FUNCTION CONNECTION UNIT COMPRISING A PARAMETER MEMORY

• US 20170366370A1
• Filed: 12/15/2015
• Published: 12/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Krumsiek, Dietmar
• Granted Patent: US 10,484,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/364 using independent requests or grants, e.g. using separated request and grant lines
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40019 Details regarding a bus master
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40032 Details regarding a bus interface enhancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4026 Bus for use in automation systems

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a function connection unit for connecting functional modules. The functional connection unit includes a plurality of functional module terminals configured to connect to the functional modules and to communicate according to a first communication protocol, and a parameter memory that includes parameter data for device specific parameterization of at least one functional module. The parameter memory is configured to connect to a functional module terminal of the plurality of functional module terminals. The function connection unit is configured to read the parameter data from the parameter memory. The function connection unit is also configured to parameterize at least one functional module in a device-specific fashion based at least in part on the read parameter data.

Claims

1. A function connection unit for connecting functional modules, comprising:

a plurality of functional module terminals configured to connect to the functional modules and to communicate according to a first communication protocol; and

a parameter memory comprising parameter data for device-specific parameterization of at least one functional module, wherein the parameter memory is configured to connect to a functional module terminal of the plurality of functional module terminals, and wherein the function connection unit is configured to read the parameter data from the parameter memory and parameterize at least one functional module in a device-specific fashion based at least in part on the read parameter data.

2. The function connection unit of claim 1, wherein the function connection unit is a master according to the single-drop digital communication interface for small sensors and actuators (SDCI) protocol.

3. The function connection unit of claim 1, wherein the parameter memory is configured to output a characteristic signal that identifies the parameter memory, and wherein the function connection unit is configured to detect the parameter memory or to differentiate the parameter memory from a functional module at the functional module terminal based at least in part on the characteristic signal.

4. The function connection unit of claim 1, wherein the parameter memory is configured to transmit the parameter data from the parameter memory to the function connection unit via the functional module terminal.

5. The function connection unit of claim 1, further configured to store the read parameter data.

6. The function connection unit of claim 5, wherein the parameter memory is detachable from the functional module terminal, wherein a functional module is configured to electrically connect to the functional module terminal, and wherein the function connection unit is configured to parameterize a functional module in a device-specific fashion, using the parameter data stored in the function connection unit, the functional module is connected to the functional module terminal instead of the parameter memory.

7. The function connection unit of claim 1, wherein a functional module is configured to connect to the parameter memory, and wherein the function connection unit is configured to parameterize, in a device-specific fashion based at least in part on the parameter data, the functional module via the functional module terminal that is electrically connected to the parameter memory.

8. The function connection unit of claim 7, wherein the parameter memory is switched into a transparent mode, in the transparent mode data from the function connection unit is passed onto the at least one functional module via the parameter memory, or data is passed on from the at least one functional module to the function connection unit by the parameter memory to parameterize in a device-specific fashion the functional module connected to the parameter memory, or some combination thereof.

9. The function connection unit of claim 1, wherein the function connection unit is configured to switch the parameter memory into a memory write mode, in the memory write mode data is writable to the parameter memory.

10. The function connection unit of claim 1, wherein the parameter memory comprises an interface for transmitting data according to a second communication protocol.

11. The function connection unit of claim 1, wherein the parameter memory comprises an operator control element configured to trigger a transmission of the parameter data from the parameter memory into the function connection unit.

12. The function connection unit of claim 1, wherein the parameter data specify physical values of device-specific parameters.

13. The function connection unit of claim 1, wherein a parameterization interface forms a communication interface of the function connection unit configured to transmit data.

18. The function connection unit of claim 2, wherein the master is an I/O link master.

19. The function connection unit of claim 10, wherein the second communication protocol is a USB protocol.

20. The function connection unit according to claim 13, wherein transmitting data comprises transmitting one of:

parameter data, control commands, or a combination thereof; and

wherein the control commands control one of;

the functional modules, the function connection unit, read out data from the functional modules, read out data from the function connection unit, or some combination thereof.

14. A parameter memory comprises:

a functional module parameter terminal configured to connect to a functional module terminal of a function connection unit for functional modules, wherein the parameter memory is configured to provide parameter data for a device-specific parameterization of at least one functional module via the functional module parameter terminal.

15. The parameter memory of claim 14, wherein the parameter memory is configured to output parameter data for the device-specific parameterization of at least one functional module via the functional module parameter terminal in response to a reception of a request.

16. The parameter memory of claim 14, wherein the parameter memory comprises a functional module according to the single-drop digital communication interface for small sensors and actuators (SDCI) protocol.

17. The parameter memory of claim 16, wherein the parameter memory is changed into a transparent mode to set up a direct communication connection between the functional module parameter terminal of the parameter memory and the functional module.