Signal input/output apparatus
AssigneeSMC Corporation
InventorFumio Morikawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A signal input unit transmits detection signals derived from sensors such as switches, limit switches, or pressure switches to a programmable controller by means of serial transmission. A signal output unit transmits control signals from the programmable controller to control apparatuses such as solenoid-operated valve manifolds, indicator lamps, and buzzers by means of parallel transmission. The signal input units and the signal output units are integrated with each other into one unit and a number thereof is changeable. Further, an intermediate section and an end block are integrally assembled to the signal input units and the signal output units to construct a signal input/output apparatus.
Claims10
A signal input/output apparatus comprising:
- an intermediate section connected to a control unit;
- a signal input/output section engaged with said intermediate section, for inputting/outputting a detection signal derived from a signal output apparatus or a control signal for a control apparatus, wherein said signal input/output section comprises a plurality of signal input/output units juxtaposed adjacently with each other, a number of said signal input/output units being changeable;
- each of said signal input/output units comprising:
- substantially elliptic openings formed on a pair of mutually opposed joining surfaces of each of said signal input/output units;
- connectors disposed in said openings, said connectors being electrically connected with another one of said signal input/output units or with said intermediate section;
- a seal member disposed around said elliptic opening on one of said joining surfaces;
- an attaching member comprising a pin disposed on one of said joining surfaces for enabling said plurality of input/output units to be interconnected.
A signal input/output apparatus comprising:
- an intermediate section connected to a control unit, said intermediate section comprising one of a parallel-to-serial signal converter or a serial-to-parallel signal converter;
- a signal input/output section engaged with said intermediate section, for inputting/outputting a detection signal derived from a signal output apparatus or a control signal for a control apparatus wherein said signal input/output section is provided with a plurality of signal input/output units, a number of said signal input/output units being changeable;
- each of said signal input/output units comprising:
- a first connector for being electrically connected with said signal output apparatus or with said control apparatus, provided on a first side surface of the signal input/output unit;
- and
- a second connector for being electrically connected with the first connector of an adjacent input/output unit or with a connector of said intermediate section, provided on a second side surface of the signal input/output unit,
- wherein terminals of said first connector are electrically connected to terminals of said second connector internally of the signal input/output unit, such that the electrically connected terminals are mutually shifted in position on said first and second side surfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.