Controller with configurable connections between data processing components
AssigneeSiemens Building Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJames J. Coogan, Virgil Seribo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A controller with configurable connections between data processing components is provided. In one embodiment, the controller includes a number of configurable inputs and outputs that may be used with digital and/or analog signals. The controller includes a data processor with a plurality of data processing components. The inputs and outputs are configurable to the plurality of data processing components and transfer of processed data between the plurality of data processing components is also configurable.
Claims21
A method of configuring an electrical controller in a network comprising:
- providing a controller having a standard communications protocol with a predetermined first and a predetermined second data processing component to a user, each of the first and second data processing components having a first input and an output;
- providing a network management tool to the user;
- enabling the user to configure the controller with the network management tool such that the output of the first data processing component is operably connected to the first input of the second data processing component;
- and
- configuring the controller in response to user input received through the network management tool such that the output of the first data processing component is operably connected to the first input of the second data processing component.
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 programmed in at least one read only memory in the controller and including at least a first process control module and a second process control module, the first process control module of a type different from the second process control module, the set of process control modules operable to be configured by a user in one of a plurality of possible configurations, each possible configuration defining (i) a set of user selectable connections between the set of input modules and the set of process control modules, (ii) a set of user selectable connections between the set of output modules and the set of process control modules, and (iii) a set of user selectable connections among process control modules in the set of process control modules.
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 into at least one read only memory 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 selected by a user, the configuration information identifying logical input connections and logical output connections for each 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.