Programmable controller communication interface module which is configurable by a removable memory cartridge
First Claim
1. An interface module for coupling a serial communication link to a programmable controller in which data is transmitted over the communication link using a defined communication protocol, said interface module comprising:
- means for connecting a communication link to said interface module;
a processor means for executing a program which controls the transfer of data between said interface module and the communication link according to the defined communication protocol;
a first memory means for storing the program and data for the processor means;
a memory cartridge that is removable without having to disassemble the interface module, said memory cartridge storing a program for said processor means which program defines the communication protocol;
means for electrically interconnecting said processor means, said first memory means, said means for connecting and said memory cartridge; and
means for transferring the contents of said memory cartridge into said first memory means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A module interfaces a programmable controller to several serial communication networks over which data may be exchanged according to different protocols. A module has a central controller and a separate port circuit for each of the networks. Each port circuit includes a microprocessor and a shared memory to which both the central controller and the port microprocessor have access for the exchange of data. The central controller transfers data from the shared memories to a module output coupled to other components of the programmable controller. A removable memory cartridge stores a plurality of programs for execution by the port microprocessors to exchange data over the networks using different communication protocols. Configuration data is stored in the module defining which program is to be transferred from the memory cartridge into the shared memory of each port circuit. Protocol parameter configuration inquiries are stored for each program so that the user can be queried to select values for the parameters of the communication protocol used by the program.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An interface module for coupling a serial communication link to a programmable controller in which data is transmitted over the communication link using a defined communication protocol, said interface module comprising:
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means for connecting a communication link to said interface module; a processor means for executing a program which controls the transfer of data between said interface module and the communication link according to the defined communication protocol; a first memory means for storing the program and data for the processor means; a memory cartridge that is removable without having to disassemble the interface module, said memory cartridge storing a program for said processor means which program defines the communication protocol; means for electrically interconnecting said processor means, said first memory means, said means for connecting and said memory cartridge; and means for transferring the contents of said memory cartridge into said first memory means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 19)
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8. An interface module for interconnecting a plurality of serial communication links for the exchange of data among the communication links, said interface module comprising:
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a plurality of port circuits, each of which coupling one of the serial communication links to the interface module and including; a) a processor means for executing a communication program which controls the transmitting and/or receiving of data over a serial communication link according to a given protocol, b) a first memory means for storing the communication program, c) means for coupling the serial communication link to said processor means, and d) means for interconnecting said processor means, said first memory means and said means for coupling; a removable memory cartridge means which contains a plurality of communication programs for said processor means; means for storing configuration data defining which of the plurality of communication programs in the memory cartridge means is to be stored in said first memory means of each port circuit; and means for transferring a communication program from said memory cartridge into said first memory means of each port circuit in response to the configuration data. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20)
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15. In a programmable controller having a processor module and a number of functional modules located in a rack and electrically interconnected by a backplane of the rack;
- a serial communication module for interfacing the programmable controller to a plurality of serial communication links, said serial communication module comprising;
a plurality of separate port circuits for coupling a different one of the communication links to the communication module, each of said port circuits including; a) a port processor means for executing a communication program which controls the transmitting and/or receiving of data over the serial communication link according to a given protocol, b) first memory means for storing the communication program, c) means coupling the serial communication link to said port processor means, and d) means for interconnecting said processor means, said first memory means and said means for coupling; a removable memory cartridge means which contains a plurality of communication programs executable by said port processor means;
means for storing configuration data defining which program in the memory cartridge means is to be stored in said first memory means of each of said port circuits;means for transferring a communication program from said memory cartridge means into said first memory means of a given port circuit in response to the configuration data; means for coupling the serial communication module to the rack backplane; and a module processor means for controlling the transfer of data between said port circuits and the rack backplane. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
- a serial communication module for interfacing the programmable controller to a plurality of serial communication links, said serial communication module comprising;
Specification