LED signal lamps and light towers

IO-Link mode

When the lamp detects an IO-Link communication, it will start the IO-Link mode automatically. In the IO-Link mode, the lamp can be configured and also controlled via the process data communication between the IO-Link master and the lamp.

The user can control the colour and flashing frequency of the lamp as well as the buzzer sound, switch the buzzer on and off and read the status of the feedback button on top of the lamp.

SIO mode: On/Off mode

During parameter setting via IO-Link, the user can select a mode. If the "On/Off mode" is selected and the IO-Link communication is interrupted, the lamp will automatically start the SIO mode.

In "On/Off mode", the user can select different lighting for each lamp input.

The colour, flashing frequency and intensity can be set for each input. When the input changes to high signal, the lamp will function as configured. If a high signal is simultaneously on two inputs, the "LED-A" input will have a higher priority than the "LED-B" or "LED-C" input.

A separate parameter defines whether IO-Link pin 4 of the connector is used as an input to switch on the buzzer or as an output to indicate the status of the feedback button.

SIO mode: RGB mode

During parameter setting via IO-Link, the user can select a mode. If "RGB mode" is selected and IO-Link communication is interrupted, the lamp will automatically start SIO mode.

In the "RGB mode", the three digital inputs have a fixed function. Here, each input is assigned to one of the three primary colours "red, green, blue".

If a high signal is at input LED-A, the lamp will be red. If a high signal is at input LED-B, the lamp will be green. If a high signal is at both inputs, LED-A AND LED-B, the combination of red AND green = yellow will be used.

ifm offers two different families of signal towers: Versions with IO-Link interface and with IO-Link interface AND digital inputs to control each segment
With the IO-Link interface, you can control each segment in a very fast and flexible way. You can change the colour, the light intensity and the flashing frequency.

For some versions, additional digital inputs are available to control the LED segments and the buzzer. This means that the light tower can also be used in conventional systems without an IO-Link interface.

Parameter setting without IO-Link

Thanks to a setting button, some versions of the light tower can be set without IO-Link in three simple steps.

With the parameter setting button the following properties can be set for every LED segment:

• Colour (red, green, orange, blue, purple, turquoise, white, yellow, off)
• Frequency (permanently on, low flash rate slow/medium/fast, high flash rate slow/medium/fast)
• Brightness (100 %, 75 %, 50 %, 25 %)

Parameter setting with IO-Link

Alternatively, the signal lamps and towers can be conveniently configured via IO-Link. Thereby, it is possible to save and load parameter sets. Depending on the model, up to three operating modes are available.

On/Off mode

In On/Off mode, the colours of the segments can be defined in advance and then switched on or off individually. In addition, each segment can be fixed in colour, flashing frequency and intensity.

RGB mode

The RGB mode allows the signal lamps to use their full range of functions. Here, each data bit is assigned one of the three basic colours "red, green, blue", which allows to mix the required colour for each segment by writing the cyclic data.

Analogue mode

The analogue mode is only available with the 5-segment signal towers and visualises a value between 0...100% in preconfigured display types.

With 20 individually controllable LEDs, this light tower offers the greatest possible flexibility. The 20-LED light tower can be operated exclusively via IO-Link and offers a variety of possibilities with two different modes. However, both modes can be overwritten with the user-predefined banks.

On/off mode / signal light mode

In signal light mode, up to 5 segments can be defined. The segments are variable in size, colour and display type (e.g. permanent light or flashing). The size of the segments can be defined by the 20 individually controllable LEDs. For example, the importance of a single status can be indicated by setting 1 large segment consisting of 16 LEDs and two small segments consisting of 2 LEDs each. To visually separate the segments from each other and to achieve better visibility, it is also possible to switch off the last LED of each segment and thus use it as a separator.

Analogue mode / level meter mode

The level meter mode can be used to display an analogue value as a bargraph. The display direction can be selected between "Bottom Up" and "Top Down". For each of the 20 elements, a colour as well as the display type (e.g. permanent light or flashing) can be defined. For optimal perception in all ambient conditions, the LED intensity and, for the versions with buzzer, the volume can also be adjusted.

Mounting options 3- / 5-segment and 20-LED light tower

Mounting options 1-segment signal lamp