architectural Information

What external and internal clock rates do the 5000 Series chips support?
The FT 5000 Smart Transceiver and the Neuron 5000 Processor each require an external 10MHz crystal oscillator. From this external clock, an on-chip phase-locked loop (PLL) applies a user-specified multiplier to generate the internal clock for the chip. The maximum multiplier is 8, resulting in a maximum internal clock speed of 80 MHz. The 3100 Series chips used a fixed multiplier of 0.5, so that a 10MHz external clock resulted in a 5MHz internal clock. As a result, a 5000 Series chip running with a 10MHz crystal and the maximum 8 times clock multiplier is 16 times faster than a 3100 Series chip running with a 10MHz crystal and the fixed 0.5 multiplier.

How many network variables does a 5000 Series chip support?
A 5000 Series chip supports up to 254 network variables (NVs). The previous limit was 62 NVs for Neuron-hosted devices, requiring an Echelon ShortStack® Micro Server and an external microprocessor to support up to 254 NVs. The 5000 Series chips support up to 254 NVs without requiring a ShortStack Micro Server.

If your device requires more than 254 NVs, use an FTXL™ 3190 Free Topology Transceiver, which supports up to 4,096 NVs.

How many address table entries does a 5000 Series chip support?
Like a 3100 Series chip, a 5000 Series chip supports up to 15 address table entries. If your device requires more than 15, use an FTXL 3190 Free Topology Transceiver, which supports up to 4,096 address table entries.

How can I use the new interrupt support?
A 5000 Series chip provides hardware support for user and system interrupts. You use new Neuron C language keywords to define user interrupts within your application, and the hardware provides a separate CPU for interrupt processing. New Neuron C language keywords also help you manage access to shared resources by allowing you to lock and unlock shared resources.

One application for interrupts could be to provide audio output for your application. Audio output generally requires a minimum of an 8kHz signal, and a 5000 Series chip can process interrupts at an 8kHz rate while providing full network communication support for the application. Such interrupt support requires the 5000 Series chip to run its internal system clock at a minimum of 20 MHz.

I/O Model Information

Do the 5000 Series chips support all the I/O models that were supported by 3100 Series chips?
Yes. 5000 Series chips support 35 I/O models. They also integrate support for I/O models that were previously supported only by PL 3120/3150/3170 Power Line Smart Transceivers: Infrared Pattern Output, Magcard Bitstream I/O, SCI (UART) I/O, and SPI I/O. In addition, 5000 Series chips support an additional triac I/O model — the Stretched Triac Output model — for improved triac device management.

Memory Information

Do the 5000 Series chips use external memory?
Yes. The 5000 Series chips need at least 2KB of external EEPROM for application configuration data, and need additional external EEPROM or external flash memory for application code and any non-volatile application data. 5000 Series chips do not have user-accessible on-chip non-volatile memory.

What kind of external memory interface do the 5000 Series chips use?
5000 Series chips use a serial memory interface for external non-volatile memory devices. The chips support both the Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) and Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) protocols for managing external non-volatile memory. A 5000 Series chip dedicates only 6 pins (5 for SPI or 2 for I2C — one pin is shared by both interfaces) to the external memory interface. In comparison, FT 3150 Free Topology Smart Transceivers used a parallel memory interface for external non-volatile memory devices, and dedicated 26 pins to the external memory interface.

Can I use the serial memory SPI or I2C interface for general I/O as well as for memory?
No. The SPI or I2C serial memory interface is dedicated to managing one or two serial memory devices. To manage general device I/O, use one of the serial memory I/O models with the 12 available I/O pins (IO0..IO11).

How much external memory do the 5000 Series chips require?  How much EEPROM and how much flash?
5000 Series chips support up to 64KB of external non-volatile memory. Exactly how much memory is needed depends on the size of the device’s application code and non-volatile data. This memory can be provided by a single EEPROM device or by a combination of EEPROM and flash. However, a 5000 Series chip needs at least 2KB of EEPROM for all applications.

EEPROM devices can use either the SPI or I2C protocols, whereas flash memory devices must use the SPI protocol.

What EEPROM and flash devices do the 5000 Series chips support?
5000 Series chips support any EEPROM device that uses the SPI or I2C protocol, and meets the clock speed and addressing requirements described in the FT 5000 Smart Transceiver datasheet (PDF), the Neuron 5000 Processor datasheet (PDF), or the Series 5000 Chip Data Book.

While all EEPROM devices have a uniform write procedure, flash devices from various manufacturers differ slightly in their write procedure. A small library routine is stored in the external EEPROM device that helps the system write successfully into the external flash device. Echelon has qualified the following SPI flash memory devices for use with a 5000 Series chip:

  • Atmel® AT25F512B 512-Kilobit 2.7-volt Minimum SPI Serial Flash Memory
  • Numonyx™ M25P05-A 512-Kbit, serial flash memory, 50 MHz SPI bus interface
  • Silicon Storage Technology SST25VF512A 512 Kbit SPI Serial Flash

Additional devices may be qualified in the future.

What kind of performance and integrity do the 5000 Series chips provide for external non-volatile memory?
Concern for external memory performance is generally restricted to two areas: device reset (or start-up) and memory accesses (reads or writes) during application processing. Because 5000 Series chips copy the contents of the external non-volatile memory to on-chip RAM during device reset, you can expect approximately an extra 50 ms to be added to device reset for this process. However, device reset should be a relatively exceptional event for devices in the field. Also, because all application access to memory is to the on-chip RAM, external memory performance does not affect application processing. Writes to the external memory (for non-volatile application data) are managed by the system firmware.

External memory integrity is also maintained by the system firmware. Improper application writes to memory that are not caught by the system firmware result in a watchdog reset of the device, and do not affect the external memory.

Noise Immunity

What improvements can I expect from the communications transformer incorporated with the FT 5000 Smart Transceiver solution? How will it help in complying with the European EN61000-4-6 regulations?
The FT 5000 Smart Transceiver, in conjunction with the FT-X3 Communication Transformer, offers improvements over the FTT-10A Free Topology Transceiver in two areas:

  • Magnetic noise immunity
  • Common mode noise immunity

Magnetic noise immunity

Our laboratory characterization indicates that the FT 5000 Smart Transceiver is typically 10 times more immune to interference from stray magnetic fields than the FTT-10A transceiver.

Common mode noise immunity

Our laboratory characterization indicates that the FT 5000 Smart Transceiver is typically 10 times more immune to high frequency (150kHz–80MHz) common mode noise interference than the FTT-10A transceiver.

An upgrade to the FT 5000 solution will significantly improve immunity to common mode noise. The resulting immunity should exceed European EN61000-4-6 Level 2 specifications (3Vrms common mode noise).

Is it necessary to use a magnetic shield with an FT 5000 Smart Transceiver?
No. The need for magnetic shields is eliminated by the 10x improvement in magnetic noise immunity that the FT 5000 Smart Transceiver typically offers over the FTT-10A transceiver.

Is it necessary to use a Network Isolation Choke with an FT 5000 Smart Transceiver?
No. The FT 5000 Smart Transceiver can communicate reliably in the presence of over 3Vrms of common mode noise (EN61000-4-6 Level 2). This level of immunity will eliminate the need for a network isolation choke in most light industrial applications. By implementing the modifications to the standard FTT-10A ESD/surge protection circuitry (see the Series 5000 Chip Data Book), the FT 5000 Smart Transceivers will be able to communicate reliably in the presence of 10Vrms of common mode noise (EN61000-4-6 Level 3) without the need for a network isolation choke.

Pin Compatibility and Migration Path

Are the 5000 Series chips pin-compatible with 3100 Series chips?
No. A 5000 Series chip has 48 pins, and a much smaller QFN package type than a 3100 Series chip. A 3100 Series chip has 32, 44, or 64 pins (depending on the model), and a SOIC-32, TQFP-44, or TQFP-64 package type. Also, 5000 Series chips use 3.3V supply voltage, whereas 3100 Series chips use 5V supply voltage. The memory architecture used by 5000 Series chips is also different. Hence, new hardware design is required to migrate from 3100 Series chips to 5000 Series chips.

However, a 5000 Series chip retains many pin similarities with 3100 Series chips, including  the 12 I/O pins (IO1..IO11), the network communications port pins (CP0..CP4 for the Neuron 5000 Processor or NETP/NETN for the FT 5000 Smart Transceiver), a Service pin, a Reset pin, and clock pins (for the external crystal).

Are there any changes in the dimensions of the 5000 Series chip-based solutions?
Device designs based on 5000 Series chips are expected to be smaller in size because the FT 5000 Smart Transceiver and the Neuron 5000 Processor each have a small 7mm x 7mm 48-pin QFN package.

What are the differences between the FT-X3 Communication Transformer and the FT-X1 or FT-X2 Communication Transformers?
The FT-X3 Communication Transformer is a surface-mount technology (SMT) part, and is electrically compatible with the FT 5000 Smart Transceiver and with the previous-generation FT 3120/3150 Free Topology Smart Transceivers.

The FT-X3 Communication Transformer provides equivalent noise immunity to the FT-X1 and FT-X2 Communication Transformers (the previous-generation communication transformers). However, the FT-X3 is not pin-compatible with the FT-X2 (a surface mount transformer) or the FT-X1 (a through-hole transformer).

The FT 5000 Smart Transceiver can be used with the FT-X1 and FT-X2 Communication Transformer, in addition to the FT-X3 Communication Transformer.

What are the recommended migration paths?
Most device designs that use previous-generation FT 3120/3150 Smart Transceivers or Neuron 3120/3150 Chips can migrate to a 5000 Series chip.

We recommend the following migration path for devices based on an FT 3120/3150 Free Topology Smart Transceiver plus an FT-X1 or FT-X2 Communication Transformer:

  • FT 5000 Smart Transceiver plus FT-X3 Communication Transformer

We recommend the following migration path for devices based on Neuron 3120/3150 Chips:

  • Neuron 5000 Processor plus external transceiver

However, for devices with a Neuron 3120/3150 Chip plus the FTT-10A transceiver, we recommend migrating to an FT 5000 Smart Transceiver plus FT-X3 Communication Transformer. Also, for devices that use the EIA 485 channel type, if your device design is flexible enough to allow either the EIA 485 channel or the TP/TF-10 channel, we recommend migrating to the TP/FT-10 channel and an FT 5000 Smart Transceiver plus FT-X3 Communication Transformer.

A Neuron 5000 Processor supports the TP/XF-1250 channel type, but the Neuron Chip must be configured to operate in the 3.3V Single-Ended Mode and the device must include external circuitry to provide Single-Ended to Differential Mode conversion for the TP/XF-1250 transceiver.

Can I migrate from my current FTT-10A Free Topology Transceiver and Neuron Chip application to the new FT 5000 Smart Transceiver?
A device based on an FT 5000 Smart Transceiver with the FT-X3 Communication Transformer can run the same applications with the same functionality as a Neuron 3120/3150 Chip with an FTT-10A transceiver. In addition, an FT 5000 Smart Transceiver with the FT-X3 Communication Transformer has the same levels of transient immunity, with improved magnetic field noise immunity, and improved common-mode network noise immunity (as tested per EN 61000-4-6).

Will the FT 5000 Smart Transceivers require an external Low Voltage Detector (LVD)?
External LVDs will not be required for designs using the FT 5000 Smart Transceiver. However, the FT 5000 Smart Transceiver will require an external pulse-stretching LVD for designs using external flash memory.

Electrical Information

Does a 5000 Series chip require two power supplies?
No. 5000 Series chips require a single 3.3V power supply. The 5000 Series chips have an on-chip voltage regulator to provide a 1.8V reference for several on-chip functions. However, you must connect the output of the voltage regulator to these input pins. See the Connecting a Neuron® 5000 Processor to an External Transceiver Engineering Bulletin for more information.

Must I connect the chip's pad to ground?
Yes. 5000 Series chips require that the chip's pad be connected to logic ground on the device PCB.

5000 Series Device Programming

How can I program a 5000 Series chip?
You can program the device's external non-volatile memory using off-the-shelf universal device programmers from major vendors. Customers and distributors who already own a universal programmer from qualified vendors will need only the appropriate socket module and a software upgrade from the programmer vendor. When using universal device programmers, you'll need to use the NodeBuilder FX Development Tool or Mini FX Evaluation Kit to create an image file.

You can also program the external memory in-circuit using an appropriate SPI or I2C in-circuit programmer, or program it over the LonWorks network using a network management tool (such as the LonMaker® Integration Tool or the NodeLoad utility).

Miscellaneous

Can I create a physical layer repeater using the FT 5000 Smart Transceiver?
No. If your application requirements exceed the maximum number of transceivers per segment, you will have to use either a LonWorks router or an FTT-10A transceiver-based physical layer repeater.

Does Echelon intend to phase out the FTT-10A Free Topology Transceiver or the FT 3120/3150 Smart Transceiver?
No, we have no current plans to do so.

Can I use link power with the Neuron 5000 Processor? Does Echelon intend to phase out the LPT-11 Link Power Transceiver?
Yes, you can use the LPT-11 Link Power Transceiver with a Neuron 5000 Processor. However, this transceiver produces and uses 5V, so you will need additional circuitry (such as a level shifter and 3V linear regulator) to use it with a Neuron 5000 Processor. See the 5000 Series Chip Data Book for more information.

We have no current plans to phase out the LPT-11 Link Power Transceiver.

Does Echelon intend to drop support for the TP/XF-78 channel type?
No, we have no current plans to stop supporting the TP/XF-78 channel type. However, the Neuron 5000 Processor does not support this channel type.

HTTP/1.1 200 OK Content-Length: 42844 Content-Type: text/html Server: Microsoft-IIS/7.5