CONTROLLING DEVICE

• US 20140028419A1
• Filed: 07/25/2013
• Published: 01/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Azbil Corporation (Azbil BioVigilant Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Azbil Corporation (Azbil BioVigilant Incorporated)
• Inventors: AOKI, Takanori
• Granted Patent: US 9,064,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 335/219
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/038 using permanent magnets, e.g. balances, torsion devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/02 Permanent magnets [PM]

Abstract

A controlling device includes a controlling device main unit and a terminal block attached removably to the controlling device main unit. The terminal block is provided with first through N^th (N≧2) permanent magnet placement portions. The controlling device main unit includes first through N^th magnetism detecting portions that, in a state wherein the terminal block is attached, are positioned in positions in proximity to the first through N^th permanent magnet placement portions, to detect the respective magnetism of the permanent magnets that are placed selectively in the placement portions. The controlling device further includes a terminal block type identifying portion that identifies a type of terminal block attached to the controlling device main unit based on detection signals, indicating whether or not there is magnetism, from the first through N^th magnetism detecting portions.

Claims

1. A controlling device comprising:

a controlling device main unit;

a terminal block attached removably to the controlling device main unit, wherein

the terminal block is provided with

first through N^th (N≧

2) permanent magnet placement portions, and

the controlling device main unit includes

first through N^th magnetism detecting portions that, in a state wherein the terminal block is attached, are positioned in positions in proximity to the first through N^th permanent magnet placement portions, to detect the respective magnetism of the permanent magnets that are placed selectively in the placement portions; and

a terminal block type identifying portion that identifies a type of terminal block attached to the controlling device main unit based on detection signals, indicating whether or not there is magnetism, from the first through N^th magnetism detecting portions.

2. The controlling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the terminal block type identifying portion identifies whether or not a terminal block attached to the controlling device main unit is a terminal block of a type that has been defined in advance, based on detection signals, indicating whether or not there is magnetism, from the first through N^th magnetism detecting portions.

3. The controlling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the terminal block type identifying portion identifies the type of terminal block, of a plurality of types that have been defined in advance, of a terminal block that is attached to the controlling device main unit, based on detection signals, indicating whether or not there is magnetism, from the first through N^th magnetism detecting portions.

4. The controlling device as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

the terminal block type identifying portion identifies, from a detection signal, indicating whether or not there is magnetism, from one magnetism detecting portion established in advance from among the first through N^th magnetism detecting portions, whether or not a terminal block is attached to the controlling device main unit, and identifies the type of terminal block that is attached to the controlling device main unit, based on detection signals, indicating whether or not there is magnetism, from the other magnetism detecting portions.

5. The controlling device as set forth in claim 3, wherein

the terminal block type identifying portion identifies whether or not to stop functions of various types of signal processing between the controlling device main unit and the terminal block, together with identifying the type of terminal block attached to the controlling device main unit, based on information indicating Allowed or Not-allowed, set for each individual terminal block of a plurality of types.

6. The controlling device as set forth in claim 5, wherein

the information indicating Allowed or Not-allowed is set for each terminal block of the plurality of types through communication through an external device that is connected.