Controller with configurable connections between data processing components

A controller assembly comprising:

• a set of input modules configured to be coupled to receive signals from a select set of inputs from a building automation system;
• a set of output modules configured to be coupled to provide signals to a select set of outputs in a building automation system;
• and
• a set of process control modules comprising
• a first process control module operable to be configured in one of a first plurality of possible configurations, each possible configuration defining (i) a selectable connection between the set of input modules and the first process control module, and (ii) a selectable connection between the set of output modules and the first process control module, or a selectable connection with other process control modules in the set of process control modules, and
• a second process control module operable to be configured in one of a second plurality of possible configurations, each possible configuration defining (i) a selectable connection between the set of input modules and the second process control module, and (ii) a selectable connection between the set of output modules and the second process control module, or a selectable connection with other process control modules in the set of process control modules, wherein the possible configurations in the first plurality of possible configurations is a subset of the possible configurations in the second plurality of possible configurations.

A controller assembly comprising:

• a housing;
• a plurality of input terminals operably connected to a building automation system, the plurality of input terminals supported by said housing;
• a plurality of output terminals operably connected to the building automation system, the plurality of output terminals supported by said housing;
• a processing circuit supported by said housing, the processing circuit pre-programmed to perform at least four loop control functions, the processing circuit operably coupled to the plurality of input terminals and the plurality of output terminals;
• and
• a memory operably coupled to the processing circuit and operably configured to store configuration information, the configuration information identifying logical input connections and logical output connections for each of the four loop control functions, the logical input connections and logical output connections for each of the four loop control functions selected from a set of allowed logical input connections and logical output connections for each of the four loop control functions, at least one of the four loop control functions having a set of allowed logical input connections and logical output connections that is a subset of the set of allowed logical input connections and logical output connections of another of the four loop control functions;
• wherein the processing circuit operably provides at least one output value based on at least one input value received from at least one of the plurality of input terminals to at least one of the plurality of output terminals based on the stored configuration information.

A method of configuring an electrical controller in a network comprising the steps of:

• providing a controller with a first and a second data processing component, each of the first and second data processing component having a first input and an output;
• providing a set of allowed input connections and allowed output connections for the first data processing component;
• providing a set of allowed input connections and allowed output connections for the second data processing component, the set of allowed input connections for the second data processing component a subset of the set of allowed input connections for the first data processing component;
• providing a network management tool;
• and
• configuring the controller with the network management tool at least by selecting an input connection and output connection for the first data processing component from the set of allowed input connections and allowed output connections for the first data processing component, or by selecting an input connection and output connection for the second data processing component from the set of allowed input connections and allowed output connections for the second data processing component.