Peter Thomas

(Control Specialists Ltd)

An Introduction to

Chairman of the
PROFINET & PROFIBUS
International Training Centres
(PITCs)

February 2016

IO-Link What is it?

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IO-Link is the first standardised IO technology worldwide (IEC 61131-9) for

the communication with sensors and also actuators.
It is typically used in an automation environment below the I/O level for
individual linking of field devices
It uses point-to-point communication based on the long established 3-wire
sensor and actuator connection without additional requirements regarding
cabling.
IO-Link is not a fieldbus, nor is it a replacement for AS-i. It is however
evidence of the further development of the existing, tried-and-
tested connection technology for sensors and actuators.
Since 2010, IO-Link has been incorporated within the PROFIBUS &
PROFINET User Organisation (PNO)
 IO-Link Benefits
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IEC 61131-9 compliance means that IO-Link devices can be integrated using
the same methods used to integrate PROFIBUS and PROFINET devices.
Simple, standardised wiring and significantly reduced variety of interfaces
for sensors and actuators.
Standardised interface for the configuration of all IO-Link devices
irrespective of their complexity.
Faster commissioning.
Access to diagnostic data and device information as well as process data.
Sensors with and without an IO-Link interface can operate together via the
same IO-Link Master.
Dynamic changing of device parameters by PLC (or HMI) during normal plant
operation.

IO-Link and AS-i

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IO-Link should be considered as a supplement system for intelligent wiring

systems like AS-Interface and not a replacement.
Unlike AS-i, IO-Link is based on conventional point-to-point wiring
IO-Link is directly integrated in the sensor, requires no special cables,
requires no sensor addressing and has no station limitation.
IO-Link is the natural choice for organisations wishing to follow an
Industrie 4.0 philosophy.
IO-Link cannot be used in safety-critical applications at the moment.
IO-Link Main Components - Masters
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IO-Link Masters
Provide the gateway between IO-Link device and the
higher-level communication system such as PROFINET
or a device-specific backplane bus.

IO-Link Main Components IO-Link Devices

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IO-Link Devices
These are the communication-capable field devices
such as sensors, relays, valve actuators, RFID devices,
signal lamps etc.

Proximity Detector Fibre-Optic Sensor

Valve Manifold

Contactor Light-Grids
 IO-Link Main Components IODD Files
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IODD (IO-Link Device Description)

files are XML files that define all the
properties of a given device.
They perform a similar function to
GSDML files in PROFINET and GSD
files in PROFIBUS.
IODD files are created by the IO-Link
device manufacturer and are specific
to a given device.
IODD files are usually read by the IO-
Link device configuration software and
are not usually viewed in an XML
viewer like this example.
You should always go to the web site of
the IO-Link device manufacturer for
the correct IODD file for your device.

IO-Link Main Components Cabling & Connectors

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Cabling
To connect an IO-Link to device to a single port on an IO-Link Master, IO-Link
only requires standard, un-shielded 3-core cable together with one of two types
(4-pin or 5-pin) of A-coded M8 or M12 connectors. Generally. Sensors use 4-pin,
Actuators and Masters use 5-pin.

Type A Connector Type B Connector

(Pins 2 & 5 are optional) (Pins 2 & 5 for additional power)
 IO-Link PROFINET to IO-Link Interconnection (Eg.1)
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Standard 3-wire sensor IODD File

IODD File

Max cable length of 20m

Only ONE device per port

GSDML File

PROFINET IO Controller (PLC)

IO-Link PROFINET to IO-Link Interconnection (E.g 2)

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IO-Link Master IODD File

IODD File

Up to four
3-wire Sensors

IODD File

GSDML File

Max cable length of 20m

PROFINET IO Controller (PLC) IO-Link HUB
 IO-Link Transmission Speed
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Transmission Speed
IO-Link supports three transmission
speeds known as COM-1, COM2 and COM-3

COM-1: 4.8 Kbit/s

COM-2: 38.4 Kbits/s
COM-3: 230.4 Kbits/s *

An IO-Device only has to support one of

the three transmission rates, IO-Masters
must support all 3.

* Note COM-3 only became part of the

IO-Link specification in Version 1.1

IO-Link Cycle Time

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Cycle Time

The rate at which an IO-Link master polls a

given IO-Link device is known as the cycle
time. The cycle time of every IO-Link device
can be set independently from each other.

Every IO-Link device has a MINIMUM CYCLE

TIME defined in the IODD file of the device
in mS * 1000 as minCycleTime.

The Master must NOT poll a device faster

than the minCycleTime value of that device.
The cycle time is also affected by the cycle
time between the CPU of the PLC and the IO-
Link master.

A typical cycle time of 2.3mS can be achieved

at 38.4 Kbit/s.
 IO-Link Modes of Operation
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Modes of Operation

IO-Link devices can operate in one of two

modes, Standard IO (SIO) mode and
SDCI (or IO-Link) mode.

In SIO mode, pin 4 of the IO-Link device

acts as a conventional digital input or
digital output.

In IO-Link mode, pin 4 of the IO-Link

device is used for transmission of IO-Link,
device-related data.

IO-Link Configuration
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IO-Link Master Configuration

The IO-Link master appears as an IO Device on a PROFINET network. By definition,
IO-Link masters must have a GSDML file. GSDML files contain a description of the
communication properties and other properties of the IO-Link master, such as the
number of ports.

IO-Link Device Configuration

An IO-Link Master GSDML file will not contain any device-related information about
the IO-Link devices connected to the ports of the Master. This aspect of the
configuration will be performed by an IO-Link configuration tool which will require
IO-Link device description (IODD) files for each device that will be connected to the
ports of the master.

If you are a Siemens user, the configuration tool is called PCT (Port Configuration
Tool) which can be launched from within the TIA portal programming environment
 IO-Link Configuration Siemens TIA Portal
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IO-Link Masters

IO-Link Configuration Siemens TIA Portal

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Click to Start IO-Link Port Configuration Tool (PCT)

IO-Link Configuration Siemens PCT Tool
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IO-Link Configuration Siemens PCT Tool

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 IO-Link Configuration FDT Tools
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It is also possible to configure IO-Link devices outside of the programming environment using an
FDT (Field Device Tool) application like PACTware. Instead of an IODD file, you will need a
CommDTM file for the IO-Link Master and a DTM file for the IO-Link Device,

Device

Master
Comm DTM

USB

DTM

3-wire IO-Link connection

IO-Link Configuration PACTWare

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CommDTM

DTM
 Demonstration
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IO-Link Analyzers
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IO-Link Analysers allow you to monitor the IO-Link telegrams passing between an IO-Link Master
and an IO-Link device.
IO-Link Analyzers
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PROFINET Questions?