Compact Ethernet/RFID Interfaces in IP67

Turck's new TBEN-S and TBEN-L-RFID block I/O modules simplify the direct RFID integration of HF or UHF read/write heads in installations

Turck: At the SPS IPC Drives fair Turck is presenting the two compact TBEN-L-RFID and TBEN-S-RFID Ethernet/RFID interfaces with protection to IP67. The multiprotocol devices bring data from RFID read/write heads in the HF and UHF frequency band via Profinet, Ethernet/IP or Modbus TCP to the controller. Due to their high degree of protection and the possibility to connect actuators and sensors to RFID read/write heads simultaneously, the block modules are ideal for retrofitting RFID application. Switch cabinets are unnecessary and keep the wiring effort at a minimum.

The ultra-compact RFID module in the TBEN-S design simplifies the PLC-integration by bringing the mapped RFID data via conventional I/Os to the controller. The writing of function blocks becomes unnecessary. Besides the two RFID ports, the TBEN-S offers four universal DXP I/Os for sensors or actuators. In spite of its compact design with a width of only 32 mm, the TBEN-S-RFID interfaces offer sufficient performance. The detection of over 100 UHF tags can be carried out just as quickly and easily as the reading and writing of 8-kilobyte HF tags. The power supply and network connection are implemented via M8 connectors.

The Codesys programmable TBEN-L variant is somewhat bigger, but also provides controller functions and can thus already filter and pre-process RFID data, and even link it directly with the control operations of the connected periphery. The user can easily set the TBEN-Lx-4RFID-8DXP-CDS in the Codesys environment to one of the Ethernet protocols – Profinet, EtherNet/IP or Modbus TCP. TBEN-L runs on an 800 MHz CPU, which accesses a 128 MB DDR3-RAM. The flash memory of the module is 256 MB. The L modules are connected via an M12 connector to the Ethernet and supplied via a 7/8” connector.