Flexible Backplane With Isolated Dual Buses for Control and Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing industrial systems face limitations in modularity and flexibility due to segregation of control and safety systems using separate backplanes, which restricts the combination of hardware modules and increases the risk of data interference.
Innovation Solution
A backplane design with multiple slots and dual communication buses, allowing modules to connect through separate sets of pins for control and safety systems, ensuring electrical isolation and reducing data interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If control and safety systems use separate dedicated backplanes, then system integrity and isolation are ensured, but modularity and flexibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The backplane connector is segmented into two separate sets of pins (first set and second set), each set electrically isolated from the other. This segmentation allows different communication protocols or data types to be transmitted through separate pin sets, enabling both isolation for reliability and flexibility for different module configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The backplane design provides universal compatibility by allowing any processor module to connect to any I/O module through the multi-functional connector. The connector supports multiple communication modes (first communication protocol through first pins, second communication protocol through second pins) making the system adaptable to various module combinations without requiring dedicated backplanes.
2Reliability
If separate dedicated backplanes are used for control and safety systems, then system isolation is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges previously separate control and safety backplanes into a single integrated backplane. The connector combines two sets of pins in one physical component, allowing both control and safety modules to coexist on the same backplane while maintaining electrical isolation through separate pin sets, thus reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual-set pin connector acts as an intermediary structure that mediates between control and safety systems. It provides separate communication paths (first pins for control, second pins for safety) while being a single integrated component, eliminating the need for separate backplane structures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If modules are combined on a single backplane, then flexibility is improved, but risk of data interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into separate pin sets that are electrically isolated from each other. This segmentation creates distinct communication channels that prevent data interference between different modules, even when they are combined on the same backplane. Each pin set can be dedicated to specific communication protocols or data types.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the connector (first set of pins vs. second set of pins) have different electrical characteristics and isolation properties. This local quality differentiation ensures that sensitive safety communications can use one pin set while control communications use another, preventing interference while maintaining overall system flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A backplane that includes a first processor slot, a second processor slot, a plurality of input/output (I/O) slots, a first I/O bus, a second I/O bus electrically isolated from the first I/O bus, and a plurality of I/O connection ports. The first processor slot includes a first processor connection port having a plurality of pins electrically connected to a first processor bus. The second processor slot includes a second processor connection port having a plurality of pins connected to a second processor bus, that is electrically isolated from the first processor bus. The plurality of I/O connection ports each include a first set of pins electrically connected to the first I/O bus, and a second set of pins electrically connected to the second I/O bus. Each of the first processor slot, the second processor slot, and the plurality of I/O slots include at least one of the I/O connection ports.