Function Module And Coupling Module For A Switch Device Control And System For Switch Device Control

• US 20110166675A1
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Kraus, Helmut, Harmsen, Peter, Keil, Rainer
• Granted Patent: US 8,587,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/22
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00006 characterised by information or instructions transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated power network element or electrical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/12 characterised by data transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated electrical equipment

Abstract

A functional module for a switch device control is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the functional module includes—a communication unit having a communication interface for communicating with at least one further functional module and/or at least one coupling module,—a control unit connected to the communication unit and designed to receive signals transmitted from the at least one further functional module and/or the at least one coupling module to the communication unit and to transmit switch commands via the communication unit to the at least one further functional module and/or the at least one coupling module,—a first control current interface for the electric connection to a first switch device or an external energy supply unit, and—a second control current interface for supplying control current to the at least one further functional module and/or the at least one coupling module.

Claims

1. A function module for switching device control, comprising:

a communication unit, including a communication interface, to communicate with at least one of at least one further function module and at least one coupling module;

a control unit, operatively connected to the communication unit, to receive signals transmitted by the at least one of the at least one further function module and at least one coupling module to the communication unit and to transmit switching commands via the communication unit to at least one of the at least one further function module and the at least one coupling module;

a first control current interface for electrical connection to a first switching device or an external power supply unit; and

a second control current interface to supply control current to the at least one of the at least one further function module and the at least one coupling module.

2. The function module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second control current interface is integrated in the communication interface of the communication unit or the communication interface of the communication unit is integrated in the second control current interface.

3. The function module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the function module is connected electrically and mechanically to the first switching device in order to detect the switching state of the first switching device via a sensor element associated with the control unit and in order to transmit switching commands to the first switching device.

4. The function module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control unit is designed to use the measured variables detected by the sensor element to determine at least one of the switching state of the first switching device and the switching state of the at least one second switching device, connected electrically to the at least one of the at least one further function module and the at least one coupling module, on the basis of the received signals, the at least one of the at least one further function module and the at least one coupling module including a sensor element to detect the switching state of the at least one second switching device.

5. The function module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit of the function module is designed to actuate a first electrical circuit via a switching command in order to bring about a change in the switching state of the first switching device and to actuate at least one second electrical circuit via at least one switching command in order to bring about a change in the switching state of the at least one second switching device.

6. The function module as claimed in claim 5, wherein the function module or the control unit of the function module includes a time-delay switching device at least one of to transmit a switching command to the first electrical circuit and therefore to the first switching device and in to transmit a switching command to the at least one second electrical circuit and therefore to the at least one second switching device depending on at least one of the detected switching states and at least one input control signal of the first switching device to the at least one of the at least one further function module and the at least one coupling module.

7. The function module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the time-delay switching device is connected to a preprogrammed or preprogrammable circuit diagram in a memory module of the function module or the control unit of the function module to provide the control apparatus with switching states of the individual switching devices which are determined on the basis of the circuit diagram.

8. The function module as claimed in claim 5, wherein the function module is designed to control the switching state of at least one of the first switching device, associated with the function module, the at least one further function module and the switching device associated with the at least one coupling module, via the respective coil terminals thereof.

9. The function module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the function module is fastened detachably on the associated switching device, or is integrated in the associated switching device, so as to produce the at least one of electrical and mechanical connection.

12. The function module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said module includes a device for making contact with the main current paths of the associated switching device, the device for making contact with the main current paths being coupled to the control unit of the function module, with a result that the state of the associated switching device is detectable via a sensor element associated with the control unit, and the detected state of the associated switching device is useable to control a further switching device.

13. A system for switching device control, comprising at least one function module as claimed in claim 1 and at least one coupling module, said at least one function modules and at least one coupling module being connected to one another via communication units with associated communication interfaces and via control current interfaces for retransmission of a control current.

14. The system for switching device control as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one function module and the at least one coupling module are connected to one another by way of a connecting cable.

15. The function module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the function module is connected electrically and mechanically to the first switching device in order to detect the switching state of the first switching device via a sensor element associated with the control unit and in order to transmit switching commands to the first switching device.

16. The function module as claimed in claim 9, wherein the function module is at least one of snapable and latchable onto said switching device.

21. The system for switching device control as claimed in claim 14, wherein the connecting cable includes at least one of a flat ribbon cable and a jumper plug.

10. A coupling module for switching device control, comprising:

a communication unit; and

a control unit, operatively connected to the communication unit;

a sensor element to detect a switching state of a switching device associated with the coupling module being associated with the control unit, the communication unit including a first communication interface to communicate with at least one function module and a second communication interface to communicate with at least one further coupling module and the control unit being designed to transmit the detected switching state of the switching device to the function module or to the at least one further coupling module via the communication unit, wherein an electrical circuit is associated with the control unit, a switching command received via the communication unit is useable to actuate the electrical circuit to bring about a change in the switching state of the switching device, and the coupling module including two control current interfaces.

11. The coupling module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the coupling module is fastened detachably on the associated switching device, or is integrated in the associated switching device, so as to produce at least one of an electrical and mechanical connection.

17. The coupling module as claimed in claim 11, wherein the coupling module is at least one of snapable and latchable onto said switching device.

18. The coupling module as claimed in claim 10, wherein said module includes a device for making contact with the main current paths of the associated switching device, the device for making contact with the main current paths being coupled to the control unit of the coupling module, with a result that the state of the associated switching device is detectable via a sensor element associated with the control unit, and the detected state of the associated switching device is useable to control a further switching device.

19. A system for switching device control, comprising at least one function module and at least one coupling module as claimed in claim 10, said at least one function module and at least one coupling module being connected to one another via communication units with associated communication interfaces and via control current interfaces for retransmission of a control current.

20. The system for switching device control as claimed in claim 19, wherein the at least one function module and the at least one coupling module are connected to one another by way of a connecting cable.

22. The system for switching device control as claimed in claim 20, wherein the connecting cable includes at least one of a flat ribbon cable and a jumper plug.