Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-12
2001-11-27
Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324063
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In automation technology, electronic control systems are used, in particular, for automating technical processes. Conventional electronic control installations have so-called decentralized (distributed) peripheral equipment. This entails electrical process signals being routed, for example from a central programmable computer unit, particularly a programmable controller, via a bus system to control installations having a decentralized design. Such electronic control systems, capable of having a decentralized design, no longer require, in particular, signal lines to be wired centrally in control (switchgear) cabinets, since decentralized, modular terminal blocks can be installed at any desired point in the process to be automated.
European Patent No. EP 0 323 579 describes a decentralized input/output module for electronic control systems. In the middle of this module, a central connector terminal box is provided. On both sides of the connector terminal box, insertion input and output modules can be attached in mirror symmetry around its center line. A plurality of plug connectors are provided on both sides of the central connector terminal box for contacting the input and output modules.
German Patent No. 44 38 806 describes a modular control installation, where connection blocks which are capable of being mounted side-by-side on mounting rails provide signal processing between field devices and an internal bus conductor. In this context, the internal bus conductor can be coupled to a higher-level field bus system. The modular control installation has fixed (modular) terminal blocks adapted to receive a plug-in electronic module. The removable electronic module is used, in particular, for signal processing purposes and is designed to be coupled to a bus system linked to a programmable controller.
The design described in German Patent No. 44 38 806 is disadvantageous because the layout of the terminal region requires a large area and is disorganized, and the attachable electronic module projects upwards to a large extent. Also, the terminal blocks, which lie one above the other in a number of rows, present an extremely confusing wiring appearance. This has the drawback of increasing the rate of wiring errors, and the time needed to plan and design wiring for the control installation.
SUMMARY
An object of the present invention is to provide a more advantageous decentralized module.
One advantage of the decentralized module, according to the present invention, for bringing together and distributing signal lines for electrical process signals is that the electronics can be arranged, in particular, in a flat basic module. This means that the decentralized module according to the present invention has a flat, low overall height. This is an advantage since, in process technology, the space requirement for electronic components, in particular, is an important parameter.
A further advantage is that there is a clear separation between the connection field for electrical interfaces for coupling to a databus, and the removable connection field having electrical connection means for signal lines. The module according to the present invention in this case enables wiring by colors, as is customary in design and planning, i.e., particularly the so-called laying of the signal lines on the basis of the so-called “color scheme”. Having a color association between signal lines and terminals makes it possible to build up so-called “fixed wiring” in minimal time, without necessitating additional, redundant visual inspections to check for proper wiring.
A further advantage is that the connection module for the signal lines can be removably attached, in particular latched, to the base module. This means that if there is a fault in the electronics, for example due to thermal overloading, the base module, located behind the connection module and having the electronic circuit arranged in it, is completely replaceable. In this context, the fixed wiring on the connection module is retained, eliminating the need for any time-consuming and error-prone rewiring of the signal lines. It is thus possible to replace the electronics of the decentralized module quickly.
A further advantage is the configuration in an example embodiment of the present invention of the termination panels in the form of cable channels. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the cable channels have (hinged) doors, which are able to swivel to cover the termination panels, the advantageous result being that only those terminal strips which are just about to be wired, for example, are exposed. The doors are labelled on the outside and inside to advantageously facilitate a rapid association between the inscribed text, the terminal strips and the corresponding signal lines.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4985845 (1991-01-01), Gotz et al.
patent: 5043847 (1991-08-01), Deinhardt et al.
patent: 5249979 (1993-10-01), Deinhardt et al.
patent: 5313372 (1994-05-01), Chabert et al.
patent: 5323296 (1994-06-01), Gasser et al.
patent: 89 10 111.1 (1989-11-01), None
patent: 39 32 005 (1990-04-01), None
patent: 92 18 583.5 (1994-10-01), None
patent: 44 10 171 (1995-04-01), None
patent: 44 38 806 (1996-03-01), None
patent: 296 07 525 (1996-08-01), None
patent: 0 323 579 (1989-07-01), None
patent: 0 536 560 (1993-04-01), None
patent: 0 550 324 (1993-07-01), None
patent: 0 710 064 (1996-05-01), None
Engineering & Automation (Siemens), “ALFA Tackles CIM”, 13 (1991) May/Jun., No. 3, pp. 32-35.
Patel Tulsidas
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Staas & Halsey , LLP
LandOfFree
Decentralized module for joining and distributing signal lines does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Decentralized module for joining and distributing signal lines, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Decentralized module for joining and distributing signal lines will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2575512