The fundamentals of IO-Link and how to use it to enable the Industrial IoT
11 March 2020
An IO-Link system consists of a controller (outlined in black), an IO-Link master (or multiple masters) connected by simple, standard three or five wire cable connections to IO-Link devices such as sensors and actuators. (Image: IO-Link Community)
This article introduces IO-Link to operations engineers and technicians looking to properly and quickly implement a sensor network, but who are not intimately familiar with the standard.
Manufacturers and facilities managers are increasingly aware of the potential of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to lower costs, improve processes and safety, and lead to higher equipment availability and end-product quality. To take advantage of this potential, operations engineers and technicians onsite need a way to efficiently deploy and connect hundreds – if not thousands – of intelligent sensors and actuators to gather data on systems and process elements that weren’t originally designed for two-way communication.
At the same time, and equally challenging, is the need to efficiently integrate current networks of connected devices and systems into IIoT networks to achieve an acceptable level of interoperability across the board with the lowest possible cost and system complexity.
The IO-Link (IEC 61131-9) single-drop digital communication interface standard is a global attempt to solve many of these sensor and actuator connectivity issues. While it’s simple in theory, the challenge is that because it is a relatively new standard, many designers are unfamiliar with what it is and how to use it.
This article introduces IO-Link to operations engineers and technicians looking to properly and quickly implement a sensor network, but who are not intimately familiar with the standard. By way of example, and to help initiate the discussion around IO-Link implementation practicalities, suitable IO-Link system components will be introduced from vendors including STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments, Carlo Gavazzi, Phoenix Contact, Analog Devices, and Omron.
Read the full article on the Digikey website.
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