472results about "PLC for automation/industrial process control" patented technology

A servomotor controller provides nut runner and other functions in a set of stackable modules. Extended-function modules can be added into and removed from the stack as needed. Destacking of closely spaced, wall-mounted controllers can be performed without demounting. Module assemblies are dripproof. Multiple sizes of nutrunner driver electronics and multiple keyboard and display options can be selected. A reprogrammable central processor can identify newly installed or removed features within a controller and reconfigure itself F accordingly. Stackable modules include Ethernet(®, multiple-bit I / O, and proprietary interfaces for many industries. The other modules communicate with the processor module via a backplaneless bus architecture. The central processor supports master / satellite group operation, whereby one controller unit can command multiple others, and whereby a higher-level system can command multiple controllers or multiple master / satellite controller groups.

A communication device having multi-module assembly is provided. The communication device includes a body, a first communication module and a second communication module. The body has a front side, a rear side and a plurality of lateral sides. The front side and the rear side both have a length dimension and a width dimension, and the lateral sides have a thickness dimension. The body is a combination of a plurality of housings with the same length dimension and the same width dimension, and the rear side of a housing ahead is connected with the front side of another housing behind. The first communication module is disposed in a first housing of the body. The second communication module is disposed in a second housing of the body.

An input / output device (10) includes housings (12, 120) defining a circuit board receiving cavity (25). An input / output module 160 is removably connected to the housings (12, 120). Circuit board (102) is engaged within the circuit board receiving cavity (25) and has power and data terminals (40, 60) electrically engaged therewith. Each of the power and data terminals (40, 60) have portions extending from the circuit board (102) and are adapted for being electrically engaged with complementary portions of terminals of adjacent devices in a stacked arrangement.

According to one embodiment, an Ethernet switch includes a plurality of ports operable to receive and transmit Ethernet traffic. The Ethernet switch also includes system monitoring software operable to receive an indication from a user of a plurality of fault conditions for which generation of an alarm is desired. The system monitoring software is also operable to monitor the Ethernet switch for the plurality of fault conditions and generate a signal indicating a particular one of the plurality of fault conditions has occurred. The Ethernet switch further includes at least one relay responsive to the generated signal that is operable to turn on a respective alarm indicating a particular fault condition has occurred.

A power control system includes a base having a housing configured for releasably receiving a control unit and a cavity within the housing for receiving a solid state relay having a hockey puck configuration. The base includes an input power terminal for coupling to an input power source, an output power terminal for coupling to a power receiving load, and coupling fixtures for fixedly and electrically coupling to input and output power terminals and control terminals of the received solid state relay. A control unit is configured to control the solid state relay for selectively providing, at least a portion of, the power received at the input power terminal to the output power terminal. The control unit has a housing adapted to be releasably coupled to the base housing. The control unit and base each configured to electrically couple the control unit to the control terminals of the received solid state relay as a function of the control unit being coupled to the base.

A building automation system is provided and includes a wall box of a building, a control device configured to be mounted on the wall box, the control device including a micro controller and a memory, the memory having executable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed, cause the micro controller to control an environmental condition within the building, and a configuration memory unit, mounted on the wall box and external from the control device, the configuration memory unit including information stored thereon for configuring the control device, wherein, when executed, the executable instructions further cause the micro controller to access the information when the control device is mounted within the wall box and to configure the control device in accordance with the information.

A power control assembly for use in an integrated power control system has a base with a housing that defines a cavity adapted for receiving a power switch. The control assembly includes a control module configured for generating control signals for controlling the power switch for selectively providing power to a load. A control housing houses the control module and is adapted to be releasably coupled to the base housing and is configured for electrically coupling to control couplers on the base housing for providing the generated control signals to the power switch within the housing cavity upon coupling the control housing to the base housing.

An input / output device (10) includes housings (12, 120) defining a circuit board receiving cavity (25). An input / output module 160 is removably connected to the housings (12, 120). Circuit board (102) is engaged within the circuit board receiving cavity (25) and has power and data terminals (40, 60) electrically engaged therewith. Each of the power and data terminals (40, 60) have portions extending from the circuit board (102) and are adapted for being electrically engaged with complementary portions of terminals of adjacent devices in a stacked arrangement.

An industrial process field device has a housing with a wall. The wall has a feedthrough opening between a battery compartment and an electronics compartment. A feedthrough connector seals the feedthrough opening and includes a power connector connected to industrial process field device electronics. A battery assembly includes a battery housing with a battery connector, and includes a battery and an energy limiter connected to the battery connector. The battery connector mates with the power connector to energize the industrial process field device electronics. A seal seals the mating connection of the power connector and the battery connector.

A field hardened industrial device is described with a housing of the device having electrically conductive walls surrounding a cavity with an open end. An electronics assembly is adapted to fit within the cavity. The device includes a circuit card assembly, which is a multi-layered printed wiring board with pass-through electrical connections and an embedded ground plane electrically coupled to the housing to shield the electronics assembly from electromagnetic interference and to provide environmental protection to the electronics assembly.

A field hardened industrial device is described with a housing of the device having electrically conductive walls surrounding a cavity with an open end. An electronics assembly is adapted to fit within the cavity. The device includes a circuit card assembly, which is a multi-layered printed wiring board with pass-through electrical connections and an embedded ground plane electrically coupled to the housing to shield the electronics assembly from electromagnetic interference and to provide environmental protection to the electronics assembly.

A power control system includes a base having a housing configured for releasably receiving a control unit and a cavity within the housing for receiving a solid state relay having a hockey puck configuration. The base includes an input power terminal for coupling to an input power source, an output power terminal for coupling to a power receiving load, and coupling fixtures for fixedly and electrically coupling to input and output power terminals and control terminals of the received solid state relay. A control unit is configured to control the solid state relay for selectively providing, at least a portion of, the power received at the input power terminal to the output power terminal. The control unit has a housing adapted to be releasably coupled to the base housing. The control unit and base each configured to electrically couple the control unit to the control terminals of the received solid state relay as a function of the control unit being coupled to the base.

A signal input / output device includes an array of signal input / output units. The signal input / output units have respective bases, each of which includes a connecting member. The connecting member has a second protruding end finger swingably supported on a base, and a first protruding end finger that engages with a stop of an adjacent base. The connecting member is positioned and fixed (secured) by a screw, which extends through a bottom plate and is threaded in a square nut. The connecting member, when secured in this manner, joins the adjacent bases to each other.

A field device detects the presence of fluid in the terminal block area of the field device by generating an alternating current (AC) test current signal and measuring the amplitude of the resulting AC voltage signal. The field device includes a first terminal and a second terminal adapted for connection to a control room through a twisted-wire pair current loop. Impedance of the current loop is increased by the presence of fluid between the first terminal and the second terminal. By providing an AC test current signal to the control loop and measuring a resulting AC voltage magnitude, the impedance of the control loop can be determined. Increased impedance in the control loop indicates the presence of water in the terminal block.

A backplane for a motor controller having a control module and one or more axis modules provides both low power and low powered signals and high power used to produce motor drive signals.

Robot and remote controlled devices have been utilized for information gathering purposes. However these robotic vehicles lack efficiency because they are not capable of operating out of doors or where the sensors and apparatus located on the robots are subject to harsh environments.The present invention provides a new and unique manner of overcoming these problems by providing a platform system that is placed upon existing robots without requiring adjustments to these devices. The platform effectuates easy installation of a plurality of sensors and apparatus on its top surface while providing internal housing for its wires and components, thereby providing a water, dirt and dust resistant environment which leads to better equipment function and ease of maintenance and repair.

A PLC of building block type includes a switch module incorporating a switch part having N-to-N switch function between serial communication lines with a plurality of lines and a plurality of device modules individually incorporating device systems with various advanced-function device module characteristics. A CPU system having CPU functions of the PLC may be incorporated in the switch module, the switch module incorporating the CPU system and the plurality of device modules being connected together into a single body in a building block structure through module-connecting mechanisms. Dedicated serial communication lines each with a single line or a plurality of lines connect between the switch module incorporating the CPU system and each of the plurality of device modules such that a star-shaped serial communication network is formed with the switch module incorporating the CPU system as a central node and each of the plurality of device modules as a peripheral node.

An air conditioner includes a control box assembly capable of efficiently utilizing a space inside a control box and easily performing inspection and repair of a circuit unit disposed in the control box. The air conditioner includes a case that constitutes an exterior and a control box assembly mounted in the case, wherein the control box assembly includes a control box in which an accommodation portion is formed, a sliding panel having one side on which a circuit unit is mounted and being accommodated in the accommodation portion so as to be taken out of the control box, and a rotation panel having one side on which the circuit unit is mounted and being rotatably mounted at one side of the control box.

An enclosure includes a plurality of modular corner segments and a plurality of modular wall segments that connect together to at least partially define an internal compartment of the enclosure. The wall segments extending lengths between opposite free ends. At least a majority of the wall segments are fabricated from a polymer. Each corner segment includes opposite first and second receiver sockets that are each configured to receive a corresponding free end of a corresponding wall segment therein to connect the corner segment to the corresponding wall segments. At least a majority of the corner segments are fabricated from a polymer. The corner segments and the wall segments connect together to define the internal compartment of the enclosure.

Systems and methods are provided for utilizing electronic keying features stored within one of the components (e.g., I / O modules, terminal blocks, bases, and so forth) of I / O devices, and which may be read or detected by electronic key identification circuitry in one of the other components of the I / O devices. More specifically, the electronic keying features may include unique identification keys that may be read or detected by the electronic key identification circuitry to determine whether the components (e.g., a paired I / O module and terminal block) are associated with each other and intended to operate together. For example, in certain embodiments, the electronic key feature may be disposed within a terminal block and the electronic key identification circuitry may be disposed within an I / O module, or vice versa. In addition, in certain embodiments, the electronic key feature and / or the electronic key identification circuitry may be removable from their respective component of the I / O device.

An industrial process field device with improved power generation is provided. The process device can be a process variable transmitter, process actuator, or any other suitable field device. The field device includes a wireless transceiver that transceives information related to the process via a wireless medium. A power supply within the field device is couplable to a source of pressurized gas and generates motion within the power supply that is translated into electrical energy. This electrical energy is then used to operate the field device.

A diaphragm diagnostic system for use in an industrial field device has a diaphragm and a diagnostic feature. The diaphragm is configured to couple the field device to a process fluid and has a plurality of layers. A first layer of the plurality of layers is exposed to process fluid of an industrial process. A diagnostic feature is coupled to the diaphragm to monitor an electrical parameter of the diaphragm and responsively infer an operative state of the diaphragm based on a change in the monitored electrical parameter.

A building automation system is provided and includes a wall box of a building, a control device configured to be mounted on the wall box, the control device including a micro controller and a memory, the memory having executable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed, cause the micro controller to control an environmental condition within the building, and a configuration memory unit, mounted on the wall box and external from the control device, the configuration memory unit including information stored thereon for configuring the control device, wherein, when executed, the executable instructions further cause the micro controller to access the information when the control device is mounted within the wall box and to configure the control device in accordance with the information.

An input / output (I / O) device for an automation control system may include a terminal base configured to physically and communicatively connect with an I / O module. The I / O module may include I / O communication circuitry and a latching mechanism that may allow the securing or releasing of the I / O module from the terminal base. The latching mechanism may include a release lever urged to a biased latched position by integral springs and a latch element with latching extensions configured to interact with the terminal base.

According to one embodiment of the invention a rugged Ethernet switch includes a housing and a passive cooling system associated with the housing and being devoid of fans as operable to cool the Ethernet switch. Ethernet switch also includes software operable to perform at least one of the functions selected from the group consisting of multiple spanning, rapid spanning, cluster management and IGMP snooping and querying. According to another embodiment, a rugged Ethernet switch includes a housing having a plurality of perforations formed therein for cooling the Ethernet switch. The switch also includes a passive cooling system be devoid of fans and that is operable to cool the Ethernet switch. A temperature sensor is operable to measure a temperature of the Ethernet switch is included as is an alarm software responsive to the temperature sensor and operable to initiate an alarm when a measured temperature of the Ethernet switch exceeds a particular limit.

A modular, high-availability network for an industrial control system employs a plurality of base modules having backplane and using network ring topology. Base modules may include I / O base modules for communicating with industrial processes or machines, an adapter base module for communicating with a programmable logic controller (PLC) and / or a bus expansion base module for providing additional I / O base modules. Base modules may be arranged side-by-side, having a backplane in a bank. Another embodiment may include having plurality of banks. The network ring topology used by the base modules is normally opened by a ring supervisor at the ring supervisor location. Upon failure of the network, the ring supervisor reconnects the ring to provide an alternative transmission path around the failure point.

What is disclosed is a modular visualization display panel. The modular visualization display panel includes a first module having at least one surface and a connection to electrical ground. The modular visualization display panel also includes a second module having at least one surface with a plurality of raised contact nodes arranged on the one surface of the second module such that when in contact with the one surface of the first module electrostatic discharge energy is directed over at least one of the raised contact nodes to the one surface of the first module.

A modular, high-availability network for an industrial control system employs a plurality of base modules having backplane and using network ring topology. Base modules may include I / O base modules for communicating with industrial processes or machines, an adapter base module for communicating with a programmable logic controller (PLC) and / or a bus expansion base module for providing additional I / O base modules. Base modules may be arranged side-by-side, having a backplane in a bank. Another embodiment may include having plurality of banks. The network ring topology used by the base modules is normally opened by a ring supervisor at the ring supervisor location. Upon failure of the network, the ring supervisor reconnects the ring to provide an alternative transmission path around the failure point.