Modular input/output system with redundancy and testing
US6097303A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 30, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 1, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 30, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05K7/1484
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A modular input/output (I/O) system for field wiring includes a plurality of base units into which electronics modules providing appropriate signal processing are plugged. A backplane in each base unit provides leads between the electronics module and associated terminals to which the field wiring is connected and also hosts a communications bus through which the electronics modules on serially connected base members communicate with a controller. Switching modules plugged into some of the base members selectively switch field signals applied to terminals for an associated electronics module to another electronics module for redundancy, or switch test signals into the associated electronics module in place of the field wiring signals. The test signals are generated by yet another of the electronics modules while still another electronics module generates control signals for the switching modules.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.