Modular peripheral unit expandable by modules and having an automatically establishing electrical connection

• US 6,081,048 A
• Filed: 10/22/1998
• Issued: 06/27/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Schirbl, Reinhard, Bergmann, Martin, Rester, Heribert
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIOS CUEVAS, ROBERTO JOSE
• Application Number:
  US09/171,643
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 439/928, 361/731, 361/732, 361/733, 361/735, 361/744, 361/790, 307/147
• US Class Current: 307/147
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1472 Bus coupling modules, e.g. bus distribution modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1477 including backplanes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1478 including a segmented bus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/928 Modular electrically interengaging parts, e.g. stove with replaceable heating elements formed on coupling parts

Abstract

A modular peripheral unit, which monitoring a technical process, includes a base module to which at least one expansion module can be attached in series, the modules each having a module upper part and a module lower part, as well as having at least one profile permitting serial attachments. The module lower parts have a multiplicity of essentially U-shaped contact elements in the region of the profile with which they can be attached in series. One limb of the contact elements extends into the interior of the module lower part, such that the multiplicity of these limbs form an internal male contact strip and the multiplicity of remaining limbs of the contact elements form an external male contact strip. When an expansion module is attached in series, the external male contact strip engages in the expansion module such that the external male contact strip is opposite the internal male contact strip of the expansion module which is attached in series. The desired connection between the internal and external male contact strips can be achieved within the module with suitable measures.

Claims

1. A modular peripheral unit for at least one of controlling and monitoring a technical process, comprising:

a plurality of modules connectable to at least one of actuators and sensors for at least one of controlling and monitoring the technical process, the plurality of modules including a base module receiving a supply voltage, and at least one expansion module connectable in series to the base module, each respective module of the plurality of modules including a respective module upper part and a respective module lower part, each respective module lower part including substantially U-shaped contact elements for connecting each respective module lower part to another respective module lower part in series, each of the substantially U-shaped contact elements having a first limb and second limb, the first limb of each of the substantially U-shaped contact elements being positioned within the respective module when the respective module upper part is mounted on the respective module lower part, the first limb of each of the substantially U-shaped contact elements of the respective module lower part together forming a respective internal contact arrangement, the second limb of each of the substantially U-shaped contact elements of the respective module lower part being positioned outside the respective module when the respective module upper part is mounted on the respective module lower part, the second limb of each of the substantially U-shaped contact elements of the respective module lower part together forming a respective external contact arrangement, the respective external contact arrangement of one of the plurality of modules engaging in one of the at least one expansion modules when the one of the at least one expansion modules is connected in series such that the respective external contact arrangement of the one of the plurality of modules is opposite the respective internal contact arrangement of the one of the at least one expansion modules.

2. The modular peripheral unit according to claim 1, wherein the substantially U-shaped contact elements include junctions.

3. The modular peripheral unit according to claim 1, wherein a first subset of the substantially U-shaped contact elements provide the supply voltage, and a second subset of the substantially U-shaped contact elements provide signal voltages.

4. The modular peripheral unit according to claim 1, wherein each respective module upper part includes a respective printed circuit board, the respective printed circuit board including an electrical circuit for at least one of controlling and monitoring the technical process.

5. The modular peripheral unit according to claim 4, wherein the respective external contact arrangement of at least one of the plurality of modules is coupled to the respective internal contact arrangement of the at least one of the plurality of modules via a direct electrically conductive connecting element, the supply voltage being looped through the at least one of the plurality of modules via the direct electrically conductive connecting element, and wherein the signal voltages are looped through the at least one of the plurality of modules via the respective printed circuit board.

6. The modular peripheral unit according to claim 4, wherein only the supply voltages are selected on each respective printed circuit board, and wherein the selected supply voltages are provided to the respective printed circuit board using predetermined contact elements.