Automatic initialization routine in an automation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11159369-B2
Application number	US-201916274032-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2019
Priority date	Aug 12, 2016
Publication date	Oct 26, 2021
Grant date	Oct 26, 2021

Abstract

A method for initializing a system that includes a base module and a first and a second expansion module, wherein the first and the second expansion modules are electrically, detachably connected to the base module and each have one or more electrical peripheral interfaces. The method includes the execution of an initialization routine by the system. The initialization routine includes the querying of the first and the second expansion modules with regard to description data that include characteristics of the electrical peripheral interfaces and an identifier of the first and the second expansion modules, the storage of a data structure that includes the queried description data, and the provision of the data structure to a configuration device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for initializing a system that includes a base module and a first expansion module and a second expansion module, wherein the first and the second expansion modules are electrically, detachably connected to the base module and each of the first and second expansion modules have one or more electrical peripheral interfaces, the method comprising:
executing an initialization routine by the system prior to configuration of electrical devices connected to the one or more electrical peripheral interfaces of the first expansion module or the second expansion module, the initialization routine comprising:
querying of the first and the second expansion modules, by the base module, with regard to description data that include characteristics of the one or more electrical peripheral interfaces and an identifier of the one or more first and the second expansion modules,
querying, by the system, a network having network devices connected to the base module, via a sending and receiving of data packets over a field bus connecting the network devices,
identifying, by the system, one of the network devices as the configuration device via the sending and/or receiving of the data packets;
storing, at the base module, a data structure that includes the queried description data;
providing the data structure to a configuration device, wherein the providing of the data structure to the configuration device includes a transmission of the data structure to the configuration device via the sending of the data packets to the configuration device;
querying a server for further information about the first and the second expansion modules by the configuration device;
determining, by the configuration device, a configuration for the electrical devices connected to the first and second expansion modules via the one or more electrical peripheral interfaces; and
transmitting the configuration from the configuration device to the first and second expansion modules,
wherein the configuration includes control information that defines communication between the first and second expansion modules and the electrical devices, the configuration being determined based on the queried description data, the configuration defining one or more senders and one or more receivers for the electrical devices.

2. The method for initializing a system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
executing a configuration routine by the configuration device, based on the queried description data received at the configuration device, the configuration routine comprising:
defining, automatically by the configuration device, the one or more receivers of status information, wherein the status information relates to analog or digital signals that are received through one or more of the peripheral interfaces; and
defining, automatically by the configuration device, the one or more senders of control information, wherein the control information relates to analog or digital signals that are to be sent through one or more of the peripheral interfaces.

3. The method for initializing a system according to claim 2 , further comprising:
executing an operating routine by the system, the operating routine comprising:
sending the status information to the one or more defined receivers; and
receiving the control information from the one or more defined senders; and
controlling a current and/or a voltage that is applied to one or more of the peripheral interfaces based on the control information, the configuration for the electrical devices determining where the control information from the one or more defined senders is sent.

4. The method for initializing a system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
checking whether one of the queried expansion modules has a peripheral interface that is intended and equipped to send and to receive data packets through a data line connected to the peripheral interface;
querying the peripheral interface with regard to at least one of the electrical devices via the sending and/or receiving of the data packets through the peripheral interface, if one of the queried expansion modules does have a peripheral interface that is intended and equipped to send and to receive data packets through a data line connected to the peripheral interface; and
storing, in the data structure, device information about the at least one of the electrical devices with which data about the peripheral interface is exchanged via the sending and/or receiving of the data packets.

5. The method for initializing a system according to claim 4 , wherein the device information includes unique identifiers and/or addresses and/or information about digital and/or analog inputs and outputs of the devices.

6. The method for initializing a system according to claim 1 , wherein the base module and the first and second expansion modules are connected through a bus system arranged in a ring topology, and wherein the queried description data include addresses of the first and second expansion modules.

7. A system comprising:
a base module that comprises a central processing unit, a memory, and a field bus interface;
a first expansion module and a second expansion module that are electrically, detachably connected to the base module in a ring topology, the first and second expansion module having one or more electrical peripheral interfaces connecting to one or more electrical devices;
a configuration device disposed within an external network connected to the base module via the field bus interface, the configuration device determining a configuration based on description data for the one or more electrical devices and transmitting the configuration to the electrical devices, the configuration including control information defining where analog or digital signals are sent between the one or more electrical devices,
wherein the system is adapted to execute an initialization routine, and, during the initialization routine:
to query the first and the second expansion modules for the description data, wherein the description data include characteristics of the electrical peripheral interfaces and an identifier of the first and the second expansion modules;
to query the external network having network devices, via the sending and/or receiving of data packets, to all the network devices;
to identify one of the network devices as the configuration device via the sending and/or receiving of the data packets;
to store a data structure on the base module that includes the queried description data; and
to provide the data structure to the configuration device by transmitting the data structure to the configuration device via the data packets sent to the configuration device, the configuration device determining the configuration based on the description data for the one or more electrical devices; and
to transmit the configuration from the configuration device to the first and second expansion modules,
wherein the control information defines communication between the first and second expansion modules and the electrical devices, the configuration defining one or more senders and one or more receivers for the electrical devices.

8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the system in operation is additionally equipped:
to send status information regarding the analog or digital signals received at one or more of the peripheral interfaces to one or more receivers based on the configuration from the configuration device; and
to control a current and/or a voltage that is applied to one or more of the peripheral interfaces based on the received control information.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the system receives information from the configuration

Assignees

• Wago Verwaltungs Gmbh

Inventors

• Gorka Juergen

Classifications

• G05B19/0426 Primary

  Programming the control sequence · CPC title

• H04L41/0806 Primary

  for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play · CPC title

• G06F13/374

  using a self-select method with individual priority code comparator · CPC title

• H04L41/0869

  Validating the configuration within one network element · CPC title

• H04L41/0853

  by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information · CPC title