Patent · US Active

Interface unit and communication system having a master/slave structure

US8001306B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by

6References

29Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Beckhoff Automation GmbH · DE

Inventors

Hans Beckhoff · Verl, DE
Dirk Janssen · Verl, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Oct 14, 2008
Grant date	Aug 16, 2011
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Oct 14, 2028

Classification

Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
CPC primaryH04L12/437
WIPO fieldDigital communication
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An interface unit is provided for a communication system comprising a master unit and a plurality of slave units serially connecting the master unit via a double ring structure comprising a first communication path and a second communication path. The interface unit comprises a first switching unit, which is configured to output information signals received by the master unit as a first information signal to the first communication path and as a second information signal to the second communication path; and a second switching unit, which is configured to forward the first information signal circulating on the first communication path and second information signal circulating on the second communication path to the master unit.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.