10 IO-Link Master Unit
10 - 2
GX-series EtherCAT Slave Unit User’s Manual
10-1 What Is an IO-Link Master Unit?
An IO-Link Master Unit is a slave that has I/O processing functions for IO-Link communications with
IO-Link devices and I/O processing functions for digital I/O data (ON/OFF signals) with non-IO_Link
devices.
For an IO-Link Master Unit, processing functions can be assigned for each port to combine different
types of I/O processing functions.
Also, with IO-Link devices that support digital inputs with Pin 2, the IO-Link Master Unit can
simultaneously perform both IO-Link communications and receive digital inputs.
A GX-series IO-Link Master Unit connects to IO-Link devices and the EtherCAT Master Unit as shown
below.
*1 Non-IO-Link devices can also be connected.
10-1-1 Introduction
10-1-2 Connection Configuration for EtherCAT Communications Master
Unit and IO-Link Devices
GX-series IO-Link Master Unit
IO-Link communications
(4 wires per device)
IO-Link devices
*1
IO-Link devices
*1
M12M12
EtherCAT EtherCAT
EtherCAT communications master
Port 1
Port 3
Port 5
Port 7
Port 2
Port 4
Port 6
Port 8