Control module, field controller and field control system

Abstract

The control module provided by the utility model comprises an input end and a micro-control unit connected with the input end. A first part of ports in the input end are multiplexed as address configuration mode trigger ports, and a second part of ports in the input end are multiplexed as address configuration ports in the address configuration mode; and the micro-control unit is used for enabling the control module to enter an address configuration mode when the signal from the first part of port meets a triggering condition, and the micro-control unit determines an address according to the signal from the second part of port. The utility model further provides a field controller and a field control system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to industrial control technology, and more specifically, to technology related to field controllers. Background Art

[0002] In field control systems such as building control, numerous devices are distributed across different floors. Even on the same floor, devices are often located in different locations. To centrally manage these numerous devices, field control systems often employ hierarchical management. Specifically, a host control device connects to multiple field controllers, and each field controller connects to multiple devices. The host control device controls the devices through interaction with the field controllers. To this end, field controllers are equipped with DIP switches to allow the host control device to identify each field controller. These DIP switches not only take up physical space within the field controller, but also increase the cost of the field controller. Utility Model Content

[0003] According to one aspect of the present application, a control module is provided to solve at least one of the above problems. The control module provided by the present application includes an input terminal and a microcontroller unit (MCU) connected to the input terminal. A first portion of ports in the input terminal are multiplexed as address configuration mode trigger ports, and a second portion of ports in the input terminal are multiplexed as address configuration ports in the address configuration mode; the microcontroller unit is configured to cause the control module to enter the address configuration mode when a signal from the first portion of ports meets a trigger condition, and the microcontroller unit determines an address based on the signal from the second portion of ports.

[0004] According to the control module of the example of the present application, optionally or additionally, the first part of ports includes one or more input ports.

[0005] According to the control module of the example of the present application, optionally or additionally, each input port in the first part of ports is connected to the micro control unit via a first port module, and the first port module is configured to convert the voltage of the input port into a voltage waveform received by the micro control unit.

[0006] According to the control module of the example of the present application, optionally or additionally, the micro-control unit is configured to determine the frequency of the voltage waveform from each end input port, and determine that the trigger condition is met when the frequency of each port is equal to a preset frequency.

[0007] According to the control module of the example of the present application, optionally or supplementally, the first port module includes a voltage divider circuit and a clamping circuit connected to the output end of the voltage divider circuit.

[0008] According to the control module of the example of the present application, optionally or additionally, each input port in the second part of ports is connected to the micro-control unit via a second port module. Specifically, the second port module may include a switch and a voltage divider circuit, one end of the switch is connected to the input port and the other end is connected to the input end of the voltage divider circuit, and the output end of the voltage divider circuit is connected to the analog-to-digital conversion module of the micro-control unit.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present application, a field controller is also provided, which may include: a shell; a power input terminal arranged on the shell; a control module arranged on the shell; a communication module arranged on the shell, and the communication module is connected to the micro control unit; wherein the control module is any one of the control modules described above.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present application, a field control system is also provided, which includes the field controller described above, or includes any of the control modules described above. The field controller system can be applied in building control, such as a heating and ventilation control system, a ventilation control system, a weak current control system, etc. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The present application will be more fully understood by referring to the following detailed description of specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, wherein:

[0012] Figure 1 It is a structural diagram of the field control system;

[0013] Figure 2 It is a structural diagram of the existing field controller 20;

[0014] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a control module 300 according to an example of the present application;

[0015] Figure 3A is a schematic diagram of a structure in which the first portion of the port 3021 is connected to the micro control unit 308 via the first port module according to some examples of the present application;

[0016] Figure 3B is a schematic diagram of a structure in which the second portion of the port 3023 is connected to the micro control unit 308 via the second port module according to some examples;

[0017] Figure 4 is a structural diagram of a field controller according to an example of this application;

[0018] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 The schematic diagram of a voltage divider circuit that can be used by the field controller is shown;

[0019] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 The diagram shows a schematic diagram of a clamping circuit that can be used by a field controller. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the following will be combined with the accompanying drawings to clearly and completely describe the implementation methods of the present application. It should be noted that the described implementation methods are only part of the implementation methods of the technical solution of the present application and not all of them. All other implementation methods obtained by ordinary technicians in this field based on the implementation methods described in this application document without paying creative work are covered by the scope of protection of this application.

[0021] Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the structure of the field control system is shown. The field control system can be applied to industrial sites, such as building control, more specifically, the control of the wind heating system in the building. Figure 1 As shown, the controlled devices 100, 101, 102, and 103 on site are connected to the site controller 10, and the site controller 10 is connected to the host device 1. Figure 1 As shown, the host device 1 can be connected to more field controllers, such as 11, 12, etc., and each field controller can be connected to multiple controlled devices (not shown). It should be noted that the field control system is only a schematic diagram. In the actual field system, the number of controlled devices and field controllers is different. Figure 1 The meaning may be different. Figure 1 This is for illustration only and is not intended to be limiting. During the control process, the host device 1 identifies each field controller by its address. Depending on the application scenario, the host device 1 may also communicate with a remote control device, and the controlled device may be an air conditioner, ventilation duct, etc.

[0022] Figure 2 It is a structural diagram of the existing field controller 20. Figure 2As shown, the field controller 20 includes a power supply input terminal 200, a communication terminal 201, an input terminal 202, an LED display unit 204, a dial switch 206, and a microcontroller unit (not shown). The power supply input terminal 200 includes, for example, a 24-volt power supply port, a 0-volt port, and a ground port. The communication terminal 201 is an interface, such as RS485, that can be used to communicate with other devices (such as a host control device). The input terminal 202 may include 24 ports in this example. In the exemplary configuration, the 24 ports include 12 groups of three ports each. Taking the first group 2021 as an example, the middle port is a ground port, and the ports on both sides are input ports. Thus, of the 24 ports shown, 16 ports are input ports and 8 are ground ports. The user sets the address for the field controller 20 via the dial switch 206. The LED display unit 204 can display under the control of the microcontroller unit.

[0023] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the control module 300 according to the example of the present application. Figure 3 As shown, the control module 300 includes an input terminal 302 serving as an input port of the control module 300 and a microcontroller unit 308. The microcontroller unit 308 is connected to the input terminal 302. The input terminal 302 includes a first portion of ports 3021 and a second portion of ports 3023. According to an example of the present application, the first portion of ports 3021 is multiplexed as an address configuration mode trigger port, and the second portion of ports 3023 is multiplexed as an address configuration port in the address configuration mode. The microcontroller unit 308 is configured to control the control module 300 to enter the address configuration mode when a trigger condition is met. In the address configuration mode, the microcontroller unit 308 determines the address of the control module 300 based on a signal from the second portion of ports.

[0024] According to some examples of the present application, the first part of ports 3021 may include only one input port, and when the input of the input port meets a trigger condition, the control module 300 enters the address configuration mode.

[0025] According to another example of the present application, the first portion of ports 3021 may include multiple input ports. Only when the inputs of the multiple input ports all meet the trigger condition will the microcontroller unit 308 cause the control module to enter the address configuration mode. Because the multiple input ports must all meet the trigger condition simultaneously, the situation where the trigger condition is met and the address configuration mode is entered due to erroneous operation of one input port is avoided. It should be understood that the number of ports included in the first portion of ports should be less than the total number of ports of the input terminal 302. According to some specific examples of the present application, the first portion of ports 3021 includes two input ports.

[0026] Figure 3A3 is a schematic diagram of a structure in which the first part of the port 3021 is connected to the micro control unit 308 through the first port module according to an example of the present application. In this example, the first part of the port 3021 includes two input ports, each of which is connected to the micro control unit 308 through a first port module. Figure 3A As shown, one input port 3021a of the first portion of ports 3021 is connected to the micro control unit 308 via a corresponding first port module 3022a, and the other input port 3021b is connected to the micro control unit 308 via a corresponding second port module 3022b. The port shown in the figure between ports 3021a and 3021b is a ground port.

[0027] First port modules 3022a and 3022b each include a voltage divider circuit and a clamping circuit. Both have identical configurations. For simplicity, the first port module 3022a will be used as an example for this description. For example, 24V AC power is supplied to port 3021a, where it is transmitted from port 3021a to the voltage divider circuit in port module 3022a. The voltage divider circuit reduces the amplitude of the input AC power and outputs it. The output of the reduced-amplitude AC power is supplied to the clamping circuit, which performs chopping. The output of the clamping circuit is transmitted to the microcontroller unit 308. In one specific example, a counter in microcontroller unit 308 counts the voltage waveform after the chopping transformation. Based on the count, microcontroller unit 308 determines the voltage frequency. Once the calculated voltage frequency matches a preset frequency, microcontroller unit 308 determines that the input of that port has met the trigger condition. According to the example of this application, microcontroller unit 308 causes control module 300 to enter address configuration mode when the inputs of both input ports 3021a and 3021b meet the trigger condition. It should be noted that, when the micro control unit 308 does not include a counter, a counter may be set in each first port module for counting.

[0028] In the address configuration mode, the second portion of ports 3023 is multiplexed as an address configuration port, and the micro control unit 308 determines the address configured for the control module based on the signal of the second portion of ports 3023. According to a specific example of the present application, each input port in the second portion of ports 3023 is connected to the micro control unit 308 via a second port module.

[0029] Figure 3BFIG2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of the second portion of ports 3023 connected to the microcontroller unit 308 via a second port module according to some examples. In the illustrated example, the second portion of ports 3023 includes six input ports, namely input ports 3023a, 3023b, 3023c, 3023d, 3023e, and 3023f. The port between input ports 3023a and 3023b, the port between input ports 3023c and 3023d, and the port between input ports 3023e and 3023f are all grounded ports. Each input port is connected to a second port module. Specifically, ports 3023a, 3023b, 3023c, 3023d, 3023e, and 3023f are connected to second port modules 3025a, 3025b, 3025c, 3025d, 3025e, and 3025f, respectively. Each second port module has the same configuration. For simplicity, second port module 3025a will be used as an example for this description. The power input to port 3023a is converted to direct current (DC). Port 3023a is connected or disconnected from the voltage divider circuit under the on / off control of the electronic switch in second port module 3025a. The voltage divider circuit reduces the voltage, and the reduced voltage signal is fed to the microcontroller unit 308. The analog-to-digital conversion (A / D) module in the microcontroller unit 308 converts the voltage signal into a digital voltage signal, which the microcontroller unit 308 then determines the address based on.

[0030] It should be noted that the sum of the number of ports included in the first portion of ports 3021 and the number of ports included in the second portion of ports 3023 is less than or equal to the number of ports included in the input end 302. For example, if the input end 302 includes 16 input ports, 2 of them are reused in the first portion of ports 3021, and 6 of them are reused in the second portion of ports 3023. Consequently, 8 of the 16 input ports of the input end 302 are reused, while the remaining 8 ports remain solely used as input ports. This is merely an example; in actual applications, the ports of the input end 302 may be reused as needed.

[0031] According to the examples of this application, a few of the control module's original input ports are reused as trigger ports, and some or all of the remaining input ports are reused as address configuration ports. This allows the control module to operate in address configuration mode when the microcontroller unit determines that the voltage signal at the trigger port meets the trigger condition. The address assigned to the control module is then determined by the voltage signal at the input port reused as the address configuration port. After the configuration is complete, the control module can return to normal operating mode. According to the control module of this application's examples, since existing input ports are reused for address configuration, there is no need for a DIP switch.

[0032] According to examples of the present application, a field controller is also provided. Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the field controller according to the example of this application. Figure 4 As shown, the field controller 40 includes a housing (not marked), a power input terminal 400, a communication terminal 401, and a control module, wherein the control module can be combined with the above Figure 3 、 Figure 3A and Figure 3B The control module 300 of any one of the examples described above is implemented. Each module and electronic circuit device in the field controller can be set in the housing, or arranged on the housing, or fixed by the housing, or set in the housing, etc. The power input terminal 400 is used to receive power input, such as 24V AC. The communication terminal 401 is, for example, an RS485 port for the field controller 40 to communicate with a host control device. The type of the communication terminal 401, the amount of power received by the power input terminal 400, etc. can be configured according to actual needs.

[0033] As an example, the control module 300 in the field controller 40 may have an input end 302 that includes 16 input ends and 8 ground ends, wherein 2 of the 16 input ends are multiplexed as configuration mode trigger ports, and 6 of the 16 input ports are multiplexed as address configuration ports.

[0034] and Figure 2 Compared to the existing field controllers shown, the field controller according to the example of this application does not require DIP switches. This saves physical space within the field controller, allowing it to accommodate more electronic components without increasing its size. Furthermore, each field controller saves the expense of DIP switches, significantly reducing costs for field control systems, which often require a significant number of field switches.

[0035] As an example, Figure 5 Given Figure 4 The schematic diagram of a voltage divider circuit that can be used by the field controller is shown in FIG. Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a clamping circuit is shown. It should be noted that this is only an illustration and not a limitation. Figure 5 As shown, the voltage divider circuit has voltage divider resistors R1 and R2, and the voltage divider circuit is grounded through capacitor c1. The voltage signal is input from the input terminal 50 and output from the output terminal 52. Figure 6 As shown, the clamping circuit includes a diode D1 and a diode D2 , a signal is input from an input terminal 60 , and an output terminal 62 is output.

[0036] According to the example of this application, a field control system is also provided. The architecture of the field control system is, for example, Figure 1 The architecture shown in the figure, all or part of the field controllers in the system are constructed as Figure 4The field controller shown in the figure can be applied in building control, such as HVAC control system, ventilation control system, weak current control system, etc.

[0037] The technical features in the various embodiments of the present application may be combined with each other to form new implementations without departing from the spirit of the present application and without conflicting with each other. Although specific embodiments of the present application have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the principles of the present application, it should be understood that the present application can be implemented in other ways without departing from such principles.

Claims

1. A control module, characterized in that: The control module includes: Input end, a first part of the ports in the input end are multiplexed as address configuration mode trigger ports, and a second part of the ports in the input end are multiplexed as address configuration ports in the address configuration mode; The micro control unit connected to the input end is used to enable the control module to enter the address configuration mode when the signal from the first part port meets the trigger condition, and the micro control unit determines the address according to the signal from the second part port.

2. The control module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first portion of ports includes one or more input ports.

3. The control module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Each input port in the first part of ports is connected to the micro control unit via a first port module, and the first port module is configured to convert the voltage of the input port into a voltage waveform received by the micro control unit.

4. The control module according to claim 3, characterized in that: The micro control unit is configured to determine the frequency of the voltage waveform from each input port, and determine that the trigger condition is satisfied when the frequency of each input port is equal to a preset frequency.

5. The control module according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first port module includes a voltage divider circuit and a clamping circuit connected to an output end of the voltage divider circuit.

6. The control module according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each input port in the second part of ports is connected to the analog-to-digital conversion module of the micro control unit via a second port module, and the second port module includes a switch and a voltage divider circuit whose input end is connected to the switch and whose output end is connected to the analog-to-digital conversion module.

7. A field controller, characterized in that: The field controller comprises: case; A power input terminal provided on the housing; A control module provided in the housing, wherein the control module is a control module according to any one of claims 1 to 6; A communication module is provided on the housing, and the communication module is connected to the micro control unit.

8. A field control system, characterized in that: The system comprises the field controller according to claim 7; or the control module according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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