System for address initialization of generic nodes in a distributed command and control system and method therefor
First Claim
1. A method for initializing a distributed control system, the distributed control system having a control unit and at least one node coupled to a common communication bus, the distributed control system having a predetermined topology, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining a distance from the control unit to each node, the distance representing a relative location of said node in the predetermined topology wherein determining the distance further comprises;
providing a reference current on the communication bus t develop a distance voltage on the communication bus at said node as a function of the distance of said node along the communication bus;
determining said distance as a function of said distance voltage; and
assigning a specific address to said node based on the relative location of said node in the predetermined topology.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for assigning unique addresses to each generic "node" in a distributed control system that contains a main controller (52) coupled to a plurality of generic nodes (54) via a distributed communication bus (55). The main controller (52) provides currents and/or voltages to the communication bus (55) via a supply (58). In one embodiment, each node (54) processes the current and voltages to store reference voltages and distance voltages proportional to its distance along the communication bus (55). In another embodiment, each node (54) signals to the main controller (52) when the distance voltage reaches a certain value relative to the reference voltage. The main controller (52) processes the arrival times of these signals to determine a relative distance to each node (54). This distance information is used to assign a unique address to each generic node (54) for identification during normal mode of operation.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method for initializing a distributed control system, the distributed control system having a control unit and at least one node coupled to a common communication bus, the distributed control system having a predetermined topology, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a distance from the control unit to each node, the distance representing a relative location of said node in the predetermined topology wherein determining the distance further comprises; providing a reference current on the communication bus t develop a distance voltage on the communication bus at said node as a function of the distance of said node along the communication bus; determining said distance as a function of said distance voltage; and assigning a specific address to said node based on the relative location of said node in the predetermined topology. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 54)
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22. A method for initializing a distributed control system, the distributed control system having a control unit and at least one node coupled to a common bus, the distributed control system having a predetermined topology, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a distance from the control unit to each node, the distance representing a relative location of said node in the predetermined topology, by; providing a reference current on the communication bus to develop a distance voltage on the communication bus at said node as a function of the distance of said node along the bus; and determining said distance as a function of said distance voltage; and assigning a specific address to said node based on the relative location of said node in the predetermined topology, by; correlating the distance of said node to a predetermined node function; wherein the specific address is related to said node function.
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23. A method for initializing a distributed control system, the distributed control system having a control unit and at least one node coupled to a common bus, the distributed control system having a predetermined topology, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing on the communication bus a reference current which increases with time to create a distance voltage at said node; monitoring the distance voltage at said node; when the distance voltage of said node reaches a trigger point, assigning an address to said node relative to a time at which the distance voltage measured at said node reaches the trigger point. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A node, adapted for use with a control unit in a distributed control system having a common bus, the node comprising:
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analog distance determination circuitry adapted to be coupled to the bus to determine a location on the bus of the node relative to the control unit; node control circuitry coupled to the analog distance determination circuitry and adapted to communicate with the control unit to provide said location to the control unit and to receive an address from the control unit. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A node, adapted for use with a control unit in a distributed control system having a common bus, the node comprising:
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analog distance determination circuitry adapted to be coupled to the bus to determine a location on the bus of the node relative to the control unit, comprising; sample-and-hold circuitry coupled to the bus and adapted to sample a reference voltage communicated across the bus and to hold said sampled voltage; and voltage comparison circuitry coupled the bus and to the sample-and-hold circuitry and adapted to compare a distance voltage communicated on the bus to said sampled voltage; node control circuitry coupled to the analog distance determination circuitry and adapted to communicate with the control unit to provide said location to the control unit and to receive an address from the control unit. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50)
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51. A distributed control system, comprising:
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a first node; a second node; and a wire electrically coupling the first node and the second node, the wire having a length which is selected so that the resistivity of the wire between said first and second nodes exceeds a predetermined minimum resistivity wherein the physical distance between the first and second nodes is X. and, if the resistivity of a length X of said wire is below said minimum resistivity, the length of said wire is increased to a value Y such that the resistivity of said wire exceeds said minimum resistivity. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56)
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52. A method for finding relative locations of nodes to each other in a distributed control system, the distributed control system having a control unit and a communication bus coupled to the nodes, the distributed control system having a predetermined topology, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a signal to the nodes, the signal creating a measurement signal along a length of the communication bus where the measurement signal has a characteristic that is a function of distance of the measurement signal from the control unit along the communication bus; and measuring the measurement signal at each node to create distance indicators, wherein the each of the distance indicators identifies a specific location for a respective node.
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53. A controller in a distributed control system having at least one control element, the controller adapted to communicate via a common bus, the controller comprising:
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a voltage developing circuit coupled to the common bus and adapted to develop a reference voltage on the common bus at the node, the voltage developing circuit adapted to develop incremental voltages on the common bus at the control element; and a communication circuit coupled to the common bus, the communication circuit adapted to receive identification information from the node via the common bus, the communication circuit adapted to assign an address to the control element via the common bus.
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Specification