Now even more versatile

Ultrasonic sensors are suitable for an extremely wide range of applications. Now ipf electronic presents new products whose application flexibility has been increased many times over due to the integrated IO-Link interface.

The solutions are offered in four different thread sizes (M8, M12, M18, M30), plus a cuboid variant.

The immense potential of IO-Link technology is evident in both the devices with switching output and analog output.

Freely selectable operating mode

The ultrasonic sensors with switching output can be easily switched between sensing and reflex operation via IO-Link. This allows the devices to be set not only to an object to be detected, but also to a background (e.g. a machine part). In particular, irregular, structured, round or sloping object surfaces can deflect the signal echo of an ultrasonic scanner to such an extent that it cannot function reliably. In reflex mode, this problem is solved because all deviations from the object background (object in the detection range) are reliably detected and lead to a switching behavior.

Thanks to IO-Link, the diffuse-reflection sensors with switching output also offer greater flexibility during commissioning. A total of three different teach modes are available for this purpose, with the auto-teach mode being specially developed for dynamic sensor adjustment for moving objects.

Individual setting options

Thanks to the IO-Link interface, each sensor also provides a range of valuable information despite its compact design, and also offers intelligent additional functions, such as temperature compensation that can be activated, and also enables individual settings, such as the output function of the switching output, switch-on/switch-off delays and the switching hysteresis. Diagnostic data is also available, such as the number of switch-on operations, an operating hours counter or the minimum and maximum object distance.

Maximum flexibility

The same applies to the even more versatile ultrasonic sensors with analog output, which provide a choice of three measurement signals via IO-Link (4-20mA, 0-20mA or 0-10V). In addition to the analog output, the solutions integrate a multifunctional teach input that can be parameterized via IO-Link as a switching output, among other things. This means that all functions and setting options are available that are also offered by the sensors with switching output.

If several devices are mounted next to each other in a confined space, two further options are available via the teach input to suppress mutual interference in the form of synchronization and multiplex operation. In these operating modes, the inputs of the relevant devices are electrically connected to each other in order to communicate with each other. In synchronization mode, all sensors generate a sound pulse at the same time or synchronously and then switch to receive. In multiplex mode, on the other hand, only one sensor generates a sound pulse at a time and then switches to receive to evaluate the echo before the next sensor becomes active.