Polytechnic University of the Philippines

College of Engineering
ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

ECEN 3364 - INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS & PLC APPLICATIONS

ASSIGNMENT NO. 1
DISCRETE INPUT AND OUTPUT DEVICES
Name: Razzel John E. Orbeta Year and Section: 4-3
Date Performed: June 22, 2018 Date Submitted: June 26, 2018

DISCRETE INPUT DEVICES

Name Schematic/Pictorial Symbol Operation/Application
1. Manual Switches and They are used to initiate or select

Push Button process operations or input values

by the system operator
2. Proximity switches A metallic object placed close to
an inductive proximity switch
changes the inductance of the
device sensing coil.
3. Limit switches A limit switch is an
electromechanical device that
consists of an actuator
mechanically linked to a set of
contacts.
4. Photoelectric Switches A photoelectric sensor, or photo eye, is
an equipment used to discover the
distance, absence, or presence of an
object by using a light transmitter,
often infrared, and
a photoelectric receiver.

5. Encoders Encoders convert motion to an

electrical signal that can be read
by some type of control device in a
motion control system, such as a
counter or PLC.
DISCRETE OUTPUT DEVICES
Name Schematic/Pictorial Symbol Operation/Application
1. Alarms An alarm device or system
of alarm devices gives an audible,
visual or other form of alarm signal
about a problem or condition.

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 2. Lights A light-emitting diode (LED) is a
two-lead semiconductor light
source. It is a p–n junction diode
that emits light when activated.
3. Relays A relay is
an electrically operated switch. Many
relays use an electromagnet to
mechanically operate a switch, but
other operating principles are also
used, such as solid-state relays.

4. Solenoids A solenoid is a coil of insulated or

enameled wire wound on a rod-
shaped form made of solid iron,
solid steel, or powdered iron.
Devices of this kind can be used
as electromagnets, as inductors in
electronic circuits, and as
miniature wireless receiving
antennas.
5. Valves A valve is a device that regulates,
directs or controls the flow of a
fluid (gases, liquids, fluidized
solids, or slurries) by opening,
closing, or partially obstructing
various passageways.

Questions:
1. Briefly explain: a) discrete input devices, and b) discrete output devices.
a.) To a discrete input module, discrete devices are essentially switches that are either on
or off.
b.) Discrete output modules read the desired output state from the PLC output scan and
converts that logical status (off/on) into the correct real world electrical signal.
2. Discuss the importance of discrete input and output devices in industrial electronic control.
 Discrete input and output devices are important in industrial electronic control
because they are the devices that gathers information or data, which is then
converted into binary so that it can be read by the computer and then converted
back into the desired signal. They are very essential to industrial electronic control.

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Sources:
http://ep381.tripod.com/Lecture4_10.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limit_switch
http://www.azbil.com/products/factory/factory-product/switch-sensor/photoelectric-
switch/index.html
encoder.com/blog/company-news/what-is-an-encoder/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light-emitting_diode
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relay
https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/solenoid
http://www.plctutor.com/plc-io-devices/plc-discrete-output-systems/