IO-Link Device Chaining with Rotating Data Block Forwarding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional IO-Link communication technologies are limited to point-to-point connections, making it difficult to cascade devices functionally, and existing solutions for extending these technologies are complex, costly, or lack the ability to form a cascade of devices.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allows a chain of secondary devices to communicate indirectly through a first device connected directly to a master, using a daisy chain configuration with data elements shifted or rotated to ensure each device receives its assigned data at a predetermined position, enabling flexible and efficient data processing without complex configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional IO-Link point-to-point connection is used, then connection simplicity is maintained, but device cascading capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the first secondary device acts as a mediator between the master device and subsequent secondary devices in the cascade. The master device communicates only with the first secondary device, which then forwards data to other secondary devices, enabling cascading without changing the fundamental point-to-point architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the communication path by introducing multiple secondary devices in sequence, where each device can have an expansion port connected to the next device in the cascade. This segmentation allows the system to extend beyond a single point-to-point connection while maintaining the simplicity of individual connections.
2Adaptability or versatility
If expansion port solution is used to connect IO-Link device to another device, then device cascading is enabled, but configuration complexity increases and is limited to one device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the expansion port functionality universal by allowing any secondary device in the cascade to have an expansion port for connecting to the next device. This is not limited to a single device but can be applied across multiple devices in the cascade, enabling flexible configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-configuration where devices are automatically identified and configured in the cascade. The master device can identify which secondary devices have expansion ports and automatically establish the cascade connections without manual configuration of each connection.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wireless connection is used to transfer wired point-to-point connection, then flexibility is improved, but costs and error susceptibility increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent does not replace the wired mechanical connection with wireless communication. Instead, it maintains the wired point-to-point connections but adds the capability for devices to cascade through expansion ports, achieving flexibility through the cascade architecture rather than wireless technology.
4Quantity of substance
If IO-Link hub solution is used, then multiple devices can be connected, but it does not result in a cascade of IO-Link devices
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a hub where multiple devices connect to a central point, the patent inverts the approach by having devices connect in a linear cascade sequence. Each device in the cascade can have an expansion port to connect to the next device, creating a chain rather than a star topology.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method (100) for extending a communication technology based on point-to-point communication for operating a chain of secondary devices (300) at a common port (210) of a master device (200), where preferably the secondary devices (300) are designed as IO-Link devices, the master device (200) is designed as an IO-Link master and/or the communication technology is designed as IO-Link, in particular for an industrial plant, wherein the method (100) comprises:Providing (101) data (500) for processing by a currently executing device (301) in the chain, wherein a data block (510) of the data (500) comprises multiple data elements (520) assigned to the various devices (300) in the chain,Providing (102) at least one data element (530) of the data elements (520) which is provided at a predetermined position in the data block (510) and is therefore assigned to the currently executing device (301) in the chain,Performing (103) the processing of the data (500), wherein a shift, in particular rotation, of the data elements (520) by a specified number of positions is performed so that, after each forwarding of the data (500) to one of the devices (300) in the chain, the at least one data element (530) assigned to that device (300) is provided to that device (300) at the same predetermined position,Initiating (104) the forwarding of the data (500) to the device (300) following the device (301) currently executing.