Chap. II.

Input output devices

This chapter is a brief consideration of input and output devices used with PLCs.
II.1 Input/output modules
The sensor capteurs converts a specified physical into an electrical signal. The input device provides a
signal to an input module. This input module is connected with the CPU, it processes all the input data ‫يقىو‬
‫بًعانجت انًعطياث‬. After the CPU gives output data to the output module. The output module provides a signal
to the output device. The signals can be anything like activating or deactivating output devices.
The input/output channels provide isolation isolation and signal conditioning functions so that sensors and
actuators actionneur can often be directly connected to them without the need for other circuitry. Electrical
isolation from the external world is usually by means of optoisolators optocoupleur (the term optocoupler is
also often used). Fig II.1 shows the principle of an optoisolator. When a digital pulse impulsion numérique
passes through the light-emitting diode, a pulse of infrared radiation rayonnement infrarouge is produced.
This pulse is detected by the phototransistor and gives rise to a voltage in that circuit ‫يؤدٌ انً غهق اندارة‬. The
gap entrefer between the light-emitting diode and the phototransistor gives electrical isolation.

Fig. II.1 : Optoisolator

II.2 Classification of PLC Input and Output Modules

The classification ‫ تصنيف‬of input and output (I/O) modules of PLC is based on the types ‫ نىعيت‬of signals Fig
II.2. Basically, there are two types of signals- Discrete signals and Continuous signals. Based on the
signals, I/O modules are classified into two main parts.
Input/Output (I/O) Module

Digital I/O Module Analog I/O Module

Digital Input Digital Output Analog Input Analog Output

Module Module Module Module

Fig. II.2 : Classifications of the PLC Input Output Modules

II.2.1 Digital I/O Module

The digital module is also called ًً‫ يس‬discrete module. In this module, the I/O signal work on the binary
binaire system i.e. only 0 or 1 value. It is useful ‫ يفيد‬in the ON or OFF condition.
The digital I/O signal gives status in the different form like:
 High/Low, True/False and 1/0 for general status
 ON/OFF for load condition
 Activated/Deactivated for switching mechanism
 Close/ Open for the switching contact status
Digital input examples: Push switch Bouton poussoir, selector switch, proximity switch capteur de
proximité, limit switch fin de cours and etc.
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Digital output examples: Lamp, coil bobine, buzzer alarme, relay, motor, fan ventilateur, heater, actuator,
solenoid valve and etc.
II.2.2 Analog I/O Module
Although discrete I/O systems are invaluable tools for PLC controls, they cannot meet all the demands of
new technological and application advances. Because they can interpret continuous signals, analog I/O
interfaces are used in applications, such as temperature control, where the simple two-state capabilities of
discrete I/O systems are insufficient.
PLCs, like other digital computers, are discrete systems that only understand 1 and 0. Therefore, they cannot
interpret ‫ فهى‬analog signals in their continuous form. Analog input interfaces translate ‫ تحىيم‬continuous
analog signals into discrete values that can be interpreted by PLC processors.
Analog input examples: Flow transducers Transducteurs de débit, humidity transducers, load cell
transducers, potentiometers, pressure transducers, vibration transducers, temperature transducers.
II.3 Commonly used sensors
Mechanical switches interrupteur mécanique
A mechanical switch generates an on on-off signal, might be used to indicate the presence of a workpiece
‫أشياء‬on a machining table, the workpiece pressing against the switch and so closing it. The absence of the
workpiece is indicated by the switch being open and its presence by it being closed.
An NO switch has its contacts open in the absence of a mechanical input and the mechanical input is used to
close the switch. An NC switch has its contacts closed in the absence of a mechanical input.
The term limit switch fin de course is used for a switch which is used to detect the presence or passage of a
moving part. It can be actuated by a cam, roller or lever.
Proximity switches capteur de proximité
Proximity switches are used to detect the presence of an item without making contact with it ‫بدوٌ اتصال يباشر‬.
The eddy currentcourant Foucault type of proximity switch has a coil which is energized sous tension by a
constant alternating current and produces a constant alternating magnetic field champ magnitique. When a
metallic object is close to it, eddy currents are induced in it. The magnetic field due to these eddy currents
induces an e.m.f. back in the coil with the result that the voltage amplitude needed to maintain the constant
coil current changes. The voltage amplitude is thus a measure of the proximity of metallic objects.
The voltage can be used to activate an electronic switch circuit, basically a transistor which has its output
switched from low to high by the voltage change, and so give an on−off device. The range over which such
objects can be detected ‫يدي احساس انًستشعر‬is typically about 0.5 to 20 mm.
A proximity switch that can be used with metallic and non-metallic objects is the capacitive proximity
switch. The sensor of the capacitive proximity switch is just one of the plates of the capacitor, the other plate
being the metal object whose proximity is to be detected. Thus the proximity of the object is detected by a
change in capacitance.
The sensor can also be used to detect non-metallic objects since the capacitance of a capacitor depends on
the dielectric between its plates. In this case the plates are the sensor and the earth and the non-metallic
object is the dielectric diélectrique. The change in capacitance can be used to activate an electronic switch
circuit and so give an on-off device.
Another type, the inductive proximity switch, consists of a coil wound round a ferrous metallic core. When
one end of this core is placed near to a ferrous metal object there is effectively a change in the amount of
metallic core associated with the coil and so a change in its inductance. This change in inductance can be
monitored using a resonant résonance circuit, the presence of the ferrous metal object thus changing the
current in that circuit. The current can be used to activate an electronic switch circuit and so give an on−off
device.
Photoelectric sensors and switches
Photoelectric switch devices can either operate as transmissive‫ انباعث‬types where the object being detected
breaks a beam of light, usually infrared radiation, and stops it reaching the detector or reflective ‫انًستقبم او‬
‫انعهكس‬types where the object being detected reflects a beam of light onto the detector. In both types the
radiation emitter is generally a light-emitting diode (LED). The radiation detector might be a
phototransistor.

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Encoders
The term encoder is used for a device that provides a digital output as a result of angular or linear
displacement.
Temperature sensors
Position/displacement sensors
Pressure sensors
Liquid level detector
Fluid flow measurement
II.4 Commonly used output devices
Relay
When a current passes through a solenoid a magnetic field is produced and this can then attract ferrous metal
components. When the output from the PLC is switched on, the solenoid magnetic field is produced and
pulls on ‫ تسحب‬the contacts and so closes a switch or switches.

Fig. II.3 : Ralay

Directional control valves vanne de commande directionnelle

Another example of the use of a solenoid as an actuator is a solenoid operated valve. The valve may be used
to control the directions of flow of pressurised air or oil and so used to operate other devices such as a piston
moving in a cylinder. Pressurised ‫ يضغىط‬air or hydraulic fluid is inputted from port P, this being connected
to the pressure supply from a pumppompe or compressor and port T is connected to allow hydraulic fluid to
return to the supply tank reservoir or, in the case of a pneumatic system, to vent ‫ اخراج‬the air to the
atmosphere.
With no current through the solenoid Fig.II.4 the hydraulic fluid of pressurised air is fed to the right of the
piston and exhausted from the left, the result then being the movement of the piston to the left. When a
current is passed through the solenoid, the spool valve switches the hydraulic fluid or pressurised air to the
left of the piston and exhausted from the right. The piston then moves to the right.

Fig. II.4 : An example of a solenoid operated valve

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Directional control valves are described by the number of ports they have and the number of control
positions. The valve shown has four ports, i.e. A, B, P and T, and two control positions. It is thus referred to
as a 4/2 valve Fig.II.5.

Fig. II.5 : 4/2 direction valve

Direction valves can be used to control the direction of motion of pistons in cylindersvérin , the
displacement of the pistons being used to implement the required actions. The term single acting cylinder is
used for one which is powered by the pressurised fluid being applied to one side of the piston to give motion
in one direction, it being returned in the other direction by possibly an internal spring resort Fig II.6. The
term double acting cylinder Fig.II.6 is used when the cylinder is powered by fluid for its motion in both
piston movement directions.

Fig. II.6 : single and double acting cylinder

Fig. II.7 : Control of a double acting cylinder