Bus System Addressing via Power Line Daisy-Chain

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bus systems for industrial devices lack a simple and safe method to address bus users while minimizing the number of required bus lines, particularly failing to meet safety requirements for switching off devices in a controlled manner.

Innovation Solution

A bus system and method that uses a daisy-chain technique on the power supply line for address allocation, eliminating the need for an additional control line and allowing safe switching off of subordinate bus subscribers by using switching elements within the power supply line.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If a daisy-chain control line is added for automatic address assignment, then address assignment automation is improved, but the number of bus lines increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaddress assignment automationVSAvoidnumber of bus lines
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply line is made multi-functional by using it both for power delivery and for address assignment control. The switching elements integrated into bus participants allow the power line to serve dual purposes: supplying power to devices and controlling address assignment through selective activation, thereby eliminating the need for a separate control line.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the control function with the power supply function by integrating switching elements into the bus participants themselves. This combination allows the power supply line to simultaneously perform power delivery and address assignment control, reducing the total number of required bus lines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Extent of automation

If the data line is interrupted at each bus participant for address assignment, then automatic addressing is enabled, but device shutdown safety is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic addressingVSAvoiddevice shutdown safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply line is segmented into multiple sections, with each section controllable by a switching element in the corresponding bus participant. This segmentation allows independent control of power supply to different parts of the bus, enabling safe device shutdown while maintaining automatic addressing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Switching elements are introduced as intermediaries between the power supply line and bus participants. These switching elements enable controlled power disconnection for safety purposes while preserving the data line continuity needed for communication and addressing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If manual address setting is used for bus participants, then address uniqueness is ensured, but configuration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaddress uniquenessVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bus participants automatically receive their addresses through the power supply line during system initialization. The addressing process is self-service in nature, where the system automatically assigns addresses without requiring manual configuration, thereby reducing configuration complexity while ensuring address uniqueness through the sequential activation mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3298730B1Bus system and method for assigning addresses of bus components of a bus system
Publication Date: 2019.03.27 WEIDMULLER INTERFACE GMBH & CO
  • EP3298730B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3298730B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a bus system comprising a bus master (10), at least two bus components (20, 20') and a bus (30) which connects the bus components (20, 20') to the bus master (10), wherein the bus (30) has at least one data line (32) and at least one power supply line (31), characterised in that the at least one data line (32) connects the bus master (10) to all bus components (20, 20'), and the at least one power supply line (31) connects the bus master (10) to a first bus component (20) and is looped through the first bus component (20) to a further bus component (20'), wherein inside a bus component (20, 20') at least one switching element (25) is connected into the power supply line. The invention further relates to a method for assigning addresses in a bus system of this type.