Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

Allen-bradley Company, LLC

Rockwell Automation Asia Pacific Business Ctr. Pte. Ltd.

Dale R Terdan

John R O'Connell

Sean P Overberger

Xiaofan Chen

Douglas Robert Bodmann

Ronald Edwin Schultz

James Joseph Kay

Bret S Hildebran

Daniel E Killian

Edwin L Bremenour

Charmaine J Van Minnen

David A Pasela

Michael F Tratar

Chen Xiaofan

Aspects of the present invention provide a module including an electronic circuit that flags the presence of AC or DC input signals. An AC filter receives an input signal and couples it to a first leg. The AC filter permits an AC signal to pass to produce a first output and prevents a DC signal from passing. A DC filter also receives the input signal and couples it to a second leg. The DC filter permits a DC signal to pass to produce a second output and prevents at least part of an AC signal from passing. A lock out circuit in the first leg prevents the second leg from producing the second output when the first leg produces the first output. The output of each leg may be digitized and coupled to a logic controller to flag the presence of AC or DC input signals.

Circuit that deciphers between AC and DC input signals

An I/O circuit for use with an industrial controller provides a photovoltaic optical isolator communicating between a controller and a field-side of the I/O circuit, the photovoltaic optical isolator eliminating the need for high wattage power dropping circuits for powering the field-side of the I/O circuit from high-voltage field signals. The field effect transistor type transistors permit use of the low-power photovoltaic optical isolator while allowing flexible connections to various field circuit types.

Output module for industrial control with sink and source capability and low heat dissipation

An I/O circuit for use with an industrial controller provides an input circuit with low power dissipation through the use of a series connected substantially nonresistance impedance. An AC waveform input activates a light emitting diode (LED) bridge to provide an optical signal which illuminates a photosensitive solid-state switch thereby providing optical isolation between the industrial controller and the controlled process or machine. By using a series connected substantially nonresistance impedance, reduced current demand by the input circuit may be realized, which allows reduced power dissipation. As a result, the same circuit allows receiving input signals over a greater range, such as 120 volts AC and 240 volts AC, and allows significantly smaller components with closer spacing for a more compact design.

Input circuit for industrial control with low heat dissipation

Electronic devices require correct power in order to operate correctly. Receiving an incorrect power signal could potentially result in immediate and/or long term harm to the electronic device and/or catastrophic conditions. Certain devices, such as programmable logic controller ('PLC') modules, may provide variable power to electronic devices, such as field devices comprising sensors and/or actuators. The present inventors have recognized that deciphering between AC and DC input signals before coupling electronic devices to such power sources may advantageously avoid harmful and/or catastrophic conditions. Aspects of the present invention provide an electronic circuit for deciphering between an AC and a DC input signal. Systems and methods are also described.

An I/O circuit for use with an industrial controller provides a zero-crossing detector circuit with low power dissipation through the use of a zero-crossing circuit that activates a light emitting diode of a photo coupler only for a very brief period of time at the zero-crossing (as opposed to at all times other than the zero-crossing). The circuit is coupled with a power supply circuit that uses a reactive element for voltage dropping as opposed to a resistive voltage drop element further reducing power consumption possible with the low power consumption of the photo coupler.

Zero-crossing detector for industrial control with low heat dissipation

A current-loop output circuit for an industrial controller provides for low power dissipation and reduced part count by driving current loads of different resistances directly from a switched voltage source. Proper filtering and design of a feedback loop allows the necessary transient response times to be obtained.

Low heat dissipation I/O module using direct drive buck converter

An industrial automation controller module includes a main module and an energy storage module (ESM) releasably connected to the main module. The ESM includes a back-up electrical power source such as a battery or a capacitor that is electrically connected to processor circuitry of the main module when the ESM is physically connected to the main module. In case of interruption of operating power to the processor circuitry of the main module, the back-up power source of the ESM supplies back-up power to the main module to allow for completion of an emergency save operation to save data to non-volatile memory in the main module. If the ESM includes a capacitor back-up power source, it is charged by the main module and the capacitor charge is dissipated if the ESM is separated from the main module. In all cases, the ESM can include one or more configuration parameters stored therein that allow the main module to validate (or not) the ESM for the requirements of the main module, with respect to type of back-up power source, product code or model, capacity of back-up power source, and the like. The main module can also initiate periodic testing of the back-up power source of the ESM.

Energy storage module

An improved inrush current limiting circuit provides continuous control of current delivered to a filter capacitor based on the charge state of the filter capacitor.

Controlled inrush current limiter

An output circuit has multi-stage protection circuitry for protecting against different fault current conditions. The protection circuitry operates by detecting voltage changes across the output transistor of the output circuit. The output circuit comprises first, second and third switching devices. The first switching device is connected to the output device and power conditions the output signal. The second and third switching devices override the output signal and turn off the first switching device when a magnitude of current through the first switching device exceeds predetermined magnitudes for predetermined amounts of time. A protection circuit is also disclosed which has a sensing device that senses a current flow condition by sensing a voltage drop produced across two terminals of the first power conditioning transistor, the two terminals being the terminals through which the current flows. Advantageously, the output circuit utilizes highly flexible two-stage protection circuitry. The protection circuitry separately identifies surge current and overcurrent conditions. In addition to the flexibility provided by the use of two-stage protection circuitry, flexibility is also provided by the fact that component values may be easily varied to vary the magnitudes/durations of current within each stage which activate the protection circuitry. Moreover, the protection circuitry has a very fast response time. As a result, an output transistor which is protected by the protection circuitry of the present invention suffers much less stress in the event of a short circuit condition.

Output circuit having electronic overload protection activated by

A connector assembly uses an intermediate guide plate to align and mate opposing connectors mounted on electrical chassis. The intermediate plate includes guide pins and is aligned to the first chassis by means of an alignment fixture attaching between the guide pins and the first connector. The guide plate is attached to the first chassis and the alignment fixture is removed, the guide pins allowing alignment with the second chassis and connector.

Growing community of inventors

Concord Township, OH, United States of America

Dale R Terdan