DIN Rail Bus Assembly with Automatic Addressing for Hot-Plug Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing DIN rail bus systems require manual bus addressing and are inflexible, often necessitating system shutdown for device replacement or expansion, and lack clear physical location assignment of bus addresses.

Innovation Solution

The bus address assignment process is relocated from the device to the mounting rail bus arrangement, utilizing an electronic control unit on the first installation position to automatically detect and assign unique addresses to devices as they are plugged in, with synchronization and 'hot-plug' capability, and featuring a connection element for multiple rail integration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual bus addressing is performed on connected devices, then bus addressing can be completed, but system flexibility is reduced and device replacement or expansion requires system shutdown

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem flexibilityVSAvoidmanual addressing requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic bus addressing without manual intervention. The electronic control unit automatically detects newly connected devices and assigns them bus addresses, eliminating the need for manual configuration and allowing hot-plug operations without system shutdown

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic control unit continuously monitors the bus for newly connected devices and pre-assigns addresses before the devices are fully integrated into the system, enabling seamless hot-plug operations without requiring system shutdown

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If bus addressing is performed individually on devices, then each device can be addressed, but clear physical location assignment is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephysical location assignmentVSAvoidaddress assignment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic control unit continuously monitors the physical installation positions on the mounting rail and uses this feedback information to automatically assign bus addresses that correspond to the physical locations, maintaining clear location assignment without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic control unit serves multiple functions: it manages power distribution, data communication, and automatic bus addressing based on physical location, consolidating these functions into a single control system that simplifies the overall address assignment process

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If devices are replaced or expanded during operation, then system adaptability is improved, but electrical connection reliability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehot-plug capabilityVSAvoidelectrical connection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system design incorporates pre-prepared connection interfaces and automatic address assignment mechanisms that are ready before device replacement or expansion occurs, ensuring that electrical connections remain stable and reliable during hot-plug operations without compromising system reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP3993190B1Support rail bus assembly with automatic bus addressing
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 BENDER SA
  • EP3993190B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3993190B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3993190B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a mounting rail bus arrangement consisting of a number of n mechanically interconnected and electrically connected bus conductor sections (4) via bus conductor tracks (6) that can be installed in a mounting rail (8), wherein an electronic control unit is designed to detect whether a device (5) is plugged in at a mounting position i, wherein a bus address (14) is assigned to the respective mounting position i, which is assigned to the device (5) plugged in on the respective bus conductor section (4) at the respective mounting position i on the mounting rail (8).Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for assigning a bus address to a device (5) mounted on a mounting rail (8) comprising the following method steps: Detecting whether a device (5) is mounted at a mounting position i by means of an electronic control unit (12), assigning the bus address (14) to the respective mounting position i and assigning the bus address (14) to the device (5) mounted on the mounting rail at the respective mounting position i on the respective bus circuit board section (4) by means of the electronic control unit (12).