DE102020121644A1 - Modular input and output station for an industrial automation system and/or industrial IoT system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular input and output station for an industrial automation system and/or industrial IoT system with a head station (3) and a number of modules (5) arranged in a row, with a station bus (4) for data exchange with the head station (3). head-end station (3) coupled to the modules (5), and wherein a further data transmission path is formed between at least two of the modules (5) or at least one module (5) and the head-end station (3), via which direct data transmission between the at least two Modules (5) or at least one module (5) and the head station (3) is enabled. The modular input and output station is characterized in that the further data transmission path is designed as a station network (7) and is set up to transfer data between the at least two modules (5) or at least one module (5) and the head station (3). to be transmitted via the station bus (4). The invention further relates to a method for transmitting data between at least two modules (5) or at least one module (5) and the head station (3) of a modular input and output station, and a module (5) or a head-end station (3) suitable for carrying out the method.

Description

The invention relates to a modular input and output station for an industrial automation system and/or an industrial IoT (Internet of Things) system with a head station and a number of modules arranged in a row, with a station bus coupling the head station to the modules for data exchange with the head station. and wherein a further data transmission path is additionally formed between at least two of the modules or at least one module and the head station, via which direct data transmission between the at least two modules or at least one module and the head station is made possible. The invention also relates to a method for transmitting data between at least two modules or at least one module and the head station of a modular input and output station, and a module suitable for carrying out the method or a head station suitable for carrying out the method.

In industrial automation systems, especially in Industry 4.0 systems, or industrial IoT systems, also called IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) systems, fieldbuses or wireless or wired (Ethernet) networks are often used to transmit control data and/or Measured values used between a central and several decentralized control computers and field devices. Often not every single field device is connected directly to the fieldbus or Industrial Ethernet network, but a modular input and output station mentioned at the beginning is used, which makes it possible to couple a number of input and output modules to a fieldbus/network connection. These input and output modules are known in a large number of different configurations, for example as modules that provide digital and/or analog input and/or output channels, or modules that are designed as signal converters, relay modules, counter modules, interface modules, etc. Taken together, the system consisting of the coupler and the connected modules represents an example of a modular input and output station mentioned at the beginning.

A so-called radio coupler, Ethernet coupler or fieldbus coupler, also known as a gateway or head station, is used, which converts the radio, network or fieldbus protocol to a mostly proprietary protocol of an internal backplane bus of an input and output station and which enables the majority of the To couple input and output modules to the external network and/or fieldbus via the backplane bus. The backplane bus is also referred to as a station bus or can be designed as a station network.

In an alternative embodiment, a modular input and output station can also be set up with a control computer as the head station. In such a case, the modules can be coupled directly to the control computer.

With regard to a physical configuration of such a modular input and output station, various designs are known. A particularly flexible structure is achieved if both the head-end station and the modules that can be connected are designed as disks that can be lined up in a row. The panes can be mechanically connected to one another and/or placed on a top-hat rail or a comparable carrier. The head-end station and the modules make contact with one another when they are lined up, with physically and/or logically continuous data and power supply buses being formed across a number of modules. One advantage of this system, in addition to flexibility, is its compact and space-saving design, which only takes up the space required for the modules that are actually required.

A modular input and output station of the type mentioned is, for example, from the publication DE 200 15 758 U1 famous. In this arrangement, a power supply bus and a data bus, also known as the station bus, run between the head-end station and each of the modules in a row. The station bus is used for bidirectional data transmission between the head-end station and the individual modules in order to control modules from the head-end station or to read data from the modules into the head-end station for further processing.

In addition, in the system mentioned, another bus system runs between the modules, which can be implemented by means of an electrical line or an optical connection. The additional bus system, also known as the sub-bus system, forms an additional data transmission path and enables data to be exchanged between the individual modules without resorting to the station bus. An advantage of this arrangement is that data is exchanged between the individual modules independently of clocking of the station bus, which increases the data rate between the modules. A faster exchange of data between individual modules can be advantageous, for example, if data recorded by one of the modules is first preprocessed by another module or evaluated in real time only a smaller amount of data is subsequently transmitted to the head-end station.

A disadvantage of the arrangement is that an additional bus with bus lines and corresponding bus contacts or optical transmission paths must be formed between the modules in order to be able to make use of the possibility of rapid data exchange between the modules. This complicates the electromechanical structure of the individual modules. In addition, retrofitting existing modular input and output stations is made more difficult. Also, the sub-bus system cannot easily be expanded to a completely parallel station bus or station network with additional bandwidth.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a modular input and output station for an industrial automation system and/or an industrial IoT system and an operating method for such a modular input and output station, in which data transmission between at least two of the Modules or at least one module and the head station is possible independently of data transmission on the station bus, without separate data lines being available for this. A further object is to create a module or a head station of such an input and output station, by means of which data can be transmitted independently of the time structure of the station bus.

This object is achieved by a modular input and output station, a module or a head station and an operating method for a modular input and output station with the features of the respective independent claim. Advantageous refinements and developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

An inventive input and output station of the type mentioned is characterized in that the additional data transmission path is designed as a station network and is set up to transmit data between at least two modules or at least one module and the head station via the station bus. This station network is "virtual" in that it does not use its own physical lines, but uses the physical station bus. Nevertheless, it represents a transmission path that is independent of the station bus in terms of logic and protocol.

A "station network" is to be understood as a network that extends over parts of the input and output station or the entire input and output station. Due to the configuration as a network, separate point-to-point connections can be set up between the participating modules with one another or with the head-end station. Direct data transmission between two of the modules or also between at least one of the modules and the head station is thus made possible via the station network.

• Es wird ein virtuelles Stationsnetzwerk zwischen mindestens zwei Modulen oder mindestens einem Modul und der Kopfstation über den Stationsbus ausgebildet und es werden Daten zwischen den mindestens zwei Modulen oder mindestens einem Modul und der Kopfstation über das Stationsnetzwerk außerhalb eines physikalisch und logischen Protokolls der Übertragung von Daten zwischen der Kopfstation und den Modulen auf dem Stationsbus übertragen.

Analogously, a method according to the invention has the following steps:

• A virtual station network is formed between at least two modules or at least one module and the head station via the station bus and data is transferred between the at least two modules or at least one module and the head station via the station network outside of a physical and logical protocol for the transmission of data between of the head station and the modules on the station bus.

In an advantageous embodiment of the input and output station or the method, the station bus transmits data via two data channels, each data channel being set up for one transmission direction and each data channel being set up for differential data transmission using two lines. The station network is then also set up for differential data transmission, with the data channels each serving as one of two lines. The differential channel of the differential data transmission of the station network is preferably applied to the lines of the data channels of the station bus with the aid of a coupling network.

The station network is preferably set up for the transmission of data according to the SPE standard (Single Pair Ethernet).

A module according to the invention or a head station according to the invention of a modular input and output station for an industrial automation system and/or an industrial IoT system have a station network connection, which is coupled to the station bus via coupling networks, and are used to carry out a previously described method set up. The advantages described in connection with the method and the input and output station result.

• 1, 2 jeweils eine industrielle Automatisierungsanlage in einem schematischen Blockschaltbild;
• 3 ein detaillierteres Blockschaltbild zur datentechnischen Kopplung zweier Module der industriellen Automatisierungsanlage gemäß 1;
• 4 ein detaillierteres Blockschaltbild zur datentechnischen Kopplung eines Moduls mit einer Kopfstation der industriellen Automatisierungsanlage gemäß 2; und
• 5 eine Ausgestaltung eines Koppelnetzwerks zur Nutzung in einer Automatisierungsanlage gemäß den 1 bis 4.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment with the aid of figures. The figures show:

• 1 , 2 each an industrial automation system in a schematic block diagram;
• 3 according to a more detailed block diagram for data-technical coupling of two modules of the industrial automation system 1 ;
• 4 according to a more detailed block diagram for data-technical coupling of a module with a head station of the industrial automation system 2 ; and
• 5 an embodiment of a coupling network for use in an automation system according to 1 until 4 .

1 shows a schematic representation of a possible structure of an industrial automation system. It is noted that the transmission of data via the station network described below can also be used in industrial IoT systems.

The automation system has a control computer 1, which is connected here via a field bus 2 to a head-end station 3 of a modular input/output station for exchanging data with it. The field bus 2 can be designed according to a known standard such as Profibus, Profinet or EtherCAT.

In this case, the head-end station 3 is designed as a fieldbus coupler, which converts data exchanged via the fieldbus 2 to a preferably serial station bus 4 . Modules 5 are coupled to head-end station 3 via station bus 4 .

In addition to the station bus 4, which in this exemplary embodiment is only used for the transmission of data, there can be another bus, not shown here, for the power supply of the modules 5 and/or the head station 3. Additional power supply modules are then provided for the feeding in of supply current, which can be arranged at the end of the input/output station shown or also between modules 5 or between the head station 3 and the modules 5 . It is also conceivable that a power supply unit is integrated into the head-end station 3 .

The modules 5 can be connection or function modules, for example input/output modules (I/O modules). Input and/or output connections 6 in FIG 1 indicated in various of the modules 5. Measurement and control signals, for example, are exchanged with the system to be controlled via the connections 6 . The connections 6 can also be network connections that enable a connection to another data network.

The station bus 4, which is usually proprietary in terms of its protocol, takes on data communication only between the head station 3 and the connected modules 5 in conventional designs of modular input/output systems. In order to be able to connect all modules 5 to the head station 3 in terms of data technology, some types of the station bus 4, high-speed transmission of time-critical information may not be possible.

In order to be able to exchange data between different modules 5 at a higher speed and independently of a time structure of the protocol on the station bus 4 nevertheless or, if necessary, in addition to the station bus 4, a station network 7 is formed, which different modules 5, in the example shown the three modules 5 directly connected to the head-end station 3, with each other in terms of data technology.

According to the application, the station network 7 is designed as a virtual station network 7 to which no separate data lines are assigned. Instead, according to the application, a physical transmission takes place via data lines of the station bus 4, but without using the protocol of the station bus 4 logically. The station network 7 is preferably used with a protocol that allows the construction of a network.

2 shows a further development of the industrial automation system 1 . The basic structure of the system corresponds to the 2 that out 1 , but with the difference that the station network 7 in the example of 2 extends into the head-end station 3. The head-end station 3 is thus connected to the three modules 5 on the left not only via the station bus 4, but also via the station network 7 for data exchange.

A possible structure of modules 5 or modules 5 and head-end station 3, with which this is possible, are described below in connection with the 3 until 5 explained in more detail.

In 3 two modules 5 of the input/output station coupled to one another via the virtual station network 7 are shown—also in the form of a block circuit diagram. The station bus 4 is physically formed by a 4-line bus, two lines each forming a data channel 4a, b, which is provided for the transmission of data in one direction.

Within each data channel 4a, b, ie in each data direction, a low-voltage difference signal transmitted via two lines is used for data transmission, for example as a LVDS signal (LVDS - Low Voltage Differential Signaling). For this purpose, data to be processed within each module 5 are output from a bus connection with data connections 41 via differential drivers 42 to the station bus 4 or received via differential receivers 43 .

On the (in the 3 ) Data supplied to the left side of each module 5 via the data channel 4a are processed by the bus connection 40 and forwarded to the right side via the data channel 4a to the next module 5. Conversely, the module from the right (in the 3 ) processed via the data channel 4b supplied data from the bus connection 40 and forwarded to the right side via the data channel 4a to the next module 5 (or to the head station 3). The data relating to the respective module 5 are decoupled from the bus connection and processed by a corresponding circuit within the module 5 .

For the transmission of data via the virtual station network 7 , a station network connection 70 is present in module 5 , which is fed to each side of module 5 via two station network data connections 71 with a station network amplifier 72 . In the example shown, this is designed as an LVDS transceiver, that is to say a transmitter and receiver module, in which one of the outputs or inputs is negated in relation to the other. The station network amplifier 72 is connected to the two data channels 4a, b of the station bus via a coupling network 73 with respective inputs and outputs in such a way that one data channel 4a, b with its two lines serves as a line of a differential channel of the station network 7 . This makes it possible to transmit data from the virtual station network 7 via the station bus 4 without this data transmission physically interfering with one another. Accordingly, the logical data transmission via the virtual station network 7 can also be completely decoupled from that on the station bus 4 . A possible configuration of the coupling network 73 is shown in 5 shown.

In particular, transmissions can be implemented on the virtual station network 7 at different, preferably higher, data rates than would be possible on the station bus 4 when using data transmission via the head-end station 3 .

The virtual station network 7 and in particular its data connections 71 can follow the Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) standard. This enables a full duplex data exchange via the virtual station network 7. However, transmission can also be implemented according to other communication standards, in particular other Ethernet standards.

Due to the use of the station bus 4, modules 5, which form a virtual station network 7 among themselves, can be retrofitted into existing modular input and output stations.

In the schematic drawings of 1 and 2 the station bus 4 is shown as a continuous bus, which extends from the head station 3 to all modules 5. However, it is not the case that the differential data channels 4a, b of the station bus 4 are physically continued from one module to the next. Instead, differential data channels are used, as is also the case in 3 can be seen, constructed between adjacent modules 5 in each case. For the use of the virtual station network 7 this means that the additionally impressed information on the station bus is only valid to the extent that a neighboring module 5 is also designed for processing the information on the station network 7 .

If a module 5 is used that is not designed according to the application, for example the one in 1 arranged on the far right at the input and output station, also ends the range of the station network 7. This advantageously means that a station network 7 can be set up and can be limited laterally without special measures if modules 5 designed according to the application are connected to modules that are not trained according to the application.

This also opens up the possibility of forming several sub-station networks 7 within an input/output station, which exist independently of one another in groups of modules 5 according to the application if these groups are separated from one another by modules 5 not according to the application.

As already mentioned, extends in the embodiment of 1 the station network 7 from the 1st module 5 to the right of the head station up to the penultimate module 5. 2 FIG. 12, on the other hand, shows an exemplary embodiment in which the station network 7 extends as far as the head-end station 3. FIG.

4 shows the head-end station 3 and the directly connected module 5 in such an embodiment in more detail in a block diagram analogous to FIG 3 .

That in the right part of the 4 The structure of the module 5 shown corresponds exactly to one of the two in 3 modules shown 5. The links in 4 shown head-end station 3 also has Like the module 5, it has a bus connection 40, which is connected to the station bus 4 via data connections 41 and driver 42 or receiver 43 and a coupling network 73 and makes it available as a bus master. Similarly to the module 5, the station network 7 is coupled to the data channels 4a and 4b via the coupling network 73. Within the head-end station 3 there is a station network connection 70 which is connected to the switching networks 73 via station network data lines 71 and a station network amplifier 72 .

In this way, the station network 7 is also available in the head-end station 3 as an additional data connection to the neighboring module 5 or, if applicable, further modules 5 according to the application.

In 5 An exemplary embodiment of a switching network 73 is shown in the form of a block diagram. Such a trained coupling network 73, for example, in the embodiments 3 and 4 be used.

Within the coupling network 73, the connections leading to the driver 42 or the receiver 43 are connected directly to the connections of the data channel 4a or 4b. The line leading to the station network amplifier 72 is connected through a capacitor 74 to a node between two resistors 75 . The resistors each lead to one of the connections of the data channel 4a or 4b. In this way, the signal of a line of the station network 7 is impressed evenly on both data lines of the respective data channel 4a, 4b. Each data channel 4a, 4b thus represents one of the differential lines of the station network 7.

reference list

1

control computer

2

Fieldbus / Industrial Ethernet network

3

head station

4

station bus

4a, b

data channel

40

bus connection

41

data port

42

Driver (for the station bus)

43

Receiver (of the station bus)

5

module

6

input/output port

7

virtual station network

70

station network connection

71

Station network data port

72

Station Network Booster

73

coupling network

74

capacitor

75

resistance

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 20015758 U1 [0006]

Claims (11)

Modular input and output station for an industrial automation system and/or industrial IoT system with a head station (3) and a number of modules (5) arranged in a row, with a station bus (4) connecting the head station (3) for data exchange with the head station (3) coupled to the modules (5), and between at least two of the modules (5) or at least one module (5) and the head-end station (3) there is also a further data transmission path, via which direct data transmission between the at least two modules (5 ) or at least one module (5) and the head-end station (3), characterized in that the further data transmission path is in the form of a station network (7) and is set up to transmit data between the at least two modules (5) or between the at least to transmit a module (5) and the head station (3) via the station bus (4). Modular input and output station claim 1 , in which the station bus (4) transmits data via two data channels (4a, 4b), each data channel (4a, 4b) being set up for one transmission direction and each data channel (4a, b) being set up for differential data transmission using two lines is. Modular input and output station claim 2 , in which the station network (7) is also set up for differential data transmission, the data channels (4a, 4b) each serving as one of two lines. Modular input and output station claim 3 , in which the differential channel of the differential data transmission of the station network (7) is applied to the lines of the data channels (4a, 4b) of the station bus (4) using a coupling network (73). Modular input and output station according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , wherein several independent sub-station networks are formed. Modular input and output station according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , whereby several station networks are combined to form a superordinate station network. Modular input and output station according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , in which the station network (7) is set up for the transmission of data according to the SPE standard. Method for the transmission of data between at least two modules (5) or at least one module (5) and the head station (3) of a modular input and output station for an industrial automation system and / or industrial IoT system, the input and output station a head-end station (3) and a number of modules (5) arranged in a row, and wherein a station bus (4) couples the head-end station (3) to the modules (5) for data exchange with the head-end station (3), with the following steps: - forming a virtual station network (7) between the at least two modules (5) or at least one module (5) and the head station (3) via the station bus (4); and - Transmission of data between the at least two modules (5) or at least one module (5) and the head station (3) via the station network (7) outside of a physical and logical protocol of the transmission of data between the head station (3) and the modules (5) on the station bus (4). procedure after claim 8 , in which the station bus (4) has two data channels (4a, 4b) via which data are transmitted differentially via two lines each, each of the data channels being used as a differential line for the virtual station network (7). Module (5) of a modular input and output station for an industrial automation system and/or industrial IoT system, wherein the input and output station has a head station (3) to which a number of modules (5) can be stacked, and wherein for data exchange with the head-end station (3), a station bus (4) couples the head-end station (3) to the modules (5), characterized in that the module (5) has a station network connection (70) which, via coupling networks (73), the station bus (4) is coupled, and that the module (5) for performing a method according to claim 8 or 9 is set up. Head station (3) of a modular input and output station for an industrial automation system and/or industrial IoT system, a number of modules (5) being stackable on the head station (3), and a station bus (4) connecting the head station for data exchange (3) coupled to the modules (5), characterized in that the head station (3) has a station network connection (70) which is coupled to the station bus (4) via coupling networks (73), and in that the head station (3 ) to carry out a method according to claim 8 or 9 is set up.

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