Method and system for defining slot addresses

A method for assigning addresses to a plurality of modules in an industrial control system, the method comprising the steps of:

• assigning a first address to a first module, selected from the plurality of modules, wherein the first module is located in a bank and assigns the first address to itself and wherein the plurality of modules are connected in a sequential manner along the bank and an end module located furthest along the bank from the first module is connected back to the first module;
• generating a binary pattern in the first module for transmission to each of the plurality of modules;
• transmitting the binary pattern one bit at a time to each of the plurality modules;
• measuring a duration in each of the plurality of modules for which it takes the module to receive all bits of the binary pattern;
• transmitting the first address from the first module to each of the other modules;
• and
• assigning a unique address to each of the other modules, wherein each of the other modules determines the unique address as a function of the duration measured in the corresponding module and of the first address.

A system for assigning addresses to a plurality of modules in an industrial control system, the system comprising:

• a first module, selected from the plurality of modules, the first module includes:
• at least one electrical connector;
• a slot assigner executable on the first module to manage automatic assignment of a plurality of slot addresses, wherein a first slot address, selected from the plurality of slot addresses, is assigned to the first module;
• and
• a plurality of additional modules, each additional module selected from the plurality of modules, wherein the first module and each additional module define one bank of modules, and wherein each of the additional modules includes:
• a first electrical connector operatively connected to one of the first module and another of the additional modules;
• and
• a second electrical connector operatively connected to one of another of the additional modules and an endcap, wherein:
• the at least one electrical connector of the first module, the first electrical connector of each additional module, and the second electrical connector of each additional module is configured to transmit a plurality of data messages;
• the slot assigner is further executable to:
• generate a neighbor discovery message,
• transmit the neighbor discovery message via the at least one electrical connector to an adjacent module, wherein the adjacent module is selected from one of the plurality of additional modules and the first electrical connector of the adjacent module is operatively connected to the at least one electrical connector of the first module,
• receive a message from the adjacent module identifying the presence of the adjacent module,
• generate a second slot address with the first module, the second slot address being different than the first slot address, and
• transmit a slot assignment message including the second slot address to the adjacent module;
• and
• the first module communicates with each of the plurality of additional modules to verify that the first module and each of the plurality of additional modules is assigned one of the plurality of slot addresses.

A system for assigning addresses to a plurality of modules in an industrial control system, the system comprising:

• a first module, selected from the plurality of modules, the first module includes:
• at least one electrical connector,
• a slot assigner executable on the first module to manage automatic assignment of a plurality of slot addresses, wherein a first slot address, selected from the plurality of slot addresses is assigned to the first module;
• and
• a plurality of additional modules, each additional module selected from the plurality of modules, wherein the first module and each additional module define one bank of modules, and wherein each of the additional modules includes:
• a first electrical connector operatively connected to one of the first module and another of the additional modules;
• and
• a second electrical connector operatively connected to one of another of the additional modules and an endcap, wherein:
• the at least one electrical connector of the first module, the first electrical connector of each additional module, and the second electrical connector of each additional module is configured to transmit a binary pattern and a clock signal;
• each of the plurality of additional modules further includes a flip-flop operatively connected in series between the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector;
• the slot assigner is further executable to:
• transmit the binary pattern and the clock signal from the at least one electrical connector to an adjacent module, wherein the adjacent module is selected form one of the plurality of additional modules and the first electrical connector of the adjacent module is operatively connected to the at least one electrical connector, and
• receive the binary pattern from one of the plurality of additional modules located furthest from the first module along the bank of modules;
• each of the plurality of additional modules is operable to store a duration of time between starting to receive the clock signal and receiving the complete binary pattern;
• and
• the first module communicates with each of the plurality of additional modules to transmit the first slot address to each of the additional modules and to verify that the first module and each of the plurality of additional modules is assigned one of the plurality of slot addresses.