Programmable controller with module identification and diagnostic mechanism

Claim 2

A functional module for exchanging data with a processor of a programmable controller over a set of buses which include a data bus, an address bus, a READ signal conductor, a WRITE signal conductor, a module enable signal conductor, and identification enable signal conductor, the functional module comprising: means for storing a plurality of data bytes identifying characteristics of the functional module; and means for transmitting the data identifying characteristics of the functional module over the data bus to the processor in response to logically true signals on the module enable signal conductor and the identification enable signal conductor, logically false signals on the READ signal conductor and WRITE signal conductor, and an address signal on the address bus that identifies one of the plurality of data bytes to transmit.

Claim 3

The functional module as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for storing contains a byte, the bits of which indicate whether the module is functional and whether predefined error conditions have occurred.

Claim 4

The functional module as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for storing contains a byte which indicates which of a plurality of methods for exchanging data over the data bus with the processor can be performed by the functional module.

Claim 5

The functional module as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for storing contains at least one byte that identifies the type of functional module.

Claim 6

The functional module as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for storing contains a byte which specifies a version designation of the identified type of functional module.

Claim 7

The functional module as recited in claim 1 wherein the set of buses further includes a control line for carrying a signal which indicates the presence of a module; and said means for transmitting the data identifying characteristics of the functional module further transmits the signal which indicates the presence of a module over the control line in response to the logically true signal on the module enable signal conductor.

Claim 8

A functional module for exchanging data with a processor of a programmable controller over a set of signal lines which include a data bus, a READ signal conductor, a WRITE signal conductor, a module enable signal conductor, and a data transfer control signal conductor; the functional module comprising: means for storing data which data identify characteristics of the functional module; a first means for transmitting data over the data bus in response to logically true signals on the READ signal conductor and the module enable signal conductor; and a second means for transmitting the data identifying characteristics of the module over the data bus to the processor in response to a logically true signal on the module enable signal conductor, logically false signals on the READ signal conductor and the WRITE signal conductor, and a predefined signal on the data transfer control signal conductor.

Claim 9

A functional module for exchanging data with a processor of a programmable controller over a set of signal lines which include a data bus, a READ signal conductor, a WRITE signal conductor, a module enable signal conductor, and a data transfer control signal conductor; the functional module comprising: means for storing data which data identify characteristics of the functional module; a first means for transmitting data over the data bus in response to logically true signals on the READ signal conductor and the module enable signal conductor; and a second means for transmitting the data identifying characteristics of the module over the data bus to the processor in response to a logically true signal on the module enable signal conductor, logically false signals on the READ signal conductor and the WRITE signal conductor, and a predefined signal on the data transfer control signal conductor.

Claim 10

The functional module as recited in claim 7 wherein: the set of signal lines further includes an address bus; said means for storing has a plurality of storage locations each being designated by a unique address; and said second means for transmitting responds to signals received from the address bus by obtaining from said means for storing a specific item of the indentifying characteristics of the functional module, which item is data to be transmitted over the data bus.

Claim 11

A functional module for exchanging data with a control program processor over a set of signal lines which include a data bus, a READ signal conductor, a WRITE signal conductor, a module enable signal conductor, and a data transfer control signal conductor; the functional module comprising: means for storing data identifying characteristics of the module; a means for receiving data from the data bus in response to logically true signals on the WRITE signal conductor and the module enable signal conductor; and a means for sending the data identifying characteristics of the module over the data bus to the processor in response to a logically true signal on the module enable signal conductor, logically false signals on the READ signal conductor and the WRITE signal conductor, and a predefined signal on the data transfer control signal conductor.

Claim 12

A functional module for exchanging data with a control program processor over a set of signal lines which include a data bus, a READ signal conductor, a WRITE signal conductor, a module enable signal conductor, and a data transfer control signal conductor; the functional module comprising: means for storing data identifying characteristics of the module; a means for receiving data from the data bus in response to logically true signals on the WRITE signal conductor and the module enable signal conductor; and a means for sending the data identifying characteristics of the module over the data bus to the processor in response to a logically true signal on the module enable signal conductor, logically false signals on the READ signal conductor and the WRITE signal conductor, and a predefined signal on the data transfer control signal conductor.

Claim 13

The functional module as recited in claim 9 wherein: the set of buses further includes an address bus; said means for storing has a plurality of storage locations each being designated by a unique address; and said means for sending responds to signals received from the address bus by obtaining from said means for storing a specific item of the indentifying characteristics of the functional module, which item is data to be transmitted over the data bus.

Claim 14

In a programmable controller for operating machinery in response to execution of a control program and having at least one functional module connected to the machinery, an improvement comprising: a chassis having a plurality of slots for supporting functional modules and a backplane with a data bus, a READ signal conductor, a WRITE signal conductor, a module enable signal conductor for each slot and a data transfer mode signal conductor, said chassis further including a means associated with each slot for connecting a functional module supported in that slot to the data bus and signal conductors; a backplane controller electrically coupled to the data bus and signal conductors of the backplane, and comprising: a) a first means for exchanging discrete bytes of data over the data bus with a given functional module by applying a logically true signal to the module enable signal conductor for a slot in which the given module is located, applying a logically true signal to one of the READ and WRITE signal conductors depending upon in which direction data is being exchanged, applying a logically false signal to the other of the READ and WRITE signal conductors, and applying a first logic level to the data transfer mode signal conductor; b) a second means for exchanging a file of data over the data bus with a selected functional module by applying a logically true signal to the module enable signal conductor for a slot in which the selected module is located, applying a logically true signal to one of the READ and WRITE signal conductors depending upon in which direction data is being exchanged, applying a logically false signal to the other of the READ and WRITE signal conductors, and applying a second logic level to the data transfer mode signal conductor; and c) a means for reading module characteristic data over the data bus from a chosen functional module by applying a logically true signal to the module enable signal conductor for a slot in which the chosen functional module is located, applying logically false signals to both the READ and WRITE signal conductors, and applying a predefined logic level to the data transfer mode signal conductor.

Claim 15

In a programmable controller for operating machinery in response to execution of a control program and having at least one functional module connected to the machinery, an improvement comprising: a chassis having a plurality of slots for supporting functional modules and a backplane with a data bus, a READ signal conductor, a WRITE signal conductor, a module enable signal conductor for each slot and a data transfer mode signal conductor, said chassis further including a means associated with each slot for connecting a functional module supported in that slot to the data bus and signal conductors; a backplane controller electrically coupled to the data bus and signal conductors of the backplane, and comprising: a) a first means for exchanging discrete bytes of data over the data bus with a given functional module by applying a logically true signal to the module enable signal conductor for a slot in which the given module is located, applying a logically true signal to one of the READ and WRITE signal conductors depending upon in which direction data is being exchanged, applying a logically false signal to the other of the READ and WRITE signal conductors, and applying a first logic level to the data transfer mode signal conductor; b) a second means for exchanging a file of data over the data bus with a selected functional module by applying a logically true signal to the module enable signal conductor for a slot in which the selected module is located, applying a logically true signal to one of the READ and WRITE signal conductors depending upon in which direction data is being exchanged, applying a logically false signal to the other of the READ and WRITE signal conductors, and applying a second logic level to the data transfer mode signal conductor; and c) a means for reading module characteristic data over the data bus from a chosen functional module by applying a logically true signal to the module enable signal conductor for a slot in which the chosen functional module is located, applying logically false signals to both the READ and WRITE signal conductors, and applying a predefined logic level to the data transfer mode signal conductor.

Claim 16

The programmable controller as recited in claim 11 wherein: the backplane of said chassis further includes an address bus; and said means for reading also applies, to the address bus, an address of a storage location in the chosen functional module at which is stored module characteristic data to be read.

Claim 17

The programmable controller as recited in claim 11 further comprising a given functional module electrically coupled to the backplane, and comprising: means for storing data identifying characteristics of the given functional module; a first means for transmitting data over the data bus in response to logically true signals on the READ signal conductor and the module enable signal conductor for a slot; and a second means for transmitting the data identifying characteristics of the given functional module over the data bus in response to a logically true signal on the module enable signal conductor for a slot in which the given functional module is located, logically false signals on both the READ and WRITE signal conductors, and the predefined logic level on the data transfer mode signal conductor.

Claim 18

The programmable controller as recited in claim 13 wherein: the backplane of said chassis further includes an address bus; said means for reading also applies an address to the address bus; and the given functional module has a plurality of storage locations in said means for storing, and said second means for transmitting reads data from a specific location in response an address received over the address bus.

Claim 19

The programmable controller as recited in claim 11 further comprising a given functional module electrically coupled to the backplane, and comprising: means for storing data identifying characteristics of the given functional module; means for receiving data from the data bus in response to logically true signals on the WRITE signal conductor and the module enable signal conductor for a slot; and means for sending the data identifying characteristics of the given functional module over the data bus in response to a logically true signal on the module enable signal conductor for a slot in which the given functional module is located, logically false signals on both the READ and WRITE signal conductors, and the predefined logic level on the data transfer mode signal conductor.

Claim 20

The programmable controller as recited in claim 15 wherein: the backplane of said chassis further includes an address bus; said means for reading also applies an address to the address bus; and the given functional module has a plurality of storage locations in said means for storing, and said means for sending reads data from a specific location in response to an address received over the address bus.

Claim 21

For a programmable controller with a processor module and at least one functional module in a chassis which has a plurality of slots for supporting functional modules and which connects the modules with a data bus, a READ signal conductor, a WRITE signal conductor, a module enable signal conductor for each slot, and a data transfer mode signal conductor; a method by which reading of characteristic data from a given functional module is initiated comprising: the processor module applying a logically true signal to the module enable signal conductor for a slot in which the given functional module is located; the processor module applying logically false signals to both the READ and WRITE signal conductors; and the processor module applying a predefined signal to the data transfer mode signal conductor.

Claim 22

For a programmable controller with a processor module and at least one functional module in a chassis which has a plurality of slots for supporting functional modules and which connects the modules with a data bus, a READ signal conductor, a WRITE signal conductor, a module enable signal conductor for each slot, and a data transfer mode signal conductor; a method by which reading of characteristic data from a given functional module is initiated comprising: the processor module applying a logically true signal to the module enable signal conductor for a slot in which the given functional module is located; the processor module applying logically false signals to both the READ and WRITE signal conductors; and the processor module applying a predefined signal to the data transfer mode signal conductor.

Claim 23

The method as recited in claim 17 wherein said chassis further includes an address bus; and further comprising the step of applying, to the address bus, an address of a storage location in the given functional module.