Slave module and method for at least starting the iterative registration of slave modules of a modular controller system

The slave module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slave module (1) comprises:

• a trigger output (14) of the processing unit (10), which is connected to the status
• output connector (40), for applying the trigger voltage;
• an electric reference potential applicator (41, 43, 44), e.g. a pull-down discharger, which is electrically connected to the status output connector (40) for applying the reference potential to the output connector (40) when the trigger voltage is not applied by the processing unit (10);
• and
• an electric second potential applicator (31, 33, 34), e.g. a pull-up supply, which is electrically connected with the status input connector (30) for applying a second voltage with respect to the reference potential to the status input connector (30),
• wherein the reference potential applicator (41, 43, 44) is stronger than the second potential applicator (31, 33, 34), and wherein the trigger output (14) is stronger than the reference potential applicator (41, 43, 44).

Method for at least starting the iterative registration of slave modules (1) of a modular controller system (100), the controller system (100) having a master module (50), the controller system (100) employing an industrial network (90) for communication within the controller system (100), with the registration of a furthest slave module (1) of the slave modules (1),

• wherein each of the slave modules (1) and the master module (50) respectively comprise a processing unit (10) and a network adapter (20, 20′) for the network (90) coupled to the processing unit (10), and wherein each of the slave modules (1) is provided, in addition to its network adapter (20), with a status input connecter (30) coupled to its processing unit (10) and a status output connector (40) coupled to its processing unit (10) and wherein the slave modules (1) are connected in series in that, respectively for subsequent slave modules (1), the status input connector (30) of the slave module (1) is electrically connected to the status output connector (40) of the following slave module (1);
• characterized in that the method includes:
• automatically determining the furthest slave module (1) of the slave modules (1) by the furthest slave module (1) detecting that its status input connector (30) is not connected to the status output connector (40) of any other of the slave modules (1);
• emitting an initialization broadcast from the master module (50) via the network (90) for switching the slave modules (1) to an enumeration state;
• sending a presentation message from the furthest slave module (1) to the master module (50) via the network (90);
• sending with the master module (90), upon receiving the presentation message from the furthest slave module (1), a registration response for the furthest slave module (1) via the network (90);
• applying, upon receiving the registration response for the furthest slave module (1) by the latter, a trigger voltage at the status output connector (40) of the furthest slave module (1) with respect to an electric reference potential by means of the processing unit (10) of the furthest slave module (1).