MULTIPLE ALTERNATIVE AUTOMATION INPUT SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20150134119A1
• Filed: 04/15/2014
• Published: 05/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Asia Pacific Business Center Pte Ltd (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Asia Pacific Business Center Pte Ltd (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shah, Rajesh Ramesh
• Granted Patent: US 9,785,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37427 Detected with thermocouple

Abstract

Components and devices are provided for controlling and monitoring a machine or process using an automation controller that may be capable of receiving inputs from a digital source, an analog source, or a thermistor source. In one embodiment, an automation controller may include first, second, and third input terminals. The first and second input terminals may receive input signals from analog and digital sensors, and the second and third terminals may receive input signals from a thermistor.

Claims

1. An automation component comprising:

a first input terminal configured to receive an input from an analog sensor or a digital sensor;

a second input terminal configured to receive an input from the analog sensor, the digital sensor or a thermistor; and

a third input terminal configured to receive an input from the thermistor.

2. The automation component of claim 1, wherein the automation component comprises an automation controller that in operation controls a machine or process, and wherein the first, second and third input terminals are provided on the automation controller.

3. The automation component of claim 1, comprising a resistor coupled across the first and second input terminals.

4. The automation component of claim 1, comprising a power supply coupled to the third input terminal and configured to provide power to the thermistor when coupled to the third input terminal.

5. The automation component of claim 4, wherein the power supply provides 10V regulated power for operation of the thermistor.

6. The automation component of claim 1, wherein the automation component is configured to convert signals received from a thermistor coupled to the second and third input terminals to a temperature value.

7. The automation component of claim 6, wherein the automation component converts the signals received from the thermistor coupled to the second and third input terminals to the temperature value by reference to a stored look up table.

8. The automation component of claim 6, wherein the temperature values are between approximately −

40 and 155 degrees C.

9. The automation component of claim 6, wherein the automation component converts the signals received from the thermistor using an approximation equation in order to calculate an approximation of the temperature value.

10. The automation component of claim 1, wherein the automation component is configured to be coupled to the analog sensor, the digital sensor or the thermistor through an input/output module.

12. The automation controller of claim 10, wherein the inputs are configurable through an automation controller software program.

16. The automation controller of claim 10, wherein the automation controller is configured to receive input signals from the thermistor and control a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system using the input signals from the thermistor.

18. The automation component of claim 16, wherein the automation component converts the signals received from the thermistor coupled to the second input terminal and the third input terminal to the temperature value by reference to a stored look up table.

20. The automation component of claim 16, wherein the second input terminal and the third input terminal are configured to receive input from both a positive temperature coefficient thermistor and a negative temperature coefficient thermistor.

11. An automation controller comprising:

first, second and third input terminals, the first and second input terminals being configured to receive input signals from analog and digital sensors, and the second and third terminals being configured to receive input signals from a thermistor.

13. The automation controller of claim 11, wherein a gain or an offset for the inputs is established using the automation controller software program.

14. The automation controller of claim 11, wherein the input signals from the thermistor are calibrated using the automation controller software program.

15. The automation controller of claim 11, wherein the second and third input terminals are configured to receive two ends of a resistor, and the automation controller software program configures the automation controller to measure a resistance of the resistor.

17. An automation component comprising:

a first input terminal configured to receive an input from an analog sensor or a digital sensor;

a second input terminal configured to receive an input from the analog sensor, the digital sensor or a thermistor;

a resistor coupled across the first and second input terminals;

a third input terminal configured to receive an input from the thermistor; and

a power supply coupled to the third input terminal and configured to provide power to the thermistor when coupled to the third input terminal.

19. The automation component of claim 17, wherein a thermistor input is calibrated by creating a short across from the second input terminal to the third input terminal, determining a resistance of the short, and subtracting the resistance of the short from a resistance of the thermistor.