Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

Weidmuller Interface Gmbh & Co. Kg

Rockwell Automation Asia Pacific Business Ctr. Pte. Ltd.

Gregg M Sichner

David S Wehrle

Robert J Kretschmann

Joseph G Vazach

Robert J Hager

Douglas Alan Lostoski

Nathan Joseph Molnar

Douglas Robert Bodmann

Robert A Kozlowski

Terence Scott Tenorio

Kenwood H Hall

John Patrick Caspers

Scott A Pierce

Raymond R Husted

Jerry L Penick

Walter Hanning

Klaus Püschner

Torsten Wünsche

Sivaram Balasubramanian

Anthony Gerard Gibart

Kendal R Harris

Bret S Hildebran

David Dale Brandt

Russell William Brandes

Gregory A Majcher

Jonathan R Engdahl

Mark A Chaffee

Eric D Decker

Andreas P Frischknecht

Peter M Delic

Jonathan D Bradford

Patrick D Telljohann

DuWayne D Mulhall

Gregory J Svetina

Steven A Zuponcic

Richard O Ruggeri

Carl R Schumaker

Michael Höing

David M Fort

Edward C Korsberg

Charmaine J Van Minnen

David A Pasela

John D Crabtree

Qing Jia

John J Kolat, Jr

Antoon Laane

Ram Pai

Jianguo Zhuang

Anthony Sorbello

Bret S Hildebran Hildebran

Andreas P Frischknecht Frischknecht

Robert J Kretschmann Kretschmann

Richard O Ruggeri Ruggeri

Terence S Tenorio Tenorio

Mark Chaffee

Eric C Decker

Harsh Shah

Gregory J Svetina Svetina

Harsh P Shah

Charmaine J Van Minnen Minnen

David A Pasela Pasela

Duwayne D Mulhall Mulhall

John J Kolat Kolat

Steven A Zuponcic Zuponcic

Anthony G Gibart Gibart

Peter M Delic Delic

Scott A Pierce Pierce

Eric C Decker Decker

An improved system for handling events in an industrial control system is disclosed. A module in an industrial controller is configured to generate an event responsive to a predefined signal or combination of signals occurring. The event is transferred to an event queue for subsequent execution. The event queue may also be configured to store a copy of the state of the module at the time the event is generated. The event queue may hold multiple events and each event is configured to trigger at least one event task. Subsequent events that occur during execution of the event task are stored in the event queue for later execution. An event, or combination of events, may trigger execution of an event task within the module, within the controller to which the module is connected, or within multiple controllers.

Method of managing event generation for an industrial controller

A method and system for interacting with data frames passing through a module connected to an industrial network is disclosed. Each module includes an aggregation unit located on the network interface above the physical layer. To transmit data, the aggregation unit reads a header from a dynamic data packet to determine if the module is a participant module for the packet. If so, the aggregation unit inserts data from the module into the data packet and transmits the packet to another module. To receive data, the aggregation unit reads a header from the data packet to determine whether the data packet includes data for the module. If so, the aggregation unit reads the data and passes the data packet to another module. If the aggregation unit determines that a data packet is not intended for the module, the data packet is passed to another module with no further interaction.

Method and system for data aggregation in an industrial communication protocol

Present embodiments include an automation control system that includes an input/output device module with a device bus therein. The input/output module also includes a first bus contact on a first side of the input/output device module and communicatively coupled with a first end of the device bus, and a second bus contact on a second side of the input/output device module and communicatively coupled with a second end of the device bus. The second side generally faces an opposite direction from the first side and the input/output device module is configured to be coupled with additional input/output device modules positioned on the first and second sides of the input/output device module via the first and second bus contacts. Further, the first and second bus contacts are positioned on non-lateral surfaces of the input/output device module, the first and second contacts include spring-loaded connectors, the first and second contacts include two-prong or three-prong forks, or the input/output device module is a terminal block.

Input/output module bus contact system and method

Present embodiments include an adaptable automation control component that includes a base capable of communicatively coupling with a system bus and with a functional module that includes communication and control circuitry. The adaptable automation control component also includes a device power bus including electrical contacts that are capable of communicatively coupling the adaptable automation control component with a separate automation control component, and an activation mechanism including circuitry capable of continuing the device power bus when the activation mechanism is engaged, and capable of discontinuing the device power bus when the activation mechanism is disengaged. The adaptable automation control component facilitates functionality of the adaptable automation control component as an input/output module or a power distribution module depending on whether the activation mechanism is engaged or disengaged.

Adaptable automation control module with integrated power bus distributor

Event generation management for an industrial controller

Systems and methods are provided for aligning status indicators on a terminal block of an I/O device by locating the status indicators directly adjacent to or integrated directly within their respective terminals on the terminal block. The status indicators are illuminated by LEDs or other light emitters disposed within a housing of the I/O device. Light from the LEDs are directed to the status indicators by light pipes disposed within the housing of the I/O device. LED activation circuitry disposed within the housing determines a manner in which to activate the LEDs to illuminate the status indicators based on inputs and outputs between the I/O device and a controlled process. In certain embodiments, the status indicators are disposed on a raised section of the I/O device, which may be part of a removable LED indication assembly including the LEDs, light pipes, and LED activation circuitry.

Input/output circuits and devices having physically corresponding status indicators

Systems and methods provide re-configurable functionality within components of I/O devices without the need of disconnecting the components from each other. For example, in certain embodiments, when certain types of components are connected to each other, certain functionality sets within the components may be activated to provide combined functionality sets between the components. The combined functionality sets may, for example, be preferred functionality sets to be used when the particular types of components are connected to each other. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, functionality activation keys may be physically inserted into (or electronically communicated to) the components of the I/O device to activate certain functionality sets within the component into which the functionality activation key is inserted (or electronically communicated to), as well as within the other components of the I/O device to which the component is connected.

Input/output devices having reconfigurable functionality

Input/output devices having re-configurable functionality

An input/output (I/O) device for an automation control system includes a base portion configured to communicatively connect the I/O device with at least one other I/O device, an I/O module physically and communicatively connected to the base portion and comprising I/O communication circuitry, a terminal block physically and communicatively connected to the base portion, and an ejection device configured to eject the I/O module or the terminal block from the base portion by pushing the I/O module or the terminal block out of engagement with the base portion when activated.

Systems and methods for coupling input/output devices

Input/output circuits having status indicators aligned with respective terminals

Systems and methods for utilizing electronic keying features stored within one of the components (e.g., I/O modules, terminal blocks, bases) of I/O devices may include reading or detecting the electronic keying features using electronic key identification circuitry in one of the other components of the I/O devices. More specifically, the electronic keying features may include unique identification keys that may be read or detected by the electronic key identification circuitry to determine whether the components (e.g., a paired I/O module and terminal block) are associated with each other and intended to operate together. For example, the electronic key feature may be disposed within a terminal block and the electronic key identification circuitry may be disposed within an I/O module, or vice versa. In addition, the electronic key feature and/or the electronic key identification circuitry may be removable from their respective component of the I/O device.

Automation control system components with electronic keying features

Growing community of inventors

Mentor, OH, United States of America

Gregg M Sichner