Q&A: I/O Ask Mark Senior Applications Engineer 1-888-3-SENSORS Description: The vision sensor receives and sends discrete signals through its I/O (input/output) terminals. When you hook up your vision sensor, you’ll need to understand how the sensor sends and receives information. By I/O, I'm referring to any discrete signals either going into the vision sensor, (like the trigger) or any discrete signal going out to an inspection station or machines on the factory floor. I/O does not cover serial communications that occur over the Ethernet port. Q: What are the types of I/O? A: I/O can be either dedicated or programmable. Dedicated I/O are factory set and cannot be changed. Usually, this type of I/O can include trigger, strobe out, product change, product select, power and ground. Programmable I/O can have its purpose changed. This type can include general output, pass, fail, ready, error and general input. Q: What is the “Ready” output used for? A: The ready output turns on when the PresencePLUS sensor is ready to run the next inspection. You can use the ready output as a way to avoid missed triggers. Do this by only triggering the vision sensor when the PLC or inspection station has received a ready signal from the vision sensor. Q: When do I use the “General” output? A: There are two reasons for using the general output. The first is for output delay or pulsed output. The second is if you want to assign the output to a specific test tool – or if you want to use an output for anything other than pass, fail, ready or error. Q: Why doesn't the Product Select/Change function work? A: The Product Select/Change option is not activated from the factory. To activate the product select/change option: Go to the Run screen Click on the Select tab Choose Hardware input For PRO Users only: To change inspection, activate the Product Select inputs for at least 1 ms before the Product Change input is pulsed, at least 1 ms. Keep the Product Select inputs active during the Product Change pulse. Q: Can I continuously trigger the sensor through the software? A: No, PresencePLUS sensors require an external trigger. However, you can create a hardware continuous trigger. Set one of the outputs to "Ready" and wire this output back to the trigger input. Q: How do I configure an output to pulse? A: Only a general output can have an output duration (also known as pulse) set to a specific time length. Outputs for pass, fail, ready, and sensor error can only be latched. To configure the output to pulse on pass: Go to the “InputOutput” tab in the system window. Configure the desired output as a general output. Set the time duration (pulse) in ms. Create the inspection. Make a final test tool that includes all the passing tolerances. Set the "output" in the final test tool to the number of the I/O assigned in step 2. Note: If more than one test tool is needed, add a final test tool to logically AND the previous test tools together. To tell the sensor when to pulse on fail, do the previous steps to #5 and then: Add an additional test tool. Uncheck Pass/Fail contribution. Input1 = the previous test tool. Invert input1. Select the output number you wish to initiate from the output drop down box. Q: Does the PresencePLUS have a continuous trigger? A: No, but you can simulate a continuous trigger by wiring the Ready output to the Trigger input. This way, the sensor can trigger itself. Q: Why can’t I select Output Duration (pulse) or Delay from a Fail output? A: Only general outputs can have a pulse or delay. Reconfigure your output from Fail to General. For more information, go to the Question: How do I configure a pass or fail output to pulse.

Q: How does the Output Delay work? A: Output Delay is equivalent to On-delay. Delay time starts when the vision sensor receives a trigger input. Therefore, the Output Delay must include the time required for the inspection to complete. For example, if you want a delay of 50 ms and the inspection takes 50 ms, you must program the Output Delay for 100 ms. Q: What happens when I use a pulsed output and my trigger rate is faster than my pulse width? A: If the vision sensor is triggered before the end of the pulse output time duration, then the sensor will cut short the output and update it for the new result. Q: What happens when I use an Output Delay and my trigger rate is shorter than the delay? A: The Output Delay starts when the inspection receives a valid trigger. If the total delay is longer than the time between each trigger, then the output will never turn on. Q: Does the PresencePLUS Pro have a shift register for outputs? A: No. However, you can create a shift register on the PresencePLUS Pro using 6 general I/O. Contact us at Banner for more details. Q: What is the maximum load I can drive with the output? A: 50 mA is the maximum per output. Q: What is the current draw on the flat panel monitor (PPM7)? A: Depending on the voltage, you should expect the following: 10V dc = 1.5 A draw and a 1.5x increased draw (2.25 A total) on power up. 30V dc = .6 A draw and a 1.5x increased draw (.9 A total) on power up. Q: What is the voltage of the strobe output? A: 5 V dc, TTL. Q: Why doesn’t my vision sensor run on power up? A: One reason related to I/O might be that the "Product Select" inputs are not pointing to a valid inspection. Make sure the "Product Select" inputs are on and are pointed to valid inspection on power up, or change the startup inspection option to always start up on a specific inspection. Look under System Tab for startup inspection options. Related Links: View Banner's entire line of vision sensors.