I/O module expansion unit and distributed automation system
AssigneeICP Das Co., Ltd.
InventorsWen-Yu Chen, Kun-Hsin Ho
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An I/O module expansion unit having slots to install I/O modules thereon is provided for a distributed automation system. With the I/O module expansion unit, storing the configuration checksums generated with an algorithm from the software and hardware information of I/O modules, the distributed automation system can simplify the identification of an I/O module. By directly writing the configuration parameters stored in the I/O module expansion unit into the installed I/O module, the distributed automation system can simplify the setting and replacement of an I/O module. The I/O module expansion unit may also fast detect a hot-swap of an I/O module by wiring to the slots.
Claims21
An I/O module expansion unit for a distributed automation system, comprising:
- a plurality of expansion slots, each for installing an I/O module having a respective configuration checksum thereon;
- and
- a CPU connected to the expansion slots, for storing a plurality of configuration checksums and therefore identifying each of installed I/O modules by comparing the configuration checksums stored in the installed I/O modules with the configuration checksums stored in the CPU;
- wherein the respective configuration checksum is a number or code computed based on I/O module hardware and software information including address of the expansion slot, software version of the I/O module, and model number of the I/O module, and the respective configuration checksum has the same value if the I/O module hardware and software information remains unchanged.
A method for fast identifying a configuration of an I/O module in a distributed automation system, comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating a configuration checksum with an algorithm from a software and hardware information of the I/O module including address of a slot, software version of the I/O module, and model number of the I/O module;
- (b) storing the configuration checksum in the I/O module and in a memory outside the I/O module, respectively;
- and
- (c) comparing the configuration checksum stored in an I/O module to be identified with the configuration checksum stored in the memory;
- wherein the configuration checksum has the same value if the software and hardware information of the I/O module remains unchanged.
A method for fast setting an I/O module in a distributed automation system which has a CPU to control communications between the I/O module and a controller of the distributed automation system, the method comprising the steps of:
- storing an address information and configuration parameters for the I/O module in the CPU;
- according to the address information stored in the CPU, writing the configuration parameters stored in the CPU into the I/O module directly, without reading configuration parameters from the I/O module;
- storing a configuration checksum in the CPU;
- and
- writing the configuration checksum into the I/O module;
- wherein the configuration checksum is a number or code generated with an algorithm from a software and hardware information of the I/O module including the address information and configuration parameters, software version of the I/O module, and model number of the I/O module, and the configuration checksum has the same value if the I/O module hardware and software information remains unchanged.
A method for replacing an I/O module in a distributed automation system which has a CPU to control communications between the I/O module and a controller of the distributed automation system, the method comprising the steps of:
- terminating the communications between the I/O module and the controller;
- after installing a new I/O module on a slot, verifying or setting configuration parameters of the new I/O module by the CPU;
- restoring the communications between the new I/O module and the controller;
- storing a configuration checksum in the CPU;
- and
- writing the configuration checksum into the new I/O module;
- wherein the configuration checksum is a number or code generated with an algorithm from a software and hardware information of the I/O module including address of the slot, software version of the I/O module, and model number of the I/O module, and the configuration checksum has the same value if the I/O module hardware and software information remains unchanged.
A method for fast detection of a hot-swap of an I/O module in a distributed automation system, the I/O module installed on a slot, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) connecting a detection unit in an I/O module expansion unit having the slot to the slot with a signal wire;
- (b) in response to the hot-swap of the I/O module, generating an electrical variation on the signal wire;
- and
- (c) detecting the electrical variation for identifying the hot-swap of the I/O module, wherein the I/O module stores a configuration checksum to be identified by a CPU in the I/O module expansion unit;
- wherein the configuration checksum is a number or code generated with an algorithm from a software and hardware information of the I/O module including address of the slot, software version of the I/O module, and model number of the I/O module, and the configuration checksum has the same value if the I/O module hardware and software information remains unchanged.
A distributed automation system comprising:
- one or more controllers;
- one or more I/O module expansion units for connecting to the one or more controllers by a communication network;
- and
- one or more I/O modules installed on the one or more I/O module expansion units, each of the one or more I/O modules for receiving and executing a command given by one of the one or more controllers or by one of the one or more I/O module expansion units, responding an execution result to the one giving the command, and after a power on, sending a signal to notify an address thereof to the I/O module expansion unit that it is installed;
- wherein each of the one or more I/O module expansion units stores one or more configuration checksums for identifying the I/O modules installed thereon, each of the one or more configuration checksums is a number or code generated with an algorithm from a software and hardware information of the I/O module including address of the I/O module expansion units, software version of the I/O modules, and model number of the I/O modules, and the configuration checksum has the same value if the I/O modules' hardware and software information remains unchanged.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.