Additional data such as the simultaneous output of several process data or diagnostic data that can only be accessed in this way can now be communicated to the control system or read out from the sensor's memory if required. In addition to the digital interface, the sensors also have one or more analog outputs.

The sensors can be operated both analog and digital or via both channels simultaneously. This means that process sensors such as the CombiLyz AFI conductivity sensor and the PP20H pressure sensor from Baumer can be operated in classic control topologies as well as in a digital IO-Link control concept. The analog interface is still useful in process automation if the user wants to connect the sensor to an existing control system. Nevertheless, the advantages of IO-Link, such as simple and fast parameterization or the availability of additional data, can be used when commissioning the sensor. To control the process, the conductivity or pressure value can be read out in parallel via a 4 to 20 mA analog output.

More information, more effective processes

Process data available via IO-Link includes the temperature value of the sensor or, in the case of the PP20H, the process temperature. This is also the basis for predictive maintenance. In addition to the conductivity of the media, the CombiLyz AFI conductivity sensor also provides information about their concentration values. This makes it possible to determine exactly which medium is in the process and in what concentration. In addition to the process pressure, the pressure sensor can also determine the ambient pressure. It is therefore also suitable for relative pressure measurement.

Direct combination of sensor data

Sensors can communicate with each other bidirectionally via the control system using IO-Link. Measured values from one sensor can therefore be used in another sensor. For example, the AFI conductivity sensor can access the measured values of a temperature sensor, which means that the response time of the temperature measurement for temperature compensation can be shortened or even bypassed. When measuring the fill level in closed tanks, the fill level can also be shown directly on the DFON display by combining the measured values from two pressure sensors. For this purpose, the values of the pressure sensor for head pressure measurement are transmitted via IO-Link to the sensor at the bottom of the tank in order to adjust its zero point. This makes it possible to determine the pressure inside the tank.