An Internet of Things controller

Abstract

The present invention discloses an Internet of Things controller, relating to the fields of control technology and controller technology. The controller comprises a PCBA module, wherein the PCBA module includes: a PCB board; a processing unit, a power module, a radio frequency antenna module, a digital communication module, a switch input module, an analog input module, a switch output module, an analog output module, and a pulse width modulation (PWM) output module disposed on the PCB board; and the processing unit is electrically connected to the power module, radio frequency antenna module, digital communication module, switch input module, analog input module, switch output module, analog output module, and pulse width modulation (PWM) output module, respectively. The present invention eliminates the need for intermediate components such as data transmission units, Internet of Things gateways, and industrial routers, and the controller inherently possesses wide-area wireless communication capabilities, particularly the ability to communicate with mobile communication networks or cellular networks. Furthermore, the controller enables direct communication between the controller and an Internet of Things server.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of control technology and controller technology, and in particular to an Internet of Things controller. Background Art

[0002] The Internet of Things (IoT) connects objects to the network, enabling information exchange and communication for intelligent identification, monitoring, and control. Since its emergence, IoT technology has primarily evolved through the perception layer, network transport layer, and application layer. The network transport layer integrates and develops wired and wireless network communication technologies, while wireless network communication technologies integrate and develop near-field wireless communication and wide-area wireless communication, particularly mobile networks. The perception layer primarily collects object information, favoring uplink connections from objects to the network. The application layer, primarily provided by cloud platforms (IoT servers), focuses on data computation, analysis, and processing. In the field of control technology, IoT controllers are required when downlink connectivity and intelligence need to be established or enhanced at the perception layer; when objects or devices need to be derived from cloud platforms for automated and intelligent control at the application layer; and when complex control requirements require further integration and synergy between the application and perception layers, particularly when enabling the connection, monitoring, and control of devices and systems across distances through the IoT.

[0003] Faced with the widespread demands of the IoT, existing controllers often lack the ability to meet wide-area wireless communication requirements. This is particularly true for automation scenarios that rely solely on, or are highly dependent on, mobile or cellular networks. Existing controllers are therefore inadequate, requiring the use of additional communication devices such as data transfer units (DTUs), IoT gateways, and industrial routers to enable remote data transmission and indirectly implement the IoT. Existing controllers often face insufficient hardware resources to meet the diverse demands of automation and digitalization. For example, in edge computing and data production, which integrate real-time automation and digitalization, existing controllers suffer from insufficient, inadequate, or missing hardware resources. They also lack software computing capabilities and lack OTA (Over the Air) capabilities, preventing remote updates of device firmware or software via wireless communication. Data transfer units (DTUs), IoT gateways, and industrial routers manufactured by different manufacturers lack a unified architectural layout, resulting in a lack of standardized hardware and software connections with automation controllers. More importantly, the hardware and software links between automation controllers and IoT servers hinder direct communication between controllers and IoT servers. Hardware connections involve port pairing and cable installation, while software connections involve setting and selecting communication protocols. Furthermore, independent data transfer units (DTUs), IoT gateways, and industrial routers all require separate housings and installation spaces to connect to the controllers. IoT gateways and industrial routers require excessive hardware resources and high costs for use in scenarios where they only operate with one or two controllers.

[0004] Therefore, it is an urgent problem for those skilled in the art to propose an Internet of Things controller to solve the problems existing in the prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In light of this, the present invention provides an IoT controller that eliminates the need for intermediary devices such as a Data Transfer Unit (DTU), IoT gateway, or industrial router. The controller inherently possesses wide-area wireless communication capabilities, particularly those for mobile or cellular networks, while also enabling direct communication between the controller and an IoT server. This allows the controller to have more processor hardware resources, enabling more efficient allocation and collaboration. When encountering delays or resource occupancy caused by the long-term operational requirements of functional chips, a general-purpose MCU (Microcontroller Unit) or general-purpose SOC (System on Chip) can be added as a communication module or communication SOC to enhance functionality. The general-purpose MCU or general-purpose SOC focuses on input acquisition and control output at the machine and device level, while the communication module or communication SOC focuses on IoT communication, digital communication, and digital computing at the machine and device level. This IoT controller also provides redundant capabilities, enhancing reliability.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] An Internet of Things controller includes a PCBA module, wherein:

[0008] The PCBA module includes: a PCB board, a processing unit, a power module, a radio frequency antenna module, a digital communication module, a switch input module, an analog input module, a switch output module, an analog output module, and a pulse width modulation (PWM) output module.

[0009] The processing unit is electrically connected to the power supply module, the radio frequency antenna module, the digital communication module, the switch input module, the analog input module, the switch output module, the analog output module, and the pulse width modulation (PWM) output module respectively.

[0010] The above-mentioned controller may optionally have a processing unit which is a combination of at least one general-purpose MCU / general-purpose SOC and at least one communication module / communication SOC.

[0011] The above controller, optionally, the communication module / communication SOC is a system-on-chip chip or module; the general SOC is a system-on-chip chip.

[0012] The above controller may optionally use serial communication or parallel communication between the general MCU / general SOC and the communication module / communication SOC. When two or more components are combined, direct or indirect communication is provided between each two components.

[0013] The above-mentioned controller can optionally set computing, wireless radio frequency communication, and digital communication with a general MCU / general SOC as basic tasks on the system-on-chip of the communication module / communication SOC to realize the Internet of Things communication between the communication module / communication SOC and the general MCU / general SOC, and further configure different priorities and delays for computing, wireless radio frequency communication, and digital communication with the general MCU / general SOC to obtain different response time efficiencies for the Internet of Things communication.

[0014] The above-mentioned controller, optionally, the communication module / communication SOC also configures its hardware pin resources and enables storage tasks, switch input tasks, analog input tasks, switch output tasks, digital communication tasks and pulse width modulation PWM output tasks, and configures different priorities and delays for storage tasks, switch input tasks, analog input tasks, switch output tasks, digital communication tasks and pulse width modulation PWM output tasks to realize input acquisition and output control.

[0015] The above controller may optionally set the basic task of the general MCU / general SOC to automatic control.

[0016] The controller may optionally use general MCU hardware pin resources to enable switch output tasks, analog output tasks, switch input tasks, analog input tasks, digital communication tasks, and pulse width modulation (PWM) output tasks, combined with the general MCU's digital computing tasks, to connect them in series in different sequences and combinations to form a loop connected head to tail.

[0017] The general SOC hardware pin resources enable switch output tasks, analog output tasks, switch input tasks, analog input tasks, digital communication tasks, and pulse width modulation (PWM) output tasks. Combined with the digital computing tasks of the general SOC, different priorities and delays are configured in different combinations within the on-chip system.

[0018] The above controller can optionally set IoT communication data and communication channels: IoT downlink communication data is received by the RF antenna and the communication module / communication SOC. The downlink data is divided into two parts. One part belongs to the general MCU / general SOC and is transmitted to the general MCU / general SOC for data processing to achieve remote control; the other part belongs to the communication module / communication SOC and is directly processed to achieve remote control and program upgrades.

[0019] The uplink communication data of the Internet of Things is sent uplink by the RF antenna and the communication module / communication SOC. The uplink data is divided into two parts. One part is generated by the general MCU / general SOC and transmitted to the communication module / communication SOC to realize the Internet of Things communication; the other part is generated by the communication module / communication SOC to realize the Internet of Things communication.

[0020] It can be seen from the above technical solutions that, compared with the prior art, the present invention provides an Internet of Things controller with the following beneficial effects:

[0021] 1) The controller is equipped with independent wide-area wireless communication capabilities, especially the ability to communicate with mobile communication networks or cellular networks, giving full play to the two-way delivery characteristics of IoT communication and realizing direct connection between the controller and the cloud platform (IoT server); 2) The IoT intermediate equipment is reduced, eliminating the software and hardware connections between the controller and the data transfer unit (DTU), IoT gateway, industrial router, etc., thereby saving installation space and reducing installation operations; 3) When the communication module / communication SOC performs IoT communication tasks, it can simultaneously obtain at least another task such as the general MCU / general SOC performing digital communication, acquisition (input) and control (output); 4) The computing power is enhanced, and the combination of the general MCU / general SOC and the communication module / communication SOC can handle at least two computing tasks at the same time, adapting to the simultaneous calculation and production requirements of different data; 5) Integrate and optimize the hardware pin resources of the general MCU / general SOC and the communication module / communication SOC combination to enrich the controller functions, such as allocating the abundant hardware pin resources of the communication module / communication SOC to the switch input , analog input, and RS485 communication, the hardware pin resources of the general MCU / general SOC can be configured to switch output, analog output, CAN communication, and Ethernet communication to obtain more switch outputs, analog output ports, and realize different digital communication combinations. The rich input, output, and communication modules, on the basis of meeting the existing local automation needs, enhance the ability to remotely monitor and control equipment and equipment systems through the cloud platform (IoT server); 6) Obtain an IoT controller with high reliability and redundant capabilities; 7) Enable the IoT controller to realize the IoT capability through wireless communication (such as Wi-Fi, etc.) and mobile communication networks or cellular networks at the same time, with data uploaded to the cloud immediately and in time, program updates, and remote control; 8) Have OTA (Over The Air) capabilities and thus remotely update device firmware or software through communication technology. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without paying any creative work.

[0023] Figure 1 This is the architecture diagram of the Internet of Things controller disclosed in the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2This is an architecture diagram of an Internet of Things controller disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0026] In this application, relational terms such as first and second are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. The terms "include", "comprises" or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or apparatus comprising a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article or apparatus. In the absence of further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising a ..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article or apparatus comprising the element.

[0027] Reference Figure 1 As shown, the present invention discloses an Internet of Things controller, including a PCBA module, wherein:

[0028] The PCBA module includes: a PCB board, a processing unit arranged on the PCB, a power module, a radio frequency antenna module, a digital communication module, a switch input module, an analog input module, a switch output module, an analog output module, and a pulse width modulation (PWM) output module;

[0029] The processing unit is electrically connected to the power supply module, the radio frequency antenna module, the digital communication module, the switch input module, the analog input module, the switch output module, the analog output module, and the pulse width modulation (PWM) output module respectively.

[0030] The PCBA module is a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), and the PCB board is a printed circuit board (PCB).

[0031] Furthermore, the processing unit is a combination of at least one general-purpose MCU / general-purpose SOC and at least one communication module / communication SOC.

[0032] Furthermore, the communication module / communication SOC is a system-on-chip chip or module; the general SOC is a system-on-chip chip.

[0033] Furthermore, the general MCU / general SOC and the communication module / communication SOC adopt serial communication or parallel communication. When two or more pieces are combined, direct or indirect communication is set between each two pieces.

[0034] Specifically, serial communication refers to a communication method that transmits data bit by bit. The data format is customized, and in the present invention, customization is configured according to specific needs. The baud rate is selected based on the capabilities of the general MCU / general SOC and the communication module / communication SOC itself, and is generally selected as 1800, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, 115200 bpsd, etc. The serial communication protocol is selected based on the capabilities of the general MCU / general SOC and the communication module / communication SOC itself, and is generally selected as UART, USART, I2C, RS485, RS422, RS232, SPI, CAN bus, MODBUS, Ethernet, etc.

[0035] Parallel communication refers to a communication method in which all bits of data are transmitted simultaneously. The data format is customized. Parallel communication does not have the concept of baud rate but is expressed in bytes per second (B / S). Common protocols include: PCI, AGP, SATA, etc.

[0036] Furthermore, computing, wireless radio frequency communication, and digital communication with a general MCU / general SOC are set as basic tasks on the system-on-chip of the communication module / communication SOC to realize IoT communication between the communication module / communication SOC and the general MCU / general SOC. Different priorities and delays are further configured for computing, wireless radio frequency communication, and digital communication with the general MCU / general SOC to obtain different response time efficiencies for IoT communication.

[0037] Furthermore, the communication module / communication SOC also configures its hardware pin resources and enables storage tasks, switch input tasks, analog input tasks, switch output tasks, digital communication tasks and pulse width modulation (PWM) output tasks, and configures different priorities and delays for storage tasks, switch input tasks, analog input tasks, switch output tasks, digital communication tasks and pulse width modulation (PWM) output tasks to achieve input acquisition and output control.

[0038] Furthermore, the basic task of the general MCU / general SOC is set to automatic control.

[0039] Furthermore, the general MCU hardware pin resources enable switch output tasks, analog output tasks, switch input tasks, analog input tasks, digital communication tasks, and pulse width modulation (PWM) output tasks, which are combined with the general MCU's digital computing tasks and connected in series in different sequences and combinations to form a loop with a head-to-tail connection. Automatic control is achieved by combining the above tasks.

[0040] The general SOC hardware pin resources enable switch output tasks, analog output tasks, switch input tasks, analog input tasks, digital communication tasks, storage tasks, and pulse width modulation (PWM) output tasks. Combined with the digital computing tasks of the general SOC, different priorities and delays are configured in different combinations within the on-chip system; automatic control is composed of the above-mentioned tasks.

[0041] General-purpose MCUs / general-purpose SOCs will be replaced by communication modules / communication SOCs. Two communication modules or two communication SOCs will be combined to achieve redundancy. A communication module and communication SOC combination will have the capabilities of both near-field wireless communication (such as Wi-Fi, etc.) and cellular (mobile communication) network communication tasks.

[0042] Among them, redundancy involves two sets of identical communication modules / communication SOCs and storage configurations. Based on the number of cores and computing speed of the communication modules / communication SOCs, the switching cycle is customized through the SDK (Software Development Kit), that is, the switching cycle is adjustable to synchronize data.

[0043] Furthermore, set up IoT communication data and communication channels:

[0044] The IoT controller and IoT uplink communication data come from two parts: one part is generated by the general MCU / general SOC, which converts and calculates its own switch input, analog input, and digital input, and records the switch output and digital output, and then combines, encrypts, and compresses them, or directly transmits them to the communication module / communication SOC, which is combined, encrypted, and compressed by the communication module / communication SOC, and finally transmitted to the communication module / communication SOC and the RF antenna to complete the uplink transmission; the other part is generated by the communication module / communication SOC, which converts its own switch input, analog input, and digital input, and records the switch output and digital output, and then combines, encrypts, and compresses them, and then directly completes the uplink transmission.

[0045] The IoT downlink communication data is received by the RF antenna and communication module / communication SOC. The downlink data is divided into two parts. One part belongs to the general MCU / general SOC and is transmitted to the general MCU / general SOC for decompression, decryption, compilation, and decomposition to achieve remote control, or is directly decompressed, decrypted, compiled, and decomposed by the communication module / communication SOC and then transmitted to the MCU / general SOC to achieve remote control; the other part belongs to the communication module / communication SOC and is directly decompressed, decrypted, compiled, and decomposed to achieve remote control and program upgrades.

[0046] The uplink communication data of the Internet of Things is sent uplink by the RF antenna and the communication module / communication SOC. The uplink data is divided into two parts. One part is generated by the general MCU / general SOC and transmitted to the communication module / communication SOC to realize the Internet of Things communication; the other part is generated by the communication module / communication SOC to realize the Internet of Things communication.

[0047] In a specific embodiment, see Figure 2 As shown, the IoT controller completes IoT communication through the communication module. This IoT controller's IoT uplink communication data comes from two sources: one part is generated by the general-purpose MCU, which converts its own switch inputs, analog inputs, and digital inputs, and records its switch outputs and digital outputs. This data is then combined, encrypted, and compressed, and then transmitted to the communication module and RF antenna module via the serial UART interface for uplink transmission. The other part is generated by the communication module, which converts its own switch inputs, analog inputs, and digital inputs, and records its switch outputs and digital outputs. This data is then combined, encrypted, and compressed, and then directly transmitted uplink. The IoT controller's IoT downlink communication data is received by the RF antenna module and communication module. The downlink data is divided into two parts: one part belongs to the general-purpose MCU and is transmitted via the serial UART interface to the general-purpose MCU for decompression, decryption, and decomposition for remote control; the other part belongs to the communication module, which is directly decompressed, decrypted, compiled, and decomposed for remote control and program upgrades.

[0048] When the Internet of Things controller of the present application faces the requirements of diversified automatic control scenarios, the switch input module, analog input module and digital communication module can respectively connect to sensors that generate switch signals, analog signals and digital signals and receive signals, and can also respectively connect to buttons that generate switch signals, knobs that generate analog signals and touch screens and collaborative controllers that generate digital signals and receive signals; that is, the Internet of Things controller of the present application, while taking into account the collection of feedback signals from sensors in the field of control technology, as well as the collection of operation signals from buttons, knobs and touch screens and controller collaboration; the switch output module, analog output module, PWM output module and digital communication module respectively execute switch control, analog control, PWM control of the devices connected to the controller and send instructions to the collaborative controller; the processing unit and RF antenna module are responsible for the digitization of the collected object information of the perception layer and Internet of Things communication, and are also responsible for receiving instructions and data issued through the cloud platform (Internet of Things server) to achieve remote control, firmware program upgrades and application program upgrades.

[0049] The IoT controller of the present application not only enables the integration and integration of the perception layer, network transmission layer and application layer of the IoT, but also enables the integration and integration of automation, digitization and the IoT. Furthermore, in the application of the IoT perception layer, the IoT controller of the present application, compared with the widely used IoT in which a single sensor is integrated with an IoT communication module or a mounted data transmission unit DTU, while eliminating the IoT communication module integrated on a single sensor or the mounted data transmission unit DTU, broadens the perception layer from the sensor to the controller and the system it controls. The control program optimizes the feedback collection task according to the operation window period. During the operation window period, the collection frequency is increased to ensure the reliability and real-time response capability of the automatic control. Outside the operation window period, the collection frequency is reduced to the lowest possible level to reduce the amount of data generated by the perception layer, thereby realizing the intelligence of the perception layer. Furthermore, through remote control and OTA upgrades, the parameter settings and program updates for the operation window period and collection tasks are optimized to achieve coordination between the application layer and the perception layer.

[0050] Each embodiment in this specification is described in a progressive manner. The same or similar parts between the embodiments can be referred to each other. Each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. In particular, for system or system embodiments, since they are basically similar to method embodiments, the description is relatively simple. For relevant parts, refer to the partial description of the method embodiment. The system and system embodiments described above are merely schematic, wherein the units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components displayed as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place, or they may be distributed on multiple network units. Some or all of the modules can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment. A person of ordinary skill in the art can understand and implement it without expending creative work.

[0051] The above description of the disclosed embodiments is intended to enable one skilled in the art to implement or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown herein but is intended to conform to the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An Internet of Things controller, characterized in that: Including PCBA module, among which, The PCBA module includes: a PCB board, a processing unit, a power module, a radio frequency antenna module, a digital communication module, a switch input module, an analog input module, a switch output module, an analog output module, and a pulse width modulation (PWM) output module. The processing unit is electrically connected to the power module, the radio frequency antenna module, the digital communication module, the switch input module, the analog input module, the switch output module, the analog output module, and the pulse width modulation (PWM) output module respectively; The processing unit is a combination of at least one general-purpose MCU / general-purpose SOC and at least one communication module / communication SOC; On the system-on-chip of the communication module / communication SOC, computing, wireless radio frequency communication, and digital communication with a general-purpose MCU / general-purpose SOC are set as basic tasks to achieve IoT communication between the communication module / communication SOC and the general-purpose MCU / general-purpose SOC. Furthermore, different priorities and delays are assigned to computing, wireless radio frequency communication, and digital communication with the general-purpose MCU / general-purpose SOC tasks to obtain different response times for IoT communication. The general MCU hardware pin resources enable switch output tasks, analog output tasks, switch input tasks, analog input tasks, digital communication tasks, and pulse width modulation (PWM) output tasks. These tasks are combined with the general MCU's digital computing tasks and connected in series in different sequences and combinations to form a loop with a head-to-tail connection. The general SOC hardware pin resources enable switch output tasks, analog output tasks, switch input tasks, analog input tasks, digital communication tasks, and pulse width modulation (PWM) output tasks. Combined with the general SOC digital computing tasks, different priorities and delays are configured in different combinations within the on-chip system. Set up IoT communication data and communication channels: IoT downlink communication data is received by the RF antenna and the communication module / communication SOC. The downlink data is divided into two parts. One part belongs to the general MCU / general SOC and is transmitted to the general MCU / general SOC for data processing to achieve remote control; the other part belongs to the communication module / communication SOC for direct data processing to achieve remote control and program upgrades. The uplink communication data of the Internet of Things is sent uplink by the RF antenna and the communication module / communication SOC. The uplink data is divided into two parts. One part is generated by the general MCU / general SOC and transmitted to the communication module / communication SOC to realize the Internet of Things communication; the other part is generated by the communication module / communication SOC to realize the Internet of Things communication.

2. The Internet of Things controller according to claim 1, characterized in that: Communication module / communication SOC is a system-on-chip chip or module; general SOC is a system-on-chip chip.

3. The Internet of Things controller according to claim 1, characterized in that: The general MCU / general SOC and the communication module / communication SOC use serial communication or parallel communication. When two or more components are combined, direct or indirect communication is set between each two components.

4. The Internet of Things controller according to claim 1, characterized in that: The communication module / communication SOC also configures its hardware pin resources and enables storage tasks, switch input tasks, analog input tasks, switch output tasks, digital communication tasks, and pulse width modulation (PWM) output tasks, and configures different priorities and delays for storage tasks, switch input tasks, analog input tasks, switch output tasks, digital communication tasks, and pulse width modulation (PWM) output tasks to achieve input acquisition and output control.

5. The Internet of Things controller according to claim 4, characterized in that: Set the basic task of the general MCU / general SOC to automatic control.

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