IO-Link is a simple, point-to-point communication protocol between an IO-Link enabled device, typically a sensor or actuator, and an IO-Link master. This technology has now been implemented in ifm electronic’s PN7 series pressure sensors.
The PN7 pressure sensor offers a choice of switchpoints or analog values as well as parameter setting, diagnosis and transmission of process values via IO-Link. It features high switchpoint accuracy and switching frequency. Its overload resistant ceramic measuring cell is designed for more than 100 million switching operations.
When connected to an IO-Link master, the sensors have additional features. For example IO-Link allows the process measurement data, parameters and diagnostic information to be transmitted via the standard connection cable. This information is then made available to the host PLC. It allows, for example, the transmission of the pressure as a digital value, rather than going through a digital to analog conversion for transmission and then the opposite conversion on reaching the PLC. This gives a more accurate value, free from conversion errors, on which to base plant control decisions. The IO-Link master also stores the setup parameters of the connected sensor. If a replica sensor has to be installed, the IO-Link master recognises it is a blank replacement and automatically copies the stored setup into the newly connected sensor. This eliminates the need for complex re-parameterisation.
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