EP4264889A1

EP4264889A1 - Method for address configuration for a master-slave system

Info

Publication number: EP4264889A1
Application number: EP21831011.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Norbert STRACK; Jürgen Eggeling; Reiner WITTENHORST
Original assignee: Beko Technologies GmbH
Current assignee: Beko Technologies GmbH
Priority date: 2020-12-18
Filing date: 2021-12-07
Publication date: 2023-10-25
Also published as: WO2022128618A1; US20240056418A1; CN116636198A; DE102020134167A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for address configuration for a master-slave system by means of a field bus (3) for serial data transmission, wherein a master unit (1) is connected to the field bus (3). The method is characterized in that a number range for addresses of slave units on the field bus (3) is divided into a static range and a dynamic range; in that at least one new slave unit (2a-f) is connected to the field bus (3); in that, into each of the at least one new slave units (2a-f), an initial field bus address (4a-f) from the dynamic range is programmed, by means of which initial field bus address (4a-f) the at least one new slave unit (2a-f) in question can be addressed; in that the master unit (1) queries the dynamic range of the addresses of slave units; in that the master unit (1) receives a reply message from each of the at least one new slave units (2a-f) in response to the query; in that the master unit (1) transmits a desired field bus address (9) from the static range to the at least one new slave unit (2a-f) so that the desired field bus address (9) is programmed into the at least one new slave unit (2a-f) in place of the initial field bus address (4a-f) and so that the at least one new slave unit (2a-f) can be addressed by means of the desired field bus address (9). The invention also relates to an additional method for address configuration for a master-slave system by means of a field bus, to a master unit for a master-slave system and to a master-slave system having a field bus.

Description

Procedure for address configuration for a master/slave system

The invention relates to a method for address configuration for a master/slave system via a fieldbus with the features of the preamble of claim 1, a method for address configuration for a master/slave system via a fieldbus with the features of the preamble of claim 14, a Master unit for a master/slave system having the features of the preamble of claim 15 and a master/slave system with a fieldbus for serial data transmission having the features of the preamble of claim 16.

Various field bus systems are known from the prior art, with which different sensors or also actuators can be connected to control or data logger units. Such fieldbus systems usually have a comparatively low bandwidth and a comparatively simple data transmission protocol. This allows less complex electronic devices to be used for communication on the fieldbus, which in turn allows such devices to be provided at low cost. In this way, a large number of simple and therefore inexpensive sensors or actuators can also be connected to the fieldbus in a cost-effective manner. Furthermore, field bus systems are often characterized by being particularly robust and reliable when it comes to data transmission.

A field bus system known from the prior art is the MODBUS, which is defined in different variants both on the physical level and on higher levels. Information on MODBUS from the prior art can be found in particular in the document "MODBUS over Serial Line Specification and Implementation Guide VI.02" which can be accessed from the website modbus.org. The invention is based on this document as being most obvious.

In a field bus based on MODBUS, a master unit with a large number of slave units is provided. Within the prescribed address space, which can be represented by 1 byte and thus a total of 8 bits, each slave unit should be assigned a unique number and thus an address, with which address the slave unit is then addressed by the master unit for data transmission can. The problem with such fieldbuses based on the master/slave principle, however, is that the operator of the respective fieldbus himself must ensure that these unique addresses of the slave units are managed. So he not only has to organizationally allocate and manage the appropriate addresses, but also ensure that each slave unit has its correct address programmed. The process of programming the address is not only often different for each slave unit, but can also be complex.

US Pat. No. 8,190,697 B2 from the prior art describes a method for dynamic address allocation in a fieldbus based on the master/slave approach according to MODBUS. The method specifically provides that slave units can be put into a pseudo-master mode in which they can, as it were, independently and thus without a request from the master, send a message to the master. In this way, slave units can "report" dynamically via the fieldbus to the master, which can be informed in this way about new slave units on the fieldbus.

What is disadvantageous about this prior art is that this approach drastically interferes with the paradigm of the master/slave system. Slaves must therefore be given the opportunity to send out a message on their own initiative. The master must also be able to receive and process a message sent in this way. The devices on the fieldbus must therefore function in a way that contradicts the actual principle of the fieldbus. This can be a particular problem for legacy devices that have not been specifically programmed or reprogrammed for this different approach.

Proceeding from this prior art, the object of the invention is therefore to enable the process of dynamically allocating addresses to slave units in a manner which is more closely based on the existing fieldbus protocol.

In relation to the method for address configuration for a master/slave system via a field bus with the features of the preamble of claim 1, the object is achieved by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1. In relation to the method for address configuration for a master/slave system via a fieldbus with the features of the preamble of claim 14, the object is achieved by the features of the characterizing part of claim 14. Regarding the master unit for a master/slave system with the features of the preamble of claim 15, the object is solved by the features of the characterizing part of claim 15. Based on a master/slave system with a field bus for serial data transmission with the features of the preamble of claim 16, the object is achieved by the features of the characterizing part of claim 16.

What is essential for the invention is the realization that dynamic address assignment can be implemented by dividing the address area for the slave units into at least two areas. Specifically, newly connected slave units are initially either assigned a random or pseudo-random address in the first area or programmed into them in some other way, which first area can be referred to as the dynamic area. This dynamic range is sequentially polled by the master unit. If exactly one slave unit is found at an address in the dynamic range, it is assigned a new address in the second range and this is noted. Since this address is valid until further notice after an address from this area has been assigned, this area can also be referred to as a static area. In this way it becomes possible to connect slave units to a fieldbus during its operation and to configure them.

The proposed method of a first aspect of the invention is used for address configuration for a master/slave system via a fieldbus for serial data transmission, with a master unit being connected to the fieldbus. In addition to the data line, the fieldbus can also have other lines, such as a line for a supply voltage and a ground line. It is preferred that the field bus provides serial data transmission via a two-pole data line. The line for the supply voltage preferably provides a voltage of at least 20 volts, in particular essentially 24 volts. However, the data transmission as such preferably takes place via exactly two poles or wires. The master unit can basically be any device that at least temporarily assumes the role of the master in communication via the fieldbus. It is preferred that the fieldbus has a physical interface in accordance with EIA-485. EIA-485 is also referred to as RS-485. It is preferred that the fieldbus has a supply line for providing a supply voltage, which supply voltage is preferably essentially 24 V. It is also preferred that the fieldbus has a ground line and/or a shield.

The proposed method of the first aspect of the invention is characterized in that a number range for addresses of slave units on the fieldbus is divided into a static range and a dynamic range. Here it is preferable that the number range for addresses can be encoded by 8 bits. This means that the range of numbers can consist of up to 256 addresses. The dynamic range and the static range are disjunctive to each other. This means that each address can belong exclusively to either the dynamic area or the static area. There may be addresses that do not belong to either the dynamic range or the static range, an example of which is given below. There cannot be addresses that belong to both. In principle, the static area and the dynamic area do not have to be closed areas. For example, it could be that the dynamic range consists of even addresses and the static range consists of odd addresses. However, it is preferred that the static area and the dynamic area each form a closed address area. In other words, there is no address in the dynamic range between two addresses in the static range and vice versa.

In principle, the static range and the dynamic range can have any size. However, it is preferred that the static range is larger than the dynamic range and in particular that the static range is at least three times as large as the dynamic range. In other words, the static area then has at least three times as many addresses as the dynamic area. A preferred variant provides that the dynamic range consists of exactly one address. This address can then be referred to as a fixed initial address. It may be that both the static range and the dynamic range are fixed. However, it is also possible that both the static range and the dynamic range are fundamentally changeable. The proposed method of the first aspect of the invention is further characterized in that at least one new slave unit is connected to the fieldbus, that the at least one new slave unit is programmed with a respective initial fieldbus address from the dynamic range , via which initial fieldbus address the at least one new slave unit can be addressed and that the master unit queries the dynamic range of the addresses of slave units. Here and below, the at least one new slave unit means those slave units for which an address configuration is carried out as described.

In principle, the at least one new slave unit can be programmed with a respective initial fieldbus address from the dynamic range in any desired manner. This state can therefore be brought about both by programming from the outside—that is to say from outside the new slave unit—and by a process which takes place purely within the new slave unit. Such programming can also have already taken place during the manufacture of the new slave unit.

In addition to the at least one new slave unit, further slave units can be connected to the fieldbus for which the address configuration described here is not carried out. These other slave units can then simply keep the address that is assigned to them. It may be the case that the further slave units which are connected to the fieldbus and for which the address configuration described here is not carried out are assigned an address which is in a particular predefined legacy system range of addresses. This legacy range of addresses is disjunctive to the static range and dynamic range. In other words, each address can belong to at most one domain from the group consisting of static domain, dynamic domain and legacy domain. The legacy system area is preferably known to the master unit. The master unit can also know the addresses of the other slave units for which the address configuration described here is carried out and which are located in the legacy system area. In particular, these addresses can be manually programmed into the master unit. However, these addresses can also be communicated to the master unit in other ways. In principle, the dynamic range can be queried by the master unit as often as required. It is not necessary for the dynamic range to be fully interrogated. In this respect, it may be that the dynamic range is queried once. It can also be the case that the dynamic range is queried at irregular intervals or for an external event. It is preferred that the dynamic range is queried cyclically or periodically. In particular, the dynamic range can be queried with an interval or a period which is between 1 second and 5 minutes, preferably between 10 seconds and 3 minutes and in particular between 30 seconds and 2 minutes.

The proposed method of the first aspect of the invention is further characterized in that the master unit receives a respective response message from the at least one new slave unit to the query, that the master unit selects a desired fieldbus address from the static area to the at least one new slave unit so that the at least one new slave unit is programmed with the target fieldbus address instead of the initial fieldbus address and so that the at least one new slave unit has the target fieldbus address can be addressed. The response message is received following the query already mentioned. Querying the dynamic range can also include reading out the at least one new slave unit at the addresses in the dynamic range.

A preferred embodiment of the proposed method of the first aspect of the invention is characterized in that querying the dynamic range includes sending a respective query message for each address in the dynamic range, with the respective query message being addressed to a single address in the dynamic range. The query message can also be a read message or a read command.

In principle, the target fieldbus address from the statics area can be of any origin. It is preferred that the master unit determines the target fieldbus address. In particular, this determination can be based on the response message. A further preferred embodiment of the proposed method of the first aspect of the invention is characterized in that the response message includes device identification data. In particular, the device identification data may include device type information for specifying a device type of the respective new slave unit. The interrogation of the device identification data has the advantage that the length of the device identification data increases the probability of a collision if more than one new slave unit is assigned the same address in the dynamic range. It is preferred that the query message is the "Read Device Identification" message, preferably according to the MODBUS protocol.

In particular, the master unit sends a message to read out the device identification data to the respective new slave unit, whereby this message can be understood as a query message or as a read command, whereupon this new slave unit sends a message with the desired device identification data to the Master unit sends, which in turn receives this message. In the context of MODBUS, for example, it is a "request" and an associated "reply".

The target fieldbus address can basically be any address from the statics area. Basically, the above determination of the target fieldbus address can also take place arbitrarily on the basis of the device identification data. On the one hand, it is conceivable that the target fieldbus address is determined using a table from the response message or the device identification data, that is to say that a target fieldbus address is assigned in particular to some or even all possible device identification data. On the other hand, it is also possible that, in addition to the device identification data, other data, which may also be determined randomly or pseudo-randomly, are included in the determination of the target fieldbus address. Programming the target fieldbus address means nothing other than that the new slave unit then uses this target fieldbus address as the new address for addressing via the fieldbus.

In principle, the dynamic range can be queried by the master unit in any order, and in particular also in a random or pseudo-random order. A preferred embodiment of the proposed method of the first aspect of the invention is characterized in that the master unit interrogates the dynamic range of the addresses of slave units by successively interrogating a series of addresses, preferably in ascending or descending order. In other words, the address queried in each case is either always higher or always lower than the previously queried address, with a jump forward or backward of course starting at a specific address. In particular, it may be a continuous series of addresses. This means that the series of addresses queried is complete.

In principle, in addition to querying the device identification data in particular, any further communication can take place between the master unit and the at least one new slave unit. A further preferred embodiment of the proposed method of the first aspect of the invention is characterized in that before querying the dynamic range, the master unit broadcasts a configuration command by which the at least one new slave unit is placed in a configuration mode. A respective random address from the dynamic range is preferably programmed into the new slave units in the configuration mode as the initial fieldbus address. This random address can in particular be an address which was determined pseudo-randomly. In particular, the random address may be generated by the new slave unit itself. The same applies to programming the random address as stated above for programming the initial fieldbus address. In particular, the programming of the random address can be a process that takes place purely within the new slave unit.

The configuration command therefore preferably results in the at least one new slave unit being placed in the configuration mode and thus in a state in which the target fieldbus address can be programmed. In this context, on the one hand, the configuration command itself can result in the initial fieldbus address being determined or programmed in as the address of the new slave unit. However, it may also be the case that the respective initial fieldbus address is programmed or determined as an address in response to a further command in addition to the configuration command, which further command is sent out after the configuration command. Sending out the configuration command in a broadcast means that not exactly one new slave unit is addressed by the configuration command, but rather a large number be addressed equally by new slave units or even all new slave units. The initial fieldbus address can be determined either randomly or pseudo-randomly and is a random address in both cases.

According to a preferred embodiment of the proposed method of the first aspect of the invention, it is provided that before the configuration command is sent, the master unit broadcasts an unlocking command, which programs the at least one new slave unit to, upon receipt of the configuration command, to be put into configuration mode. Sending the unlocking command in the broadcast means that not exactly one new slave unit is addressed by the unlocking command, but rather that a large number of new slave units or even all new slave units are addressed by the unlocking command. The unlocking command and, if applicable, the configuration command are therefore preparatory measures before the dynamic range is queried.

It is not necessary for all slave units to be placed in configuration mode by the broadcast configuration command or to respond to the unlock command. In particular, it may be that the other slave units in the legacy system area react differently or not at all to the configuration command and/or to the unlocking command.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the proposed method of the first aspect of the invention, it is provided that the master unit transmits a locking command to the at least one new slave unit after the transmission of the desired fieldbus address unit is programmed to ignore the configuration command. In this way, the at least one new slave unit, which was previously unlocked and which has received and accepted the target fieldbus address from the statics area, is locked again. This allows the configuration command to be broadcast again without reassigning a dynamic domain address to those new slave units that have already been assigned a static domain address. This also allows, in the event of collisions, to broadcast the configuration command again while leaving the already configured new slave units configured. In principle, the response message and the device identification data can include any additional information. A preferred embodiment of the proposed method of the first aspect of the invention is characterized in that the response message or the device identification data manufacturer information to indicate a manufacturer of the respective new slave unit, a serial number of the respective new slave unit, a software version number to indicate a Version of software on the respective new-slave unit, production data specifying information about the production of the respective new-slave unit and/or specification data for specifying the respective new-slave unit.

In principle, it is possible that only one new slave unit is connected to the fieldbus. A further preferred embodiment of the proposed method of the first aspect of the invention is characterized in that a large number of new slave units are connected to the fieldbus, each new slave unit in the large number of new slave units has a respective initial Fieldbus address is programmed, via which respective initial fieldbus address the respective new slave unit can be addressed and that the master unit receives the respective response message from at least one new slave unit of the plurality of new slave units receives. In this way, the address configuration for several newly connected new slave units can be carried out at the same time.

According to a preferred embodiment of the proposed method of the first aspect of the invention, it is provided that when the master unit receives the respective response message from exactly one new slave unit of the plurality of new slave units, the master unit sends to exactly one new -slave unit transmits the target fieldbus address, with exactly one new slave unit being programmed with the target fieldbus address instead of the initial fieldbus address, so that the new slave unit has the target fieldbus address is accessible. In such a case, the queried initial fieldbus address is programmed into only one new slave unit, so that only the one new slave unit responds to the query. It is also preferred that after the transmission of the desired fieldbus address to exactly one new slave unit, the master unit requests a next address in the dynamic range. In principle, in the case in which a number of new slave units rather than one new slave unit respond to the query of an address in the dynamic range, the response can be in different ways. According to a further preferred embodiment of the proposed method of the first aspect of the invention, it is provided that when the master unit responds to a query for an address from the dynamic range, the respective response message from more than one new slave unit of the plurality of new slaves units, the master unit requests a next address from the dynamic range. An address in the dynamic area is then first searched for, for which only one new slave unit responds to the query, so that it can be provided with an address in the static area accordingly.

A preferred embodiment of the proposed method of the first aspect of the invention is characterized in that when the master unit responds to a query for an address from the dynamic range with the respective response message from more than one new slave unit of the plurality of new slave Receives units, the master unit puts more than one new slave unit into a configuration mode, so that a respective random address from the dynamic range is programmed as the initial fieldbus address of the respective more than one new slave unit . Preferably, the more than one new slave unit is placed in configuration mode by the master unit broadcasting the configuration command. The aim here is that through the new allocation of random addresses - which can also be pseudo-random - those new slave units which previously had a common initial fieldbus address now have different initial fieldbus addresses, so that also no more collision occurs. This approach can be repeated until all slave units with an address in the dynamic domain have been assigned a respective unique address in the static domain.

The fact that the master unit receives the respective response message from more than one new slave unit to the query, that is to say that there is a collision at the queried address from the dynamic range, can in principle be determined in any manner. A further preferred embodiment of the proposed method of the first aspect of the invention is characterized in that the receipt of the respective response message from more than one new Slave unit of the plurality of new slave units is determined by the master unit based on a respective test value of the respective response message. In other words, there are errors in the check value of the response messages, from which the collision can be inferred. It is preferred that the respective test value was generated by a cyclic redundancy test.

Together with the determination of the target fieldbus address, further information can also be determined—again deterministically, randomly or pseudo-randomly—and then used to configure the respective new slave unit. A preferred embodiment of the proposed method of the first aspect of the invention is characterized in that based on the response message, preferably based on the device identification data, an additional information record is determined from a device database and the new slave unit is programmed based on the additional information record. Basically, this additional information record can serve any purpose. It is preferred that a measurement range and/or measurement units and/or a measurement resolution and/or a calibration cycle of the new slave unit is programmed based on the additional information set. In this way it can be ensured that values measured by the new slave unit are not jeopardized by faulty measuring ranges or by a calibration cycle that deviates from the specifications.

Likewise, user data may be entered by a user and the new slave unit programmed based on the user data. It may be the case here that before the user data is entered, at least part of the response message, preferably the device identification data, has been presented to the user. In this way, the data from the new slave unit can be reacted to by the user's input, ie by providing the user data which is appropriate from the user's point of view for this particular new slave unit.

A preferred embodiment of the proposed method of the first aspect of the invention is characterized in that at least a subset of the at least one new slave unit is electrically supplied for operation via the supply line of the fieldbus. In this way, a fieldbus separate line for the electrical supply for this at least one new slave unit is unnecessary.

The proposed method of a second aspect of the invention is used for address configuration for a master/slave via a fieldbus for serial data transmission, with a master unit being connected to the fieldbus.

The proposed method of the second aspect of the invention is characterized in that a number range for addresses of slave units on the fieldbus is divided into a static range and a dynamic range, that a new slave unit is connected to the fieldbus that the new slave unit is programmed with a respective initial fieldbus address from the dynamic range, via which initial fieldbus address the new slave unit can be addressed in each case, that the new slave unit responds to a query the master unit transmits a response message to the master unit that the new slave unit receives a target fieldbus address from the statics area from the master unit and that the new slave unit receives the target fieldbus address address is programmed instead of the initial fieldbus address so that the new slave unit can be addressed via the target fieldbus address.

The proposed master unit is for a master/slave system, which master/slave system uses a field bus for serial data transmission, the master unit being connectable to the field bus.

The proposed master unit is characterized in that a number range for addresses of slave units on the fieldbus is divided into a static range and a dynamic range, that the master unit is set up to use the dynamic range of the addresses to query slave units, that the master unit is set up to receive a respective response message from the at least one new slave unit in response to the query, that the master unit is set up to select a target fieldbus address from the To transmit statics area to the at least one new slave unit, so that the at least one new slave unit is programmed with the desired fieldbus address instead of the initial fieldbus address and so that the at least one new slave Unit can be addressed via the target fieldbus address. The proposed master/slave system has a fieldbus for serial data transmission.

The proposed master/slave system is characterized in that the master/slave system has a proposed master unit, which master unit is connected to the fieldbus.

The proposed master/slave system is further characterized in that the master/slave system has a new slave unit connected to the fieldbus, that the new slave unit has a respective initial fieldbus address from the dynamic range the initial fieldbus address via which the new slave unit can be addressed is programmed, that the new slave unit is set up to transmit a response message to the master unit in response to a query from the master unit, that the new slave unit is arranged to receive a target fieldbus address from the statics area from the master unit and that the new slave unit is arranged to receive the target fieldbus address instead of the Initial fieldbus address is programmed so that the new slave unit can be addressed via the target fieldbus address.

Preferred refinements, features and properties of the proposed method of the first aspect of the invention correspond to those of the proposed method of the second aspect of the invention, the proposed master unit and/or the proposed master/slave system. This also applies vice versa in each case.

Further advantageous and preferred configurations result from the following description with reference to the figures. In the drawing showing only one exemplary embodiment

1 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a proposed master/slave system with a proposed master unit for executing the proposed method in a first state,

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a second state after the first state, 3 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a third state after the second state,

FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a fourth state after the third state,

Fig. 5 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a fifth state after the fourth state and

FIG. 6 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a sixth state after the fifth state.

In the master/slave system shown in FIG. 1, a master unit 1 and a total of six new slave units 2a-f are connected to a fieldbus 3, which corresponds to the MODBUS standard. The physical interface of the fieldbus conforms to EIA-485, also known as R.S-485. The new slave units 2a-f are each different types of industrial sensors.

In the state shown in FIG. 1, the master unit 1 first sent an unlocking command 5 and then a configuration command 6 in a broadcast, so that all new slave units 2a-f received both commands. The unlocking command 5 serves to "unlock" the receiving new slave units 2a-f in the sense that they react to the configuration command 6 at all, by being put into a configuration mode on the configuration command 6. Without one before received unlocking command 5, the new slave units 2a-f ignore the configuration command 6. However, since all new slave units 2a-f have received the unlocking command 5 in the present case, all new slave units 2a-f are also activated by the configuration command 6 In the present case, the configuration command 6 assigns a respective pseudo-randomly generated initial fieldbus address 4a-f to the previously unlocked new slave units 2a-f—in this case all new slave units 2a-f programmed in the dynamic range, which corresponds to the slave address for communication via fieldbus 3. The dynamic range includes the values from 201 to 246 and the static range the values 31 to 200. The addresses of both the dynamic range and the static range can be identified via one byte - i.e. 8 bits - can be encoded. The first initial fieldbus address 4a of the first new slave unit 2a has the value 246, the second initial fieldbus address 4a of the second new slave unit 2b has the value 224, the third initial fieldbus address 4c of the third new slave unit 2c has the value 238, the fourth initial fieldbus address 4d of the fourth new slave unit 2d has the value 231, the fifth initial fieldbus address 4e of the fifth new slave unit 2e has the value 214 and the sixth initial fieldbus address 4f of the sixth new slave unit 2f also has the value 231. The fourth new slave unit 2d and the sixth new slave unit 2f therefore each have an identical address Initial fieldbus address 4d, f.

In the state of FIG. 2 an interrogation of the dynamic range up to address 213 takes place. For this query, the master unit 1 sends a readout command for reading out the device identification data, for which a first readout command 7a is shown here as an example, to the corresponding address, i.e. one readout command 7 to addresses 201 to 213 in succession. Since none of the If the new slave units 2a-f connected to the fieldbus 3 have an initial fieldbus address 4a-f in this range, there is also no reaction in the form of an answer by one of the new slave units 2a-f.

In the state of FIG. 3, the master unit 1 interrogates the address 214 in the dynamic range by sending a second read command 7b to precisely this address. The fifth new slave unit 2e responds to this by transmitting first device identification data 8a in a response message to the master unit 1, which consequently receives it. In addition to the device type information, which describes the type of industrial sensor that forms the new slave unit 2e, this first device identification data 8a includes an indication of the manufacturer of the new slave unit 2e, a serial number of the new slave unit 2e and a Software version number of the software running on the new slave unit 2e.

In the state of FIG. 4, the master unit 1 uses the first device identification data 8a and a table stored in the data memory of the master unit 1 to determine a target fieldbus address 9 from the statics area, with here this target fieldbus address 9 has the value 50. This desired fieldbus address 9 is transmitted to the fifth new slave unit 2e by an address setting message 11 and programmed into the fifth new slave unit 2e, so that the desired fieldbus address 9 is used as the new address of the fifth new slave Unit 2e functions. The master unit 1 then transmits a locking command 10 to the fifth new slave unit 2e. The consequence of this is that the fifth new slave unit 2e leaves the configuration mode and ignores future configuration commands 6 until it receives a further unlocking command 5. In this way, the desired fieldbus address 9 of the fifth new slave unit remains Unit 2e programmed.

After the state of FIG. 4, the master unit 1 in the dynamic range continues to interrogate addresses 215 to 230 as already described for addresses 201 to 246, with no responses to these interrogations being received since none of the new slave units 2a-f is assigned an address in this range. The corresponding readout commands are not shown here.

In the state of FIG. 5, the master unit 1 in turn queries the address 231 in the dynamic range by sending a third read command 7c to precisely this address. However, since both the fourth new slave unit 2d and the sixth new slave unit 2f have this address as the respective initial fieldbus address 4d, f, these two new slave units 2d, f both respond with respective device identification data 8b, c in a respective response message. The master unit 1 now recognizes either by receiving these two response messages or by a collision and thus an error when receiving these two response messages, which is caused by the simultaneous response of the two new slave units 2d, f that two new slave -Units 2d, f the address 231 is assigned as the respective initial fieldbus address 4d, f.

In order to resolve this collision, the master unit in the state of FIG. 6 again sends out a configuration command 6 in the broadcast. In response to this configuration command 6, with the exception of the fifth new slave unit 2e, which has received the locking command 10, all new slave units 2a-d, f are given a new pseudo-randomly generated initial fieldbus address from the dynamic programmed area. The procedure is then as described above for the processes after the first configuration command 6 has been sent. Since the fifth new slave unit 2e has already received a desired fieldbus address 9 in the static area and does not have to be configured further, the risk of collisions occurring again in the dynamic area is also lower during this run.

Claims

Claims Method for address configuration for a master/slave system via a fieldbus (3) for serial data transmission, a master unit (1) being connected to the fieldbus (3), characterized in that a number range for addresses of slave units is divided on the fieldbus (3) into a static area and a dynamic area, that at least one new slave unit (2a-f) is connected to the fieldbus (3), that the at least one new slave unit unit (2a-f) a respective initial fieldbus address (4a-f) from the dynamic range is programmed in, via which initial fieldbus address (4a-f) the at least one new slave unit (2a -f) can be addressed in each case that the master unit (1) queries the dynamic range of the addresses of slave units, that the master unit (1) responds to the query with a respective response message from the at least one new slave unit (2a-f) receives that the master unit (1) has a target fieldbus address (9). transmits the statics area to the at least one new slave unit (2a-f), so that the at least one new slave unit (2a-f) receives the desired fieldbus address (9) instead of the initial fieldbus -Address (4a-f) is programmed and so that the at least one new slave unit (2a-f) can be addressed via the desired fieldbus address (9). The method of claim 1, characterized in that polling the dynamic range comprises sending a respective polling message per address in the dynamic range, the respective polling message being addressed to a single address in the dynamic range. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the response message includes device identification data (8a-c), preferably that the device identification data (8a-c) includes device type information for specifying a device type of the respective new slave unit (2a-f). . Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the master unit (1) queries the dynamic range of the addresses of slave units by successively querying a, in particular continuous, series of preferably ascending or descending addresses. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that before querying the dynamic range, the master unit (1) broadcasts a configuration command (6) by which the at least one new slave unit (2a-f) is placed in a configuration mode, preferably that the new slave units (2a-f) in the configuration mode, a respective random address from the dynamic range is programmed as an initial fieldbus address (4a-f). Method according to Claim 5, characterized in that before sending out the configuration command (6), the master unit (1) sends out an unlocking command (5) in a broadcast, through which the at least one new slave unit (2a-f) is programmed to do so to be placed in configuration mode upon receipt of the configuration command (6). Method according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the master unit (1) transmits a locking command (10) to the at least one new slave unit (2a-f) after the desired fieldbus address (9) has been transmitted by which the at least one new slave unit (2a-f) is programmed to ignore the configuration command (6). Method according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the response message, preferably the device identification data (8a), manufacturer information for specifying a manufacturer of the respective new slave unit (2a-f), a serial number of the respective new slave unit (2a-f), a software version number to indicate a version of a software on the respective new slave unit (2a-f), production data to indicate information about the production of the respective new slave unit (2a-f) and /or includes specification data for specifying the respective new slave unit (2a-f). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a plurality of new slave units (2a-f) is connected to the fieldbus (3), that each new slave unit (2a-f) of the plurality of new slave units (2a-f) a respective initial fieldbus address (4a-f) is programmed via which respective initial fieldbus address (4a-f) the respective new slave unit (2a-f) is addressable that the master unit (1) the receives respective response message from at least one new slave unit (2a-f) of the plurality of new slave units (2a-f). experienced according to claim 9, characterized in that when the master unit (1) receives the respective response message from exactly one new slave unit (2a-f) of the plurality of new slave units (2a-f), the master Unit (1) to which precisely one new slave unit (2a-f) transmits the target fieldbus address (9), with precisely one new slave unit (2a-f) receiving the target fieldbus address Address (9) is programmed instead of the initial fieldbus address (4a-f), so that the new slave unit (2a-f) can be addressed via the desired fieldbus address (9), preferably after the transmission the target fieldbus address (9) to which exactly one new slave unit (2a-f) the master unit (1) requests a next address in the dynamic range. Method according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that if the master unit (1) responds to a request for an address from the dynamic range, the respective response message from more than one new slave unit (2a-f) of the plurality of new -Slave units (2a-f) receives the master unit (1) requests a next address from the dynamic range. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that when the master unit (1) to a query of an address from the dynamic range, the respective response message from more than one new slave unit (2a-f) of the plurality from new slave units (2a-f) the master unit (1) receives, preferably after substantially complete interrogation of the dynamic range, which puts more than one new slave unit (2a-f) into a configuration mode, so that a respective random address from the dynamic range is programmed as the initial fieldbus address (4a-f) of the respective more than one new slave unit (2a-f). Method according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that based on the response message, preferably based on the device identification data (8a-c), an additional information record is determined from a device database and the new slave unit (2a-f) based on the additional information record is programmed, preferably that a measuring range and/or a calibration cycle of the new slave unit (2a-f) is programmed based on the additional information record. 22 learn about the address configuration for a master/slave system via a fieldbus (3) for serial data transmission, with a master unit (1) being connected to the fieldbus, characterized in that a number range for addresses of slave units on the fieldbus (3) is divided into a static area and a dynamic area, that a new slave unit (2a-f) is connected to the fieldbus (3), that the new slave unit (2a-f) a respective initial fieldbus address (4a-f) from the dynamic range is programmed, via which initial fieldbus address (4a-f) the new slave unit (2a-f) can be addressed in each case, that the new - Slave unit (2a-f) transmits a response message to the master unit (1) in response to a query from the master unit, that the new slave unit (2a-f) has a target fieldbus address (9). static area from the master unit (1) and that the new slave unit (2a-f) receives the target fieldbus address (9) instead of the initial fieldbus Address (4a-f) is programmed so that the new slave unit (2a-f) can be addressed via the target fieldbus address (9). Master unit (1) for a master/slave system, which master/slave system uses a field bus (3) for serial data transmission, the master unit (1) being connectable to the field bus (3), characterized in that that a range of numbers for addresses of slave units on the fieldbus (3) is divided into a static range and a dynamic range, that the master unit (1) is set up to limit the dynamic range of the addresses of slave Units query that the master unit (1) is set up to receive a respective response message from the at least one new slave unit (2a-f) to the query that the master unit (1) is set up to to transmit a target fieldbus address (9) from the statics area to the at least one new slave unit (2a-f), so that the at least one new slave unit (2a-f) receives the target field bus address (9) is programmed instead of the initial fieldbus address (4a-f) and so that at least one new Slave unit (2a-f) can be addressed via the target fieldbus address (9). Master / slave system with a fieldbus (3) for serial data transmission, characterized in that the master / slave system to the 23

Fieldbus-connected master unit (1) according to Claim 14 and a new slave unit (2a-f) connected to the fieldbus (3) has that the new slave unit (2a-f) has a respective initial fieldbus address ( 4a-f) from the dynamic range is programmed, via which initial fieldbus address (4a-f) the new slave unit (2a-f) can be addressed, that the new slave unit (2a -f) is set up to transmit a response message to the master unit (1) on a query from the master unit (1) that the new slave unit (2a-f) is set up to use a target fieldbus - To receive address (9) from the statics area of the master unit (1) and that the new slave unit (2a-f) is set up so that the target fieldbus address (9) instead of the initial -Fieldbus address (4a-f) is programmed so that the new slave unit (2a-f) can be addressed via the target fieldbus address (9).