Automated Slave Module Registration for Modular Controller Systems
Here’s PatSnap Eureka !
Summary
Problems
The manual configuration of network addresses for slave modules in modular controller systems is time-consuming, costly, and prone to human errors, while existing automated methods, such as daisy chaining, are less efficient in terms of costs and performance.
Innovation solutions
A slave module with a processing unit and a network adapter, featuring separate status input and output connectors, which automatically senses a trigger voltage to initiate a presentation message to the master module, facilitating automatic registration and network communication.
TRIZ Analysis
Specific contradictions:
General conflict description:
Principle concept:
If manual configuration of network addresses is used for slave modules, then individual registration and network communication are achieved, but the process is time-consuming and costly
Why choose this principle:
The slave module automatically determines its own position in the daisy chain by sensing voltage levels at its status input connector, and automatically registers itself with the master module without human intervention. This self-service mechanism eliminates manual configuration time while ensuring accurate individual registration.
Principle concept:
If manual configuration of network addresses is used for slave modules, then individual registration and network communication are achieved, but the process is time-consuming and costly
Why choose this principle:
The system performs preliminary voltage sensing and position determination before actual network registration. The slave module prepares its registration data and position information in advance based on voltage detection, enabling faster and more accurate registration when the process begins.
Application Domain
Data Source
AI summary:
A slave module with a processing unit and a network adapter, featuring separate status input and output connectors, which automatically senses a trigger voltage to initiate a presentation message to the master module, facilitating automatic registration and network communication.
Abstract
The present invention relates a slave module (1) for a modular controller system (100) including a master module (50) and employing an industrial network (90). The slave module (1) comprises a processing unit (10) and a network adapter (20) coupled to the processing unit (10). In order to facilitate the commissioning of the controller system (100) and to allow using a cost-efficient and performant network (90), the slave module (1) includes a separate status input connector (30) and a separate status output connector (40), each coupled to the processing unit (10). In an enumeration state, the slave module (1) sends, upon the processor unit (10) sensing that a trigger voltage is applied at the status input connector (30), a presentation message to a master module (50) via its network adapter (20) and the network (90). Further, it applies in the enumeration state, upon receiving a registration response from the master module (50) at the network adapter (20), a trigger voltage at the status output connector (40) by means of the processing unit (10). The present invention further relates to a controller system (100) and to a method for the iterative registration of slave modules (1) of a modular controller system (100).