I/o Control Corporation

Michael Kuang

Jeffrey Ying

A control network has a bus to which is connected a master node and a plurality of slave nodes in a loop configuration. Each of the master node and slave nodes has a transceiver connected to the bus through a shunt circuit. The shunt circuit comprises a switch (such as a relay) in parallel circuit configuration with an impedance element (such as resistor). The switch is operated under control of the node and under normal conditions remains closed, thereby allowing signals to be carried freely over the bus. When a fault occurs, each of the nodes opens its switch, causing the separate portions of the bus to become isolated. The master node then instructs each slave node, starting with the closest slave node, to close its switch. When a slave node fails to respond, the fault location has been detected. The master node repeats the process for the opposite direction of the loop. Operation then continues, with the slave node nearest the fault remaining isolated. If the short circuit occurs at the master node, one of the slave nodes may take over for the master node after a predetermined wait period.

Growing community of inventors

Diamond Bar, CA, United States of America

Michael Kuang