Single Pair Ethernet for operator control stations

An industrial automation system, comprising:

• a drive configured to receive a first alternative current (AC) voltage from a power source and provide a second AC voltage to a load device, the drive including a control system;
• at least one input interface configured to receive a user input;
• a communication interface configured to communicate with the drive and communicatively coupled to the control system, wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate using an Ethernet communication protocol;
• a controller communicatively coupled to the communication interface, wherein the controller is configured to perform operations comprising:
• generating a signal based on the user input, wherein the signal is configured to instruct the control system to operate the drive;
• and
• providing the signal to the communication interface for transmission to the drive via the Ethernet communication protocol;
• wherein the communication interface is configured to transmit the signal to the control system via an In-cabinet Bus infrastructure, wherein the In-cabinet Bus infrastructure comprises at least seven conductors, wherein the at least seven conductors comprise:
• a Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) pair, wherein the SPE pair is configured to implement an SPE communication protocol;
• a switched power pair;
• a network power pair;
• and
• a select line.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, via a user input interface of an operator control station, a user input, wherein the operator control station comprises a communication interface configured to communicate with one or more devices of an industrial automation system, including a first device via an Ethernet communication protocol;
• generating, via a controller of the operator control station, a signal based on the user input, wherein the signal is configured to instruct the first device to control at least one component of the industrial automation system;
• providing the signal to the communication interface for transmission to the first device according to a Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) communication protocol;
• and
• transmitting the signal via the communication interface to the one or more devices via an In-cabinet Bus infrastructure, wherein the In-cabinet Bus infrastructure comprises at least seven conductors, wherein the at least seven conductors comprise:
• an SPE pair, wherein the SPE pair is configured to implement an SPE communication protocol;
• a switched power pair;
• a network power pair;
• and
• a select line.