Control I/O module having the ability to interchange bus protocols for bus networks independent of the control I/O module

• US 6,151,640 A
• Filed: 01/23/1998
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schneider Automation Incorporated (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Automation Incorporated (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Steifelmeyer, Gene, Buda, Paul R., Dew, Larry A., Bailey, Jonathan H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peyton, Tammara
• Application Number:
  US09/012,377
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 707/101, 710/4, 710/63, 710/110, 710/11, 710/33, 710/129, 709/249, 709/236, 367/77, 370/389
• US Class Current: 710/11
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/252 using digital means

Abstract

A field bus network of input and output devices is coupled to a control system through an I/O interface module, regardless of their data structures. The I/O interface module is coupled to the control systemthrough a serial communication port. Local input and output devices are coupled to the interface I/O module through a local I/O interface and networked input and output devices are coupled to the interface I/O module through a field bus communication adapter. A different adapter is required for each type of field bus protocol. The interface I/O module includes a microprocessor based device to generate and control the various interactions between the local devices, networked devices, and the controllsystem and also to provide for a visual and status display of the fieldbus and local I/O data local.

Claims

1. A control input/output (I/O) module comprising:

A. a field bus communications adapter for coupling a field bus network of input and output devices to the control I/O module;

B. a local I/O connector for coupling a plurality of local input and output devices to the control I/O module;

C. a serial controller interface for coupling the control I/O module to the control system;

D. an I/O processor for controlling interactions between the plurality of local input and output devices, the field bus network of input and output devices, and the control system;

E. wherein said control I/O module for interfacing the field bus network of input and output devices to the control system; and

F. wherein said field bus communications adapter allows for an interchangeability of field bus protocols for the field bus network of input and output devices independent to the control system functionality by using a common field bus protocol between the control I/O module and the control system.

2. The control I/O module of claim 1 wherein the field bus communications adapter receives serial data from the field bus network of input devices and sends serial data to the field bus network of output devices, the field bus network having a selected field bus protocol.

3. The control I/O module of claim 2 wherein the field bus communications adapter asynchronously loads the received serial data from the field bus network of input devices into a serial to parallel converter for conversion to parallel data representing status of the input devices on the field bus network.

4. The control I/O module of claim 3 wherein the local I/O connector includes local input and output registers for storing status of the plurality of local input and output devices coupled to the control I/O module.

5. The control I/O module of claim 4 wherein the I/O processor includes a microprocessor for reading input status data which includes the converted parallel data representing status of the input devices on the field bus network and stored status of the plurality of local input devices coupled to the control I/O module.

6. The control I/O module of claim 5 wherein the microprocessor uses an internal time base for reading the parallel data representing the status of the input devices and stores the read input status data into its memory.

7. The control I/O module of claim 6 wherein the I/O processor further includes configuration jumpers to provide a common data structure for the read input status data of the field bus network of input devices and the plurality of local input and output devices, in a format compatible with the control system.

8. The control I/O module of claim 7 wherein the serial controller interface includes a parallel to serial converter for sending the stored read input data serially to the control system.

9. The control I/O module of claim 8 wherein the serial controller interface further includes a serial to parallel converter for receiving asynchronously serial output data from the control system, for converting the receiving output data, and for storing the converted output data into parallel output data registers, the output data for controlling the output devices on the field bus network and the plurality of local output devices coupled to the control I/O module.

10. The control I/O module of claim 9 wherein the microprocessor uses the internal time base for reading the parallel output data registers and stores the read output data into its memory, the micropressor further for modifying the output data based on the configuration jumpers before sending to a parallel to serial converter in the field bus communications adapter and sending across the field bus network utilizing the selected field bus protocol.

11. The control I/O module of claim 9 wherein the contrpl system is a weld controller.

12. A control input/output (I/O) module for exchanging data between a field bus network of input and output devices and a weld control system, the control I/O module comprising:

A. a field bus communications adapter for coupling the field bus network of input and output devices to the control I/O module, the field bus communications adapter for receiving serial data from the field bus network of input devices and sending serial data to the field bus network of output devices, the sent and received data utlizing a selected field bus protocol;

B. a serial controller interface for coupling the control I/O module to the weld control system, the serial controller interface for sending input data serially to the weld control system and receiving output data from the weld control system, the sent and received data utlizing a different field bus protocol;

C. an I/O processor for controlling interactions between the field bus network of input and output devices and the weld control system; and

D. wherein said field bus communications adapter allows for an interchangeability of field bus protocols for the field bus network of input and output devices independent to the weld control system functionality by using a common field bus protocol between the control I/O module and the weld control system.

13. The control I/O module of claim 12 wherein the field bus communications adapter asynchronously loads the received serial data from the field bus network of input devices into a serial to parallel converter for conversion to parallel data representing status of the input devices on the field bus network.

14. The control I/O module of claim 13 further including a local I/O connector having local input and output registers for storing status of a plurality of local input and output devices coupled to the control I/O module.

15. The control I/O module of claim 14 wherein the I/O processor includes a microprocessor for reading and storing in a memory, input status data using an internal time base, the input status data including the converted parallel data representing status of the input devices on the field bus network and stored status of the plurality of local input devices coupled to the control I/O module.

16. The control I/O module of claim 15 wherein the I/O processor further includes configuration jumpers to provide a common data structure for the read input status data of the field bus network of input devices and the plurality of local input and output devices, in a format compatible with the weld control system.

17. The control I/O module of claim 16 wherein the serial controller interface includes a parallel to serial converter for sending the stored read input data serially to the weld control system.

18. The control I/O module of claim 17 wherein the serial controller interface further includes a serial to parallel converter for receiving asynchronously serial output data from the control system, for converting the receiving output data, and for storing the converted output data into parallel output data registers, the output data for controlling the output devices on the field bus network and the plurality of local output devices coupled to the control I/O module.

19. The control I/O module of claim 18 wherein the microprocessor uses the internal time base for reading the parallel output data registers and stores the read output data into its memory, the micropressor further for modifying the output data based on the configuration jumpers before sending to a parallel to serial converter in the field bus communications adapter and sending across the field bus network utilizing the selected field bus protocol.

20. The control I/O module of claim 19 further including means for displaying the status of the input and output devices on the field bus network and the plurality of local input and output devices coupled to the control I/O module.