Devices, systems, and methods for initializing a PLC module
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:
- a first module of a first chain of modules, each adjacent pair of said first chain of modules communicatively coupled in series to a programmable logic controller (PLC), said first module comprising a transmitting circuit, a receiving circuit, and repeater circuits, said first module adapted to communicate with said PLC via 8B/10B encoded frames, said first module comprising a first repeater which repeats transmissions from the direction of the PLC to a second module of said first chain of modules, said first repeater comprising a first switch, said first switch adapted to default to an open position prior to an assignment of a module address to said first module by said PLC, said first switch adapted to remain in said open position until said module address is assigned to said first module, said first module further comprising a second repeater which repeats transmissions from the direction of the second module to the direction of the PLC, said second repeater comprising a second switch selecting whether communication toward the PLC is from the first module transmission circuit or repeated from the second module.
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Abstract
Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a system, which can comprise a module communicatively coupled to a programmable logic controller (PLC). The module can comprise a transmission circuit and/or a receiving circuit. The module can be adapted to communicate with the PLC via 8B/10B encoded frames. A frame of the 8B/10B encoded frames can comprise a plurality of ordered fields.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
a first module of a first chain of modules, each adjacent pair of said first chain of modules communicatively coupled in series to a programmable logic controller (PLC), said first module comprising a transmitting circuit, a receiving circuit, and repeater circuits, said first module adapted to communicate with said PLC via 8B/10B encoded frames, said first module comprising a first repeater which repeats transmissions from the direction of the PLC to a second module of said first chain of modules, said first repeater comprising a first switch, said first switch adapted to default to an open position prior to an assignment of a module address to said first module by said PLC, said first switch adapted to remain in said open position until said module address is assigned to said first module, said first module further comprising a second repeater which repeats transmissions from the direction of the second module to the direction of the PLC, said second repeater comprising a second switch selecting whether communication toward the PLC is from the first module transmission circuit or repeated from the second module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
transmitting a message from a programmable logic controller (PLC) that is communicatively coupled to a first module of a first chain of modules, each adjacent pair of said first chain of modules communicatively coupled in series, each of said first chain of modules Input/Output modules adapted to communicate with said PLC in hard real-time, said PLC communicatively coupled to a second chain of modules, each adjacent pair of said second chain of modules communicatively coupled in series, each of said second chain of modules a communications module, said first module comprising a transmitting circuit, a receiving circuit, and repeater circuits, said first module adapted to communicate with said PLC via 8B/10B encoded frames, said first module comprising a first repeater which repeats transmissions from the direction of the PLC to a second module of said first chain of modules, said first repeater comprising a first switch, said first switch adapted to default to an open position prior to an assignment of a module address to said first module by said PLC, said first switch adapted to remain in said open position until said module address is assigned to said first module, said first module further comprising a second repeater which repeats transmissions from the direction of the second module to the direction of the PLC, said second repeater comprising a second switch selecting whether communication toward the PLC is from the first module transmission circuit or repeated from the second module, each of said 8B/10B encoded frames comprising message type field of a size that corresponds to eight bits, a value stored in said message type field indicative of content of a data field of said frame, said message type field following a first ordered sequence of fields comprised by said frame, said first ordered sequence of fields, a preamble field, a start-of-frame field, a destination address field of a size that corresponds to eight bits, a length field, and a source address field of a size that corresponds to eight bits, said message type field followed by a second ordered sequence of fields comprised by said frame, said second ordered sequence comprising a data field, a cyclic redundancy check field of a size that corresponds to 32 bits, and an end of frame field.
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16. A machine-readable medium comprising machine instructions for activities comprising:
communicatively coupling a programmable logic controller (PLC) to a first module of a chain of modules, each adjacent pair of said chain of modules communicatively coupled in series, said first module comprising a transmitting circuit, a receiving circuit, and repeater circuits, said first module adapted to communicate with said PLC via 8B/10B encoded frames, said first module comprising a first repeater which repeats transmissions from the direction of the PLC to a second module of said chain of modules, said first repeater comprising a first switch, said first switch adapted to default to an open position prior to an assignment of a module address to said first module by said PLC, said first switch adapted to remain in said open position until said module address is assigned to said first module, said first module further comprising a second repeater which repeats transmissions from the direction of the second module to the direction of the PLC, said second repeater comprising a second switch selecting whether communication toward the PLC is from the first module transmission circuit or repeated from the second module.
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17. A system comprising:
a circuit adapted to communicatively couple a programmable logic controller (PLC) to a first module of a chain of modules, each adjacent pair of said chain of modules communicatively coupled in series, said first module comprising a transmitting circuit, a receiving circuit, and repeater circuits, said first module adapted to communicate with said PLC via 8B/10B encoded frames, said first module comprising a first repeater which repeats transmissions from the direction of the PLC to a second module of said chain of modules, said first repeater comprising a first switch, said first switch adapted to default to an open position prior to an assignment of a module address to said first module by said PLC, said first switch adapted to remain in said open position until said module address is assigned to said first module, said first module further comprising a second repeater which repeats transmissions from the direction of the second module to the direction of the PLC, said second repeater comprising a second switch selecting whether communication toward the PLC is from the first module transmission circuit or repeated from the second module.
Specification