Schneider Automation Gmbh

Richard H Breinlinger

Richard A Baker, Jr

Allan Tanzman

A Dean Papadopoulos

Andrew G Swales

Rodolfo G Belliardi

Ronald H Naismith

Steve Webster

Steven Webster

Dennis J Dube

Kenneth L Wester

A method and a system is provided for facilitating communication throughout a master/slave network. The network topology includes a transmission cable being operably connected between the network modules. A master module includes a master terminating resistor operably connected to the transmission cable. A slave module includes a slave terminating resistor and a slave switch. The slave terminating resistor is operably connected to the slave switch. A load resistor is operably connected to the transmission cable. The slave switch is operably responsive to the load resistor to generate a terminate enable. The slave switch inserts the slave terminating resistor onto the transmission cable in response to the terminate enable.

Method and apparatus for a network bus topology

A method and system for automated temperature measurement is described. The system includes a programmable logic controller, a temperature measurement diode, an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the diode and the programmable logic controller, a current source coupled to the diode and configured to generate a first current and a second current different from said first current, and a processor coupled to the current source and to the analog-to-digital converter. The processor controls the current source such that the current source sequentially applies the first current to the diode at a first point in time and applies the second current to the diode at a second point in time. The processor also receives a first voltage across the diode measured when the first current is applied to the diode and a second voltage across the diode measured when the second current is applied to the diode. Based on the first and second voltages, the processor determines the temperature proximate the diode.

Solid state temperature measuring device and method

An interface circuit for use between an input circuit and an industrial automation system is disclosed. The industrial automation system includes an opto-coupler capable of being operably connected to the interface circuit. The interface circuit includes a first and second terminal, each terminal capable of being operably connected to the opto-coupler. A first current-source is operably connected to the first terminal and a second current-source is operably connected to the second terminal. A reference voltage is operably connected to the first current-source and the second current-source wherein the first and second current-source cooperate to provide a total input current in accordance with the operating characteristics of the industrial automation circuit.

Dual current-source digital-input circuit for an industrial automation system

Analog input module for a programmable logic controller, the analog input module having an input circuit with terminals for accepting either a single voltage range or a single current range from process control sensors. The analog input module includes an analog-to-digital converter and an input circuit with an output terminal connected to the input of the analog-to-digital converter, a voltage input terminal, a current input terminal, and a common terminal. The input circuit is configured to accept a voltage input between the voltage input terminal and the common terminal, to accept a current input between the current input terminal and the common terminal, and to provide an output voltage at the output terminal dependent upon either the voltage input or the current input, without switching or configuring between them.

Low cost multi-range input circuit for industrial analog input modules

A method and device for filtering an input signal received by an input module in order to produce a filtered input signal, wherein the received input signal is converted such that it has either a HIGH input state or a LOW input state each having a time duration characteristic of the input module, and the filtered input signal is represented by an ON filtered state and an OFF filtered state. The time duration of the HIGH input state and the LOW input state are determined by sampling the converted input signal at a certain sampling rate so as to allow the sampling results to be used by a filtering algorithm to set the filtered input state to ON or OFF based on a set of filter parameters which may vary from one input module to another. The filtering device is adapted to be configurable such that the filter parameters can be electronically selected so that the same filtering algorithm can be used for different input modules having different electrical characteristics.

Method and device for filtering input signals

A first system is provided having a plurality of analog input signals for a plurality of analog input devices. Each analog input signal has an analog input signal value. The first system converts each analog input signal value to an ultimate digital input value. The first system has an input converter for converting each analog input signal to a digital input signal having a digital input value. The digital input value directly corresponds to the analog input signal value. The first system also has a conveying means for conveying the analog input signal value as an ultimate digital input value without performing any additional conversion. A second system is also provided having a plurality of analog output signals for a plurality of analog output devices. Each analog output signal has an analog output signal value, and each analog output signal value is converted from an initial digital output signal value. The second system has a receiving and conveying means for receiving the initial digital output signal value, and for conveying the initial digital output signal value as a conveyed digital output signal value, without performing any conversion. The second system also has an output converter for converting the conveyed digital output signal value into the analog output signal value. The analog output signal value directly corresponds to the conveyed digital output signal value.

System and method for converting analog values to and from real world values

A control system includes an Internet web interface to a network of at least one programmable logic control system running an application program for controlling output devices in response to status of input devices. The Web interface runs Web pages from an Ethernet board coupled directly to the PLC back plane and includes an HTTP protocol interpreter, a PLC back plane driver, a TCP/IP stack, and an Ethernet board kernel. The Web interface provides access to the PLC back plane by a user at a remote location through the Internet. The interface translates the industry standard Ethernet, TCP/IP and HTTP protocols used on the Internet into data recognizable to the PLC. Using this interface, the user can retrieve all pertinent data regarding the operation of the programmable logic controller system.

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Hampstead, NH, United States of America

Richard H Breinlinger