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US 5,390,351 AGranted
System for communicating with plural nodes in predetermined intervals depended on integers assigned and changed based upon configuration thereof
AssigneePitney Bowes Inc.
InventorsPeter C. Di Giulio, James L. Harman, David K. Lee, Frederick W. Ryan, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cost-effective motion control system communication architecture is provided that supports a centralized control node, distributed control nodes, and smart I/O peripheral control nodes. Networks designed using this architecture, which employs a serial bus, may be readily modified or expanded. The architecture supports both real-time highly periodic communications and event-driven peer-to-peer communications.
Claims9
A communications network comprising:
- a) a plurality of control nodes for control of elements of a motion control system;
- b) a central node for communication with each of said control nodes in accordance with a schedule;
- wherein,
- c) said schedule comprises a sequence of equal, periodic time intervals;
- and,
- d) for each of said control nodes an integer is associated in accordance with said schedule;
- wherein,
- e) said central mode communicates with each particular one of said control nodes every nth of said intervals, where n is said integer associated with to said particular control node;
- and wherein,
- f) said central node varies said integers and thereby correspondingly changes a frequency of communication with at least one of said control nodes, and wherein
- g) said network further comprises means for providing said central node with configuration data, said configuration data comprising data which identifies each of said control nodes and its physical location in said network;
- and wherein,
- h) said central node determines said schedule for communications with said control nodes in accordance with said configuration data.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.