INDUSTRIAL CONTROLLER INTERFACE FOR PLUG-IN I/O MODULES
First Claim
1. An industrial automation device, comprising:
- a port configured to receive a plurality of different types of plug-in I/O modules; and
an interface for enabling communication between the industrial automation device and the plurality of different types of plug-in I/O modules, wherein the interface comprises;
one or more setup mechanisms configured to detect connection of one of the plurality of different type plug-in I/O modules to the interface through the port, configured to write module configuration data to the connected plug-in I/O module, and configured to retrieve I/O format data and feature data from the connected plug-in I/O module; and
one or more operational mechanisms configured to exchange operational mode data with the connected plug-in I/O module.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interface for an industrial controller is provided that enables connection of different types of plug-in I/O modules to the industrial controller. The interface includes several mechanisms, which can be implemented through control logic, circuitry, and/or software, that enable the control/monitoring device to operate in conjunction with different types of plug-in I/O modules. According to certain embodiments, the interface includes setup mechanisms that enable initial communications between the plug-in I/O modules and the control/monitoring device. The interface also may include operational mechanisms that facilitate communication between the plug-in I/O modules and the control/monitoring device during operation. The interface further may include registers that store data for the plug-in I/O modules.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An industrial automation device, comprising:
-
a port configured to receive a plurality of different types of plug-in I/O modules; and an interface for enabling communication between the industrial automation device and the plurality of different types of plug-in I/O modules, wherein the interface comprises; one or more setup mechanisms configured to detect connection of one of the plurality of different type plug-in I/O modules to the interface through the port, configured to write module configuration data to the connected plug-in I/O module, and configured to retrieve I/O format data and feature data from the connected plug-in I/O module; and one or more operational mechanisms configured to exchange operational mode data with the connected plug-in I/O module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising instructions for:
-
detecting connection of different types of plug-in I/O modules to an industrial automation device; retrieving plug-in I/O module configuration data for the different types of plug-in I/O modules and writing the plug-in I/O module configuration data to the different type plug-in I/O modules; requesting a plug-in I/O module number of inputs and a plug-in I/O module number of outputs from the different types of plug-in I/O modules and storing the plug-in I/O module number of inputs and the plug-in I/O module number of outputs in designated registers; and requesting feature data from the different types of plug-in I/O modules and storing the feature data in additional designated registers, wherein the feature data comprises input latch mechanism data, output latch mechanism data, or user interrupt functionality data, or a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An industrial automation control and monitoring system, comprising:
-
an industrial automation device configured to control and/or monitor a process; a plug-in I/O module connected to the industrial automation device through a port of the industrial automation device designed to receive different types of plug-in I/O modules; and an interface of the industrial automation device for enabling communication between the industrial automation device and the plug-in I/O module, wherein the interface comprises; a module identification mechanism configured to detect connection of one of the different types of plug-in I/O modules to the interface through the port; and a module I/O mechanism configured to request a number of inputs and a number of outputs from the plug-in I/O module and configured to store the number of inputs and the number of outputs from the plug-in I/O module in designated registers of the interface. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification