New counter module ibaMS4xUCO with innovative logic for data pre-processing and pulse counting

With the ibaMS4xUCO counter module, iba AG expands its ibaPADU-S modular measurement system by a special module with counter inputs and digital inputs and outputs for directly connecting incremental encoders. The additional module offers a functionality by means of which pulses can be counted and the acquired data can be analyzed logically in the module. The ibaMS4xUCO combines three operating modes and hence is suitable for many applications that depend on special precision and speed of pulse acquisition.

The new ibaMS4xUCO counter module counts digital impulses and cyclically outputs a counter value. "The new module has been specially developed for analyzing linear and rotary movements on incremental encoders and supplements the ibaPADU-S module family with functions that have not been offered by any other module, yet", explains Oliver Soukup, head of development at iba AG. The direct connection of a wide variety of incremental encoder types is guaranteed by a simple configuration using so called encoder profiles and standardized signal interfaces.

Pulse inputs as well as digital inputs and outputs for precise system monitoring

With ibaMS4xUCO customers have four electrically isolated counter inputs with a data width of 32Bit at their disposal. These inputs can be differential or single ended. The maximum range of the pulse frequency of the input signals ranges for the differential version from 0 to 2MHz - for the single ended version up to 500 kHz. The signal output rate can be selected freely and amounts to a maximum of 40 kHz. The eight digital inputs on the module are also individually electrically isolated. They are mainly for the acquisition of limit values and status signals and hence also for system monitoring. The acquired data are transferred by the ibaMS4xUCO to the ibaPDA process data acquisition system or to ibaLogic, iba's signal manager for process control. In addition to the digital inputs, the counter module has four digital outputs which allow for alerting and signaling of information.

The ibaMS4xUCO disposes of three operating modes. As first operating mode, for every counter input, an own directional incremental and decremental counter can be configured. Another operating mode of the new module is the frequency and period measurement. The frequency serves as basis for the derivation of the period duration. The frequency is calculated and transmitted as numerical value of the configured pulses. The third operating mode of the system is the measurement of the duty cycle - the ratio of pulse duration and period duration.

A further field of application: vibration measurement

Besides acquiring highly precise and highly dynamic actual position values, e.g. the position of roll gap sensors, the module is also used for measuring vibrations on drive trains, e.g. for detecting process vibrations in paper mills. For this purpose, the existing pulse counters are connected additionally to an ibaMS-4xUCO module. Hence, the expensive installation of additional vibration sensors is not needed.