Monitoring method and system for remote input/output blocks

• US 20030084211A1
• Filed: 10/29/2001
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Herinckx, Derald J.
• Application Number:
  US10/021,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20030084211A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/19
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1481 User interface, e.g. status displays; Programming interface, e.g. connector for computer programming; Monitoring

Abstract

A user interface is incorporated into an I/O Block. The user interface preferably includes a small screen on which, for example, the description or identification of the module, communication settings, I/O addresses, tagnames, current values, I/O reference descriptions, analog value trends and force and fault status for the I/O Block can be displayed. The user interface also preferably includes a user input device, for example, a small keypad, that allows the user to input commands or solicit data from the I/O Block. With the user interface incorporated in the I/O Block, a technician servicing the Block need not carry any equipment and can work with several I/O Blocks at once.

Claims

1. An Input/Output Block comprising:

an Input/Output Block; and

a user interface integrated with said Input/Output Block for providing data about said Input/Output Block.

2. The Block of claim 1, wherein said user interface further comprises:

a screen; and

a user input device.

3. The Block of claim 2, wherein said user input device comprises a keypad.

4. The Block of claim 1, wherein said user interface comprises a touch-screen.

5. The Block of claim 1, wherein said user interface displays a description, identification or tagname of the I/O Block.

6. The Block of claim 1, wherein said user interface displays an I/O address of the I/O Block.

7. The Block of claim 1, wherein said user interface displays an analog value trend of the I/O Block.

8. The Block of claim 1, wherein said user interface displays a fault status of the I/O Block.

9. The Block of claim 1, wherein said user interface displays a force status of the I/O Block.

10. The Block of claim 1, wherein said user interface displays communication settings of the I/O Block.

11. A method of making an Input/Output Block comprising:

forming an Input/Output Block; and

providing a user interface integrated with said Input/Output Block.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said providing a user interface further comprises:

providing a screen; and

providing a user input device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said providing a user input device comprises providing a keypad.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said providing a user interface further comprises providing a touch-screen.

15. A method of operating an Input/Output Block comprising retrieving data from said Input/Output Block and entering data to said Input/Output Block through a user interface integrated with said Input/Output Block.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising configuring said Input/Output Block with said integrated user interface.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying a description, identification or tagname of the I/O Block with said user interface.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying an I/O address of the I/O Block with said user interface.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying an analog value trend of the I/O Block with said user interface.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying a fault status of the I/O Block with said user interface.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying a force status of the I/O Block with said user interface.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying communication settings of the I/O Block with said user interface.

23. An Input/Output Block comprising:

a casing of said Input/Output Block; and

user interface means integrated with said casing of said Input/Output Block for providing data about said Input/Output Block.

24. The Block of claim 23, wherein said user interface means comprise:

a screen; and

a user input device.

25. The Block of claim 23, wherein said user interface means comprise a touch-screen.