COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR CONNECTING FIELD DEVICES TO A HIGHER-ORDER CONTROL DEVICE

• US 20130222123A1
• Filed: 06/28/2011
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Wessling, Klaus
• Granted Patent: US 10,037,688 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/12.22
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25274 Communication processor, link interface
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25335 Each module has connections to actuator, sensor and to a fieldbus for expansion
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40019 Details regarding a bus master
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4026 Bus for use in automation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114

Abstract

To be able to achieve shorter communication cycles, the invention proposes a communication system which is able to connect field devices to a higher-order control device. For this purpose, a connection device is provided which is connectable to a higher-order control device via a transmission medium. The connection device has at least one first port and at least one second port, to each of which a field device may be connected. The connection device has at least one functional device which is switchable between at least one first port and at least one second port. The functional device is designed to generate output data intended for the second port in response to the input data arriving at the first port.

Claims

1. A communication system for connecting field devices to a higher-order control device, having a connection device which is connectable to a higher-order control device via a transmission medium, the connection device having at least one first port to which a field device which generates input data is connected, and at least one second port to which a field device which generates output data is connected, wherein the connection device has at least one functional device which is switchable between at least one first port and at least one second port, the functional device being designed to generate output data intended for the second port in response to the input data arriving at the first port.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the field devices are IO-Link devices, in particular sensors or actuators, and that the connection device communicates with the particular IO-Link devices via point-to-point connections according to the IO-Link protocol.

3. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the connection device has multiple different functional devices and a programmable switching device, the switching device being designed in such a way that it is able to switch at least one functional device between at least one first port and at least one second port.

4. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the input data and output data contain process data which are transmitted cyclically.

5. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the input data arriving at a first port contain the port number of the respective first port, and that the output data departing at a second port contain the port number of the respective second port.

6. A connection device, in particular for a communication system, for connecting field devices to a higher-order control device, the connection device being connectable to a higher-order control device via a transmission medium, and at least one first port to which a field device which generates input data is connectable, and at least one second port to which a field device which receives output data is connectable, characterized by at least one functional device which is switchable between at least one first port and at least one second port, the functional device being designed to generate output data intended for the second port in response to the input data arriving at the first port.

7. The connection device according to claim 6, characterized by multiple different functional devices and a programmable switching device, the switching device being designed in such a way that it is able to switch at least one functional device between at least one first port and at least one second port.