Carriage bus assembly with automatic bus addressing

Abstract

The invention relates to a carrier rail bus assembly, consisting of n mechanically consecutive bus circuit board sections, which are electrically connected by bus circuit paths and are mounted in a carrier rail, an electronic control unit is configured to detect whether a device is inserted in a mounting position i, the respective mounting position i is assigned a bus address, which is assigned to the device inserted on the carrier rail on the respective bus circuit board section in the respective mounting position i. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for assigning a bus address to a device inserted on a carrier rail, comprising the following steps: detecting, by means of an electronic control unit, whether a device is inserted in a mounting position i; assigning a bus address to the respective mounting position i; and assigning, by means of the electronic control unit, the bus address to the device inserted on the carrier rail on the respective bus circuit board section in the respective mounting position i.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rail bus assembly comprising n mechanically continuous bus circuit board portions electrically connected by a bus circuit path and mounted adjacent to each other in a carrier rail at mounting positions i (1≤i≤n), and each having k contact elements for electrically contacting a device inserted on the carrier rail at the corresponding mounting position i. Background Technology

[0002] To secure electrically operated devices, such as residual current devices, relays, or circuit breakers, within distribution boxes or control cabinets for electrical equipment, carrier rails are used. The corresponding housing of the electrically operated device (equipment) can slide onto or be inserted into and locked into place on these carrier rails. To avoid extensive manual wiring of equipment, rail-mounted bus systems are commercially available that electrically connect various devices for power supply, data communication, and signal transmission, eliminating the need for individual device wiring.

[0003] For example, the 16-position rail-mounted bus connector system HBUS from PHENIX CONTACT (www.phoenixcontact.com) is known in the prior art. This bus connector system HBUS is based on rail-mounted bus connector elements that are inserted into and clamped onto a carrier rail (DIN C rail). For this purpose, the rail-mounted bus connectors achieve electrical connection via a 16-position plug and socket plate by being pushed together from the side. The device housing can snap onto the carrier rail, and thus simultaneously snap onto the rail-mounted bus connectors, achieving electrical connection.

[0004] Furthermore, existing technologies disclose E.Dold& KG's "IN-RAIL-BUS" bus system is an integrated bus system within a standard carrier rail (DIN C rail). In this system, a plastic carrier profile with a pre-installed bus circuit board is inserted into the carrier rail. Parallel circuit paths are mounted on the bus circuit board and are connected via contact spring blocks when the carrier rail is snapped onto the device housing. The carrier profile and circuit board can be shortened to accommodate different device housings and mounting widths.

[0005] The known disadvantages of rail-based bus systems to date are that bus addressing is performed independently of the inserted devices and, to some extent, manually by configuring the devices themselves. Another disadvantage is that changes or additions at later stages often require shutting down the electrical equipment. From a mechanical and electrical point of view, replacing or adding devices during operation is not always possible.

[0006] More importantly, the explicit assignment of the bus address to the physical location of the device - the mounting position in the control unit and the mounting position in the carrier rail - is only indirectly possible. SUMMARY

[0007] It is therefore the primary object of the present application to flexibly and reliably design the mechanical and electrical installation of a carrier rail device, especially with regard to its integration in a data network.

[0008] This object is achieved in that, in a first mounting position i = 1, an electronic control unit is provided on a bus circuit board section, and a detection circuit path leads from the first bus circuit board section located at the first mounting position i = 1 to each downstream bus circuit path section, the electronic control unit determines by means of the detection circuit path whether a device i is inserted in the respective mounting position i, and the electronic control unit is configured such that the respective mounting position i is assigned a bus address which is assigned to the device inserted on the carrier rail on the respective bus circuit board section in the respective mounting position i.

[0009] The basic idea of the present application is based on the transfer of the process of assigning a bus address to a respective inserted device from the device to the carrier rail bus assembly.

[0010] To this end, the bus circuit board sections of the carrier rail bus assembly fixed in the carrier rail are provided in a first mounting position with an electronic control unit, which is electrically connected to each downstream bus circuit board section via a detection circuit path guided in the bus circuit board sections. By means of the signal transmission on the respective detection circuit path, the electronic control unit immediately detects that a device is inserted into the respective bus circuit board section and assigns a separate bus address to this mounting position. This bus address is assigned to the device inserted on the carrier rail on the respective bus circuit path section.

[0011] By automatically detecting the mounting position and the bus address associated with this mounting position, the device inserted on the carrier rail in this mounting position automatically receives an explicit bus address.

[0012] Advantageously, it is therefore no longer necessary to individually assign an address to the inserted device, which in some cases is carried out manually - the algorithm, i.e. the "intelligence", required for assigning the address, is transferred from the device to the carrier rail bus assembly. As soon as a new device is inserted or replaced, an independent address is immediately assigned to this device automatically and accurately.

[0013] In contrast to passive connection systems (conventional track bus assemblies) which are completely or predominantly provided in pluggable devices with mechanisms for assigning addresses, it is desirable according to the invention that the intelligence for assigning bus addresses is located in the track bus assembly. Advantageously, this leads to a simplified installation of the devices, which require less for joining the bus system, which in turn proves to be economically advantageous.

[0014] By automatically assigning bus addresses, the electronic control unit detects the various delay times of the plugged-in devices. In assigning the addresses, the electronic control unit takes into account the delay times of various plugged-in devices, such as residual current devices (RCD) or circuit breakers, when switching on the devices.

[0015] Furthermore, the plugged-in devices are synchronized by means of a hardware synchronization signal generated in the electronic control unit.

[0016] The electronic control unit is configured in such a way that devices can be plugged in or exchanged during operation, so that the system does not have to be switched off (also referred to as hot switching or hot plugging).

[0017] In another embodiment, the track bus assembly comprises a bus circuit board end portion which is embodied as a connection element and is mechanically continuously connected to the preceding bus circuit board portion and electrically connected to the bus circuit path and to a further detection circuit path.

[0018] The bus circuit board end portion embodied as a connection element at one end of the track bus assembly in the carrier rail enables a connection to individual devices or operating elements which are not provided in the carrier rail.

[0019] In particular, a connection to further track bus assemblies according to the invention can be achieved by means of the connection element. This allows the installation of a configuration consisting of several track bus assemblies which are connected in series by means of several carrier rails and have devices, for example one below the other in a control cabinet.

[0020] Preferably, the connection element is embodied as an RJ-45 socket which enables a connection of the bus circuit path and of the further detection circuit path by means of a connection line, for example a cable connection.

[0021] Furthermore, the track bus assembly has predetermined breaking points between the bus circuit board portions for shortening the track bus assembly.

[0022] Advantageously, the predetermined breaking points which extend perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the track bus assembly enable an adaptation of the elongate track bus assembly to the length of a carrier rail which is already available.

[0023] Furthermore, the contact elements are designed as contact blocks. The embodiment of all contact elements or partial contact elements as contact blocks is easily able to reliably contact the inserted device.

[0024] Preferably, each of the busbar circuit board sections (in the longitudinal extension of the carrier rail busbar assembly) has a length of a standard space unit (TE). According to the electrical installation specifications for the construction of control cabinets (for example, according to the standard DIN 43880: 1988-12), the width of the busbar circuit board sections is between 17.5 mm and 18.0 mm.

[0025] Advantageously, a busbar circuit path of the plurality of busbar circuit paths is designed as an energy circuit path for providing the inserted device with energy; as a data circuit path for transmitting data using the inserted device, and as a signal circuit path for controlling the inserted device.

[0026] In particular for this reason, the inserted device can be provided with energy by the energy circuit path. When several carrier rail busbar assemblies are connected by connection elements and connection lines, energy can be fed by each carrier rail busbar assembly.

[0027] Advantageously, the carrier rail busbar assembly has a self-detection and reflection-free termination of the carrier rail busbar assembly.

[0028] Thus, the electronic control unit autonomously detects which busbar circuit board section forms the termination of the carrier rail busbar assembly and terminates it with a suitable impedance value without reflection (automatic termination).

[0029] Furthermore, the busbar circuit board sections are mechanically designed in such a way that the device to be inserted cannot be mounted incorrectly.

[0030] The busbar circuit board sections are mechanically constructed in such a way that the device to be inserted can only be fixed to the cover rail in the correct mounting position (in a rotation-proof and slip-proof manner) with respect to the mechanical assignment of the mounting position, while ensuring the correct electrical contact (to prevent reverse polarity).

[0031] The object of the present application is also achieved by a method for assigning a bus address to a device inserted on a carrier rail, comprising the following steps:

[0032] Detecting by the electronic control unit and a detection circuit path whether a device is inserted in a mounting position i, the detection circuit path leading from the busbar circuit board section located in the first mounting position i = 1 to each of the other busbar circuit board sections;

[0033] Assigning by the electronic control unit a bus address to the respective mounting position i; and

[0034] A bus address is assigned to the device which is inserted by means of an electronic control unit on the carrier rail in the respective bus circuit board section at the respective installation position i.

[0035] The aforementioned embodiment of the carrier rail bus assembly according to the application is based on the technical teaching described in the independent method claim. In this respect, the aforementioned technical effects and advantages of the method resulting therefrom also apply to the method features.

[0036] Further advantageous embodiment features result from the following description and the figures, which describe preferred embodiments of the application using examples. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0037] Figure 1 A carrier rail bus assembly according to the application is shown installed in a carrier rail,

[0038] Figure 2 A carrier rail bus assembly according to the application is shown installed in a carrier rail,

[0039] Figure 3 A functional illustration of the bus address assignment is shown, and

[0040] Figure 4 A functional illustration of the bus address assignment in a long carrier rail is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] Figure 1 A perspective view of a carrier rail bus assembly 2 according to the application installed in a carrier rail 8 is shown.

[0042] The carrier rail bus assembly 2 consists of a plurality, preferably n = 10, bus circuit board sections 4 which are arranged in the carrier rail 8.

[0043] The mechanical configuration of the carrier rail bus assembly 2 allows an installation of the device only at explicit installation positions in the carrier rail 8, which means that an incorrect installation of the device is prevented.

[0044] The bus circuit path sections 4 are all interconnected with the bus circuit path 6 (in this example, m = 5; the bus circuit path 6 is only shown between the bus circuit board sections 4 at installation position one and installation position two, the other positions are covered).

[0045] The bus circuit board section 4 at installation position i = 1 comprises an electronic control unit 12 which is preferably implemented as a microcontroller.

[0046] From the bus circuit board section 4 occupied by the electronic control unit 12 and located in the installation position i = 1, a detection circuit path 7 (shown schematically) leads to the respective downstream bus circuit board section 4, and a further detection circuit path 7 leads to the bus circuit board end 15 realized as a connection element 16.

[0047] In the connection element 16, which is preferably realized as an RJ-45 socket, the insertion opening faces downwards (relative to the installation positions in the carrier rail 8) in order to prevent possible small parts, such as removed wire insulation, from falling into the socket.

[0048] Each of the bus circuit board sections 4, in the present example k = 5, is provided with contact elements 10 in the form of contact blocks for contacting the respective plug-in device 5. Figure 2

[0049] At both ends of the carrier rail bus assembly 2, connection elements 16 are provided in the carrier rail 8, which are connected to the preceding bus circuit board section 4 (in this example in the installation position i = n = 10) in a mechanically continuous manner and are electrically connected by five bus circuit paths 6 and a further detection circuit path 7.

[0050] Figure 2 A carrier rail bus assembly 2 according to the application is shown, with a device 5 plugged in at the installation position i = 10.

[0051] The width of the individual bus circuit board sections 4 is a standardized space unit TE.

[0052] Each bus circuit board section 4 comprises a locking hook 3 on its upper edge (relative to its installation position in the carrier rail 8) and a lip 9 on its lower edge, in order to enable attachment only in the vertical direction shown, since the bus circuit board section 4 will not be able to be fixed in the opposite vertical direction due to the force of gravity.

[0053] Figure 3 A functional view of the bus address assignment is shown, in which the installation positions i are assigned to the bus addresses 14. In this example, the entire carrier rail bus assembly extends through several carrier rails 8, Figure 1 ), each of which has 10 installation positions i, into each of which the entire carrier rail bus assembly 2 is installed.

[0054] The individual carrier rail bus assemblies 2 are connected to one another by connection elements 16 and connection lines 17. In this configuration, the installation positions i are numbered serially with respect to the entire carrier rail bus assembly (absolute installation positions). For each carrier rail 8 with a new number, it is noted with respect to which carrier rail 8 the position is occupied.

[0055] ​Each absolute mounting position i is assigned a separate bus address 14, which is automatically assigned to the device 5 inserted in the respective (absolute) mounting position i and thus in the respective position on the carrier rail 8. Figure 2

[0056] Figure 4 A functional view of the bus address assignment in a long carrier rail is shown.

[0057] In this embodiment, the two carrier rail bus assemblies 2 are realized directly as a continuous carrier rail bus assembly on a long carrier rail 8. Figure 1 Figure 1 The two respective complete carrier rail bus assemblies 2 are not connected to each other by a connecting element 16, but directly like the bus circuit board sections 4​​

Claims

1. A rail-mounted bus assembly comprising n mechanically continuous bus circuit board portions (4), the n bus circuit board portions (4) being electrically connected via a bus circuit path (6), wherein the bus circuit board portions (4) are mounted adjacent to each other at mounting positions i (1≤i≤n) and each has k contact elements (10) for electrically contacting a device (5) inserted into a carrier rail (8) at the corresponding mounting position i. Its features The rail bus assembly further includes multiple different detection circuit paths (7), and an electronic control unit (12) is disposed on a first bus circuit board portion (4) at a first mounting position i=1 in mounting position i, and each of the different detection circuit paths (7) leads from the first bus circuit board portion (4) at the first mounting position i=1 to a corresponding downstream bus circuit board portion (4) in the bus circuit board portion (4), such that the first bus circuit board portion (4) at the first mounting position i=1 is connected to each of the corresponding downstream bus circuit board portions (4) through a different one of the multiple different detection circuit paths (7), the electronic control unit (12) detects whether a device (5) is inserted into the corresponding mounting position i in the currently considered mounting position i through the detection circuit path (7), and the electronic control unit (12) is configured such that the corresponding mounting position i in mounting position i is assigned a bus address (14), which is assigned to the device (5) on the carrier rail (8) on the corresponding bus circuit board portion (4) in the mounting position i where the corresponding mounting position i is inserted.

2. The rail bus assembly according to claim 1, Its features The bus circuit board end portion (15) is implemented as a connecting element (16) and electrically connected to the bus circuit path (6) and another different detection circuit path (7) so as to be mechanically continuous with the preceding bus circuit board portion (4).

3. The rail bus assembly according to claim 1 or 2, Its features The predetermined break point (18) between the bus circuit board portions (4) for shortening the rail bus assembly (2).

4. The rail bus assembly according to claim 1, Its features The contact element (10) is implemented as a contact block.

5. The rail bus assembly according to claim 1, Its features The bus circuit board portion (4) has the same length as the standardized space unit (TE).

6. The rail bus assembly according to claim 1, Its features Each of the multiple bus circuit paths (6) is implemented as an energy circuit path for providing power to the inserted device, a data circuit path for transmitting data using the inserted device, and a signal circuit path for controlling the inserted device (5).

7. The rail bus assembly according to claim 1, Its features Self-detection and non-reflective termination of the rail bus assembly (2).

8. The rail bus assembly according to claim 1, Its features Each of the bus circuit board sections (4) is mechanically designed so that the device (5) to be inserted will not be installed incorrectly.

9. A method for assigning a bus address to a device (5) inserted on a carrier rail (8) via a rail bus assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the method comprising the steps of: The electronic control unit (12) and a corresponding one of the different detection circuit paths (7) detect whether the device (5) is inserted into the corresponding installation position i in the installation position i. The corresponding one of the different detection circuit paths (7) leads from the bus board section (4) located in the first installation position i=1 to each other bus board section (4) in the bus board section (4). The electronic control unit (12) assigns the bus address (14) to the corresponding installation location i in the installation location i; as well as The electronic control unit (12) assigns the bus address (14) to the device (5), which is inserted into the corresponding bus circuit board portion (4) on the carrier rail at the corresponding mounting position i.

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