Apparatus and method for isolating a field power source and a control power source in a controlled process
AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
InventorsGeorge D. Maskovyak, Nedyalko V. Ivanov
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An industrial control output device is provided which provides electrical isolation between device power and field power. The device includes two isolation devices, one of which is adapted to energize a power switching device, and the other is adapted to de-energize the switching device. The output device thus minimizes or reduces EMI/RFI emissions and provides fast switching times in selectively providing power to a load. In addition, the invention includes a method of providing power to a load in an industrial control system, which allows fast switching of a digital output with minimal or reduced EMI/RFI emissions.
Claims20
A system that facilitates isolating control power and field power from interference within an industrial automation environment, comprising:
- a switch that transfers power between a field power source and a load;
- a first isolator that when active energizes the switch so as to effect supplying field power to the load such that a control power source and the field power source are substantially isolated from at least one of:
- electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference during supplying the field power to the load;
- and
- a second isolator that when active de-energizes the switch so as to remove field power to the load.
A system that facilitates isolating control power and field power from interference, comprising:
- means for transferring power between a field power source and a load;
- first optical means for energizing the means for transferring so as to effect supplying field power to the load such that a control power source and the field power source are substantially isolated from at least one of:
- electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference during supplying the field power to the load;
- and
- second optical means for de-energizing the means for transferring so as to remove field power to the load.
A method that facilitates isolating control power and field power from interference, comprising:
- activating a first optical isolator in response to a first signal being asserted high;
- energizing a switching component in response to activating the first optical isolator so as to provide power to a load;
- activating a second optical isolator in response to a second signal being asserted low;
- and
- de-energizing the switching component in response to activating the second optical isolator so as to remove power to the load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.