With the release of new firmware for the PD 62x modules, a number of new functions are now available in these modules. The following provides an overview of the new functions.

• Bootloader:
The I/O modules now have a bootloader, which means that firmware within the modules can now be updated via P-NET.

• Autodetect (Baudrate):
The I/O modules are now able to automatically adapt to the communication speed on P-NET Light-Link. After power up, the modules will, in a short period of time (100 ms), listen to the traffic on the bus to detect if the baud rate is 76.8 kbit/s or 230 kbit/s.
This new functionality provides the clear advantage that it is now possible to change the speed of communication for a complete I/O cluster just by changing the baud rate on the Light-Link port of the DPI.
When changing the baud rate in the DPI, the change will become effective as soon as the PD 62x modules have been reset.
The functions described above are also being implemented in the PD 64x modules and made available with the next firmware releases for these modules.

PD 620 / PD 621 / PD 622 (firmware version 1.14 ->)
• Watchdog / WDPreset
To ensure that a specific master continues to regularly communicate with the module, WDPreset could initially be set by that master to 0 or less (e.g. -1). This change will then lead to a rather different functionality, where the particular master will need to be programmed to provide an initial and regular update of the WDTimer with a positive value.

In the event that this update is missed, for example because of an error in this master, and being the one responsible for controlling the outputs, the WDTimer will reach zero before it is preset again, whereupon the PnetWDRunOut flag will be set, and all the outputs will switch OFF to their safe states.
The advantage by using this method is that the module will not be kept alive by communication from, for example, a PC running Visual VIGO.

• CommonIn
The Service channel has been extended with this new variable. It can be found in Service.Notification.CommonIn

The variable holds status bits for all Inflags
It is now possible to read the status for all channels in each I/O module with just a single read command.
• InputPreset
This register holds the preset value for IOTimer when the channel is used in Input Hold Mode or Input Delay Mode. Please read more in the Service Channel description.

PD 620 / PD 621 (firmware version 1.14 ->)
• Functions
PD 620 / PD 621Digital I/O now have a number of new functions:
Input hold mode, Input delay mode, and Input edge detect mode.

Input hold mode:
If only a short pulse is detected on the input terminal, this function can be used to extend the time in which the InFlag is True.

Input delay mode:
By using this function, it is possible to specify a time delay between when an input is detected on the input terminal and when the InFlag and Control flags are set True.
Input delay mode provides a filter on the input that ensures that the InFlag is only set True if the signal is stable during the entire period when the IOTimer is decrementing towards zero. This mode also avoids the counter being incremented if the input is ON for a shorter period of time than that specified in the InputPreset register.

Input edge detect mode:
This function will cause the IOTimer to be preset when a positive edge is detected on the input terminal. The IOTimer will decrement down to zero, and this can be used to trigger the output on another channel.
As shown below, the IOTimer cannot be preset again until its value reaches zero or contains a negative value.
When InputPreset is <= 0, one or more outputs in the module that are pointing to this input can be activated immediately or delayed by a positive time specified in InputPreset..

• ControlledbyChannel
PD 620 and PD 621 now provide a new a feature, which makes it possible for the I/O module to perform autonomous functions.
On each channel it can be stated which other channel it should be controlled by, and by combining this with the built-in functions of the channel, it is possible to build, for example, a delayed OneShot output. Such functionality is very useful in time critical applications.
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