Sensors, actuators, cameras and switches are just some of the field components that are getting smaller and smaller as they follow the trend for miniaturisation. The trend for shrinking devices, their housings and naturally their inner workings more and more is also a calculated enterprise, as materials, energy and space are just some of the resources that can be saved. At the same time, smaller and smaller field components need to be able to communicate via the Ethernet.

And components don’t just need to be smaller – they also need to speak a single language end-to-end, right down to the last sensor: Ethernet, Power and Data are the vital lifelines, but two separate connections are now a luxury from back in the days of bigger housings. This means that PoE is the number one prerequisite for supplying both lifelines via a single interface.

But what happens if they fail as device manufacturers due to the trend for miniaturisation simply because connectors are too big? The logical answer is that connectivity has to shrink, too. HARTING saw the trend for miniaturisation a while ago now. With the
M8 D-coded, HARTING now offers a connector that carries power and 100 Mbit Ethernet to the smallest field application.

And the PCB version even goes straight to your application’s circuit board. Following the tradition of the larger circular connectors, it is IP67 protected and can also carry the necessary power to small field components via PoE. Standardisation to PAS IEC 61076-2-114 also makes it a safe investment, as it can be combined with the connectors and sockets of various manufacturers. This means that all users can benefit from a smaller but totally reliable interface for miniaturisation.