US5093804A — Programmable controller input/output communicatio…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 204 words

For use in an input/output (I/O system of a programmable controller, a communications method for exchanging information on control and operating parameters between a controlling element of the I/O system and a controlled element thereof which includes an output control device activated and deactivated in accordance with the control information, comprising the steps of: a) generating in the controlling element a control signal in the form of sequential pulse frames, each frame having at least one control pulse defining said control information; b) transmitting said control signal to said controlled element and generating in the controlled element a clock pulse for each control pulse such that said clock pulse follows said control pulse by a pre-selected time interval on each frame, there being one clock pulse for each control pulse such that there is a fixed time relationship between each control pulse and each clock pulse; c) generating in the controlled element a diagnostic signal independent of the control signal but which is indicative of operating parameters of the controlled element; and d) using said clock pulse on each frame to cause a sampling of said control information and to cause a transmission of a value of said diagnostic signal to said controlling element.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 204 words

For use in an input/output (I/O system of a programmable controller, a communications method for exchanging information on control and operating parameters between a controlling element of the I/O system and a controlled element thereof which includes an output control device activated and deactivated in accordance with the control information, comprising the steps of: a) generating in the controlling element a control signal in the form of sequential pulse frames, each frame having at least one control pulse defining said control information; b) transmitting said control signal to said controlled element and generating in the controlled element a clock pulse for each control pulse such that said clock pulse follows said control pulse by a pre-selected time interval on each frame, there being one clock pulse for each control pulse such that there is a fixed time relationship between each control pulse and each clock pulse; c) generating in the controlled element a diagnostic signal independent of the control signal but which is indicative of operating parameters of the controlled element; and d) using said clock pulse on each frame to cause a sampling of said control information and to cause a transmission of a value of said diagnostic signal to said controlling element.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 1 wherein each frame of the control signal further includes a no-pulse time interval during which no pulses appear defining the end of a frame.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 2 wherein each frame of said control signal includes a series of pulses defining said control information.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 3 wherein said series of pulses is pulse width modulated.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 4 wherein said diagnostic signal comprises a multi-bit digital signal and the number of bits transmitted to said controlling element on each frame equals the number of pulses in said series of pulses in the same frame.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 215 words

In an input/output (I/O) system of a programmable controller, an input/output mode comprising an operations control unit providing a control signal in the form of sequential pulse frames, each frame having at least one control pulse defining a desired control status; and at least one I/O point connected to the operations control unit and having an output control device subject to activation and deactivation as an operative condition in accordance with said control status and further including: (1) timing means responsive to each control pulse to generate a clock pulse which follows said control pulse by a pre-selected time interval on each frame, there being one clock pulse for each control pulse such that there if a fixed time relationship between such pulses; (2) means connected to the I/O point providing a diagnostic signal having a value indicative of the operative condition of the I/O point; (3) means connected to receive each clock pulse and responsive to each clock pulse on each frame to cause a sampling of each control pulse to determine the desired control status; and (4) means connected to receive each clock pulse and the diagnostic signal and responsive to said clock pulse on each frame to cause a transmission of a value of said diagnostic signal to the operations control unit.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 215 words

In an input/output (I/O) system of a programmable controller, an input/output mode comprising an operations control unit providing a control signal in the form of sequential pulse frames, each frame having at least one control pulse defining a desired control status; and at least one I/O point connected to the operations control unit and having an output control device subject to activation and deactivation as an operative condition in accordance with said control status and further including: (1) timing means responsive to each control pulse to generate a clock pulse which follows said control pulse by a pre-selected time interval on each frame, there being one clock pulse for each control pulse such that there if a fixed time relationship between such pulses; (2) means connected to the I/O point providing a diagnostic signal having a value indicative of the operative condition of the I/O point; (3) means connected to receive each clock pulse and responsive to each clock pulse on each frame to cause a sampling of each control pulse to determine the desired control status; and (4) means connected to receive each clock pulse and the diagnostic signal and responsive to said clock pulse on each frame to cause a transmission of a value of said diagnostic signal to the operations control unit.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 45 words

The input/output module of claim 6 wherein said operations control unit provides said control signal such that each frame includes a series of pulses followed by a no-pulse time interval during which no pulses occur, said no-pulse time interval defining the end of a frame.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

The input/output module of claim 7 wherein at least the first two pulses of each frame are pulse width modulated redundantly to determine the control status.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 229 words

In a programmable controller input/output system of the type having a plurality of input/output modules, each adapted to be located in proximity to a process being controlled, circuitry for use in such modules, comprising: output control means responsive to be activated and deactivated by a command signal; an operations controller generating at least one control signal in the form of sequential pulse frames, each frame of which contains at least one pulse defining a control status for the output control means and a time interval without pulses defining the end of the frame whenever said interval reaches a first pre-selected time duration; a communications and control section receiving said control signal and including means responsive to said at least one pulse to provide said command signal for activating and deactivating said output control means in accordance with said control status for each frame and means responsive to said time interval for synchronizing operation of said communications and control section with each frame; sensing means providing status signals indicative of the operative condition of said output control means; and wherein said communications and control section includes coding means receiving said status signals and responsive thereto to produce a diagnostic signal which is updated on each frame of said control signal and first selector means for transmitting said diagnostic signal to said operations controller on each frame of said control signal.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 229 words

In a programmable controller input/output system of the type having a plurality of input/output modules, each adapted to be located in proximity to a process being controlled, circuitry for use in such modules, comprising: output control means responsive to be activated and deactivated by a command signal; an operations controller generating at least one control signal in the form of sequential pulse frames, each frame of which contains at least one pulse defining a control status for the output control means and a time interval without pulses defining the end of the frame whenever said interval reaches a first pre-selected time duration; a communications and control section receiving said control signal and including means responsive to said at least one pulse to provide said command signal for activating and deactivating said output control means in accordance with said control status for each frame and means responsive to said time interval for synchronizing operation of said communications and control section with each frame; sensing means providing status signals indicative of the operative condition of said output control means; and wherein said communications and control section includes coding means receiving said status signals and responsive thereto to produce a diagnostic signal which is updated on each frame of said control signal and first selector means for transmitting said diagnostic signal to said operations controller on each frame of said control signal.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 21 words

The circuitry of claim 9 wherein each frame of said control signal contains a series of pulses defining said control status.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 33 words

The circuitry of claim 10 wherein at least the first two pulses of each frame are pulse width modulated redundantly to determine the command signal for activating and deactivating the output control means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 44 words

The circuitry of claim 11 wherein said communications and control section further includes second selector means responsive to said time interval to cause said output control means to assume a pre-selected state whenever the time duration of said interval reaches a second pre-selected value.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 43 words

The circuitry of claim 12 further including a plurality of output control means and a corresponding plurality of communications and control sections, and wherein said operations controller generates a plurality of control signals providing one control signal for each communications and control section.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 212 words

For use in the input/output (I/O) system of a programmable controller, a method for exchanging control and diagnostic information between a controlling element of the I/O system and a controlled element thereof which includes an output control device activated and deactivated in accordance with the control information, comprising the steps of: a) generating in the controlling element a train of pulses forming sequential pulse frames, each such frame including a series of pulses followed by a no-pulse time interval during which no pulses appear, the series of pulses being indicative of binary control information to be transmitted to said controlled element; b) transmitting said pulse train to said controlled element wherein each pulse of each frame initiates the generation of a clock pulse which follows each pulse of each frame by a preselected time interval to cause entry of said binary information into latching circuitry defining a controlled status for said controlled element and each no-pulse time interval initiates a synchronizing signal indicating the end of each frame and resetting the controlled element; c) generating in the controlled element a multi-bit diagnostic signal indicative of operating parameters related to the controlled element; d) transmitting said multi-bit diagnostic signal to said controlling element in frames simultaneously with each frame of said pulse train.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 212 words

For use in the input/output (I/O) system of a programmable controller, a method for exchanging control and diagnostic information between a controlling element of the I/O system and a controlled element thereof which includes an output control device activated and deactivated in accordance with the control information, comprising the steps of: a) generating in the controlling element a train of pulses forming sequential pulse frames, each such frame including a series of pulses followed by a no-pulse time interval during which no pulses appear, the series of pulses being indicative of binary control information to be transmitted to said controlled element; b) transmitting said pulse train to said controlled element wherein each pulse of each frame initiates the generation of a clock pulse which follows each pulse of each frame by a preselected time interval to cause entry of said binary information into latching circuitry defining a controlled status for said controlled element and each no-pulse time interval initiates a synchronizing signal indicating the end of each frame and resetting the controlled element; c) generating in the controlled element a multi-bit diagnostic signal indicative of operating parameters related to the controlled element; d) transmitting said multi-bit diagnostic signal to said controlling element in frames simultaneously with each frame of said pulse train.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 14 wherein the multi-bit diagnostic signal is updated on each frame of said pulse train.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-03-03	1995-09-02	1996-03-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-03-03	1999-09-02	2000-03-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-03-03	2003-09-02	2004-03-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Programmable controller input/output communications system

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