Elmos unveils first dual IO-Link master transceiver
The first dual IO-Link master transceiver has been unveiled by Elmos Semiconductor. IO-Link is a low cost communication system at the lowest level of industrial automation that allows for the communication of the conventional binary switch interface between sensors/actuators and controller at up to 230kbit/s for the first time.
Elmos' E981.12 IC integrates two (universal asynchronous receiver/transmitters) UARTs and is designed to offer a scalable implementation of multiport systems (2/4/8/16port) regardless of the number of UARTs of the µC in use. According to Elmos, the UART solution provided by the E981.12 'significantly' reduces system costs as no µC with UARTs must be applied.
The device has an SPI interface for configuration, programming, and diagnostics, while safety features include overvoltage and short circuit protection with configurable thresholds.
