New sensor for the IoT

Louise Davis

Generating, transporting and processing information are central tasks in the Industry 4.0 environment. The basis for all the information is intelligent sensors. With its BOS 21M Adcap Balluff will be launching a newly developed optical multifunction device.

The versatile all-rounder uses red light and lets designers choose from among four sensor modes: background suppression, energetic diffuse,
retroreflective or through-beam sensor. All the functions can be configured over an IO-Link while the system is running, so that remote
toleration can be initiated.

In addition the sensor detects actual operating conditions, collects and processes information and provides far more data than just the switching
signals over the IO-Link. Detection signals are prepared and pre-processed in the sensor. This relieves the burden on the system controller and reduces data volume on the fieldbus systems.

Comprehensive, smart diagnostics functions provide important information such as life expectancy, operating hours and function reserve. Increasing amount dirt deposits, sensor misalignment, setting errors or other irregularities can then be reliably detected early by monitoring the
emissivity values as a measure of the sensor signal quality. 

The BOS 21M Adcap is the first to optically monitor the output of the emitter LED directly and to determine the 'stress level' by means of the sensor interior temperature and the supply voltage.