Open Field Bus Gateway Power Module for Industrial Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for controlling and networking industrial switching devices in electric installations are time-consuming and error-prone, requiring complex and error-prone manual wiring of control lines, which can lead to incorrect connections and increased installation time.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a gateway connected to an open field bus with a single pluggable connection line for both data and power transmission, eliminating the need for conventional control wiring and allowing for easy configuration and error correction, featuring a power module that loops data but not auxiliary voltage between bus subscribers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual wiring of control lines is used to connect switching devices to the control system, then the devices can be controlled and monitored, but the installation time increases and the complexity of wiring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple control lines into a single bus system that carries both control signals and power. Instead of wiring each control line individually to each switching device, a single bus connects all devices, dramatically reducing installation time while maintaining reliable communication through standardized protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The bus system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides control signals, carries status feedback, and supplies power to the switching devices. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate wiring for each function, reducing overall wiring complexity and installation time.
2Reliability
If manual wiring of control lines is used to connect switching devices to the control system, then the devices can be controlled and monitored, but the error rate increases due to incorrect connections
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-configuration and self-identification. When devices are connected to the bus, they automatically register themselves and their capabilities with the control system without requiring manual wiring verification. This eliminates human error in connection mapping and ensures accurate device identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The bus system provides continuous feedback between devices and the control system. Devices automatically report their status and capabilities, allowing the system to verify connections and detect errors immediately, preventing incorrect wiring from going undetected.
3Ease of operation
If separate control lines are laid to individual switching devices, then each device can be individually controlled, but the complexity of cable conduit installation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a point-to-point wiring topology to a distributed bus topology. Instead of laying separate cables from the control system to each device (one-dimensional approach), all devices connect to a common bus, creating a two-dimensional network structure that simplifies physical installation while maintaining individual device controllability through logical addressing.
4Reliability
If conventional control wiring is used, then devices can be connected to the control system, but the configuration process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
Devices are pre-configured with unique identifiers and capability information before installation. When connected to the bus, this information is automatically transmitted to the control system, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual configuration during installation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for controlling bus-networked devices includes a gateway, an open field bus, a first power supply unit, an auxiliary power supply unit, a pluggable connection cable and a power module. The auxiliary power supply unit is configured to supply auxiliary power for an upstream bus subscriber. The pluggable connection cable electrically is connected to the gateway and to the plurality of bus subscribers. The power module is electrically connected between the upstream bus subscriber and a downstream bus subscriber. The power module loops through a data stream from the upstream bus subscriber to the downstream bus subscriber but does not loop through an auxiliary voltage of the auxiliary power supply unit from the upstream bus subscriber to the downstream bus subscriber.