Industrial Control Module Providing Universal I/O
First Claim
1. A module for interfacing with industrial control equipment, comprising:
- a terminal configured to receive an electrical conductor in a channel interfacing with industrial control equipment;
a variable resistance device connected to the terminal providing a resistance in the channel; and
a control circuit connected to the variable resistance device,wherein the control circuit is configured to control the variable resistance device to adjust the resistance in the channel for a given mode selected from a plurality of modes, wherein each mode of the plurality of modes configures a different resistance in the channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An industrial control I/O module for interfacing with industrial control equipment, such as sensors and actuators, can be configured to dynamically provide differing resistances in each channel as may be required for reliably achieving particular modes of operation in the channel. Providing differing resistances in such channels flexibly allows different modes in the channel to provide universal I/O capability. Modes of operation could include, for example, digital output, digital input, analog output, analog input and the like, in the same channel, but at different times. In one aspect, a processor or voltage divider can be used to control an amplifier, with feedback, driving a transistor in a channel to dynamically adjust resistance in the channel by selectively biasing the transistor to achieve a resistance in the channel suitable for the selected mode.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A module for interfacing with industrial control equipment, comprising:
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a terminal configured to receive an electrical conductor in a channel interfacing with industrial control equipment; a variable resistance device connected to the terminal providing a resistance in the channel; and a control circuit connected to the variable resistance device, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the variable resistance device to adjust the resistance in the channel for a given mode selected from a plurality of modes, wherein each mode of the plurality of modes configures a different resistance in the channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An industrial control system comprising:
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an industrial controller executing a control program for controlling an industrial process; an I/O module in communication with the industrial controller, the I/O module providing a direct interface to industrial control equipment of the industrial process, the I/O module comprising; a terminal configured to receive an electrical conductor in a channel interfacing with the industrial control equipment; a variable resistance device connected to the terminal providing a resistance in the channel; and a control circuit connected to the variable resistance device, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the variable resistance device to adjust the resistance in the channel for a given mode selected from a plurality of modes, wherein each mode of the plurality of modes configures a different resistance in the channel. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification