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US 9,853,831 B2Granted
Communication module
AssigneeNidec Control Techniques Limited
InventorsRichard Mark Wain, Bryce Trevor Beeston, Luke Duane Orehawa, James Robert Douglas Kirkwood
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control module for use within a control network, the control module comprising: interface circuitry for enabling communication with an external device; communication means configured to communicate with the external device over the control network by communication with the interface circuitry; coupling means configured to mechanically couple the control module to an adjacent control module and provide a data connection between the communication means and the adjacent module; and an electrical isolation in the data connection between the communication means and the coupling means.
Claims7
A control assembly for use within a control network, the control assembly comprising:
- a first control module;
- and a second control module adjacent the first control module,
- the first control module including interface circuitry for enabling communication with an external device, a first communication means configured to communicate with the external device over the control network by the communication with the interface circuitry, a first coupling means configured to provide a data connection between the first communication means and the control network, and a first electrical isolation in the data connection between the first communication means and the control network,
- the second control module including a second communication means, a second coupling means configured to mechanically couple the first control module to the second control module, and a second electrical isolation, the second coupling means configured to provide a data connection between the first communication means of the first control module and the second communication means of the second control module, the second coupling means including a mechanism configured to cooperate with a corresponding mechanism of the first control module and one or more electrical contacts configured to directly connect to electrical contacts of the first control module when the first control module is mechanically coupled to the second control module,
- wherein the second electrical isolation is in the data connection between the first communication means and the second communication means,
- wherein the first control module does not provide electrical isolation in the data connection between the first communication means and the second communication means, and
- wherein the first electrical isolation and the second electrical isolation conform to a communication protocol which specifies one or more requirements for the electrical isolation.
4 more elements
A control network comprising:
- a first control module;
- and a second control module adjacent the first control module,
- the first control module including interface circuitry for enabling communication with an external device, a first communication means configured to communicate with the external device over the control network by the communication with the interface circuitry, a first coupling means configured to provide a data connection between the first communication means and the control network, and a first electrical isolation in the data connection between the first communication means and the control network,
- the second control module including a second communication means, a second coupling means configured to mechanically couple the first control module to the second control module, and a second electrical isolation, the second coupling means configured to provide a data connection between the first communication means of the first control module and the second communication means of the second control module, the second coupling means including a mechanism configured to cooperate with a corresponding mechanism of the first control module and one or more electrical contacts configured to directly connect to electrical contacts of the first control module when the first control module is mechanically coupled to the second control module,
- wherein the second electrical isolation is in the data connection between the first communication means and the second communication means,
- wherein the first control module does not provide electrical isolation in the data connection between the first communication means and the second communication means, and
- wherein the first electrical isolation and the second electrical isolation conform to a communication protocol which specifies one or more requirements for the electrical isolation.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.