Q4X Process Data Function
11/3/2022
This document covers the installation and use of a function for Siemen’s TIA Portal software package. This
function handles cyclic IO-Link Process Data In from a Banner Q4X sensor via an IO-Link Master to a Siemens
PLC. The function covers parsing and display of the Q4X sensor Process Data In.
Components
Banner Q4X Library.zal14
There are two methods for the process data. The first is used when creating a connection to
Banner’s IO-Link masters. The second set of instructions are for systems using other
manufacturer’s IO-Link masters.
11/3/2022 Q4X Process Data Function
Installation of Library
1. Open a project.
2. Go to Options > Global Libraries > Retrieve Library.
3. Select the Banner Q4X Library. Click Open.
4. The library is now accessible in the Libraries tab.
5. Go to page 3 for Banner IO-Link Masters and to page 6 for all other IO-Link Masters.
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Setup of Q4X with a Banner DXMR90-4K
1. Go to Device and Networks to configure the DXMR90-4K. Add the DXMR90-4K if it has yet to
be added to the system.
2. Add Banner IO-Link Master Info to Slot 1. This sets the DXMR90-4K for IO-Link mode.
3. Open the IO-Link Generic Devices and select the proper module. The 2/2 byte option has
been selected for port 1. Make note of the I address for the Slot 2 which represents Port 1.
Slot 2 starts are 10. The other number needed is I14. The data for the port start at that point
(I14). The previous four bytes represents Port Status, Process Data In Size, and Process Data
Out Size.
4. Drag the Banner_Q4X_PDI to the PLC Data Types area
under your PLC. Banner_Q4X_PDI is found in the Q4X folder
in the library. Drag the Banner_Q4X_PD to the Program
Blocks area.
5. Drag the necessary tag from IOLM_Control > Banner >
Banner_Specialized_Data_Types. The tag used in this
example is “Banner_2in”. This tag represents the full raw
process data along with port status information.
6. Go to PLC Tags. Create two tags. One tag is for the full data
structure while the second creates a tag to represent the raw
Process Data from the IO-Link Master. In this example, Tag
table_1 was created, then the tag “Q4X IOLM1 01 PDI” was
created using a Data Type of “Banner_2In”. This naming
convention calls out the type of sensor in question as well as
the specific IO-Link Master and port number where the sensor
is connected. A different IO-Link Master might be named
IOLM2 or IOLM3, for instance, and other specific sensors may
be connected to different port numbers. The “I” address found
in step 2 is tied to this new tag. The second is “Q4X IOLM1 01
inRaw”. This is the tag that will be used in the Function block.
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7. Go to Program blocks. Add a new Data block if necessary. In this example the new data block
is named “db”.
8. In the new data block, create a new tag to represent the parsed Process Data In for our Q4X.
The tag name again calls out the type of sensor, the IO-Link Master, and the port number. Use
the data type “Banner_Q4X_PDI” for the new tag.
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9. Add the “Banner_Q4X_PD” function to an OB ladder. Link the “Process Data Word” to the raw
Process Data variable from step 4. Link the “Q4X Process Data” to the parsed Process Data
variable from step 6.
10. Process Data setup is complete.
11. Compile and download the configuration to the PLC, then go online. Open the “db” data block
and click Monitor all. You should see parsed Q4X Process Data In, like that shown below.
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Setup of Q4X with other IO-Link Masters
1. The Banner Q4X Library will now be in the Global Library
List. Expand the Master copies section. The Q4X folder
contains elements for both Process Data and Parameter
Data connections to a Q4X sensor. As Process Data is the
focus of this paper, we will concern ourselves with these
two items: Banner_Q4X_PD and Banner_Q4X_PDI.
2. Drag Banner_Q4X_PD to the Program Blocks area under
your PLC.
3. Drag the Banner_Q4X_PDI to the PLC Data Types area under
your PLC.
4. Drag the Banner_Q4X_PDI to the PLC Data Types area under
your PLC.
5. Go to Devices and networks to configure the system as
necessary. Below is an example of what a configuration might
look like. This example shows 5 different IO-Link Masters
connected to the same PLC.
6. Click on the relevant device and configure the IO-Link Master as necessary. Refer to the
documentation for the IO-Link Master. Recall that a Q4X requires 2 bytes of space for the
Process Data.
7. Record the “I” address where this Q4X Process Data is to be stored, as the address will be
required in the next step. In this example, 2 bytes of Process Data In for port 2 on the IO-Link
Master will be stored in I68 and I70.
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8. Go to PLC Tags. Add a new tag table, then create a new tag to represent the raw Process Data
from the IO-Link Master. In this example, Tag table_1 was created, then the tag “Q4X IOLM2
06 PD” was created using a Data Type of “Word”. This naming convention calls out the type of
sensor in question as well as the specific IO-Link Master and port number where the sensor is
connected. A different IO-Link Master might be named IOLM1 or IOLM3, for instance, and
other specific sensors may be connected to different port numbers. The “I” address found in
step 7 is tied to this new tag.
9. Go to Program blocks. Add a new Data block if necesary. In this example the new data block is
named “Banner IO-Link Data”.
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10. In the new data block, create a new tag to represent the parsed Process Data In for our Q4X.
The tag name again calls out the type of sensor, the IO-Link Master, and the port number. Use
the data type “Banner_Q4X_PDI” for the new tag.
11. Add the “Banner_Q4X_PD” function to an OB ladder. Link the “Process Data Word” to the raw
Process Data variable from step 8. Link the “Q4X Process Data” to the parsed Process Data
variable from step 10.
12. Process Data setup is complete.
13. Compile and download the configuration to the PLC, then go online. Open the “Banner IO-
Link Data” data block and click Monitor all. You should see parsed Q4X Process Data In, like
that shown below.
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Appendix A Q4X Process Data
The Q4X has 2 bytes of Process Data In, as shown below.
This Process Data is mapped to a specific group of PROFINET addresses. The 16-bits of Process
Data encode four separate pieces of information. Bit 0 is the state of BDC1 (Binary Data Channel
1, also known simply as Output Channel 1). Bit 1 is BDC2 (Channel 2). Bit 2 is the stability
indicator. The remaining 13 bits are used to communicate the Q4X measurement value (in
0.1mm increments), unless the Q4X is in Dual Teach mode. If in Dual Teach mode, these 13 bits
instead represent a percent match value.
This function intelligently parses this Process Data into its component pieces.
