MODULAR SWITCH FOR USE IN A DATA TRANSFER AND CONTROL SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a modular switch which can be used in particular in a data transmission and control system, such as in an automation system, as well as to a data transmission and control system comprising such a modular switch.

[0002] In general, an automation system is characterized by the fact that multiple sensors and actuators can exchange data with a higher-level control device via a transmission medium. To structure and simplify the installation of an automation system, so-called I / O modules can be provided. These are connected to the higher-level controller via the transmission medium. Multiple sensors and actuators can be connected to each I / O module. This is demonstrated by way of example in prior art EP 3 032 732 A2.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of providing a modular switch for use in a data transmission and control system, which enables simple scaling of the data transmission and control system as well as flexible adaptation of a data transmission and control system to different transmission media and different communication protocols.

[0004] A core idea of ​​the invention can be seen in the creation of a switch that can be flexibly constructed from modules, in which the internal communication, i.e. the communication between the modules and in particular between the interfaces or connection ports of the modules and preferably to an external control device connected to the modular switch, takes place according to the Ethernet communication protocol, while the communication between the interfaces of the modules and the electronic or electrical devices connected to these interfaces can take place via different transmission media.

[0005] The above-mentioned technical problem is solved, on the one hand, by the features of claim 1.

[0006] It should be noted that the data transmission and control system can be, for example, an industrial automation system or a building automation system and the external Ethernet-enabled device can be an Ethernet-enabled I / O device, such as a sensor or actuator.

[0007] The first module may have at least one optical interface for connecting an optical fiber, wherein the optical interface is connected to the first bus segment via an electro-optical converter, and / or the at least one first interface may be designed for connecting a two-, four-, or eight-wire cable.

[0008] According to an advantageous development, the modular switch can be expanded by a third module which has a plurality of third interfaces and a third bus segment supporting Ethernet-based communication, wherein the third interfaces are each designed as IO-Link interfaces for connecting an external IO-Link device and are each connected to the third bus segment via a gateway, wherein the third module is arranged in a separate housing and has at least one interface for electrically coupling the third bus segment to the first or second bus segment.

[0009] According to an advantageous development, the modular switch can optionally or additionally be expanded by a fourth module which has a plurality of fourth interfaces and a fourth bus segment supporting Ethernet-based communication, wherein the fourth interfaces are each designed as wireless interfaces for connecting an external wireless device and are each connected to the fourth bus segment via a gateway, wherein the fourth module is arranged in a separate housing and has at least one interface for electrically coupling the fourth bus segment to one of the bus segments.

[0010] To enable a compact design, the module housings can be arranged side by side, directly next to each other. The module housings can, for example, feature mechanical locking elements that facilitate mechanical assembly of the modules.

[0011] According to an advantageous development, the housings of the modules can have locking elements, by means of which the housings can be locked onto a mounting rail. The internal control unit is preferably implemented in the first module. It is conceivable that the internal control unit is also implemented in a separate module or in one of the second to fourth modules of the modular switch. According to an expedient development, the first module can have several optical interfaces for connecting a respective light source conductor, wherein the optical interfaces are each connected to the first bus segment via an electro-optical converter. It is conceivable that additionally or optionally optical interfaces for connecting a respective optical fiber can be implemented in the second, and / or third, and / or fourth and / or in a further module, wherein each optical interface then has an electro-optical converter, i.e.a media converter, connected to the corresponding bus segment.

[0012] The above-mentioned technical problem is also solved by the features of claim 8. Accordingly, a data transmission and control system is provided which contains at least one modular switch according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 7. Furthermore, the data transmission and control system has a control device connected to one of the first interfaces of the first module via a two-, four-, or eight-wire cable and at least one Ethernet-capable device, in particular an Ethernet-capable I / O device, with a 2-wire interface, which is connected via a 2-wire cable to one of the second interfaces of the second module modular switch for transmitting Ethernet data packets.

[0013] The invention is explained in more detail below using an embodiment in conjunction with a single figure.

[0014] The figure shows an exemplary data transmission and control system 10, which may, for example, be an industrial automation system. The exemplary automation system 10 comprises, for example, a higher-level Ethernet-capable control device 20, which may be embodied as a programmable logic controller (PLC). Furthermore, the exemplary automation system 10 may have at least one modular switch 30. The term "Ethernet-capable" preferably means that a device is configured for communication according to the standard Ethernet communication protocol.

[0015] The modular 30 switch has a first module 31, which has a first bus segment 120 and at least one first Ethernet-based interface, but preferably a plurality of first Ethernet-based interfaces 40 to 42, to each of which a two-, four-, or eight-wire cable 22 can be connected for connecting an external electronic device. The first interfaces 40 to 42 are electrically connected to the first bus segment 120. Ethernet data packets can preferably be transmitted via the first bus segment 120 and the two-, four-, or eight-wire cables in accordance with the standard Ethernet communication protocol. The three first interfaces 40 to 42 can be designed, for example, as RJ45 sockets. The control device 20 has an Ethernet-based interface 21.Thus, the control device 20 for sending and receiving Ethernet data packets can be electrically connected to the first interface 40 of the first module 31, for example via the two-, four-, or eight-wire cable 22.

[0016] In the illustrated embodiment, the first module 31 can also have optical interfaces 43 and 44 for connecting an optical fiber each. The two optical interfaces 43 and 44 are each connected to the first bus segment 120 via an electro-optical converter 45 and 46, respectively. The electro-optical converters function as media converters.

[0017] The modular switch 30 comprises a second module 32, which has a second bus segment 121 and a plurality of second interfaces 50 to 52, to each of which an external Ethernet-capable device, in particular an Ethernet-capable I / O device, can be connected via a two-wire cable with a two-wire interface. The second interfaces 50 to 52 are each connected to the second bus segment 121 and can perform the function of a two-wire converter to convert the Ethernet data packets received via a two-wire cable for transmission over a four- or eight-wire cable, and vice versa.

[0018] Shown are two external Ethernet-capable I / O devices 90, 110, each with a 2-wire interface 91 and 111, respectively. The 2-wire interfaces 91 and 111 can be implemented as RJ45 sockets, with interface 91 being connected to I / O device 90 via a 2-wire cable 100, and interface 111 being connected to I / O device 110 via a 2-wire cable 101. The Ethernet-capable I / O device 90 can be a temperature sensor, while the Ethernet-capable I / O device 110 can be, for example, an actuator. Ethernet data packets can be transmitted via the second bus segment 121 and the 2-wire cables 100 and 101. The second interfaces 50 to 52 of the second module 32 and the 2-wire interfaces 91 and 111 of the Ethernet-capable devices 90 and 110, respectively, can each be, for example, a single-pair Ethernet interface, while the 2-wire lines 100 and 101 can each be designed as a single-pair Ethernet line.

[0019] The first module 31 and the second module 32 are each arranged in a separate housing and each have an interface 47 or 53 for electrically coupling the first bus segment to the second bus segment. The interface 47 terminates the first bus segment 120, while the interface 53 terminates the second bus segment 121. The interfaces 47 and 53 are arranged on opposite sides of the housing such that the housings of the modules 31 and 32 can be arranged directly next to one another in a side-by-side arrangement and the two bus segments 120 and 121 are electrically connected to one another in the assembled state. The second bus segment 121 is connected at its second end to a further interface 54, which is arranged on the opposite side of the housing and is designed for electrical coupling to a bus segment of another module.

[0020] The modular switch 10 can be expanded by a third module 33, which can be connected, for example, to the second module 32, but also to the first module 31. The third module 33 has a plurality of third interfaces 60, 63 and a third bus segment 122, via which Ethernet data packets can preferably be transmitted according to the standard Ethernet communication protocol. The third interfaces 60, 63 are each designed as IO-Link interfaces, to each of which an external IO-Link device can be connected. The IO-Link devices can be intelligent sensors or actuators that can communicate with the higher-level control device 20. The IO-Link interface 60 is electrically connected to the third bus segment via a gateway 61, while the other IO-Link interface 63 is electrically connected to the third bus segment 122 via a gateway 62.It is also conceivable that the IO-Link interface 60 and the gateway 61, or the IO-Link interface 63 and the gateway 62, each form a single module. It goes without saying that the third module 33 can also have more than two IO-Link interfaces. The gateways 61 and 62 function, in particular, as protocol converters that convert the IO-Link communication protocol into the Ethernet communication protocol and vice versa, so that IO-Link devices can exchange data with the higher-level Ethernet-capable control device 20 via the modular switch 30.

[0021] The third module 33 is in turn arranged in a separate housing and has an interface 64 terminating the third bus segment 122 for electrical coupling, for example, to the second bus segment 121 of the second module 32. The interfaces 64 and 64 are arranged on opposite sides of the housing such that the housings of the modules 32 and 33 can be arranged directly next to one another in a side-by-side arrangement and the two bus segments 121 and 122 are electrically connected to one another in the assembled state. The third bus segment 122 is connected at its second end to a further interface 65, which is arranged on the opposite side of the housing and is designed for electrical coupling to a bus segment of another module.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, the modular switch 30 can be expanded by a fourth module 34, which can be connected to the third module 33, for example. The fourth module 34 has a plurality of fourth interfaces 70, 73 and a fourth bus segment 123. The fourth interfaces 70, 73 can be designed as wireless interfaces, to each of which an external radio device can be connected. The wireless interfaces 70 and 73 can be electrically connected to the fourth bus segment 123 via a gateway 71 or a gateway 72. It is also conceivable that the wireless interface 70 and the gateway 71, or the wireless interface 73 and the gateway 72, each form a single module. It goes without saying that the fourth module 34 can also have more than two wireless interfaces. The gateways 71 and 72 once again function, in particular, as protocol converters that form a wireless orConvert the radio communication protocol into the Ethernet communication protocol and vice versa, so that wireless devices can exchange data with the higher-level Ethernet-capable control device 20 via the modular switch 30.

[0023] The fourth module 34 is in turn arranged in a separate housing and has an interface 74 terminating the fourth bus segment 123 for electrical coupling, for example, to the third bus segment 122 of the third module 33. The interfaces 74 and 75 are arranged on opposite sides of the housing such that the housings of the modules 33 and 34 can be arranged directly next to one another in a side-by-side arrangement and the two bus segments 122 and 123 are electrically connected to one another in the assembled state. The fourth bus segment 123 is connected at its second end to a further interface 75, which is arranged on the opposite side of the housing and is designed for electrical coupling to a bus segment of another module.

[0024] In order to supply modules 31 to 34 and their electrical and / or electronic components with energy, a further module 35 can be provided, which can be coupled to module 34, for example. In addition to a further bus segment 124, module 35 has two connections to which, for example, an external 24V DC voltage source can be connected. An efficient implementation provides that the supply voltage can also be transmitted to the respective modules via bus segments 120 to 124. In this case, the two connections 80 and 81 are electrically connected to bus segment 124. Bus segment 124 can be connected at both ends to an interface 83 or 82, respectively, in order to be electrically connected to the bus segment of an adjacent module.

[0025] The housings of modules 31 to 35 can have locking elements so that the module housings can also be mechanically coupled to one another. When modules 31 to 35 are assembled, bus segments 120 to 124 form a bus for transmitting Ethernet data packets and, if necessary, for power transmission.

[0026] Conveniently, the housings of modules 31 to 35 can have locking means for snapping onto a mounting rail (not shown). In this case, bus segments 120 to 124 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mounting rail.

[0027] In order to exchange data between the higher-level control device 20 and the I / O devices connected to the first interfaces 40 to 42, and / or the optical interfaces 43 and 44, and / or the second interfaces 50 to 52, and / or the third interfaces 60, 63, and / or the fourth interfaces 70, 73, a switch-internal control unit 48 is provided, which is designed to control the forwarding of the Ethernet data packets transmitted via the bus segments 120 to 123 to the corresponding interfaces or to the corresponding gateways. The internal control unit 48 is preferably arranged in the first module 31.

[0028] The data transmission and control system 10 shown as an example in the figure thus has, for example, the modular switch 30, the Ethernet-capable control device 20, which is connected to the interface 40 of the modular switch 20 via the four- or eight-wire cable 22, as well as the two Ethernet-capable I / O devices 90 and 110, which are each connected to the interfaces 51 and 52 of the second module 32 via the two-wire cable 100 and 101, respectively.

[0029] As already mentioned, the Ethernet-capable I / O device 90 can be a temperature sensor which, under the control of a control unit 92, which can be designed, for example, as a microcontroller, packs digital measured values ​​into Ethernet data packets and can transmit them to the higher-level control device 20 via the 2-wire Ethernet interface 91, the 2-wire line 100, the second interface 51 and the two bus segments 121 and 120 as well as via the first interface 40.

[0030] Thanks to the modular switch 30, the data transmission and control system 10 offers a high degree of flexibility with regard to usable transmission media and applicable communication protocols, as well as a high degree of scalability. Furthermore, thanks to the modular switch 30, the data transmission and control system 10, and thus especially industrial automation systems, can be installed without the use of I / O modules, to which the I / O field devices are typically connected.

Claims

1. A modular switch (30) for use in a data transmission and control system (10), the modular switch (30) comprising: a first module (31) having a first bus segment (120) supporting Ethernet-based communication and at least one first interface (40-42) for transmitting and receiving Ethernet data packets, wherein the at least one first interface (40-42) is electrically connected to the first bus segment (120), a second module (32), which has a second bus segment (121) supporting Ethernet-based communication and a plurality of second interfaces (50-52), to each of which an external Ethernet-capable device (90, 110) with a 2-wire interface (91, 111) can be connected via a 2-wire line (100, 101) for transmitting Ethernet data packets, the second interfaces (50-52) being electrically connected to the second bus segment (121), wherein the first module (31) and the second module (32) are each arranged in a separate housing and each have an interface (47, 53) for electrically coupling the first and second bus segments (120, 121), and wherein the modular switch (30) has an internal control unit (48) which is configured to control the transmission of Ethernet data packets via the bus segments (120-123) to or from the interfaces (40-44; 50-52; 60, 63; 70, 73).

2. The modular switch according to claim 1, characterised in that the first module (31) has at least one optical interface (43, 44) for connecting an optical fibre, wherein the optical interface (43, 44) is connected to the first bus segment (120) via an electro-optical converter (45, 46), and / or wherein the at least one first interface (40-42) is configured for connecting a two-wire or four-wire or eight-wire cable (22).

3. The modular switch according to claim 1 or 2, characterised by a third module (33) which has a plurality of third interfaces (60, 63) and a third bus segment (122) supporting Ethernet-based communication, the third interfaces (60, 63) each being designed as IO-Link interfaces for connecting an external IO-Link device and each being connected to the third bus segment (122) via a gateway (61, 62) to the third bus segment (122), wherein the third module (33) is arranged in a separate housing and has at least one interface (64, 65) for electrically coupling the third bus segment (122) to the first or second bus segment (120, 121).

4. The modular switch according to claim 1, 2 or 3 characterised by a fourth module (34) which has a plurality of fourth interfaces (70, 73) and a fourth bus segment (123) supporting Ethernet-based communication, wherein the fourth interfaces (70, 73) are each designed as wireless interfaces for connecting an external wireless device and are each connected to the fourth bus segment (123) via a gateway (71, 72), the fourth module (34) being arranged in a separate housing and having at least one interface (74, 75) for electrically coupling the fourth bus segment (123) to one of the bus segments (120-122).

5. The modular switch according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the housings of the modules can be arranged side by side in a side-by-side arrangement.

6. The modular switch according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the housings of the modules can be snapped onto a mounting rail.

7. The modular switch according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the internal control unit (48) is implemented in the first module (31).

8. A data transmission and control system (10) comprising at least one modular switch (30) according to one of the preceding claims, a control device (20) connected via a two- or four- or eight-wire cable (22) to one of the first interfaces (40) of the first module (31) and at least one Ethernet-capable device (90, 110) with a 2-wire interface (91, 111), which is connected via a 2-wire cable (100, 101) to one of the second interfaces (51, 52) of the second module (32) for the transmission of Ethernet data packets.

9. The data transmission and control system (10) according to claim 8, characterised in that the Ethernet-capable device (90, 110) is an Ethernet-capable I / O device.