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What is "Soft I/O"?
3

What is "Soft I/O"?

What is "Soft I/O"?

(OP)
Please can someone explain the meaning of the term "Soft" I/O to me with respect to input and output of a Control system ?   

RE: What is "Soft I/O"?

Some context, i.e., and example datasheet might be useful.  Just throwing out a random phrase is just going to get random answers.

TTFN

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RE: What is "Soft I/O"?

2
Soft I/O usually refers to data that is transferred over a network, or internally in a control system.  This would be I/O (traditionally analog or digital signal) that may be wired to one system, but required in another system, so instead of running hard-wired to both systems, a network is installed to transfer the information.

Hard I/O is I/O that is physically connected (hard-wired) to an I/O card on the control system.

______________________________________________________________________________
This is normally the space where people post something insightful.

RE: What is "Soft I/O"?

Instead of soft I/O, virtual I/O is a phrase that I might use.  This could apply to any internally calculated value, peer-to-peer communication, serial link data etc. other than addressing the value of a physical input/output signal.

RE: What is "Soft I/O"?

(OP)
Thanks everyone for the replies. I get it now.

RE: What is "Soft I/O"?

On top of the definitions above, another company, XiO, defines Soft-I/O as the ability to change the configuration of a hardware pin by using software. Their product allows any pin to be re-configured as a 4-20mA, -10V-10V, 0-24V, digital I/O, Thermocouple and more by just configuring it in the device's web site.

 

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