Implicit Messages - In-Sight 4.x.x Firmware

EtherNet/IP implicit messaging allows an In-Sight vision system's inputs and outputs to be mapped into tags in the ControlLogix or CompactLogix PLC. Once these values are established, they are synchronized at an interval defined by the Requested Packet Interval (RPI). Each time the RPI expires, the PLC updates the vision system's status registers, and requests that the vision system update the PLC's status registers.

The figure below represents Ethernet-based I/O through EtherNet/IP:

Note: This information is covered in detail in the EtherNet/IP Object Model - In-Sight 4.x.x Firmware topic. For more information, see EtherNet/IP Object Model and Input/Output Assembly Objects.

The EtherNet/IP Vision Object keeps track of the status of the various subsystems in the In-Sight Sensor, as well as the data that is coming from, and going to the In-Sight Explorer Spreadsheet.

The Input Assembly and Output Assembly map various fields from the EtherNet/IP Vision Object:

The Input Assembly is the collection of In-Sight vision system data values sent to the PLC (PLC inputs).
The Output Assembly is the collection of data values received by the In-Sight vision system from the PLC (PLC outputs).

If there is an EtherNet/IP implicit messaging connection, then these values are updated on the client at the RPI. In conjunction, if the client updates values across an EtherNet/IP implicit messaging connection, those changes will be reflected in the various In-Sight Sensor subsystems, and the In-Sight Sensor will respond accordingly.

To setup an EtherNet/IP implicit messaging connection between an In-Sight vision system and a ControlLogix controller, the In-Sight vision system must first be configured in the ControlLogix I/O Configuration tree. A Generic Ethernet Module must be added as an I/O device under the node that corresponds to the Ethernet module in the rack.