IO-link is an open standard that is globally supported by sensor and controls companies. More than 16 million IO-link nodes were deployed up to 2020. Major players in the IO-Link market are Siemens (Germany), Balluff (Germany), Ifm electronic (Germany), SICK (Germany), Rockwell Automation (US), Festo (Germany) Omron (Japan), Banner Engineering (US), Hans Turck (Germany), Pepperl & Fuchs (Germany), and Datalogic (Italy). However, APAC market is coming up, especially from China who is holding the largest size of IO-Link market share (>30%-> $3.6B) by 2023.
The IO-link master allows for a digital communication path to process sensors and control actuators. As a result, a 100% digital path from internet, to PLC, to the field-mounted equipment, see Figure 1. IO-link is a 3-wire industrial communication protocol consists of three baud rates: 4.8K, 38.4K, 230.4K), see Figure 2.
IO-link as a simple 3-wire digital data transmission, can carry multiple data and transfer data faster than analog transmission, because of less analog-digital conversion loss. IO-link allows bidirectional communication, one Port can be configured as Input or Output, so can connect sensors or actuators.
IO-link employs standard M12/M8 connectors, with no need of shielded cable and the connection range can be up to 20 meter. IO-link can replace RS-232, RS-432, RS-485, 4-20mA, 0-10V, PNP, NPN, Push-pull NO/NC, etc.. Thus, this simple wiring system can save cost.
IO-link allows seamless remote monitoring and control, so no more manual onboard on/off push buttons. By automatic and remote configuration, so to have less downtime for flexible production line configuration and remote machine condition monitoring.
As a result, IO-link is the foundation of Industrial 4.0 to enable Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). This sensor to cloud solution makes mass production customization, machine condition monitoring, predictive maintenance, energy saving, factory design and quality control UNIVERSAL, SMART & EASY!
Arrow brings you turn-key solutions to simplify your IO-link product design with minimal effort and shortest time to market. Arrow IO-link Solutions are IO-link Master (P/N:2021W001), Digital Input Module(P/N: 2021W002), Digital Output Module (P/N:2021W003); for details, please refer to Arrow Openlab homepage (HK Open Lab - solution list (arrowopenlab.com). The Arrow IO-link Master MCU- ARW-IOLM4P-STM32L4 (IOLM4P) is powered by ST’s STM32L431RBT6 and TEConcept’s IO-link Master stack.
Figure 1: IO-link System typical architecture, with courtesy to IO-link.org
Figure 2: IO-link Wiring, with courtesy to ISA, fmi and IO-link.org
To help you speed up IO-link solution development, Arrow Asia Pacific Ltd. released 8 ports IO-link master hub solutions and 8 ports Digital Input/Output solutions for applications of Industrial Maintenance, IO-Link® Digital Sensing Systems, Digital Input Modules for PLC, and other Industrial, Building and Factory Automation systems.
This IO-link 8-Channel solution is designed to demonstrate Arrow’s IOLM4P 4 ports master controller powered by STM32L431 SoC. Two pieces of IOLM4P are used to implement this 8-channel solution. An external host based on STM32F746ZG is used to manage and control these 2 pieces of master controllers. User applications runs on the STM32F7 SoC and the complex IO-link master stacks will be handled by the Arrow IOLM4P master controller. This solution comes with demo application showing the simplicity to connect to 8 IO-link devices via STM’s L6360 – the IO-link communication master transceiver IC.
In addition, the solution comes with quad SPDT switch STG3693QTR so that user can switch the control from STM32F746 host controller to FT2232H USB-SPI interface chip. This solution can then be connected to a Windows PC running TEConcept’s Control Tools software to perform IO-link master control/firmware update.
Arrow’s 8 ports IO-link master hub solutions bundled with STM32F746 SoC which can be used for other protocol implementation such as EtherCAT or EtherNet/IP, etc. software stacks. Also, a USB to SPI bridge chip FT2232H is included so that the master hub can be controlled via external PC. As a result, this master hub can be controlled by embedded host or PC.
IOLM4P’s IO-link master stack is IO-link certified and v1.1.2 compliant. GUI powered by TEConcept also supports you to control and update firmware easily. This shortens your product development time to market and save costs.
This IO-link 8-Channel digital input hub solution consists of a dual channel transceiver L6364, an Arm Cortex-M0+ MCU STM32G071 and a high-speed digital 8-channel inputs current limiter SCLT3-8BQ7.
This is a non-isolated solution; it provides power supply to the system as well as the external devices directly. User applications and complex IO-link stacks runs on the MCU STM32G071, while L6364 acts as a physical layer when the board is connected to the IO-link master, then master can initiate communication and exchange data with the MCU. The L6364 also provides power supply to the MCU by the internal LDO, which saves the additional circuits and BOM cost.
With the advantage of the chosen low cost and low power consumption MCU and the embedded IO-link slave stack (IO-link 1.1/1.0 physical layer compliant) which reduce your software effort and shorten your time to market. This module has Configurable current limitation threshold of CQ and DIO lines, or CQ//DIO line (Join Mode), also has Quartz-free IO-link clock extraction and timing generation at COM2 (38.4k Baud) and COM3 (230.4k Baud).
This IO-link 8-Channel digital output solution is made up of three blocks: IO-link transceiver L6364, octal high-side isolated driver ISO8200 and Arm Cortex-M0+ MCU STM32G071. It provides an affordable and easy-to-use solution for the development of 8-channel digital output modules.
This is an isolated solution, thanks to the embedded galvanic smart driver ISO8200. User applications and complex IO-link stack runs on the MCU STM32G071, while L6364 acts as a physical layer when the board is connected to the IO-link master, then master can initiate communication and exchange data with the MCU. The L6364 also provides power supply to the MCU by the internal LDO, which saves the additional circuits and BOM cost.
Likewise, this low cost and low power consumption MCU with embedded IO-link slave stack (IO-link 1.1/1.0 physical layer compliant), which reduce your software effort and shorten your time to market. This module has Configurable current limitation threshold of CQ and DIO lines, or CQ//DIO line (Join Mode), also has Quartz-free IO-link clock extraction and timing generation at COM2 (38.4k Baud) and COM3 (230.4k Baud).
IO-Link 8-Channel Master Hub Solution
Click here to download IO-LINK Actuator Tower Light Solution
This is an IO-LINK Actuator Tower Light to demonstrate how to trigger and configure the actuator tower light through the standard IO-LINK interface. The individual LEDs can be switched individually via digital inputs parameters set by IO-LINK master. In the reference design, the L6364Q IO-LINK PHY works as a device to enable direct access to process and diagnose data, then MCU controls four channels’ status of the low side power switch IPS4260L via IOs.
Arrow IO-link Solution Key Take-aways
Arrow’s ARW-IOLM4P-STM32L4 (IOLM4P) system chip is based on the STM32L431RBT6 and contains a full featured IO-link Master stack that handles the IO-link communication with up to four independent IO-link ports, see Figure 3.
The IOLM4P is connected with a host controller that controls the IO-link Master on the IOLM4P. The controlling function is based on a well-defined simple telegram structure and uses the SPI-slave interface of the IOLM4P. A basic overview about the application of the IOLM4P is given below. Overview of some simple telegrams, see Figure 4; and software architecture, see Figure 5. Please refer to Arrow’s IOLM4P datasheets for details from ARW-IOLM4P-STM32L4 by Arrow Development Tools | Application Processors and SOC | Arrow.com.
Figure 3: One ARW-IOLM4P-STM32L4 Master MCU controls 4 Devices
Figure 4: ARW-IOLM4P-STM32L4 Master MCU Telegrams examples
To expedite product design cycles, Arrow provided the complete reference design solutions aforementioned: IO-link Master (P/N:2021W001), Digital Input Module (P/N: 2021W002), Digital Output Module (P/N:2021W003); for details, please refer to Arrow Openlab homepage (HK Open Lab - solution list (arrowopenlab.com). Arrow also provides technical support such as schematics review services, prototype testing, etc..
With the aid of TEConcept’s Certified and IEC 61131-9 compliant IO-link stack solutions (both Master and Devices), and GUI (Control Tool Development environment, see Figure 6), software engineers can focus more on application layers (high level access and system management). Customers can also purchase source code and technical support via Arrow to further reduce time-to-market.
Figure 5: ARW-IOLM4P-STM32L4 Master & Device MCU Software Architecture
Figure 6: TECONCEPT Control Tool (GUI) to connect IO-link Master & Device
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