The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 19, 2016
Filed:
Feb. 17, 2012
Applicants:
Robert Alan Weddle, Johnson City, TN (US);
James F. Archer, Gray, TN (US);
Inventors:
Robert Alan Weddle, Johnson City, TN (US);
James F. Archer, Gray, TN (US);
Assignee:
SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, München, DE;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01R 21/00 (2006.01); G05B 19/05 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G05B 19/058 (2013.01); G05B 2219/14075 (2013.01);
Abstract
To reduce the cost and/or space occupied by diagnostic circuitry in a module of a programmable logic controller with multiple outputs, a multiplexer connects the same diagnostic circuitry to the different outputs. The outputs are sequentially tested with the same circuitry. To limit stress on an output driver, an overload condition may be tested while the driver is off. A different source of power is applied to the output, and the results of the application are measured for shorting to ground.