Modules with terminal blocks mounted on circuit boards with integrated, two-part connector for connecting field-side hardware components of an automation or control system

Abstract

Module with a housing consisting of two housing parts, with connections for electrical wiring and interface cabling, with indicator means for displaying the respective operating status on the front of the housing, and with three circuit boards (17a, 17b, 17c) arranged in the housing, characterized in that at least two opposing terminal blocks (10) are provided on each circuit board (17b, 17c) with terminal block in the housing, each terminal block having a receptacle in a connector rear part (10b) for a connector front part (10a) of a two-part connector, wherein the housing of the terminal block (10) has at least two protrusions (10k) on one side and two corresponding recesses (10i) on the opposite side, and wire contacts (10f) located in chambers of the terminal block (10), wherein one free end of the wire contacts (10f) of the connector rear part (10b) is located in the respective circuit board (17b,17c) is soldered in place and the other free end of the wire contacts (10f) is detachably connected to the respective contact of the connector front part (10a), that the lower housing part (4, 14) has clamping means on two opposite sides for holding the lowest circuit board (17a) which runs parallel to the ground and on the other two opposite sides supports extending from the ground of the lower housing part (4, 14) with an inclined clamping surface for clamping the edge of a middle circuit board (17b) which runs parallel to the ground above the lowest circuit board (17a), and that the upper circuit board (17c) is firmly positioned on the opposite terminal blocks (10) of the middle circuit board (17b) below by the respective recess (10i) and protrusion (10k), so that the circuit boards (17a, 17b, 17c) are arranged one above the other in a sandwich construction. are.,

Description

[0001] The invention relates, according to the preamble of patent claim 1, to a module with a housing consisting of two housing parts, with connections for the electrical wiring and cabling of interfaces, with display means for displaying the respective operating state on the front side of the housing and with three circuit boards arranged in the housing.

[0002] The modular design of an automation or control system has long been known. The modules for automation devices and automation systems are largely similar in design depending on their intended use. This means they are typically equipped with connection terminals and indicators to display the respective operating status. For example, input / output modules are equipped with indicators on their front panels, which are used primarily to indicate operating or error states. It is common practice to clarify the meaning of such an indicator on the device's front panel by means of text placed next to the LED.The input and output module typically comprises a separable housing with at least one front cover, connection terminals, a marking area assigned to each connection terminal for identifying the respective connection terminal, and display means for indicating the current operating status of a switching and / or control module assigned to the respective connection terminal. The connection terminal is plugged onto a terminal block and, using a standardized connector, can be connected via an internal bus to another module, also arranged on a mounting rail. The connection terminals are designed for connecting signals and process voltages from external field devices, such as sensors and actuators, using screw connection technology or, more recently, spring-loaded technology.

[0003] For example, DE 10 2008 058 090 A1 discloses an input / output module for an automation device with a divisible housing, with an electronic assembly for the input / output function of the input / output module, with connection elements and with optical fibers arranged on the front of the device, each assigned to the connection elements, for signaling the status of the input / output channels of the input / output module.In order to create a cost-effective and simply constructed input / output module in which the connection terminals are accessible from the front of the module, which has the display means, and to enable a compact design, the electronic assembly for the input / output function of the input / output module and the connection elements for connecting signal lines and process voltages are arranged on a first printed circuit board located in the housing of the input / output module, which is particularly made up of two parts, so that the connection elements are accessible from the front of the input / output module. In detail, the electrical connection of the connection elements via signal lines and process voltage lines to connected switching and / or control modules is realized via a terminal block connected to the connection elements. Depending on the number of input / output functions of the input / output module, the number of poles of the terminal can vary.The first circuit board has a further connection element for connecting an input / output bus for further modules of the automation device. The further connection element for connecting the input / output bus is arranged on the first circuit board in such a way that it is connected to a connection element on a second circuit board and connection plugs for the input / output bus protrude from the lower lateral area of ​​the housing, whereby the signals of the input / output bus can be transmitted from the first circuit board to the second circuit board. The first circuit board is inserted into guides, whereby the guides for the first circuit board are arranged in the inner area of ​​the lower housing section, preferably in the lower area of ​​the housing sides. Means, preferably centering pins or locking mushrooms, for positioning and mechanically connecting the housings of the modules are provided in the lower lateral area of ​​the housing.The display means is formed by the light guide, which focuses the light generated by optical display elements, preferably light-emitting diodes, and transmits it contactlessly to exit openings in the housing. Thus, the light focused by the light guide via total internal reflection on its surfaces is transmitted from the display elements to respective light exit surfaces on the front of the input / output module. A diaphragm holds the first light guide, which is constructed in particular from four identical parts, together and prevents crosstalk between the individual strands of the first light guide. The light guide can be constructed from several identical light guide parts arranged one behind the other and can be designed such that simple and cost-effective injection molding tools can be used for its production.The arrangement of the identical parts is achieved, for example, by stacking the identical parts, reinforced by webs, and connecting them, preferably via a tenon-and-hole connection. For wall mounting, an accessory is provided that acts as a spacer and prevents deformation of the housing when the module is screwed through a hole. The accessory is aligned via tenons on the housing base, with a locking lug preventing the accessory from falling out.

[0004] Furthermore, multi-level printed circuit board terminal blocks with at least one rear or side support plate for holding the circuit board together, in particular for mechanical support relative to a circuit board connected to the terminal block, are known. To create such a terminal block that allows for expanded housing and design options for electrical / electronic circuits, the support plate in the subject matter of EP 0 189 529 B1 is also designed as a printed circuit board, so that it is assigned a further function beyond its mechanical holding function. Given the small size of newer electrical / electronic components of this type and new processing techniques for them, additional circuits can also be integrated into the relatively small support plate on the front and / or rear.It is possible for the manufacturer of the multi-level PCB terminal block to provide the user with the assembly with only the support plate as a printed circuit board, particularly a perforated printed circuit board, and to leave it up to the user to decide which electrical / electronic circuits they wish to accommodate on this additional printed circuit board formed by the support plate. However, it is also possible to provide the user with certain, frequently required circuits in an integrated form together with the terminal block, thus equipping the support plate, designed as a printed circuit board, with the corresponding circuit elements right from the start. Preferably, some of the terminal pins from the upper terminal row of the terminal block are angled and connected directly to the printed circuit board formed by the rear support plate.This reduces the wiring load on the actual circuit board supporting the terminal block. Alternatively, the rear support plate can be designed as a so-called "daughter board," for which the circuit board then serves as the mother board. In this case, connection parts, particularly connection pins, are molded onto the support plate for positioning and soldering into the circuit board.In a further embodiment of such a multi-level PCB terminal block, not only the rear support plate can be used to expand the circuit arrangement, but also one or more of the commonly provided side support plates of such a terminal block can be used. Surface mounting is particularly suitable for this purpose, in which the components to be applied are mounted directly onto the surface of the relevant conductor track side, thus receiving both their mechanical and electrical connection there. The components and their connections are then located on the same side of the PCB, and for connection reasons, the side support plate is expediently designed from the outset as a daughter PCB to the mother PCB, with connection components molded onto its underside for soldering into the PCB.

[0005] A similar module for an expandable automation device for controlling and / or monitoring technical processes, in which the modules can be placed next to one another and electrically connected via a bus by means of connection elements and a plug, and in which the modules are each constructed from at least one printed circuit board equipped with electrical components and connection contacts, which is arranged in a housing having a lower housing part and an upper housing part, is known from DE 10 2004 056 363 A1.In order to remove the module from the profile rail without additional tools and to avoid having to remove the wiring when changing modules, molded-on guides in the identically constructed lower housing section accommodate the circuit boards of the respective module. Further guides for the connection contacts of the circuit boards leading out of the housing are molded onto the rear part of the lower housing section. The housing is detachably attached to a base board by means of a module carrier. The base board with the module carriers on it can be arranged on the hat-shaped profile rail to form an automation system, with the electrical connection between the modules being realized by means of standardized plug-in connections. The base board can accommodate several expansion modules, which can be connected to a fieldbus via interface modules using a fieldbus connector.The connection elements comprise a terminal area for connecting external field devices using spring-loaded or screw connection technology. The additional expansion modules are connected to one another by means of at least one releasable mechanical lock, preferably with a pluggable locking element formed on the module carrier, and a receptacle for the locking element. The design of the expansion modules using a combination of terminal block and plugged-in expansion module has the advantage that expansion modules can be replaced without having to disconnect the wiring on the terminal block. To ensure the correct assignment of the modules to the connection elements on the module carrier, additional moldings are provided on the housing base, into which additional recesses assigned to the module carrier can be inserted.The upper housing section is connected to the lower housing section by means of a detachable snap-in connection, and at least one further detachable snap-in and plug-in connection is provided on the lower housing section for connection to the module carrier. The electrical connection to a further expansion module is made via interlocking recesses and molded-on features located on the sides of the module carrier. Optical display means are arranged on the respective circuit boards of the expansion modules, which transmit the light contactlessly to the front of the device via a light guide located in the upper housing section. The electrical connections of the circuit boards arranged in a module are formed by means of a plug-in connection via the connection contacts of the circuit board and via the connection elements located in the module carrier. The circuit boards, which are arranged in the guides molded onto the lower housing section, are freely interchangeable.The module carrier includes openings and / or recesses for accommodating the housing base of the connection elements with the connection contacts of the printed circuit boards, the power supply, the fieldbus connectors, the couplers suitable for various fieldbuses or networks, and / or the interfaces. Furthermore, the grounding of the modules is routed to the top-hat rail via another opening located in the module carrier and correspondingly in the base board. The modules are designed as a central unit, communication coupler, fieldbus connector modules, and central and / or decentralized expansion modules.

[0006] A terminal block mounted on a DIN rail for electrical wiring and cabling of interfaces, comprising a modular terminal block and a printed circuit board mounted thereon, is known from WO 2009 / 015887 A2. To create a modular terminal block comprising a terminal block formed from a module stack, which enables precise alignment of the conductors with the through-hole contacts of the printed circuit board despite tolerances, counteracts conductor deflection during PCB assembly, and enables permanent closure of the cover of the PCB connection area, the modules, with their module housings, form a conductor housing for a plurality of conductors, which are led out of the conductor housing in the form of free-standing conductor pins. The printed circuit board has through-hole contacts with which it is plugged onto the free-standing conductor pins.Furthermore, an alignment plate is provided with through-holes for positioning the conductor pins and with a thickness that is less than the protrusion by which the conductors protrude from the conductor housings. Accordingly, the conductors are held in the conductor housing in such a way that, on the one hand, they can withstand the forces acting on them when the alignment plate and the circuit board are placed on top of each other, and, on the other hand, they can give way to any alignment that needs to be corrected. Alignment plate is located. The openings of the alignment plate preferably have enlarged mouths to accommodate the conductor pins, which facilitates automatic installation of the alignment plate. Preferably, each module housing formed from non-conductive plastic has a conductor housing which comprises one or more walls that support the conductors. As a result, the forces transmitted to the conductor pins and thus to the entire conductors by the press fits are diverted from these walls.In preferred embodiments, each of these walls extends across the entire width of the respective module housing, and the wall is supported on both sides when the module housing is integrated into the module stack. Support webs or aligned support elements aligned with the external conductor sections and pins can transfer the forces directly to an outer wall of the module housings. Each conductor housing preferably has a cover element that is movable between an open and a closed position to cover the conductors extending out of the module housing. The cover elements of all module housings engage one another along the module stack or terminal block to collectively form a cover that is movable between the open and closed positions.The module stack has a number of cover element retention elements arranged along the stack, which engage and hold the cover when the cover is in the closed position. Thus, the cover is held closed at several points between the end plates of the module stack and is secured against opening. In preferred embodiments of the invention, each cover element on the module housings has a retention element, so that each cover element is additionally held in the retained position. This retention element is preferably one of the exposed conductor sections extending out of the conductor housing. The cover element and the conductor section have cooperating retention members that engage with each other to hold the cover element in its closed position.In particular, the modular stack, the terminal block, which is multi-level, can be made longer and equipped with more disc-shaped modules. The alignment element, the alignment plate, ensures that the free-standing conductor pins of the conductor pin field can contact the through-hole contacts of the circuit board without damage. This allows the circuit board to be reliably installed using an automatic machine system, even with long module stacks. The module housing has a uniform width or thickness between a first side and a second, opposite side, and a number of spaced-apart locking elements are located on the sides of each module housing to enable a module to be connected to an adjacent module or to one of the end plates in the correct position.The locking elements comprise locking openings facing one side of the respective module and locking projections protruding on the other, opposite side of the module. The locking projections of adjacent modules or the respective end plates are inserted into the locking openings to form the terminal block. The module housing comprises a front conductor housing that receives the terminals and conductors and further has a base portion that supports the module housing on the DIN rail. The interference fits that form when the alignment plate and the circuit board are attached to the module block transmit vertical forces to the conductors. These vertical forces are, in turn, transferred from the conductors via spacers to the horizontal module walls. The module walls are supported at both ends to hold the conductors and prevent the conductors from deflecting due to these vertical loads.Furthermore, the spacers and extensions on the module walls are arranged above support webs and transfer the vertical forces to these support webs and thus to the floor wall. Furthermore, vertical loads that may be applied to the wall surface during assembly are also transferred to the floor wall via the vertical walls.

[0007] Furthermore, DE 100 40 651 A1 discloses an electronic device for sliding onto a mounting rail, comprising a housing, electronics that can also be detachably inserted into the housing, and bus contacts for data and / or power transmission to adjacent electronic devices of the same design that are pushed onto the mounting rail and have correspondingly designed bus connections. In order to design the electronic device in such a way that the connections and contacts for the bus connections are protected from damage when the device is not assembled, and the device can be exchanged for another without neighboring devices having to be removed from the mounting rail, the bus contacts are movable relative to the housing, and the bus contacts can be secured via a locking device in such a way that they can be brought into contact with the bus connections in the adjacent device in a locked position.To secure the contacts relative to the housing, a locking device is provided with which they can be secured in at least one position such that they protrude laterally beyond the wall of the housing and, when assembled on the mounting rail, engage in the connections of the adjacent device. It is optional whether each bus contact can be moved and locked individually or whether the contacts of the data bus, for example, can be moved together. The bus connection for supplying power to the individual devices is generally designed to be continuous in order to supply all devices with power together. The bus connection for data transmission can also be interrupted or implemented separately between adjacent devices, depending on requirements, if data transmission between adjacent devices is not desired. One possible design for the bus contacts is the interlocking blade / spring contacts known to those skilled in the art.Contact strips in the form of flat, metallic blades are moved relative to the housing and engaged with correspondingly shaped spring contacts on or in the adjacent housing. The springs are aligned such that their clamping effect is exerted perpendicular to the direction in which the contact strips are inserted. To facilitate the displacement of the sliding element relative to the housing into a locked position, the projections on the housing and / or sliding element are provided with bevelled surfaces. The bevels are inclined counter to the direction of displacement and slide against the opposite projection when moved. To unlock the sliding element, the engaged projection can be slightly lifted from the housing wall using the tip of a screwdriver and pushed back over the projection on the housing.Since bending of individual contact strips or other damage to the sliding element can never be completely avoided, especially with frequent removal and installation of individual devices, the sliding elements can be completely removed from the housing so that they can be replaced with an undamaged one. To do this, a projection on the sliding element is lifted over the side projection on the housing and the sliding element is completely pulled out of the tunnel-like opening.

[0008] In order to create a bus contacting device for a modular assembly system, which ensures a smooth pivoting of the assembly with bus connector onto the mounting rail and thereby a trouble-free contacting of adjacent assemblies and the printed circuit boards located in the assemblies, a self-assembling backplane bus contacting device for a modular assembly system consisting of several assemblies is known from DE 20 2009 003 712 U1 of the applicant, which comprises: ➢ a housing consisting of two half-shells with a detachable connection to hold the half-shells together, ➢ at least two means arranged inside the half-shells for guiding and holding one printed circuit board each, ➢ a single-row, 90° angled connector arranged on each of the circuit boards, which protrudes through a recess on the rear wall of the lower half-shell, ➢ a bus connector with mating connectors that can be plugged into one of the single-row connectors, ➢ a bus connector that electrically connects the printed circuit boards and ➢ a pivot bearing mounted on the rear wall of the lower half-shell, which engages in a retaining rail and guides the housing in the retaining rail, so that when the housing is pivoted open, the plug connection can be electrically connected to the bus connector having mating plug connections of the adjacent housing on the retaining rail.

[0009] Furthermore, the modular assembly system according to DE 20 2009 003 712 U1 of the applicant has: ➢ a housing consisting of two half-shells with a detachable connection to hold the half-shells together, ➢ at least two means arranged inside the half-shells for guiding and holding one printed circuit board each, ➢ a single-row, 90° angled connector arranged on each of the circuit boards, which protrudes through a recess on the rear wall of the lower half-shell, ➢ a bus connector that electrically connects the printed circuit boards and ➢ A pivot bearing attached to the rear wall of the lower half-shell, which engages in a retaining rail and guides the housing in the retaining rail so that, when the housing is pivoted open, the plug connection can be electrically connected to a bus connector having mating plug connections on the adjacent housing on the retaining rail. The bus contact device or module according to DE 20 2009 003 712 U1 by the applicant enables simple expansion / retrofitting of the (backplane) bus, including the module (e.g., new functions), whereby this does not require a backplane bus pre-mounted on a retaining rail (often used in the field of automation technology). Furthermore, modules of any width can be lined up next to one another, and centrally located modules, i.e. modules flanked by other modules to the left and right, can be replaced without dismantling the other modules.Furthermore, a single bus connector can be replaced by removing the two modules in which it is integrated.

[0010] In order to ensure smooth reconfiguration or retrofitting and thereby trouble-free contacting of adjacent bus terminals and the field-side hardware components that can be coupled to the bus system, a sequentially buildable, modular bus for an automation or control system for controlling and supplying power to field-side hardware components that can be coupled to the bus is known from DE 20 2010 006 065.6 U1 of the applicant, which bus comprises: • at least two bus terminals held on a support or holding rail, which contain a wiring level / connection level in a substantially L-shaped insulating housing with a stepped, stepped shape, wherein the bus terminal can be contacted with an adjacent bus terminal as a backplane bus, in that the bus terminal has contactable bus contacts for power supply and auxiliary power supply in the side surface as well as a data bus for transmitting data and / or control signals, and • a pluggable module with one or more printed circuit boards on each bus terminal; which acts as a module carrier for direct contacting of the backplane bus and for contacting the field-side hardware components connected via contact means and connecting lines of the bus terminal as standing wiring, whereby the bus terminal has guides for corresponding means on the housing of the module, • so that replacing the circuit board results in a reconfiguration of the connection of the field-side hardware components.

[0011] For power supply and data bus communication, the bus terminal has a substantially U-shaped bus terminal module part with a leg slotted in the direction of extension and each with two opposing U-shaped contact springs. A plug contact part of the circuit board protruding from the rear of the module's housing can be inserted into the slot, with the contact surfaces on both sides being contacted by the respective U-shaped contact spring. The U-shaped contact spring is cranked at one free end, and the other end engages behind a recess in the bus terminal module part to hold the contact spring. The bus terminal module part is designed as an insert, which is held in an opening in the bus terminal by means of a locking means.For the auxiliary power supply, the bus terminal has T-shaped supply bus contacts, with the crossbar of the supply bus contact protruding laterally from an opening in the bus terminal and the longitudinal bar contacting the circuit board. The T-shaped supply bus contact is designed in two parts, with the two L-shaped parts having a contact fork at the free end for contacting the circuit board and a blade contact or a fork contact at the other free end. Alternatively, the T-shaped supply bus contact is a single-part piece and has a blade contact as a crossbar at one end and only half of a fork contact at the other end. The blade contact of the next bus terminal is pushed into a groove in the insulating housing during connection and then contact is made with the contact.The bus terminal is formed with a receptacle for spring-loaded or screw terminals as contact means for connecting the field-side hardware components, with strip-shaped connecting cables being guided between the spring-loaded or screw terminal and the circuit board in channels in the bus terminal. Furthermore, the bus terminal has a holding device that can be actuated by means of a locking lever and that encompasses the two offsets of the support or holding rail. The lever is spring-loaded and can be locked in the open position. The guides of the bus terminal are designed as strips that engage in grooves in the module housing. A locking device is arranged on one side wall of the module housing, which locks into a recess in the bus terminal when inserted into the end position.The stepped, stepped shape features a partition wall and several webs along its length to divide it into several chambers. These create the individual connection points and ensure stability. The main support of the bus terminal is a one-piece injection-molded part that supports side covers. Ventilation openings are located on the underside of the housing section of the module that extends beyond the bus terminal's shape, and the top features additional ventilation openings to dissipate heat from the circuit board using the chimney effect.

[0012] Furthermore, DE 20 2006 006 615 U1 discloses an electronics housing for mounting on a mounting rail, comprising a two-part housing consisting of a base part and an upper part, with at least one printed circuit board, and with at least two connection terminals or connectors for connecting electrical conductors. The base part and the upper part can be locked together, the base part can be locked onto the mounting rail, and the connection terminals can be electrically connected to the printed circuit board. To avoid the need for a different housing in the event of subsequent modifications to the device's electronics, the printed circuit board is arranged in the base part, which has two side walls arranged on opposite sides and extending perpendicular to the mounting rail and the printed circuit board.A plurality of fastening devices – in particular a plurality of openings – are formed in the side walls such that additional circuit boards can be selectively snapped into the fastening devices in at least two mutually perpendicular spatial directions. This design of the electronics housing thus makes it possible to accommodate additional circuit boards in the housing in addition to the circuit board (base circuit board) arranged horizontally with respect to the base area of ​​the electronics housing, with both the position and the number of additional circuit boards being variable. For example, two or three circuit boards can be arranged parallel to one another and parallel to the base circuit board in the electronics housing. Likewise, two or more circuit boards can be mounted parallel to one another and perpendicular to the base circuit board in the electronics housing.The fastening devices formed in the side walls of the base part thus enable the additional circuit boards to be mounted in the electronics housing in at least two mutually perpendicular positions. As a rule, all additional circuit boards are arranged parallel to one another, i.e., all arranged either horizontally or vertically relative to the base area of ​​the electronics housing. In principle, however, it is also possible for one of the additional circuit boards to be arranged perpendicular to the base circuit board and the other additional circuit boards to be arranged parallel to the base circuit board. In a preferred embodiment of the electronics housing, a plurality of circuit board guides are formed in the upper part, by means of which the additional circuit boards can be fixed in their position or orientation.This means that, with appropriate arrangement and assignment of the fastening devices in the side walls of the base part and the PCB guides in the upper part, the additional PCBs can be arranged in all three spatial directions in the electronics housing. If the additional PCBs are arranged parallel to the base PCB, it is generally sufficient to fix the PCBs using the fastening devices in the side walls of the base part. The same applies if the additional PCBs are aligned perpendicular to the base PCB and perpendicular to the two side walls of the base part. In this case, too, the PCBs can be inserted into the openings in the side walls, for example using retaining lugs mounted or milled out on the front sides of the PCBs.However, if the additional circuit boards are to be arranged perpendicular to the base circuit board and parallel to the side walls of the base part in the electronics housing, the position of the additional circuit boards can only be fixed using the circuit board guides formed in the upper part, apart from a mechanical connection to the base circuit board. Furthermore, the electronics housing according to DE 20 2006 006 615 U1 is designed such that adjacent electronics housings are automatically electrically connected to one another via a bus system when snapped onto a mounting rail. This is achieved by means of a bus connector arranged in the mounting rail. For this purpose, an opening is formed in the underside of the base part, and the base circuit board has corresponding contacts that extend through the opening.When the base part is placed on the mounting rail, the contacts arranged in the base circuit board are automatically contacted with the corresponding mating contacts of the bus connector. The mounting rail bus connector is designed so that it can be plugged together with other bus connectors arranged adjacently on the mounting rail to form a bus connection or bus line (so-called backplane bus), whereby automatic contact can be established from device to device. The cross-connection created by the bus connector can supply power to the electronic components arranged in the individual electronics housings as well as to the electrical devices arranged at the connection terminals. Furthermore, communication between neighboring devices can also take place via the bus connection created in this way.This means that both serial and parallel data transmission as well as power supply can be carried out via the bus connection. The use of a DIN rail bus connector also has the advantage that plugging or unplugging individual electronics housings or the devices arranged in the electronics housings does not lead to an interruption of the bus connection. This means that individual devices can be easily replaced in the event of a fault without interrupting the signal flow. In addition, functional extensions can be easily implemented without additional wiring. To prevent an electronics housing from being accidentally lifted off the DIN rail, the base part preferably has a locking mechanism by means of which the base part and thus the electronics housing as a whole can be detachably connected to the DIN rail. The locking mechanism can be - as shown. As is known in the prior art, they comprise at least one spring-loaded latch, slidably arranged in the base part, which, in the locked position, engages under a leg of the mounting rail with a locking lug. If the electronics housing is to be intentionally removed from the mounting rail, the spring-loaded latch can be retracted by inserting the tip of a screwdriver into a designated opening, so that the locking lug releases the mounting rail and the electronics housing can be lifted off the mounting rail.

[0013] Furthermore, DE 20 2010 004 061 U1 discloses an electrically connectable installation device for constructing an installation system consisting of several installation devices for controlling and / or regulating different functions of a domestic installation, wherein the individual installation devices can be mutually coupled to one another via electrical plug connections for transmitting control signals and / or the electrical energy supply, and wherein the installation devices are arranged with their housings next to one another on a common profile rail, in particular in the form of a top-hat rail.In order to design the installation device in such a way that it can be removed and / or inserted safely without great effort, particularly when it is arranged between other installation devices on a profile rail, the installation device has a socket for an adjacent installation device and a connecting plug with contact pins for the other adjacent installation device. The socket and / or the connecting plug can be moved from a contact position protruding laterally from the housing of the installation device to a neutral position not protruding from the housing. This allows the installation device to be inserted or removed between two adjacent installation devices without great effort, without the need to move these adjacent installation devices.For this purpose, it is specifically provided that either the socket or the connecting plug located on the opposite side of the housing of the installation device can be moved from a contact position protruding laterally from the housing to a neutral position not protruding from the housing. In this case, either only the socket or only the connecting plug can be adjusted accordingly. It can also be provided that both the socket and the connecting plug are adjustable, which is particularly advantageous for coupling to existing installation devices.

[0014] Furthermore, DE 30 26 247 A1 discloses a stackable component for mounting electronic components on a common base, mounting rail, or the like, comprising a circuit board supporting the electronic components and insertable into an insulating frame housing with interrupted, preferably stepped, side walls molded onto a rear wall and a detachable front wall, wherein the electronic connection elements connected to the circuit board at the edges protrude from the housing. In order to allow for easy replacement of the circuit board and simple variation of the electrical connections without limiting the component size to the depth of the stackable components, the frame housing is provided with grooves parallel to the stacking direction for inserting the circuit boards, which can be equipped with commercially available straight, continuous connection elements.The circuit boards can therefore be inserted into the frame housing with the connection elements already connected, plugged in and / or soldered to them, parallel to the alignment direction. There is therefore no connection or dependence on the housing, which makes the interchangeability of such combinations in the housing particularly easy. Finally, the design of the components also enables the use of connections independent of a predetermined number of poles or a predetermined pitch grid. Furthermore, several circuit boards of different widths can be plugged one above the other into the stepped frame housing. In particular, the frame housings are designed symmetrically so that two frame housings can be connected to one another to accommodate double-width circuit boards to form a closed housing.By forming the grooves for inserting the circuit boards between hook-shaped upper angled portions of the side wall sections on the one hand and spaced ribs formed on the side walls on the other, which are provided with devices for connecting the frame housings to one another or to the front wall, the stackable components can be assembled and disassembled particularly easily and without special tools. For example, it can be provided that the two lateral ribs of each insertion level are provided with complementary pins or recesses. This inevitably means that when two frame housings are placed against one another, the pins and recesses coincide, allowing for a simple plug-in connection. If a separate front wall is used, this must of course be provided with corresponding pins and recesses.

[0015] Furthermore, DE 298 23 669 U1 discloses a stackable universal housing for printed circuit boards with electronic components and / or connection elements as a modular component of a small distribution board. In order to design the universal housing in such a way that it is particularly simple in construction and in which circuit boards can be replaced with little effort, the universal housing comprises a one-piece housing frame made of two side walls connected to one another via cross struts, which side walls have a stepped outer contour to form terrace-like, superimposed housing levels. Furthermore, a base plate is provided, onto which the housing frame can be placed at the bottom. The base plate is provided along its circumference with projections that project perpendicular to the base plate into the housing interior and fulfill a dual function.On the one hand, they serve to securely yet easily detachably fix the housing frame to the base plate, as the base plate engages positively with the housing frame via the projections. Some of the projections are advantageously designed as spring hooks and thus effectively prevent accidental opening of the housing. On the other hand, the projections form a particularly practical holder for a printed circuit board, as they are flush with one another along a first support plane parallel to the base plate. The printed circuit board is advantageously simply placed onto the projections. When the housing is closed, the printed circuit board is automatically clamped and thus securely held. In one embodiment of the universal housing, some of the projections are terraced towards the interior of the housing.The steps of the projections form at least one further support surface for a printed circuit board, which is arranged between the first support surface and the base plate. In this way, even a complex electronic circuit can be implemented in a particularly space-saving manner. Advantageously, all support levels are located within the lowest housing level facing the base plate. This means that all circuit boards inserted into the support levels have access to the maximum housing cross-section remaining within the lowest housing level. The side walls and / or the cross struts of the housing frame are expediently provided on the inside with guide grooves running perpendicular to the base plate and located flush with one another.

[0016] These guide grooves, into which a circuit board can be inserted perpendicular to the base plate, increase the number of possible combinations of the universal housing and the number of possible combinations in which the circuit boards can be arranged. Because the circuit boards can be inserted both parallel and perpendicular to the base plate, the available interior space can be used particularly effectively to accommodate electronic circuits. Furthermore, the number and shape of the connection elements can be largely freely selected.

[0017] In order to create a printed circuit board connection element that enables particularly simple integration in terms of both assembly and structural design, EP 0 315 705 A1 discloses a printed circuit board connection element with integrated status display by means of LEDs connected to the printed circuit board. For an LED mounted directly on the printed circuit board, an adapter part made of light-conducting material is provided, extending between the LED and a visible surface of the connection element, for which the connection element has a receptacle. Thanks to this design, commercially available LEDs can be attached to the printed circuit board at the required locations in a simple manner, preferably fully automatically, using one of the conventional connection techniques.The connection elements are then attached to the circuit board, and finally the adapter part is attached, which then transports the light from the diode to the visible surface of the connection element. In the simplest case, this adapter part can be a piece of light-conducting cable that is inserted into a corresponding receiving slot provided for each pole in the connection element. It is also possible to design the adapter parts as molded parts made of light-conducting material, which are then attached to the connection element with plug-in connections or snap-in connections. Such adapter parts then have specially structured light heads, or it is possible to provide additional connection options for further light guides on the heads of the adapter parts, for example to a collective display panel or the like.The adapter parts can be arranged in slots in the connection elements that lead to the LEDs. If this is not possible due to space constraints, especially if test plugs or similar components also need to be accommodated, it is also possible, with the LEDs arranged accordingly, to attach the adapter parts to one of the outer sides of the connection elements using brackets provided there.

[0018] As the above assessment of the state of the art demonstrates, variously designed modules are known in control and automation technology. These solve specific tasks, such as compact and space-saving design, user-friendly labeling and diagnostic concepts, and ease of installation and maintenance. On the other hand, in practice, it is increasingly necessary to implement the entire automation or control system with maximum performance in a very small installation space. Very small installation space means that the external dimensions of the system are predetermined, and all the technology must be accommodated within the system with all its specifications. The dissipation of power loss must also be considered and solved.In order to achieve the stability of the entire system, it is necessary to find suitable design solutions so that external forces acting on the modules are diverted directly to the DIN rail or the mounting wall and do not place stress on the module housings, the connectors of the circuit boards among each other or the populated circuit boards themselves.

[0019] Compared to the known modules, the object of the invention is to provide such a module which can be manufactured cost-effectively and which implements the entire automation or control system with maximum performance in a very small installation space.

[0020] This object is achieved according to the invention by a module according to claim 1.

[0021] The module according to the invention has the advantage that forces acting on the modules from the outside are diverted directly to the top hat rail or the mounting wall and do not place stress on the module housings, the connectors of the printed circuit boards among each other or the populated printed circuit boards themselves.

[0022] Further advantages and details can be found in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 an arrangement of the modules according to the invention on a top-hat rail in plan view from below, Fig. 2 the arrangement according to Fig. 1 in the front view, Fig. 3 the arrangement according to Fig. 1 in perspective view, Fig. 4 in detail a first module (CPU) in section AA, Fig. 5 the module (CPU) after Fig. 4 in plan view from below and section line AA, Fig. 6 Detailed view Z in Fig. 4: Support of the terminal blocks on each other, Fig. 7 the module (CPU) after Fig. 4 in the front view, Fig. 8 the module (CPU) to Fig. 4 in perspective view, Fig. 9 Detailed view Y in Fig. 4: Support of the housing top / cover on the terminal block, Fig. 10 in detail a third module (I / O module) in section BB, Fig. 11 the module (I / O module) to Fig. 10 in plan view from below and section line BB, Fig. 12 Detailed view X in Fig. 10: Support of the terminal blocks on each other, Fig. 13 the module (I / O module) according to Fig. 10 in the front view, Fig. 14 the module (I / O module) to Fig. 10 in perspective view, Fig. 15 Detailed view W in Fig. 10: Support of the housing top / cover on the terminal block, Fig. 16 in detail the second module (serial module) in section CC, Fig. 17 the module (serial module) to Fig. 16 in plan view from below and section line CC, Fig. 18 the module (serial module) to Fig. 16 in perspective view, Fig. 19 the module (serial module) to Fig. 16 in front view, Fig. 20 an embodiment of the terminal block in the front view and section line DD, Fig. 21 in detail the terminal block according to Fig. 20 on average DD, Fig. 22 an embodiment of the terminal block in plan view and section line EE, Fig. 23 in detail the terminal block according to Fig. 22 on average EE, Fig. 24 the terminal block to Fig. 20 in perspective view and Fig. 25 Detailed view V in Fig. 10: Installation of the umbrella spring.

[0023] Even if the following is based on the Fig. 1 to Fig. 25 While the modules according to the invention are described in connection with an automation or control system, the modular design, including the backplane bus, and the simple possibility of meeting special requirements, for example with regard to flexibility and cost-effectiveness for the various systems / fieldbuses, such as CAN bus, Profibus, Modbus, DeviceNet or Interbus, are within the scope of the invention. In particular, use in the field of telecommunications technology is also possible, for example in a mailbox system or in multimedia applications, i.e., joint use of various static (text, photos, graphics) and dynamic (audio, animation and video) media types with the possibility of interactive use, or for controls / value-added services in the field of multi-utility, security technology, and home and building management.Preferably, within the scope of the invention, an extension with respect to real-time Ethernet for data communication between individual units involved in the control of a process is possible. The units communicate on the fieldbus / Ethernet using specified protocols, whereby in order to meet the demand for open networking systems, simple and cost-effective communication mechanisms are provided to make industrial devices network-capable. This requirement exists, for example, in connection with the coupling of drive components, such as between drive controls, power units and encoders in numerically controlled machine tools and robots in which a plurality of interpolating axes must be operated synchronously. With the increasing networking of a wide variety of technical systems, the demand for standardized structures in industry is therefore growing.An automation system consists of the arrangement according to . Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 of modules 1 according to the invention (CPU, see in detail Fig. 4 to Fig. 9), 2 (serial module 2, see in detail Fig. 16 to Fig. 19) and 3 (I / O Module 3, see in detail Fig. 10 to Fig. 15 and Fig. 25) connectable hardware components, in particular motors, sensors, actuators, etc. - ie the process environment - which, in interaction with one or more higher-level controllers (CPUs), form an automatic production process. A bus master assumes all tasks necessary for processing bus operation. It is usually separate from the actual control unit (CPU) for controlling the hardware components. Accordingly, in automation technology, various interfaces with their physical properties and transmission protocols are defined for communication between the individual hardware components and incorporated into international standards or become established as industry standards. These systems are generally referred to as fieldbus systems, although Ethernet-based technologies are also included.In the modules 1, 2 and 3 according to the invention, a uniform logical network exists with regard to the communication and control relationships between each other and to the individual hardware components, so that a sharp dividing line can no longer be drawn between the technology in conventional telecommunications networks and (computer) data networks or devices of automation technology.

[0024] The Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. The arrangement shown in Figure 3 consists of three modules, meaning there are three different designs with the corresponding populated circuit boards: a CPU 1, a serial module 2, and an I / O module 3. The CPU 1 can be operated as a standalone module. If additional inputs or outputs are required, up to eight I / O modules 3 can be linked. The serial module 2 expands the CPU 1 with serial interfaces for establishing communication connections to other devices / hardware components. The I / O modules 3 implement various functions, including digital and analog inputs and outputs. Modules 1, 2, and 3 can be combined in various ways.

[0025] The modules according to the invention of the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. The automation or control system shown in Figure 3 achieves maximum performance in a very small installation space. Very small installation space means that the external dimensions of the modules / system are reduced, yet all the technology with all specifications is accommodated in the module. The dissipation of power losses was also taken into account in the housing / module design. The wall thicknesses of the upper housing sections were selected to enable very good heat radiation and thus the dissipation of power losses. Each module 1, 2 and 3 requires no additional heat sink and can still be operated within the required temperature range, which is a significant advantage over known systems. The thin wall thicknesses also offer the advantage that the walls can be temporarily deformed during assembly of the modules, for exampleThe connection between the housing tops and the terminal blocks can be designed to be almost form-fitting. However, the necessary stability of the housing tops (also called covers) was maintained through the corresponding curved shape (despite reduced wall thicknesses). In the case of the . Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. In the automation or control system shown in Figure 3, the modules 1, 2, and 3 according to the invention are mounted on a top-hat rail 9; alternatively, wall mounting is also possible. For this purpose, the housing base 4, 11, 14 has two locking slides 7 arranged opposite one another with two locking positions. In the first locking position, the locking slides 7 engage around an edge of the top-hat rail 9 and, in the second locking position (extended position), enable wall mounting.

[0026] In order to achieve the stability of the entire system / arrangement, the modules according to the invention were designed in such a way that forces acting from the outside on modules 1, 2 and 3 are diverted directly to the top hat rail 9 or the mounting wall and not the module housings, the connectors 16 of the circuit boards to one another or the populated circuit boards / circuit boards 17 (17a bottom circuit board CPU 1, serial module 2 and I / O module 3, 17b middle circuit board CPU 1 and I / O module 3, 17c top circuit board CPU 1 and I / O module 3, 17d vertical circuit board CPU 1) themselves are loaded.

[0027] The two modules, CPU 1 and I / O module 3, are each equipped with four terminal blocks, which are not implemented as connectors in the traditional sense, but as terminal blocks 10. The rear connector section 10b of the terminal blocks 10 is firmly soldered to the printed circuit boards 17b, 17c via the contact pins 10f. The front connector section 10a, with the internal "push-in" mechanism 10c and 10d, in particular a cage spring clamp, can be removed from the rear connector section 10b of the terminal block 10 using a tool, thus allowing the replacement of a module 1 or 3 without having to disconnect and redo the wiring.

[0028] The two modules, "CPU" 1 and "I / O module" 3, are constructed in a sandwich design. This means that the two upper circuit boards / PCBs 17b and 17c are each equipped with two terminal blocks 10. The upper circuit board / PCB 17c rests directly on the terminal blocks 10 of the underlying circuit board / PCB 17b. This, in turn, is firmly connected to a plastic-based housing base 4 (lower housing section of the CPU 1) and 14 (lower housing section of the I / O module 3), so that any forces that occur are transmitted directly to the top hat rail 9 or the mounting wall. This ensures that forces are transmitted to the top hat rail 9 or the mounting wall during the wiring process or when other pressure is applied to the upper housing section 5 (upper housing section of the CPU 1) and 15 (upper housing section of the I / O module 3).

[0029] In this context, another feature is the ergonomically designed outer shell / upper housing part 5, 15 of the two modules CPU 1 and “I / O module” 3. These upper housing parts 5, 15 not only represent a novel design feature, but the stability of the modules 1, 3 is significantly increased by the semicircular / convex surface.

[0030] The shielding of the individual modules is achieved by means of a shield spring 8. This specially developed stamped and bent spring is pre-assembled in the respective housing base 4, 11, 14 and secured during the assembly of the lowest printed circuit board 17a, which is snapped into place. Thus, the shield spring 8 ensures the electrical connection to the top-hat rail 9 for each module 1, 2, or 3 separately, and any resulting power loss is also dissipated directly to the top-hat rail.

[0031] A light guide 6 is snapped into the upper housing section 5 of the CPU 1 and the upper housing section 15 of the IO module 3 from the outside. For this purpose, two locking hooks are molded onto the inside of the leg, which snap behind the separating strip of the upper housing section 4, 15 and create a positive fit. The light guide 6 is manufactured as an injection-molded part, with the plastic granulate used containing additives that ensure high light scattering. This ensures that the LEDs of the CPU 1 and the I / O module 3, located below on the uppermost circuit boards 17c, are not perceived as points of light, but as a diffusely illuminated surface with the character of a Lambertian radiator on the upper side of the module. This ensures good readability of the display from a wide viewing angle.Furthermore, a vertical division of the illuminated area and multicolored LEDs on the circuit boards / circuit boards 17c, which can also be used to create flashing patterns, allow a virtually unlimited number of operating states to be displayed. This has the advantage of requiring significantly less space on the front of the module than if a separate LED were used for each state.

[0032] The module's basic states, such as RUN, STOP, and ERROR, are each represented by different segments and colors. RUN = both segments in green, STOP = right segment in yellow, and ERROR = left segment in red. This additional differentiation into different segments helps people with color vision deficiency to recognize the module's state. Access to a memory card is signaled by superimposed flickering of the same segments in the same color. State transitions and special processes are represented by a combination of the differently colored segments with flashing patterns. For example, the state transition from STOP to RUN is represented by both segments flashing green at 2 Hz. A firmware update is indicated by the right yellow bar flashing at 2 Hz.If the user needs to turn the module off and on again after completing the firmware update, the left red and right yellow segments flash simultaneously at 1 Hz.

[0033] These processes are also overlaid with a flickering effect on the right segment when a memory card is accessed, regardless of the color used. Overall, all blinking patterns are again designed to ensure their visibility for people with color vision deficiency by using spatially distinct segments.

[0034] Heat spreads through thermal radiation, thermal conduction and thermal flow (convection).

[0035] Thermal radiation also enables the release of heat into a vacuum; it depends only on the temperature of the radiating body and is independent of the temperature of its surroundings. Thermal radiation depends on the temperature of the radiator / body and also on the nature of its surface. Unlike heat conduction, thermal radiation also occurs when the body has the same temperature as its surroundings. How much a body radiates is independent of the temperature of its surroundings, and the body always receives radiation from its surroundings, even if the latter is colder. However, the surroundings then radiate less to the body than vice versa, and the body cools down. The radiation of a body is described by its specific radiation; the greater the absorption coefficient of a body, i.e. the ratio of absorbed to incident radiation, the greater its specific radiation.For example, the specific radiation of a bare surface at the same temperature is lower than that of a black surface, or that of a highly polished surface is lower than that of a roughened surface, whereby the ratios of the specific radiation to the absorption coefficient of the bare and black surfaces are equal. Bodies that have an absorption coefficient of 1, i.e., that absorb all incident radiation and convert it completely into heat, are called absolutely black bodies.

[0036] Heat conduction only occurs in matter, i.e. in bodies, and requires a temperature gradient within it. If heat is not constantly added to or removed from a body at one point, all temperature differences within it equalise over time through a heat flow that flows from higher to lower temperatures. Metals are relatively good conductors of heat, for example copper with a thermal conductivity of 0.93 cal / cm s k in the temperature range between 0° C and 100° C or aluminium with a thermal conductivity of 0.55 cal / cm s k in the temperature range between 0° C and 200° C, whereas plastics are generally poor conductors of heat. The heat transfer from a body at a certain temperature to its surroundings is described by the heat transfer value and the heat transfer through a body, for example a plate, is described by the heat transfer value.As already described above, the heat transfer value depends strongly on the surface condition and the heat transfer value on the plate thickness.

[0037] In the modules according to the invention, the power loss is dissipated primarily through thermal radiation on the front of the housing top sections 5 (from CPU 1), 12 (from serial module 2), and 15 (from I / O module 3). This is possible because the housing wall, at 0.9 mm thick, is mechanically stable but still permeable to thermal radiation. In addition, the power loss is also dissipated through convection (ventilation holes in the housing top sections 5, 12, 15) and heat conduction along the connected cables, so that the ratio of heat transfer value to heat transfer value has been optimized in a surprisingly simple and cost-effective manner, ensuring particularly effective heat dissipation, as already explained above.

[0038] Below is a detailed description of the functions of the terminal block 10 according to the invention: 1. Sandwich construction of the modules (1 and 3)

[0039] Due to the desired, highly compact design of the control system, it was necessary to design the terminal blocks 10 to be extremely space-saving. Many functions that were previously implemented separately were integrated into terminal block 10, thus significantly reducing the overall volume requirement.

[0040] To ensure the mechanical stability of the modules, a way to stabilize the entire assembly / module was sought. The inventive "sandwich construction" solution is characterized by several superimposed printed circuit boards / circuit boards 17a, 17b, and 17c, whose size decreases toward the top, and a vertical printed circuit board 17d, thus meeting the requirement for minimal installation space: ➢ The lowest circuit board 17a is held firmly in the lower housing part 4, 11, 14. ➢ The middle board 17b is firmly clamped on supports of the housing bases 4 and 14. ➢ The upper board 17c is firmly positioned on the terminal blocks 10 of the middle board (see detailed view Z, see Fig. 6, Fig. 12). This ensures that all forces acting on the terminal blocks 10 are mechanically transferred from terminal block 10 to terminal block 10 and finally via the housing bases 4 and 14 to the top-hat rail 9 or the mounting wall, without placing any strain on the connectors. ➢ In CPU module 1, all three horizontal boards 17a, 17b, and 17c are connected to the vertical board 17d via connectors 16. In I / O module 3, the three horizontal boards 17a, 17b, and 17c are connected to each other via connectors 16. Serial module 2 has only one horizontal board 17a, which is snapped into the housing base 11 of serial module 2. ➢ This arrangement ensures that modules 1, 2, and 3 are sufficiently stable during handling even without the upper housing section 5, 12, and 15, and are already stable in themselves when the boards 17a, 17b, and 17c are mounted in the lower housing section 4, 11, and 14. The upper housing sections 5, 12, and 15 then only form the closure and the design element from above. This then only closes the box and finally stabilizes it. However, the upper housing sections 5, 15 ensure that modules 1 and 3 are constructed without play via a circumferential rib on the inside that meets the upper terminal blocks 10 (detail view Y, see Fig. 9, Fig. 15). 2. “Push-in” technology and integrated connector in the terminal block 10

[0041] To avoid having to replace the entire cabling when replacing a module 1 or 3, the terminal block 10 was designed so that a connector front part 10a can be removed from the connector rear part 10b using a tool. The connector front part 10a is held in place in the connector rear part 10b of the terminal block 10b by a snap connection.

[0042] Appropriate recesses 10im are provided on the top side of the connector's front section 10a so that a screwdriver can be easily gripped as a tool. To remove the connector's front section 10a, the user presses the tool against a counterbearing 101, which is located in the connector's rear section 10b above the recesses 10m. This again diverts the forces in directions that the assembly / module can withstand. Additionally, the counterbearings 10l in the header area are designed to protect the intervening optical fibers 10g from damage by the tool. Overall, the recesses 10m and counterbearings 10l extend over the entire length of the terminal block 10. This allows the user to apply the tool both in the middle to loosen short terminal blocks 10, and alternately in both end areas to loosen longer (or stiffer) terminal blocks 10.Overall, the large number of recesses 10m and abutments 10l provide very good accessibility for loosening the front part of the connector 10a (there may be covers at the installation location that do not allow access to a loosening point that is only located in the middle, for example).

[0043] The connector front part 10a contains the chambers each equipped with “push-in” technology (cage - spring clamp 10c and clamp - spring clamp 10d) as well as a mechanism, in particular a release lever 10e for releasing the spring clamp connection.

[0044] Terminal block 10 is equipped with "push-in" technology. This means that the cables are not connected to the controller with a screw connection, but rather the cable is stripped, fitted with a wire end ferrule in the case of stranded wires, and then simply inserted into the designated opening 10n on the front section 10a of the connector. This clamp connection can only be released using a tool. To do this, for example, press on the release lever 10e with a screwdriver. This pushes back the spring clamp 10d and releases the wire again. Terminal block 10 was designed and integrated into the assembly / module in such a way that the screwdriver provides ergonomic access to the release mechanism, regardless of any cable duct that may be installed. A screw solution was dispensed with due to the larger volume required and the user-friendliness of "push-in" solutions.The housing of terminal block 10 features an edge with a subsequent bevel on the top, so that tolerances in terminal block 10 or the receptacles on circuit boards 17b or 17c for the raised portion (centering pin) 10k do not affect the housing. The bevel also promotes cooling of the assemblies / modules by increasing the air volume inside. This improves convection. Furthermore, the bevel allows for a defined region of force absorption and transmission, ensuring that the forces are transmitted to the housing in the desired area. 3. Integrated light guide 10g

[0045] A light guide 10g, assigned to each contact 10f of terminal block 10, is also integrated into terminal block 10. This light guide 10g indicates the status of the contact point directly at the connection point, with the light signal being picked up by the respective circuit board 17b or 17c on which terminal block 10 is mounted. The advantage of this arrangement is the clarity and easy comprehensibility of the display at the connection positions. Allocation errors are avoided and the arrangement saves space on the front of the modules. The light guide 10g was designed as a nearly rectangular part and is attached to the housing of terminal block 10 by friction. It is pressed in from the inside of terminal block 10.In order to avoid both scattering of the light and capturing of scattered light and thus influencing the light guides 10g, the terminal block 10 can be provided with a cover 10h on the rear side towards the circuit board center 17b and 17c.

[0046] The invention is not limited to the illustrated and described embodiments, but also encompasses all equivalent embodiments within the meaning of the invention. In particular, modules 1 and 3 according to the invention can be combined with compatible modules, such as serial modules, relay modules, analog modules, or linked to modules of common small controllers. Due to their compactness and functionality, modules according to the invention are suitable for use in high-performance small or micro controllers in series and special-purpose machine construction, but also as standalone and decentralized controllers in plant engineering, or as centralized or decentralized controllers in building automation.Despite the compact design, service personnel in the control cabinet can evaluate and read the status of the individual I / O modules. More precise diagnostics or error messages are displayed via Bluetooth, and the status of the individual modules or even the CPU can be conveniently read on a smartphone or tablet. The user can scan a barcode printed on the module with their mobile phone and then gain read-only access to the module.

[0047] Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the illustrated and described embodiments, but also includes all embodiments having the same effect within the meaning of the invention and is in particular only limited by the patent claims. List of reference symbols: 1 CPU 2 Serial module 3 I / O module 4 CPU housing bottom part 1 5 Upper part of the CPU 1 housing 6 Fiber optic display of CPU 1 7 locking slide 8 umbrella spring 9 DIN rail 10 Terminal block 10a plug front part 10b connector rear part 10c cage - spring clamp 10d clamp - spring clamp 10e Release lever 10f wire contact (contact pin) 10g Fiber optic display of terminal block 10 10h case back 10i recess (positioning cone) 10k elevation (centering pin) 101 Abutment for plug removal 10m recess for plug removal 10n wire entry opening 11 Bottom part of the serial module 2 12 Upper part of the serial module 2 housing 13 Fiber optic display of serial module 2 14 Lower housing part of the I / O module 3 15 Upper housing part of the I / O module 3 16 connectors between printed circuit boards 17 circuit boards 17a bottom circuit board CPU 1, serial module 2 and I / O module 3 17b middle circuit board CPU 1 and I / O module 3 17c top PCB CPU 1 and I / O module 3 17d vertical circuit board of CPU 1

Claims

[1] Module with a housing consisting of two housing parts, with connections for the electrical wiring and cabling of interfaces, with display means for displaying the respective operating status on the front of the housing and with three circuit boards (17a, 17b, 17c) arranged in the housing, characterized bythat in the housing on each circuit board (17b, 17c) with terminal block at least two oppositely arranged terminal blocks (10) are provided, each with a receptacle located in a connector rear part (10b) for a connector front part (10a) of a two-part connector, wherein the housing of the terminal block (10) has at least two elevations (10k) on one side and two corresponding depressions (10i) on the opposite side and wire contacts (10f) located in chambers of the terminal block (10), wherein one free end of the wire contacts (10f) of the connector rear part (10b) is soldered into the respective circuit board (17b, 17c) and wherein the other free end of the wire contacts (10f) is detachably connected to the respective contact of the connector front part (10a), that the housing lower part (4,14) on two opposite sides, clamping means for holding the bottommost board (17a) running parallel to the floor, and on the other two opposite sides, supports arranged and extending from the floor of the lower housing part (4, 14) with an inclined clamping surface for clamping the board edge of a middle board (17b) running parallel to the floor above the bottommost board (17a), and that the upper board (17c) lying above it is firmly positioned on the opposite terminal blocks (10) of the middle board (17b) lying below it by means of the respective recess (10i) and elevation (10k), so that the boards (17a, 17b, 17c) are arranged one above the other in a sandwich construction. [2] Module according to claim 1, characterized bythat the terminal block (10) has L-shaped bent wire contacts (10f) located in chambers and an L-shaped light guide (10g) associated with this contact (10f) and arranged adjacently. [3] Module according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized by that a vertical circuit board (17d) is arranged in the housing, which is connected to the horizontal circuit boards (17a, 17b and 17c) by means of plug connectors (16) and that the housing has a rib on the inside in sections, which guides and positions the vertical circuit board (17d). [4] Module according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the terminal block (10) has wire contacts (10f) arranged in chambers, and that a spring terminal contact (10c, 10d) actuated by means of a release lever (10e) is provided on the front side for the external wiring of the terminal block (10). [5] Module according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized bythat the plug, the plug front part (10a), is held by means of a snap connection in the housing plug rear part (10b) of the terminal block (10), that recesses (10m) are arranged on the upper side of the plug front part (10a) and an abutment (101) is arranged adjacent thereto in the plug rear part (10b), and that in order to remove the plug the user presses a tool against the abutment (101). [6] Module according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the upper housing part (5, 15) of the respective module (1, 3) has an opening on the front with a web extending into the opening, into which a light guide (6) with two arms is mounted from the front, which light guide consists of a plastic granulate with additives, so that the LEDs lying underneath on the circuit boards (17c) are not perceived as light points, but as two diffusely luminous surfaces with the character of a Lambert radiator on the front of the module. [7] Module according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that in order to avoid scattering of the light and capturing of scattered light and thus influencing the other light guides (10g), the terminal block (10) is provided with a cover (10h) on the back towards the centre of the circuit board (17b and 17c). [8] Module according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the lower housing part (4, 11, 14) is locked to the upper housing part (5, 12, 15) of the respective module (1, 2, 3) and that the upper housing part (5, 12, 15) has ventilation holes in the thin housing wall on the top and bottom. [9] Module according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized by that for shielding purposes a spring (8) is arranged in the lower part of the housing (4, 11, 14), which is fixed during assembly by the lowest circuit board (17a), which is snapped in place, and ensures a conductive connection to the top hat rail (9) for each module separately. [10] Module according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that the housing lower part (4, 11, 14) has two locking slides (7) arranged opposite one another with two locking positions, wherein in the first locking position the locking slides (7) engage around an edge of the top-hat rail (9) and in the second locking position when the respective locking slide (7) is in the extended position enable wall mounting. [11] Module according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the housing of the terminal block (10) has an edge with an adjoining slope on the top side.

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