Peer communication between modules in an industrial controller

US9857781B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Bret S. Hildebran · Chagrin Falls, US
• Eric D. Decker · Macedonia, US
• DuWayne D. Mulhall · Geneva, US
• Peter M. Delic · Willoughby, US
• Charmaine J. Van Minnen · Aurora, US
• Kenwood H. Hall · Hudson, US
• Richard O. Ruggeri · Novelty, US
• Harsh Shah · Mayfield Heights, US
• Andreas P. Frischknecht · Kawasaki, JP
• Scott A. Pierce · Henderson, US
• Robert J. Kretschmann · Bay Village, US
• Mark A. Chaffee · Chagrin Falls, US
• Terence S. Tenorio · Solon, US
• David A. Pasela · Seven Hills, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 5, 2014
• Grant date: Jan 2, 2018
• Expiry date: Feb 29, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05B2219/34401
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An output module for an industrial controller configurable to simplify setup and commissioning is disclosed. The output module includes configurable PWM outputs that may be scheduled to start at different times within the PWM period, that may be configured to generate a fixed number of PWM pulses, and that may have an extendable PWM period. The output terminals are configurable to enter a first state upon generation of a fault and further configurable to enter a second state after a configurable time delay following the fault being generated. The output module may receive inputs signals directly from another module and set output signals at the terminals responsive to these signals.