One of the most interesting topics at the 2007 Hanover Trade Fair was the new IO-Link communication standard. Twenty-four renowned companies from the field of sensor and automation technology have joined to form an IO-Link consortium.

One of the stated objectives of the members is to reduce the various ‘languages’ used by their sensors to a single version, putting an end to the communication chaos that prevails between sensors and the control level. Together they developed IO-Link as a new uniform standard – and Wenglor is making its contribution as well.

However, the idea of operating sensors and evaluating their signals on a PC is nothing new for Wenglor.

In 1996, when the new era of processor-controlled sensor technology was dawning with the advent of teachable sensors, Wenglor had already integrated a serial interface into all teachable sensors as standard equipment. Wenglor sensors can be configured, and can read out data to the controller, via this interface.

Thanks to implementation of the standardised IO-Link interface for Wenglor sensors, customers are now even better able to incorporate this time-tested interface function into controls. In addition, standard inputs and master gateways are available as well.

Wenglor's IO-Link sensors can still be used as PNP/NPN sensors; IO-Link functions are only activated after connection to an IO-Link master.

Wenglor claims that the most important goal for IO-Link has now crystallised: quick and easy installation and initial start-up. Thanks to IO-Link, sensor data will, in the future, be stored centrally. In the case of sensors with an IO-Link interface, basic settings can be entered via the control system; for example, normally-closed or normally-open, switching distance and release time. Each IO-Link sensor can be conveniently configured in a central fashion at an industrial PC. Configuration directly at the device, for which access is frequently difficult, is therefore no longer necessary.

Users are therefore able to react flexibly, and immediately adapt configuration settings to new requirements, even while the machine is running or during product changeovers. Idle time is a thing of the past. This applies to servicing as well during replacement of an IO-Link sensor; configuration data is simply transferred to the new sensor.

IO-Link provides detailed diagnosis and maintenance information. These can be requested as required, and displayed in the superimposed visualisation. This assures error pinpointing all the way down to the sensor level, helping to reduce downtime.

Wenglor is equipping its standard products – such as retro-reflective sensors, reflex sensors and universal reflex sensors – with the IO-Link.

A Wenglor adapter box is also in development, which will make it possible to connect Wenglor sensors with an RS 232 interface to the IO-Link system. An IO-Link master is being planned in addition to the adapter box. A master is a module that is connected to a master bus system on the one hand, and, on the other hand, to one or more sensors via the IO-Link interface.

For more information, visit www.wenglor.de