Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

Allen-bradley Company, LLC

John R O'Connell

Dale R Terdan

Daniel Milton Alley

Rajesh Ramesh Shah

Jared J Bell

Edward C Hopsecger

Bret S Hildebran

Charmaine J Van Minnen

David A Pasela

Brett S Hildebran

Dale Terdan

Embodiments of this present disclosure may include a system that may include a first input/output (IO) module, which may output a first current output. The first IO module may be coupled to a first terminal and a second terminal. The system may include a second IO module that may output a second current output. The second IO module may be coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal. The system may include a load device coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal. The load device may operate based on the first current output and the second current output. The system may include one or more control systems that receive an instruction to perform a coordinated handoff to the first IO module.

Concurrent operation of input/output (IO) modules in a duplex configuration

Embodiments of this present disclosure include an input/output (IO) power supply module coupled to a load. The IO power supply module may include testing circuitry that couples to a voltage supply of the IO power supply module. The testing circuitry may perform an online load current test to verify performance of IO power supply module. To do so, the testing circuitry may include a current measurement circuit coupled to a switch. The current measurement circuit may receive a current via the switch while closed to determine whether the output current generated by the voltage supply is equal to a rated output current.

Input/output (IO) module power supply with online load test capability

A system and method for detecting a failure in a redundant signal path during operation of the redundant path is disclosed. A test signal is sequentially injected into each signal path while an input signal is conducted by the other signal path not receiving the test signal. The test signal is selected at a frequency to verify operation of a filter connected in series along each path. A processor generates the test signal, injects the test signal at the input of the filter, and receives the output of the filter. The processor then generates a frequency response of the filter in each signal path as a function of the output from the filter and of the original test signal. The frequency response obtained along each of the redundant signal paths is compared to each other to detect a failure of one of the filters present along the respective signal paths.

Safety rated input module for an industrial controller

System and method for testing filters in redundant signal paths

An industrial control I/O module for interfacing with industrial control equipment, such as sensors and actuators, can be configured to dynamically provide differing resistances in each channel as may be required for reliably achieving particular modes of operation in the channel. Providing differing resistances in such channels flexibly allows different modes in the channel to provide universal I/O capability. Modes of operation could include, for example, digital output, digital input, analog output, analog input and the like, in the same channel, but at different times. In one aspect, a processor or voltage divider can be used to control an amplifier, with feedback, driving a transistor in a channel to dynamically adjust resistance in the channel by selectively biasing the transistor to achieve a resistance in the channel suitable for the selected mode.

Industrial control module providing universal I/O

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

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

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.

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Painesville, OH, United States of America

John R O'Connell