Input/output module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9532479-B2
Application number	US-201314061941-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2013
Priority date	Oct 26, 2012
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

An input/output module is configured to achieve at least one of a function of acquiring a measurement signal from a measurement target and a function of outputting data. The input/output module includes a casing, a rotational connector disposed on the casing, the rotational connector including an arc-shaped notch, the rotational connector being configured to interlock with a connection mechanism of a base to serve as a rotation point so that the input/output module is rotatable to get connected to the base and a latch-shaped fixer configured to fit into a groove formed in at least one of an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface when the input/output module is pushed into a slot having the upper inner surface and the lower inner surface to get connected.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An input/output module which is configured to achieve at least one of a function of acquiring a measurement signal from a measurement target and a function of outputting data, the input/output module comprising:
a casing;
a first positioning rib and a second positioning rib disposed on right and left surfaces of the casing, respectively, the input/output module being pushed into a slot having an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface to get connected;
a rotational connector disposed on the casing, the rotational connector comprising an arc-shaped notch, the rotational connector being configured to interlock with a connection mechanism of a base to serve as a rotation point so that the input/output module is rotatable to get connected to the base; and
a latch-shaped fixer configured to fit into a groove formed in at least one of the upper inner surface and the lower inner surface when the input/output module is pushed into the slot to get connected,
wherein each of the first positioning rib and the second positioning rib comprises a first region which has a first height and functions as a positioner in right and left directions when thicknesses of guide walls formed to the right and left of the slot do not vary, and a second region which has a second height higher than the first height and functions as a positioner in the right and left directions when the thicknesses of the guide walls are narrowed in an opening direction of the slot.

2. The input/output module according to claim 1 , wherein the rotational connector is disposed in an upper or a lower portion of the contact surface of the casing with the base, and the second positioning rib in the left surface of the casing and the first positioning rib in the right surface of the casing are disposed at positions at which distances from the rotation point to the second positioning rib in the left surface and the first positioning rib in the right surface are different and the second positioning rib in the left surface and the first positioning rib in the right surface do not overlap each other.

3. The input/output module according to claim 1 , wherein when a width of the slot is larger than a width of the input/output module, an adapter with a thickness fitting to a difference between the width of the input/output module and the width of the slot is mountable on a side surface of the casing.

4. The input/output module according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a base contact configured to enable the input/output module to independently stand vertically in cooperation with another base contact of the base when the input/output module is connected to the base.

5. The input/output module according to claim 4 , wherein a space is formed in a lower portion by the base contact of the input/output module and the other base contact of the base when the input/output module independently stands vertically.

6. The input/output module according to claim 4 , wherein the base contact of the input/output module comprises a screwing member with a shape fitted into a positioning enclosure formed in a lower side of the lower inner surface of the slot when the input/output module is pushed into the slot to get connected.

7. The input/output module according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a connector configured to electrically connect with the base,
wherein the connector comprises a ground line, a power line, and a signal line which are arranged upwardly in their order when the rotational connector is disposed in a lower portion of the contact surface of the casing with the base, and the connector comprises the ground line, the power line, and the signal line which are arranged downwardly in their order when the rotational connector is disposed in an upper portion of the contact surface of the casing with the base.

8. The input/output module according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a long plate of which one end is fixed, the long plate being disposed on at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the casing,
wherein the latch-shaped fixer is disposed on the long plate, and
wherein the long plate comprises a supporter which is closer to the contact surface of the casing with the base than the latch-shaped fixer and is configured to serve as a rotation point, and a pusher for unfixing the input/output module from the slot, and the pusher is disposed farther from the contact surface of the casing with the base than the latch-shaped fixer.

9. An input/output module which is configured to achieve at least one of a function of acquiring a measurement signal from a measurement target and a function of outputting data, the input/output module comprising:
a casing; and
a first positioning rib and a second positioning rib disposed on right and left surfaces of the casing, respectively, the input/output module being pushed into a slot having an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface to get connected,
wherein each of the first positioning rib and the second positioning rib comprises a first region which has a first height and functions as a positioner in right and left directions when thicknesses of guide walls formed to the right and left of the slot do not vary, and a second region which has a second height higher than the first height and functions as a positioner in the right and left directions when the thicknesses of the guide walls are narrowed in an opening direction of the slot,
the first region is disposed higher than the second region in a height direction of the casing, or the first region is disposed closer to the contact surface of the casing with a base than the second region.

10. The input/output module according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a rotational connector disposed on the casing, the rotational connector comprising an arc-shaped notch, the rotational connector being configured to interlock with a connection mechanism of the base to serve as a rotation point so that the input/output module is rotatable to get connected to the base; and
a latch-shaped fixer configured to fit into a groove formed in at least one of an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface when the input/output module is pushed into the slot to get connected.

Assignees

• Yokogawa Electric Corp

Inventors

• Hamada Takayuki
• Morita Akio
• Fujitani Yuusuke
• Yoshida Ken-Ichi

Classifications

• H05K7/1474

  Mounting of modules, e.g. on a base or rail or wall · CPC title

• G06F1/1632

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title

• H05K7/1468 Primary

  Mechanical features of input/output (I/O) modules · CPC title