Bus Address Assignment by Base Plate Position Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The assignment of bus addresses to field devices connected to a data bus is labor-intensive and requires frequent reassignment when changes occur, complicating the automation of industrial processes.

Innovation Solution

A method where bus participants are electrically and mechanically coupled to base plates with test elements, forming a test circuit that changes when a participant without a bus address is detected, allowing a central unit to determine its position and automatically assign a corresponding address based on physical location.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If bus addresses are manually assigned to bus participants, then address assignment can be performed, but the effort and time required increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of address assignmentVSAvoidtime for address assignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The bus participant automatically determines its own bus address by detecting which test element in the series circuit causes the test current to bypass it. The device self-configures without external intervention, eliminating manual address assignment effort and time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the electrical state of test elements in the series circuit to encode position information. By measuring which test element causes current bypass, the system translates physical position into a digital address parameter automatically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If bus addresses are reassigned after changes to bus participants, then the system remains functional, but the process must be repeated frequently

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem functionalityVSAvoidefficiency of device integration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The test circuit with series-connected test elements is pre-configured in the base plate before any bus participants are installed. This preliminary setup enables automatic address determination whenever new devices are added, eliminating the need for repeated manual reassignment processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The central control unit measures the test current to detect which test element causes bypass, providing feedback about the bus participant's position. This feedback loop enables automatic address assignment that adapts to any changes in the bus participant configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If manual address assignment is performed, then addresses can be assigned, but the process becomes complex and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of address assignmentVSAvoidcomplexity of address assignment process

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The manual mechanical process of assigning addresses is replaced by an electrical measurement system. The central control unit automatically measures test current characteristics to determine the bus participant's position and assign the corresponding address, eliminating human error and simplifying the process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The test elements in the series circuit serve as intermediaries between the physical position of the bus participant and the digital address assignment. By measuring which test element causes current bypass, the system translates physical location into address information through an electrical intermediary mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method simplifies and automates the assignment of bus addresses, reducing effort and enabling efficient integration of new devices, while ensuring accurate address allocation based on physical position, facilitating seamless operation in industrial processes.

Implementation Method 1

the base plates each comprising an electrical test element; the base plates are electrically connected along a row to adjacent base plates in each case, with the base plates forming a test circuit in which the test elements are preferably at least partly connected in series

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical Resistance: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentUS11782862B2Method of assigning addresses to bus participants

Publication Date: 2023.10.10 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IND SAS

AI summary

The invention relates to a method of assigning addresses to bus participants connected to a data bus, in whichthe bus participants are electrically and in particular also mechanically coupled to a respective base plate, with the base plates each comprising an electrical test element;the base plates are electrically connected along a row to adjacent base plates in each case, with the base plates forming a test circuit in which the test elements are preferably connected in series;a central unit is connected to the test circuit;a test current is impressed into the test circuit;at least one bus participant, in particular a bus participant without a bus address, makes a change to the test circuit;the change of the test circuit is measured by means of the central unit; andbased on the change of the test circuit, a position of the bus participant making the change or of the bus participant without a bus address is determined and a bus address is assigned to the bus participant making the change or to the bus participant without a bus address.