US 9,411,614 B2Granted

Input/output devices having reconfigurable functionality

AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

InventorsRobert J. Kretschmann, David S. Wehrle, Joseph G. Vazach, Gregg M. Sichner

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Abstract

Systems and methods provide re-configurable functionality within components of I/O devices without the need of disconnecting the components from each other. For example, in certain embodiments, when certain types of components are connected to each other, certain functionality sets within the components may be activated to provide combined functionality sets between the components. The combined functionality sets may, for example, be preferred functionality sets to be used when the particular types of components are connected to each other. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, functionality activation keys may be physically inserted into (or electronically communicated to) the components of the I/O device to activate certain functionality sets within the component into which the functionality activation key is inserted (or electronically communicated to), as well as within the other components of the I/O device to which the component is connected.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An industrial automation input/output (I/O) device configured to facilitate control of a process control field device, the I/O device comprising:

a first component of the I/O device, wherein the first component comprises a first mating feature configured to communicatively and physically couple with a second mating feature of a second component of the I/O device;
a first plurality of electrical connectors of the first mating feature, wherein the first plurality of electrical connectors is configured to couple with a second plurality of electrical connectors of the second mating feature;
a first subset and a second subset of the first plurality of electrical connectors configured to electrically couple to a third subset and a fourth subset of the second plurality of electrical connectors, respectively, wherein the first subset and the third subset couple to complete a first circuit and the second subset and the fourth subset couple to complete a second circuit, and wherein the first circuit is distinct from the second circuit;
at least one functionality feature of the first component, wherein the functionality feature is configured to perform one or more specific functions, locally within the first component;
and
an activation feature of the first component, wherein the activation feature is configured to activate or disable the at least one functionality feature based on an identification mechanism of the second component.

3 more elements

A system, comprising:

an I/O device component of an industrial automation control system, wherein the I/O device component comprises a first functionality feature and a second functionality feature, each configured to perform one or more specific functions locally within the I/O device component, wherein the I/O device component is configured to receive inputs from and transmit outputs to a plurality of process control field devices coupled to the industrial automation control system, and wherein the I/O device component is configured to couple with a plurality of additional I/O devices and the first and second functionality features are activated or disabled based on combined identification mechanisms of the plurality of additional I/O devices;
second I/O device component of the plurality of additional I/O devices system, wherein the first and second functionality features are activated or disabled based at least in part on an identification mechanism of the second I/O device component;
and
a first mating feature of the I/O device component configured to communicatively couple with a second mating feature of the second I/O device component such that a first circuit and a second circuit are completed by aspects of the first and second mating features, wherein the first circuit is distinct from the second circuit.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/821,488Filed 7 Aug 2015 · continuation
Priority: 20 Aug 2010
Published: US 2015/0347161 A13 Dec 2015
Granted: 9 Aug 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

H05K 7/1468
For programmable logic controllers [PLC] for automation or industrial process control: mechanical features of input/output modules
G05B 15/02
Systems controlled by a computer: electric
G05B 19/054
Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts: input/output
G05B 19/056
Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts: programming the PLC

Family

Application61/375,587Us provisional application · filed 20 Aug 2010
Application13/214,035Parent of this continuation · filed 19 Aug 2011
US 2015/0347161 A1Pre-grant publication · published 3 Dec 2015
US 9,106,019 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2012/0047288 A1Published application
US 9,411,614 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.