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IO-Link with Time Stamp

information about IO-Link Time Stamp
Related Products
GLS100

Table of Contents

What is the idea behind?
Increasing the "real-time" capability for IO-Link sensors caused by the limited cycle time of the IO-Link communication.
The cycle time of most IO-Link sensor with COM2 is typically 2.3 ms, which is usually below the actual response time of the sensor.

 
History
In 2014 SICK developed a proprietary specification in cooperation with Siemens, the time stamp mechanism is protected by a SICK patent.
A few years later, Siemens stopped providing the time stamp function in their masters.
Today, only B&R supports the time stamp function (model X20(c)DS438A).
 
How about standardization in the IO-Link specification?
The time stamp is not part of the public IO-Link specification.
There are only a few SICK sensors available with time stamp function implemented.
In addition, the available IO-Link masters supporting time stamp are very rare.
 
How to identify a SICK sensor with time stamp?
That's hidden in the type key:
A90 = Time Stamp
A91 = Time Stamp & Debouncing (& LogicTimerInverter)
example: WL12GC-3P2472A91
 
Basic working principle
The IO-Link Master gets synchronized with the device timer of the sensor.
The device timer is integrated in the process data of the sensor (14 bit clock counter)
Important to know: The time stamp function can only be used with an IO-Link Master that supports this function.
 
TSAE = SensorApplicationEvent = Time at which the sensor detected the entering object.
All required sensor related information about the time resolution, latency, etc. are automatically read by the IO-Link Master.
 
Configuration of the time stamp
The configuration is done by the IO-Link Master.
On the sensor side is no configuration required, but in the IO-Link Master the time stamp must be configured.
Keywords:
IO-Link, Time Stamp