Low overhead synchronized activation of functional modules
First Claim
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1. A system for synchronizing a sampling interval at an industrial control module comprising:
- a controller for providing to a communications link a coordinated system time base signal having a value indicative of a coordinated system time; and
a module operatively connected to the communications link, the module having an activation interval for controlling periodic activation relative to at least one of an input and an output thereof;
wherein the module is programmed to synchronize the activation interval thereof relative to the coordinated system time base value by delaying activation at the module until the coordinated system time is an integer multiple of the activation interval.
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Abstract
A system and/or method for synchronizing one or more modules of an industrial controller relative to a common time base. A module may be programmed and/or configured to employ an activation interval for controlling periodic activation for sampling one or more inputs and/or applying data at outputs of the module. The module synchronizes its activation interval based on a coordinated time base signal.
21 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for synchronizing a sampling interval at an industrial control module comprising:
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a controller for providing to a communications link a coordinated system time base signal having a value indicative of a coordinated system time; and a module operatively connected to the communications link, the module having an activation interval for controlling periodic activation relative to at least one of an input and an output thereof; wherein the module is programmed to synchronize the activation interval thereof relative to the coordinated system time base value by delaying activation at the module until the coordinated system time is an integer multiple of the activation interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A module for use in an industrial controller system comprising:
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a communications link for receiving a coordinated system time base signal having a value indicative of a coordinated system time; and a field side for at least one of sampling input data and applying output data; wherein the module is programmed to control activation of the field side based on an activation interval value, the module synchronizing the activation interval for the field side relative to the coordinated system time base value by delaying activation of the field side until the coordinated system time has a value that is an integer multiple of the activation interval. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for providing synchronized sampling at an industrial control module comprising:
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means for receiving a coordinated system time base signal at the module having a value indicative of a coordinated system time; and means for synchronizing an activation interval of the module relative to the coordinated system time base value by delaying activation at the module until the coordinated system time is an integer multiple of the activation interval.
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16. A method for synchronizing sampling of a module relative to a common time base, the module having an interval for controlling periodic activation relative to at least one of an input and an output thereof, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a coordinated system time base signal having a value indicative of a coordinated system time; and synchronizing the activation interval of the module relative to the coordinated system time base value by delaying activation at the module until the coordinated system time is an integer multiple of the activation interval. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification