EP3777226A1

EP3777226A1 - Integrated communication unit

Info

Publication number: EP3777226A1
Application number: EP19710280.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dietmar Franke; Christian Bornschein; Marcus Tangermann
Original assignee: Port Industrial Automation GmbH
Current assignee: Port Industrial Automation GmbH
Priority date: 2018-02-22
Filing date: 2019-02-06
Publication date: 2021-02-17
Also published as: JP2021515508A; US20200409897A1; CN111727609A; WO2019161820A1; US11269800B2

Abstract

The invention relates to an integrated communication unit, comprising a housing (1), a motherboard (2), at least one RJ45 interface (3) and an SPI interface (4), wherein the motherboard (2) and the RJ45 interface (3) are accommodated in the housing (1). The housing (1) has at least one opening (5), the height and width thereof correspond with the RJ45 standard. The motherboard has a microcontroller (6), wherein the micro controller (6) has a middleware (7), and wherein by means of the RJ45 interface (3), a wired connection to an external control unit (8) can be provided. The SPI interface (4) can be coupled with a further SPI interface (9) of an application unit (8), wherein application data of the application unit (8) can be received by the SPI interface (4) and can be provided to the microcontroller by transmission. The application data can be processed by the microcontroller (6) and can be provided to an external control unit (10) by means of the RJ45 interface (3), wherein the integrated communication unit can be mounted on a printed circuit board of an application device (8) by means of THT (through hole technology) or SMT (surface mounted device).

Description

Integrated communication unit

The invention relates to an integrated communication unit, by means of which a connection of industrial applications and devices to the "Internet of Things" (loT) can be provided.

The term "Internet of Things" refers to the integration of physical and virtual objects in a universal digital network so that the objects can communicate independently via the Internet and act autonomously. In the industrial area of application, the loT thus enables cost and time-efficient production processes as well as sustainable quality management.

From the prior art, various ways are known to network industrial applications and devices.

The publication US 2017/0040737 A1 describes in this regard an industrial network module which can be mounted and dismounted on an actuator module. The actuator module in the present case comprises a driver, a controller and a decelerator. The network module has a housing with a plurality of through holes and a communication module, which is embedded in the housing.

The communication module comprises two control boards, a first connection, by means of which a current signal of an external device can be transmitted to the first control board, a second connection, by means of which a control signal of the external device can be transmitted to the first control board, and a third connection, by means of which the control signal of the external device can be applied to the actuator module. The second connection is designed as a plug-in screw connection, D-Sub- miniature, USB, RJ45, BNC or M12. The control signal of the external device is provided by means of the industrial network, which is called CANopen. CC-Link, PROFIBUS, EtherCAT, PROFINET or DeviceNet.

BESTATIGUNGSKOPIE In addition, document WO 2007/149669 A2 discloses a module which has a file on a first data memory which contains a data code and which has a firmware image on a second data memory, wherein the image contains a web application. Moreover, the module comprises a first interface, which is designed for data reception, as well as a processor, which assigns the received data to the data code, executes the web application and cooperates with external software to at least a part of the web page including the data to render.

Moreover, document CN 104852845 A describes an intelligent IoT gateway. The gateway has a processor which is electrically connected to a data preprocessing unit, a middleware processor unit, a multi-protocol processor unit and an initialization interface. By the gateway, the data entered via the corresponding data requirement can be pre-processed, pre-processed ^{'intermediate} data and results can be bought stores and the cache may be provided for data that is waiting for the communication channel distribution. Since the gateway performs numerous tasks of data preprocessing and data decoding, the load on the network should be considerably reduced, the transmission efficiency improved, and the load on the server also reduced.

The object of the present invention is to provide a solution by means of which a connection of industrial applications and devices to the Internet of Things is possible, which can be used for a variety of different applications and devices, which saves space with little layout and development effort into an existing System can be integrated, which dominates various fieldbus systems and allows the integration of a variety of protocols and which is also inexpensive to produce. The object is achieved by the features listed in claim 1 and al- ternativ by the features listed in claim 2. A preferred development results from the dependent claim.

The integrated communication unit according to the invention shows a solution, as in particular field devices or other applications can be integrated into a communication with little effort and high reliability. This is due to the fact that, in particular, field devices, such as, for example, units for detecting operating states, other sensors and actuators, are increasingly connected to applications and for this purpose each serves a flop CPU. The applications with host CPU are referred to below as application units.

The integrated communication unit has a housing, a main circuit board, at least one RJ45 interface and an SPI interface as basic elements.

The housing is designed so that the main circuit board and the RJ45 interface are accommodated in the housing. Furthermore, the housing has at least one opening. The height and width of the opening comply with the RJ45 standard. As RJ45 the known from the prior art standardized connector for telecommunications cabling is understood, with the standardization refers both to the design, as well as to the pin assignment. The at least one RJ45 interface is preferably designed as a socket.

The motherboard has a microcontroller. This microcontroller has middleware.

The SPI interface of the integrated communication unit is set up so that it can be coupled to a further SPI interface of an application unit. The SPI interface of the application unit and the application unit are not part of the communication unit according to the invention. That the SPI editing In the sense of the present application, the point of the integrated communication unit is set up for coupling to an SPI interface of an application unit in such a way that it can be coupled both logically and physically with such an SPI interface. Preferably, the physical coupling via a aufzulötende pin header, hereinafter referred to as pin header ago herge- s shares.

The SPI interface is understood to mean a serial peripheral interface, that is to say an interface for a synchronous serial data bus, with which digital circuits can be connected to one another.

The SPI interface of the integrated communication unit is set up in such a way that application data of the application unit can be received by it and can be transmitted to the microcontroller in a transferable manner.

Furthermore, the application data can then be processed by the microcontroller. The processed application data can be provided by means of the RJ45 interface of an external control unit. By means of the RJ45 interface, a cable-bound connection to an external control unit can be produced for this purpose. The external control unit is also not part of the communication unit according to the invention. The external control unit may preferably be a PLC unit (programmable logic controller).

The integrated communication unit is also designed to be mounted on a printed circuit board by means of THT (through hole technology) or SMT (surface-mounted technology).

The components of the integrated communication unit according to the invention interact, for example, as follows:

From the field device, for example a sensor, analog electrical signals are transmitted to the application unit, for example, and are transmitted by the application device. unit converted into digital signals. These digital signals are transmitted via the SPI interface of the application unit to the SPI interface of the integrated communication unit. These transmitted digital signals are the application data in the sense of the present invention. The application data are transferred further within the integrated communication unit to the microcontroller with its middleware and further processed there. As a result, the data are in the standard of a fieldbus protocol, so that they can be transmitted via the RJ45 interface and thus, for example, be received by a PLC unit and evaluated there. Physically, the output of the processed data from the integrated communication unit is realized by means of an RJ45 plug-in connection, preferably an RJ45 socket.

Furthermore, conversely, the integrated communication unit can receive fieldbus protocols, for example a PLC unit, via its RJ45 interface. After the transfer to the microcontroller with its middleware, the fieldbus protocols are processed so that, as a result, digital data, for example as command data, are present, which are then transferred from the latter to the SPI interface of the application unit after transmission to the SPI interface , The application unit can then convert these command data into such control signals whose format correspond to the respective field device, for example a Stellmo gate, and then execute a corresponding action from the field device.

The integrated communication module works real-time.

The otherwise required by the prior art processing of the fieldbus protocols by the application unit, which performs there a flop processor, is taken over by the integrated communication unit. It has surprisingly been found that with the communication unit according to the invention, the following two effects are achieved at the same time with relatively little device complexity: Firstly, a very high relief of the application unit is achieved, so that there significantly lower resources, especially in terms of processor power, memory, flash and any external components must be used.

Secondly, adaptations of the application unit to the applied fieldbus system can largely be dispensed with since the integrated communication unit is already designed such that it can handle the different fieldbus systems

CANopen, PROFINET, EthernetIP, POWERLINK, EtherCAT can both detect and process and the data format to be transmitted and received at its SPI interface is independent of the fieldbus system.

This has the advantage that, by means of the communication unit according to the invention, smaller application units can also be upgraded as communication subscribers in which this would otherwise not be possible. Smaller application units are understood to be application units in which the host CPU, hereinafter also referred to as host processor, or the working memory have so few resources that a direct connection to a fieldbus would not be possible.

Another particular advantage lies in the modularity of the integrated communication unit according to the invention. The modularity is present as physical modularity as well as functional modularity. Physical modularity is understood to mean that the integrated communication module is present as a self-contained module that can be electrically connected to an application unit at its SPI interface as well as to its printed circuit board. Functional modularity means that all processes for converting data from the application unit into the fieldbus protocols and vice versa take place in the integrated communication unit and the integrated communication unit is externally application-side via the SPI interface, application-neutral and fieldbus-side via the RJ45 interface. Interface fieldbus neutral behaves. Due to the application neutrality and fieldbus neutrality, application units or field devices for which the integrated communication unit can be used can therefore be, in particular, all automation devices, sensors, actuators, gateways, small controllers, PLC units, provided that their host processes have an SPI status. Interface features.

In an alternative solution according to claim 2, the integrated communication unit has as basic elements a motherboard, at least one RJ45 interface and an SPI interface, wherein the motherboard has a microcontroller and wherein the microcontroller has a middleware,

wherein a wired connection to an external control unit can be provided by means of the RJ45 interface, wherein the SPI interface can be coupled to a further SPI interface of an application unit, wherein application data of the application unit can be received by the SPI interface and sent to the Transferable microcontroller and the application data from the microcontroller can be processed and provided by means of the RJ45 interface of an external control unit and wherein the integrated communication unit by means of THT (through hole technology) or SMT (surface-mounted technology) can be mounted on a circuit board.

The solution according to claim 2 differs from the solution according to claim 1, characterized in that the integrated communication unit is formed without a housing. For all other features and their interaction and the advantages apply to the solution according to claim 2, the description sections to claim 1 in a corresponding manner.

In an advantageous development, the integrated communication unit has a further RJ45 interface. The RJ45 interface and the further RJ45 interface, collectively referred to as RJ45 interfaces, are designed to serially connect an external control unit or a further integrated communication unit to the integrated communication unit. The further development advantageously makes it possible to connect the integrated communication unit to a physical configuration of the fieldbus cabling as a series connection in a chain, also referred to below as a daisy chain.

Thus, the integrated communication unit can be arranged universally in a daisy chain. It is possible to connect an external control unit to one of the two RJ45 interfaces and another communication unit to the other of the two RJ45 interfaces. However, it is also possible to connect a further integrated communication unit to both RJ45 interfaces. Finally, it is also possible to connect only one of the two RJ45 interfaces to an external control unit and not to occupy the other of the two RJ45 interfaces.

The integrated communication unit according to this development is also referred to below as a 2-port module, as well as the integrated communication unit in its basic form with only one RJ45 interface as a 1-port module.

The invention will be described as an embodiment with reference to

1 schematic representation of an integrated communication unit with an RJ45 interface (1-port module)

2 schematic representation of an integrated communication unit with two RJ45 interfaces (2-port module)

3 shows a perspective view of a design of the integrated communication unit with an RJ45 interface (1-port module)

4 perspective view of a design of the integrated communication unit with two RJ45 interfaces (2-port module)

Fig 5a block diagram (2-port module) Fig. 5b Block diagram (2-port module)

(In English-language-based terminology, identical in content to Fig. 5a) explained in more detail.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the integrated communication unit has only one RJ45 interface 3. It is a 1-port module.

1 shows the arrangement of the integrated communication unit between an application unit 8 and an external control unit 10. In the exemplary embodiment, a field device 10, in the present case a sensor, is connected to the application unit 8. The sensor transmits analog signals to the application unit 8, which are further processed there to digital signals.

As shown in FIG. 1, the integrated communication unit in its basic construction on a housing 1 with an opening 5, wherein the housing in the exemplary embodiment is a sheet-metal bent stamped part. Received from the housing is a main circuit board 2, which carries a microcontroller 6 as a one-chip computer system. The microcontroller has a software layer as middleware 7. The middleware 7 in the exemplary embodiment is an execution layer in which functions of the fieldbus protocol are prepared by software and implemented by the protocol stack. Also here is the receipt of raw data from the application unit. In this case, the following processes are carried out by the middleware 7.

For the fieldbus-side connection, the integrated communication module in the exemplary embodiment has an RJ45 interface 3, designed as an RJ45 socket, with which field bus protocols can be received from the fieldbus line 12 or transmitted to them. The opening 5 of the housing 1 is adapted in size and shape to the RJ45 socket. In the exemplary embodiment, a star cable Development of the field bus 12 before. The field bus line 12 leads to an external control unit 10, which is an SPS unit in the exemplary embodiment.

On the application side, the integrated communication module has an SPI interface 3. This is also arranged in the embodiment in its physical training on the motherboard 2. Functionally, the SPI interface 3 in the exemplary embodiment Ausfüh also connected to an SPI interface 9 of the application unit 8. Electrically, the connection is made via a pin header.

The application unit 8 with its SPI interface 9, the field device 13, the field bus line 12 and the external control unit 10 are not part of the inte grated communication unit; however, they are shown in FIG. 1 in their interaction with the integrated communication unit.

Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment in which the integrated communication module has two RJ45 interfaces. It is a 2-port module. In the basic structure, the embodiment of FIG. 2 is identical to the Ausfüh approximately according to FIG. 1, so that the same applies to the reference numerals and explanations as to FIG. 1.

The exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2 differs from the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 in that, in addition to the RJ45 interface 3, it also has a further RJ45 interface 11. For this further RJ45 interface 11, an opening 5 is provided in the housing 1. Both RJ45 interfaces 3, 11 are designed as RJ45 sockets. In the integrated communication module according to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, both RJ45 interfaces can be assigned via a fieldbus line 12. In the exemplary embodiment, the RJ45 interface with the external control unit 10 and the other RJ45 interface with another communication subscriber 14 is connected. The further communication subscriber 14 is in the exemplary embodiment another integrated communication module. The integrated communication module according to FIG. 2 is designed in such a way that any other communication participants 14 are also configured. can be closed, as far as they are fieldbus capable. The connection to the external control unit 10 and to the other communication subscriber 14 via the field bus line 12, which is designed as a daisy chain cabling. Analogously to FIG. 1, it also applies to FIG. 2 that the further communication subscriber 14, in addition to the application unit 8 with its SPI interface 9, the field device 13, the field bus line 12 and the external control unit 10, is not a component of the integrated circuit Communication unit and that these are shown in Fig. 2, however, in their interaction with the integrated communication unit.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show exemplary embodiments of the integrated communication unit in its structural design. Both in Fig. 3 and in Fig. 4, the housing 1 and the RJ45 interface, designed as RJ45 socket shown. In addition, FIG. 4 also shows the further RJ45 interface 11, which is likewise designed as an RJ45 socket.

FIGS. 5a and b show a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment as a 2-port module, wherein FIGS. 5a and b are identical in content and only partially use different terminologies.

The block diagram according to FIGS. 5 a and b shows, in one exemplary embodiment, the interaction of the components of the integrated communication unit with the components of the application unit.

The "communication module" = "Communicaton Module" refers to the integrated communication unit and the "customer system (circuit board)" = "Device Application Board" refers to the application unit.

"Customer Application" = "Device Application" - refers to the application software of the application unit which, among other things, transfers data to the integrated communication unit or receives it from the other side. The "shared memory area for data exchange" = "libGOAL shared library" refers to a fuselage library delivered to the application unit as source code, which enables the application unit to transfer data as simply as possible to the integrated communication unit.

"C2C - Software for exchanging information between CPU cores" = "C2C" and "C2C" = "C2C" stands for Core-to-Core Communication - part of this C2C module runs on the CPU of the application unit, the other part in the integrated communication unit. The operator of the application unit must not and should not change this. Both libGOAL shared library and C2C are made available to the operator of the application unit as a source, and compiled by him into the application software as far as possible without any changes.

"SPI interface" = "SPI interface" shows the SPI interface of the integrated communication module and the SPI interface of the application unit summarized as a functional unit.

"2-port switch driver = 2-port switch driver" - describes the part of the integrated communication unit that operates, monitors and configures the managed switch.

"GOAL = GOAL" denotes an execution layer in which functions of the fieldbus protocol are prepared in a software and implemented by the protocol stack. Also here is the receipt of raw data from the application unit. It is the middleware. GOAL is an abbreviation for the term Generic Open Abstraction Layer used in the exemplary embodiment.

"Communication protocol" = "Communicaton Protocol" - this software module manages the communication according to the respective field bus standard between the integrated communication unit and a host CPU of an application unit via the SPI interface of the two units.

"2-Port Switch" means a module of the integrated communication unit that connects the two RJ45 interfaces.

"PHY" stands for physical interface and designated the two RJ45 interfaces of the 2-port module according ^'AESS the embodiment.

Used reference signs

I housing

2 motherboard

3 RJ45 interface

4 SPI interface

5 opening

6 microcontrollers

7 middleware

8 application unit

9 SPI interface of the application unit

10 external control unit

I further RJ45 interface

12 fieldbus cable

13 field device

14 other communication participants

Claims

claims

1. Integrated communication unit,

comprising a housing (1), a motherboard (2), at least one RJ45 interface (3) and an SPI interface (4),

the main board (2) and the RJ45 interface (3) being accommodated in the housing (1) and the housing (1) having at least one opening (5) whose height and width conform to the RJ45 standard, the main board a microcontroller (6) and wherein the microcontroller (6) has a middleware (7),

wherein by means of the RJ45 interface (3) a wired connection to an external control unit (8) can be provided,

wherein the SPI interface (4) can be coupled to a further SPI interface (9) of an application unit (8), wherein application data of the application unit (8) can be received by the SPI interface (4) and can be transmitted to the microcontroller in a transferable manner and wherein the application data can be processed by the microcontroller (6) and provided by means of the RJ45 interface (3) of an external control unit (10), wherein the integrated communication unit by means of THT (through hole technology) or SMT (surface-mounted device ) can be fastened on a printed circuit board of an application device (8).

2. Integrated communication unit,

comprising a main board (2), at least one RJ45 interface (3) and an SPI interface (4),

wherein the motherboard (2) has a microcontroller (6) and wherein the microcontroller (6) has a middleware (7),

wherein by means of the RJ45 interface (3) a wired connection to an external control unit (10) can be provided,

wherein the SPI interface (4) can be coupled to a further SPI interface (9) of an application device (8), wherein the SPI interface (4) Application data of the application unit (8) are receivable and to the microcontroller (6) transferable available and wherein the application data from the microcontroller (6) processed and by means of the RJ45 interface (3) an external control unit (10) are provided, the integrated Communication unit by means of THT (through hole technology) or SMT (surface-mounted technology) on a circuit board of an application device (8) can be fastened.

3. Integrated communication unit according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized,

the integrated communication unit has a further RJ45 interface (11),

wherein the RJ45 interface (3) and the further RJ45 interface are configured to serially connect an external control unit (10) or another integrated communication unit to the integrated communication unit.

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