AS-Interface
Actuator Sensor Interface (AS-Interface or ASi) is an industrial networking solution (Physical Layer, Data access Method and Protocol) used in PLC, DCS and PC-based automation systems.
It is designed for connecting simple field I/O devices (e.g. binary ON/OFF devices such as actuators, sensors, rotary encoders, analog inputs and outputs, push buttons, and valve position sensors) in discrete manufacturing and process applications using a single two-conductor cable.
It is used in automation applications, including conveyor control, packaging machines, process control valves, bottling plants, electrical distribution systems, airport baggage carousels, elevators, bottling lines and food production lines.
AS-Interface provides a basis for Functional Safety in machinery safety/emergency stop applications.
The AS-Interface specification is managed by AS-International, a member funded non-profit organization located in Gelnhausen/Germany.
Once development was completed the consortium was resolved and a member organization, AS-International, was founded.
The AS-Interface (from the Actuator Sensor Interface) has been developed as an alternative to conventional parallel cabling of sensors and actuators and offers the following advantages: The main application areas of the system are factory automation, process technology and home automation.
Consumers with a higher energy requirement, such as valve terminals, can use a separate, usually black flat cable for power supply (30 V).
The topology of the AS-Interface is arbitrary, but without a repeater or extender, the cable length must not exceed 100 m. Due to a special terminating resistor (a combination of resistive and capacitive load), however, it is possible to increase the maximum cable length up to 300 m. Diagnostic devices or masters with built-in diagnostics simplify network troubleshooting.
This means that safety-related components such as emergency stop actuations, door interlocks or light grids can be used in the AS-Interface network.
This fast cycle time allows new fields of applications that were previously reserved for expensive network systems.
These 96 devices then have a cycle time of 5 ms. Communication diagnostics describes the information about message transmission between the connected nodes and the master.
IO-Link devices can be efficiently collected over long distances and could be integrated cyclically up to 32 bytes.
Other local standards are: Europe: EN 62026-2: 2015 Japan: JIS C 82026-2 (2013) China: GB / T 18858.2 (2002) Korea: KS C IEC 62026-2 (2007) AS-Interface products are certified by the AS-International Association e.V.
