Method and arrangement for a module which can be connected to a serial and digital network system

An arrangement for collecting sensor data comprising:

• a serial CAN data network connecting a plurality of locations;
• a plurality of sensors at each of said locations, each of said sensors including a memory containing calibration data for said sensor and a first set of contacts;
• and
• a plurality of modules having a second set of contacts for connecting to said first set of contacts of said plurality of sensors and their respective memories, and a third set of contacts connecting said modules to said serial data network, said modules receiving data from a connected sensor and calibrating said sensor data by means of said stored calibration data in a respective memory before transferring said sensor data to said network.

A method for controlling execution of a plurality of distributed devices connected in a CAN network which perform diverse functions comprising:

• storing in a memory associated with each of the devices information about each respective device;
• connecting said devices and each respective memory to said CAN network with a plurality of common modules, said common modules having a first set of contacts connected to a set of contacts on said equipment and being configurable to operate one of a plurality of different devices by just reading data, from said memory, and said common modules having a second set of contacts connected to said network;
• and
• reading with said module each respective memory through said first set of contacts to determine the characteristics of a respective connected device, and configuring said module in accordance with said characteristics so that said device can perform a respective function.

A method for operating a module which interconnects equipment to a serial data CAN network comprising:

• storing in a memory associated with said equipment information related to said equipment;
• reading said memory with said module through a first set of contacts on said equipment, and a second set of matching contacts on said module;
• and
• varying the configuration of said module to adapt said module to operate with said equipment just based on said read information.

A network arrangement comprising:

• a serial CAN data network connecting a plurality of locations;
• a module at each of said locations connected to said serial CAN data network, each of said modules being configurable to communicate with different types of equipment at each of said locations connected to said modules through matching contacts on said module and said equipment;
• and
• each of said different equipment types having a memory, for storing information specific to each connected equipment, which configures a connected module to communicate with said equipment whereby information may be exchanged between said equipment and said network.

A network arrangement comprising:

• a serial CAN network connecting a plurality of locations;
• a plurality of equipment distributed around said network wherein each location has a different type of equipment, each equipment having a memory containing data which includes operating parameters specific to said equipment said data being accessible through a set of contacts of said equipment;
• and
• a plurality of modules distributed around said network, each module having a set of contacts for connecting with said equipment set of contacts at a respective location, said module including:
• a processor means programmed to interrogate the memory of a connected equipment through said connected contacts to identify the type of connected equipment and to obtain data needed to operate said equipment, said processor being further programmed to communicate over said network to exchange signals between said network and said equipment.