What is PROFINET?
PROFINET is a high-level network protocol used in industrial automation applications for interfacing Siemens equipment with other industrial products such as machine vision cameras.

Built using standard Ethernet technologies, PROFINET IO defines a network structure for exchanging data, alarms and diagnostics with automation controllers on the factory floor and is a widely-used open standard supported by “PROFIBUS and PROFINET International”, the largest automation community in the world.

What is the BOA smart camera?
The BOA smart camera is a highly integrated optical inspection tool for controlling quality and increasing productivity. It comprises all the elements of an industrial machine vision system in a tiny smart camera style package.

BOA smart cameras offer scalable vision solutions to satisfy a wide range of application needs from positioning robotic handlers to complete assembly verifications and comes fully-loaded with iNspect Express, a comprehensive set of click-and-apply tools to satisfy a wide range of optical automation tasks.

How do BOA and PROFINET work together?
Teledyne DALSA has added PROFINET IO to the list of factory protocols supported by the BOA smart camera series and compliance with this standard is closely monitored to ensure fast, secure and reliable data exchange between BOA and any PROFINET-compatible device. Given the strict requirements of the interface, many vision companies do not provide PROFINET support.

In the PROFINET world, the BOA smart camera is classified as an IO-Device which is a field device monitored and controlled by an IO Controller. The characteristics of the BOA smart camera are described by a language called GSDML (GSD Markup Language) which is XML based. The resultant GSD files of connected field devices provide the user with a configuration map of the PROFINET IO system, the protocol of which requires each field device to respond within a fixed time interval to ensure system timing.

Configuring BOA for PROFINET is a simple matter of selection from a drop-down list of supported communication protocols in the iNspect Express user interface that comes with the camera.

Learn more about Teledyne DALSA's cameras, smart cameras and vision appliances, software