Intelligent self-determining I/O device

• US 20050198406A1
• Filed: 03/04/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Sichner, Gregg M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,412,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/8
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/054 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/1138 Configuration of I-O
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/1202 Modules with same hardware and software
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25323 Intelligent modules

Abstract

A universal input/output device for an industrial automation control system includes a housing, a power supply for connecting to a voltage source, an input/output circuit for communicating with an industrial process, and a network adapter circuit for communicating data to and from a data network. The device also includes a backplane communication circuit for sending backplane data upstream and downstream along a backplane, and a device setup control circuit. The device setup control circuit performs an initialization process to configure said device as one of: (i) a stand-along block I/O device; (ii) a network adapter module of a modular I/O device; or (iii) an I/O module of a modular I/O device. The configuration method is automatic and based upon data being received into the device.

Claims

1. An universal input/output device for an industrial automation control system, said device comprising:

a housing;

a power supply for connecting to a voltage source;

an input/output circuit for communicating with an industrial process;

a network adapter circuit for communicating data to and from a data network;

a backplane communication circuit for sending backplane data upstream and downstream along a backplane; and

,

a device setup control circuit that performs an initialization process to configure said device as one of;

(i) a stand-along block I/O device;

(ii) a network adapter module of a modular I/O device;

or (iii) an I/O module of a modular I/O device.

2. The universal input/output device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said device setup control circuit further configures said device as one of:

(i) a terminal I/O module;

or, (ii) a intermediate I/O module.

3. The universal input/output device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said device setup control circuit comprises means for sending and receiving backplane test data to adjacent devices via said backplane communication circuit, and wherein said setup control circuit configures said device based upon receipt of an acknowledgement response from an adjacent device via said backplane communication circuit.

4. The universal input/output device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said backplane communication circuit comprises a wireless communication circuit for sending and receiving wireless backplane data to upstream and downstream devices.

5. An industrial automation control system, said system comprising at least two intelligent self-determining I/O devices, each of said I/O devices comprising:

a housing;

a power supply for connecting to a voltage source;

an input/output circuit for communicating with an industrial process;

a network adapter circuit for communicating data to and from a data network;

a backplane communication circuit for sending backplane data upstream and downstream along a backplane; and

,

a device setup control circuit that performs an initialization process to configure said device as one of;

(i) a stand-along block I/O device;

(ii) a network adapter module of a modular I/O device;

or (iii) an I/O module of a modular I/O device.

6. A method for constructing an industrial automation control system, said method comprising:

connecting a plurality of intelligent self-determining I/O devices to a data network;

performing an initialization routine with each of said intelligent self-determining I/O devices, said initialization routine comprising for each of said intelligent self-determining I/O device;

(a) determining if network data are being received into said device;

(b) determining if upstream backplane test data are being received into said device;

(c) determining if downstream backplane test data are being received into said device; and

,

(d) configuring said device as one of (i) a stand-along block I/O device;

(ii) a network adapter module of a modular I/O device;

or (iii) an I/O module of a modular I/O device based upon whether at least one of network data, upstream backplane test data, and downstream backplane test data are received into said device.