US 6,151,640 A · Control I/O module having the ability to interchange bus protocols for bus networks independent of the control I/O module

Abstract

A field bus network of input and output devices is coupled to a control system through an I/O interface module, regardless of their data structures. The I/O interface module is coupled to the control systemthrough a serial communication port. Local input and output devices are coupled to the interface I/O module through a local I/O interface and networked input and output devices are coupled to the interface I/O module through a field bus communication adapter. A different adapter is required for each type of field bus protocol. The interface I/O module includes a microprocessor based device to generate and control the various interactions between the local devices, networked devices, and the controllsystem and also to provide for a visual and status display of the fieldbus and local I/O data local.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A control input/output (I/O) module comprising:

A. a field bus communications adapter for coupling a field bus network of input and output devices to the control I/O module;
B. a local I/O connector for coupling a plurality of local input and output devices to the control I/O module;
C. a serial controller interface for coupling the control I/O module to the control system;
D. an I/O processor for controlling interactions between the plurality of local input and output devices, the field bus network of input and output devices, and the control system;
E. wherein said control I/O module for interfacing the field bus network of input and output devices to the control system;
and
F. wherein said field bus communications adapter allows for an interchangeability of field bus protocols for the field bus network of input and output devices independent to the control system functionality by using a common field bus protocol between the control I/O module and the control system.

4 more elements

A control input/output (I/O) module for exchanging data between a field bus network of input and output devices and a weld control system, the control I/O module comprising:

A. a field bus communications adapter for coupling the field bus network of input and output devices to the control I/O module, the field bus communications adapter for receiving serial data from the field bus network of input devices and sending serial data to the field bus network of output devices, the sent and received data utlizing a selected field bus protocol;
B. a serial controller interface for coupling the control I/O module to the weld control system, the serial controller interface for sending input data serially to the weld control system and receiving output data from the weld control system, the sent and received data utlizing a different field bus protocol;
C. an I/O processor for controlling interactions between the field bus network of input and output devices and the weld control system;
and
D. wherein said field bus communications adapter allows for an interchangeability of field bus protocols for the field bus network of input and output devices independent to the weld control system functionality by using a common field bus protocol between the control I/O module and the weld control system.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Control I/O module having the ability to interchange bus protocols for bus networks independent of the control I/O module

Life of this patent

Control I/O module having the ability to interchange bus protocols for bus networks independent of the control I/O module

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20