Remote terminal unit (RTU) hardware architecture
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a remote terminal unit (RTU) comprising;
a plurality of input/output (I/O) modules connected in series, each comprising multiple I/O channels, wherein a first I/O module of the plurality of I/O modules comprises a first connector and a third connector, a second I/O module of the plurality of I/O modules comprises a fourth connector, the third connector is configured to be physically connected to the fourth connector, and the third and fourth connectors are configured to transport data and power directly between the first I/O module and the second I/O module; and
a controller module comprising;
at least one processing device configured to communicate with at least one industrial field device via the I/O channels of the I/O modules, anda second connector configured to physically connect to the first connector, wherein the first and second connectors are configured to transport data and power directly between the controller module and the first I/O module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus includes a remote terminal unit (RTU) having one or more input/output (I/O) modules and a controller module. Each of the one or more I/O modules includes multiple I/O channels. The controller module includes at least one processing device configured to communicate with at least one industrial field device via the I/O channels of the I/O modules. The controller module includes a first connector, and a first of the one or more I/O modules includes a second connector. The first connector is configured to be physically connected to the second connector, and the first and second connectors are configured to transport data and power directly between the controller module and the first I/O module.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
a remote terminal unit (RTU) comprising; a plurality of input/output (I/O) modules connected in series, each comprising multiple I/O channels, wherein a first I/O module of the plurality of I/O modules comprises a first connector and a third connector, a second I/O module of the plurality of I/O modules comprises a fourth connector, the third connector is configured to be physically connected to the fourth connector, and the third and fourth connectors are configured to transport data and power directly between the first I/O module and the second I/O module; and a controller module comprising; at least one processing device configured to communicate with at least one industrial field device via the I/O channels of the I/O modules, and a second connector configured to physically connect to the first connector, wherein the first and second connectors are configured to transport data and power directly between the controller module and the first I/O module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus comprising:
a controller module of a remote terminal unit (RTU), the controller module comprising; at least one processing device configured to communicate with at least one industrial field device via input/output (I/O) channels of a plurality of I/O modules connected in series; and a first connector configured to; physically connect to a second connector of a first of the plurality of I/O modules; and transport data and power directly between the controller module and the first I/O module, and transport data and power indirectly between the controller module and a second I/O module, where the first I/O module comprises a third connector and the second I/O module comprises a fourth connector, and the third and fourth connectors are configured to transport data and power directly between the first I/O module and the second I/O module. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 19)
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13. An apparatus comprising:
an input/output (I/O) module of a remote terminal unit (RTU), the I/O module comprising; multiple I/O channels configured to provide communication paths between a controller module of the RTU and at least one industrial field device; first and second connectors configured to physically connect to other modules of the RTU, each connector configured to transport data and power directly between the I/O module and the other modules of the RTU, the first connector configured to be physically connected to a third connector of a controller module and transport data and power directly between the I/O module and the controller module, and the second connector configured to be physically connected to a fourth connector of an additional I/O module and transport data and power directly between the I/O module and the additional I/O module. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 20)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
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an expansion module of a remote terminal unit (RTU), the expansion module comprising; a connector configured to be physically connected to an input/output (I/O) module of the RTU, the I/O module comprising multiple I/O channels configured to provide communication paths between a controller module of the RTU and at least one industrial field device; at least one port configured to be coupled to a second expansion module of the RTU, the second expansion module configured to be coupled to an additional I/O module; and a set of I/O modules connected in series, each comprising multiple I/O channels; wherein the connector is configured to; transport data directly between the I/O module and the expansion module, and transport data and power indirectly between the controller module and a second I/O module, where the I/O module comprises a third connector and the second I/O module comprises a fourth connector, and the third and fourth connectors are configured to transport data and power directly between the I/O module and the second I/O module. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification