Pepperl+Fuchs'
LS680 Series Optical Data Couplers are capable of transmitting signals, such as
live video and other communication information, that were previously
unavailable in material handling applications. The LS680 has no operating
controls such as push buttons, switches or potentiometers, and requires no
programming, making it a tamper-proof, plug-and-play solution. The LS680
optical data transmitter transmits protocol-free, meaning various industrial
Ethernet topologies such as Ethernet IP, PROFINET and TCP/IP can all be
transmitted on the same product without changing a thing. It transmits signals
from 0 to 150 m, with a 180 m threshold distance. It transmits data
consistently at a rate of 100 MBit/s via a 100 Base-TX interface.
The LS680 optical data
coupler acts a "virtual cable" that replaces a physical Ethernet cable, which
has inherent mechanical limitations such as inflexibility and wear and tear,
and electrical limitations such as susceptibility to noise. Quick-disconnect
connectors enable faster set-up than terminal-type connectivity. Diagnostic and status LEDs, such as a bar
graph LED display, simplify troubleshooting and indicate the quality of the
optical signal. The LS680 also features a wide and forgiving beam angle, and
two built-in alignment LED's. The LS680 is designed to aid in the positioning
of moving stacker cranes / vehicles in Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems
(ASRS) by relaying placement information from the stationary control system to
the mobile vehicle controls. The LS680 can also send images from a camera on a
high-bay stacker crane, retrieve the location of pallet pick-ups on pallet
transfer vehicles, and can also be used to transmit data in overhead monorail
systems, mobile transport units, automated guided vehicles and carts and material
transfer systems.
