Local area network for distributing data communication, sensing and control signals

A control network comprising:

• a first node including a first data port for coupling to a first component, a second node including a second data port for coupling to a second component, and a third node including a third data port for coupling to a third component, each of said nodes having a respective assigned address and a respective control unit that is addressable based on the respective assigned address;
• a first twisted wire pair having two ends and comprising only two conductors, said first twisted wire pair connecting only said first node to said second node in a point-to-point connection for a first unidirectional data communication of serial digital data over said first twisted wire pair between said first node and said second node;
• a second twisted wire pair having two ends and comprising only two conductors, said second twisted wire pair connecting only said second node to said third node in a point-to-point connection for a second unidirectional data communication of serial digital data over said second twisted wire pair between said second node and said third node;
• and
• a third twisted wire pair having two ends and comprising only two conductors, said third twisted wire pair connecting only said third node to said first node in a point-to-point connection for a third unidirectional data communication of serial digital data over said third twisted wire pair between said third node and said first node,
• wherein said first, second and third twisted wire pairs connect said first, second and third nodes in a ring topology,
• said control units are operative, in response to control signals, to configure one of said nodes as a master node, one of said nodes as a first slave node and one of said nodes as a second slave node,
• whereby said first slave node is operative to pass at least part of the serial digital data from one of said twisted wire pairs to another one of said twisted wire pairs between which said first slave node is connected;
• and
• said second slave node is operative to pass at least part of the serial digital data from one of said twisted wire pairs to another one of said twisted wire pairs between which said second slave node is connected.