LU101428B1 - Method for data transmission between a peripheral device and a data acquisition unit, peripheral device and data acquisition unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for data transmission between a peripheral device (60) and a data acquisition unit (50), the data acquisition unit (50) having a communication interface (53) via which the data is transmitted according to one of a number of defined communication protocols become. The method is characterized in that a communication protocol analysis is carried out by the peripheral device (50) when the peripheral device (60) is connected to the power supply and, after the communication protocol used by the data acquisition unit (50) has been recognized, an adaptation of the configurable communication interface of the peripheral device (60) is carried out in order to be able to carry out a data exchange according to the recognized communication protocol. The invention relates to a corresponding data acquisition unit (50) and a corresponding peripheral device (60).

Description

Method for data transmission between a peripheral device and a rons data acquisition unit, peripheral device and data acquisition unit

The present invention relates to a method for data transmission between a peripheral device and a data acquisition unit.

Both components | can be part of an input / output station for a field bus system.

The invention | also relates to a correspondingly designed data acquisition unit and a | Peripheral device. |

Communication systems of this type, such as input / output (1/0) - ß stations, are often used in production plants because their | modular structure, diverse applications in the production process are possible. |

A communication system of this type has in particular a processor, /

a configuration memory, one or more plug-in input and / or | Output modules (I / O modules) and an internal bus system.

That or that | I / O modules form an interface through which process data and | Control data, such as sensor signals and actuator signals, to devices to be controlled | can be sent and received by them. |

] From EP 2 274 655 A1 a communication system is known with a | Bus coupler and an internal bus system.

The bus users are] in particular input / output modules that can be used in the fieldbus area. |

An interface is known from US Pat. No. 6,647,436 B1, which is available in different | Operating modes can be operated. |

From WO 2017/153847 A1 a configurable hardware platform | known that can be used in the fieldbus area, |

| Typically, the input / output modules can be plugged in the fieldbus area | executed.

However, they are equipped with a communication interface, | which is fixed.

Problems arise in the field when different |

Input / output modules with different communication interfaces are to be used in an \ u101428 input / output station.

It is an object of the invention to provide flexibility in reusing | different input / output modules in input / output stations.

This task is accomplished by a method for data transmission between a | Peripheral device and a data acquisition unit according to claim 1, a | Peripheral device according to claim 6 and a data acquisition unit according to | Claim 11 solved. | The dependent claims contain advantageous developments and | Improvements of the invention as described below of these measures. | In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for data transmission {between a peripheral device and a data acquisition unit, the | Data acquisition unit has a communication interface via which | the data according to one of a number of defined communication | Protocols are transmitted.

To recognize the communication protocol, | for which the data acquisition unit was designed, the | Peripheral device when connected to the power supply an | Communication protocol analysis is performed, and after detection of the | communication protocol used by the data acquisition unit a | Adaptation of the configurable communication interface of the | Peripheral device is carried out in order to exchange data with the | Data acquisition unit according to the recognized communication protocol | perform.

The solution offers considerable advantages.

A scope of application | The invention consists in field bus systems in which data is transmitted from a controller (PLC) to input / output stations or is received by the input / output stations.

Typically, a | Input / output station a fieldbus coupler and one or more input / output | Modules.

The input / output modules relate to the peripheral devices in the sense of the | described solution.

The input / output modules are set to appropriate

3 |

Slots of the input / output station inserted.

Since the input / output modules are designed for uiotaz's different system providers, they are usually designed for one | defined communication protocol according to which data can be transferred to the - | Be able to exchange the fieldbus coupler of the input / output station.

Even with a /

System providers can use different communication protocols | are depending on the product generation.

This poses a problem when the | Input / output station is set to a different communication protocol (internal | system bus).

The solution now has the advantage that the | different input / output modules used in an input / output station | can be.

So not all input / output modules that are in the | I / O station used will be designed for the same communication protocol.

The peripheral device in the form of the input / output module is | variably adjustable in relation to the communication protocol to be used | between input / output module and data acquisition device.

The communication | from the possibly only interposed data acquisition device to the fieldbus coupler, according to the internal | System bus communication protocol because the input / output | Module can adapt to the various communication protocols.

This | The solution also offers advantages with regard to the freedom of the system that can be used |

Peripheral devices, for the first time there is a separation of system bus and | the peripheral devices that can be plugged into a station.

For the | Customers have the advantage that they can use the peripheral devices they have purchased significantly can be used more flexibly in the various stations.

The | Sustainability of the peripheral equipment rate increased, since it is also available with newer |

Stations can be reused. | For a concrete implementation of the solution, it is advantageous if the | Communication protocol analysis in the peripheral device with the help of a table | is carried out, in which the signal states of a number of contacts | a plug connection between the data acquisition unit and peripheral device for | the various defined communication protocols are entered. | It is also advantageous if a further number of | of contacts of the plug connection data is entered which is transmitted via the |

4 É further contacts connected lines are transmitted, the \ u101428 data relate to a number of data words that contain a / communication protocol type identification.

This means that almost any number of different communication protocol types can be distinguished. : In another variant, it is advantageous for the method if with the; Number of data words the assignment of certain contacts of the connector | is specified.

This makes it unnecessary to use various /

Define communication protocol types. ; Finally, it is also advantageous if the number of data words has the function; of the peripheral device and the data acquisition unit in relation to the displayed communication protocol, in particular whether the peripheral device or the data acquisition device with regard to bus access to the connected communication bus in a master or slave; Operating mode should work with a master-slave communication protocol.

This is particularly important for master-slave bus protocols. | ; In another embodiment, the invention relates to a peripheral device, wherein; the peripheral device has a configurable communication interface; to which a data acquisition unit can be connected.

For this purpose, the configurable: communication interface is provided with a microcontroller with multi-purpose inputs / outputs, whereby the microcontroller starts an original loading program when the peripheral device is connected to the power supply, which analyzes the signal states on a number of certain of the: multi-purpose inputs / Performs outputs, and depending on it, loads the interface software that is required to carry out a data transmission according to the communication protocol whose signal behavior was recognized during the analysis of the signal states.

The interface software is part of the firmware of the peripheral device.

This can be done as a microcontroller; Standard microcontrollers are used, the so-called general; Purpose inputs / outputs GPIO has. /

> lu101428 In one embodiment, it is advantageous that the peripheral device has a connector, in particular a plug connector, which can be plugged into the data acquisition unit, the plug connector having a number of contacts to which the multi-purpose inputs / outputs of the microcontroller are connected. Other contacts of the connector are permanently assigned, such as for the power supply, protective earth, etc. Advantageously, the signal states of certain individual contacts are recorded when analyzing the signal states and the peripheral device selects the interface software to be loaded as a function of this . This design is already sufficient to be able to choose from a few communication protocols. To be able to select a larger number of communication protocols, | it is advantageous if, when analyzing the signal states, the signal states | of the specific individual contacts are recorded and depending on this | a data acquisition on certain individual other contacts of the | Connector takes place and, depending on this, a selection of the | Interface software takes place. So it is about the individual other | Contacts transfer data. This can affect a small number of data words | restrict or multiple. Depending on how many data words are transmitted in the second protocol analysis phase, any number of protocols can be distinguished. With two bytes as the protocol type identification, 65536 different protocols could be differentiated.

In order to adapt the solution for use in field bus systems, it is advantageous if the data acquisition unit is designed as an intermediate module that is designed on the one hand for connection to an internal system bus of an input / output station that is used for data acquisition and data output in a field bus system is, wherein the data acquisition unit has a second connector, in particular a plug connector, via which the connection to the internal system bus of the input / output station can be established. This makes it possible to modernize even older input / output stations by equipping them with intermediate modules, into which a newer luto1428 input / output module can then be plugged. Finally, an advantageous embodiment of a peripheral device consists in that the peripheral device is designed as an input / output module of an input / output station for data acquisition and data output in a field bus system. | Another embodiment of the invention relates to a data acquisition unit with a communication interface via which the data can be transmitted from and to the peripheral device according to one of a number of fixed communication protocols. The communication interface is like this | designed to be connected to a number of specific inputs / outputs of the | Communication interface certain signal states and / or certain [outputs data in order to enable a communication protocol recognition on the part of a | enable connectable peripheral device through protocol analysis. The. | Data acquisition unit should have a specified behavior on individual | Show contacts so that the peripheral device can use the | Can perform communication protocol detection. By having both {components, data acquisition unit and peripheral device so | work together, the principle of system freedom and the desired flexibility and reusability is made possible. For this purpose, it is also advantageous if the communication interface is designed in such a way that it applies certain static signal states to a number of certain inputs / outputs of the communication interface and outputs data at certain other inputs / outputs, the data relating to a number of data words that identify a communication protocol type include.

It is also advantageous if the data acquisition unit has a connector, in particular a plug connector, via which the peripheral device can be connected to the data acquisition unit, and the number of data words indicates the assignment of certain contacts of the plug connector. -

lu101428 In addition, it is advantageous if the number of data words reflects the function of the peripheral device in relation to the displayed communication protocol, in particular whether the peripheral device or the data acquisition unit with regard to bus access to the connected communication bus in a master or slave operating mode with a master Slave communication protocol is working. Several exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures shown in the drawings. They show: FIG. 1 a system overview of a machine or system control with | State-of-the-art field bus system; | 2 shows an input / output station of a field bus system with a field bus coupler and | a number of intermediate modules; | 3: a detailed block diagram of an input / output station of a | Field bus system according to the invention with field bus coupler, | Intermediate module and input / output module; and FIG. 4 shows a detailed table according to the invention with a number of possible | Communication protocols whose number does not fall below the listed | Communication protocols in the table is restricted; and | 5 shows a flowchart for a program in the firmware of the intermediate module with which the communication protocol analysis can be carried out.

The present description illustrates the principles of the disclosure of the invention. It is thus understood that those skilled in the art will be able to conceive of various implementations, while the following

| 8 are not explicitly described, but embody principles of the u101428 disclosure according to the invention and are also intended to be protected in their scope. 1 shows a system overview for a machine or system control based on the use of a field bus system. The field bus is denoted by the reference number 80. This is connected to the machine or system controller 100. This controller 100 is typically set up in the production hall. It corresponds to an industrial PC that is often called a PLC, | So it is executed as a programmable logic controller. The control programs are transmitted to the controller 100 via a further network 150 which, for example, is an Ethernet network, in particular | Industrial Ethernet network can be designed. The development of the control programs that are processed by the controller 100 typically takes place away from the production hall in an office complex. Reference number 200 denotes a configuration computer. With this | The software engineer develops the configuration computer 200 for the control programs. The finished control programs are transmitted to the controller 100 via the network 150. The various process or system data reach the controller 100 via the fieldbus 80 Conversely, the controller 100 transmits the various control data to the corresponding machine or system parts. So-called input / output stations 10 are connected to the field bus 80 for this purpose. These are equipped with a fieldbus coupler and with various input / output modules, to which the various sensors S1, S2 and actuators A1 are connected. In Fig. 1, a separate input / output unit 70 is also shown, which is not constructed in a modular manner. A sensor S3 and an actuator A2 are connected to this. A switching unit 75 is also connected to it, to which further actuators A3, A4 are connected.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the input / output station 10, which in a full configuration can have five plug-in input and / or output modules (I / O modules) and a fieldbus coupler 40. The fieldbus coupler 40 contains a field bus interface 44 and a system bus interface 42, the TU ae

| 9 is connected to the internal system bus 46. Five intermediate modules 50 are also connected to the system bus 46 u101428. Each of the intermediate modules 50 is equipped with a configurable communication interface 53. The communication interface 53 is equipped with a microcontroller, which will be discussed in greater detail below. Numeral 54 denotes a first connector. An input / output module can be plugged into this connector. The intermediate module 50 also contains a second plug connector 52. The intermediate module 50 is thus connected to the internal system bus 46 of the input / output station 10. The intermediate module 50 is thus plugged into the base support of the input / output station 10, in which the system bus 46 also runs. | In addition, the intermediate module 50 has a communication interface 52 for | the internal system bus 46. The communication interface 52 can be provided as a separate chip in the intermediate module 50. In another | In a variant, the communication interfaces 52 and 53 can both be integrated on a common chip. 3 shows the structure of the input / output station 10 in more detail. The same reference numbers denote the same components as in FIGS. 1 and 2. The fieldbus coupler 40 has, in addition to the interfaces 42 and 44, a voltage supply unit 43 which also has other components of the | Input / output station 10 supplied with voltage. For this purpose, the corresponding supply lines are provided in the base support of the input / output station 10. The intermediate module 50 has a protocol module 55 which contains the microcontroller of the M8051 type. An input / output module 60 is plugged onto the plug connector 54 of the intermediate module 50. This is equipped with a non-volatile memory 62 and a microcontroller 64. The reference number 66 denotes an interface 66, which can also be designed galvanically isolated, to the I / O periphery, which is also located on the input / output module 60 and can be supplied via a special power supply 56. The input / output module contains various light displays that are to be monitored by the operating personnel in the field. The corresponding driver module 68 is also shown in FIG. 3

TU EEE EEE WE ET

| 10 shown. In the lower part of FIG. 3, the special power supply 56 is shown, u101428 which supplies the plug-in module 61 with current. A protective earth connection FE between the intermediate module 50 and the input / output module 60 is also shown.

The M8051 microcontroller has the multi-purpose | Inputs / outputs to which the contacts of the connector are routed, the signal states of which must be recorded as part of the communication protocol analysis. Other contacts of the connector 54 are connected to the other inputs / outputs of the protocol module 55. The following table lists all contacts of the connector 54. Some contacts of the connector are fixed, e.g. the contacts for the voltage supply and for the protective earth FE. The multipurpose inputs / outputs GPIO are connected to the communication interface 53, which here is composed of a protocol chip and its coprocessor. The contacts with a gray background are firmly defined in the version of this variant of the Universal Peripheral Interface.

| Table 1 ; 1 Edge card] 1) 0] 20 12 FE 24v 34. 24V 56. 24v 78. | 9210 | GPIO GND | 1112 | 5V GND | 1314 (GPO _____ GND) 1516 [@PlO GND | 1718 | GPIO. 1920 (Reset Oui n J 2122 | LEND | 224 On LGND | 2526 [GPO 2,3V | 2728 | LGND FE CS | 2930 | GPIO |. EE SCIK | 3132 | GPIO EE MOS! 3334 | LGND EE MISO | 3536 | GPIO LGND | 3738 (GPIO GPIO | 3540 [16ND PT ee ee lu101428 The other contacts (see table 2) are the general purpose inputs / outputs GPIO. These are flexible with regard to their signal direction (TTL input, TTL output) and can be internal are linked in the microcontroller with alternative functions. An example of a link with functions of a USART interface, an SPI interface and an I2C interface are listed in Table 2. This property is used in the invention. Table 2 rm | | e EdgeCard PIN No. TTL. Function 10j GPO USARTL_RTS 16 | GPIO USARTL_RX 18 GPIO | USARTL TA 24 GPIO USARTL_CTS | 26) GPIO USARTL CK 300 GPIO | SPIL NSS 32] GPO SPIL_SCK 36 | GPIO 5PI1_MISO | 238) GPO SPI1_MOSI | 14} GPO l2C2_SDA 39 GPIO [2CZ SCL By using the microcontroller 64 it is possible to configure the communication interface when the input / output module 60 is connected. This happens in such a way that different transmission protocols and “roles” (master or slave) can be used and combined via the contacts with a “flexible function” and by analyzing the signal states and / or their protocol mechanisms. The rules of communication define the “counterpart”, in the form of the intermediate module 50, to which the input / output module 60 can adjust.

4 shows another table which shows in detail the evaluation of the various multipurpose inputs / outputs GPIO in the communication protocol analysis after the power supply has been switched on. IF_mode_0 is an output state in which all multipurpose inputs / outputs GPIO are set to TTL input. In IF_mode_1, when contacting Tse ET]

the number 10 of the input level is evaluated. If the level is at logical u101428 zero, then a decision can already be made that the communication interface should work as an SPI interface, with the input / output module 60 working as an SPI master. The assignment of the other general purpose inputs / outputs GPIO is given in the table. For IF_mode_2 the result is that the contact with number 10 has the level set to logic one. This means that the level on contact number 24 is also evaluated. If there is a level for logic zero, the interface is configured in such a way that it is to work as an SPI interface, in which the input / output module 60 is to work as an SPI slave.

With IF_mode_3 it results that the level is set to logical one for the contact with number 10. However, it then follows that when there is contact with number 24, there is a level for logic one. This is interpreted by the original loading software in such a way that the type of communication protocol has not yet been clearly determined. There is then an additional exchange of data, via the USART contacts with the number 16 + 18. The data indicate the assignment of the other multi-purpose inputs / outputs. Their assignment is given in the table. The same applies to the other variants IF-mode_4 to IF_mode_6. By evaluating the data that are exchanged via the USART contacts 16 + 18, the exact interface configuration is communicated by the intermediate module 50. The input / output module 60 adapts to this by loading the corresponding interface software.

Due to the possibilities of the microcontroller 64 in connection with the correspondingly designed firmware, various known or also new, proprietary protocols can be used.

The behavior of the firmware of the input / output module 60 is explained below with the aid of the flow chart in FIG. It is a maT

13 lu101428 Flowchart for an original loading program that is started when the power supply of the input / output module 60 is switched on. The original loading program starts in step S1. In step S2, the signal states on the contact with number 10 are evaluated. If there is a logical zero level there, the interface software for IF_mode_1 is loaded. If there is a logical one level, the signal status on the contact with the number 24 is evaluated in step S3. If there is a logical zero level there, the interface software for IF_mode_2 is loaded.

If a logical one level was found in step S3, data are exchanged via the USART contacts 16 +18. The evaluation takes place in step S4. The appropriate interface software is then loaded in step S5. Either the software for IF_mode 4, IF_mode_5, or IF_mode 6 can be loaded. The original loading program ends after loading the interface software in step S6. It should be understood that the proposed method and associated devices can be implemented in various forms of hardware, software, firmware, special purpose processors, or a combination thereof. Specialty processors may include application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), reduced instruction set computers (RISC), and / or field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Preferably the | proposed method and apparatus implemented as a combination of hardware and software. The software is preferably installed as an application program on a program storage device. Typically, it is a machine based on a computer platform that has hardware, such as one or more central processing units (CPU), a random access memory (RAM) and a | 30 or more input / output (1/0) interface (s). On the computer platform | an operating system is typically also installed. The different | Processes and functions described here can be part of the | Application program or a part that is executed via the operating system.

PV ER lu101428 - The disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described here. There is room for various adaptations and modifications which those skilled in the art based on their expert knowledge as well as to the disclosure | would consider belonging.

ET N

15 lu101428 List of Reference Numbers | Input / output station 10 | Fieldbus coupler 40 | System bus interface 42 | Fieldbus interface 44 | internal system bus 46 | Intermediate module 50 | first plug connection 51 system bus interface 52 | configurable communication interface 53 | second connector 54 | Protocol module 55: microcontroller 56 | Power supply 57 | Additional power supply 58 / input / output unit 60 1 memory; 62 | I / O unit microcontroller 64 | 1ISO interface 66 Driver module 68 | Switching unit 70 | Fieldbus 80 | Control station 100 | Network 150 | Configuration computer 200 |

1. Sensor S1 |

2. Sensor s2

3. S3 sensor

1. Actuator A1

2. Actuator A2

3. Actuator A3

4. Actor Ad eee

. | . . lu101428 | different steps of the intermediate module firmware 51 - S6

Claims (15)

(Patent) claims luto1428 1. A method for data transmission between a peripheral device (60) and a data acquisition unit (40), the data acquisition unit (50) having a communication interface via which the data is transmitted according to one of a number of defined communication protocols, characterized in that a communication protocol analysis is carried out by the peripheral device (60) when it is connected to the power supply, and after the communication protocol used by the data acquisition unit (50) has been recognized, the configurable communication interface of the | Peripheral device (60) is carried out in order to carry out a data exchange according to the recognized communication protocol. | 15th 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication protocol analysis in the peripheral device (50) is carried out with the aid of a table in which the signal states of a number of contacts of a plug connection: (54) between the data acquisition unit (50) and the peripheral device (60 ) are entered for the various defined communication protocols. ‘ 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein data is also entered in the table for a further number of contacts of the plug connection (54) which are transmitted via the lines connected to the further contacts; are, wherein the data relate to a number of data words, the one; 25 communication protocol type identification. ; 4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the number | Data words the assignment of certain contacts of the connector (54) | indicates. ; , 30 | | 5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the number of data words the | Function of the peripheral device (60) in relation to the displayed | Communication protocol reproduces, in particular whether the peripheral device (60) or the data acquisition unit (50) with regard to the bus access to the | connected communication bus in a master or slave 19152 operating mode with a master-slave communication protocol. 6. Peripheral device, characterized in that the peripheral device (60) has a configurable communication interface to which a data acquisition unit (50) can be connected, the configurable communication interface having a microcontroller (64) with multi-purpose inputs / outputs, the microcontroller (64 ) when the peripheral device (60) is connected to the power supply, an original loading program starts which analyzes the signal states on a number of certain of the multipurpose inputs / outputs and, depending on this, loads the interface software that is required to start a data transfer | to carry out according to the communication protocol whose signal behavior was recognized during the analysis of the signal states. 7. Peripheral device according to claim 6, characterized in that the peripheral device (60) has a connector which can be plugged into the data acquisition unit (50), the connector having a number of contacts to which the multi-purpose inputs / outputs of the microcontroller (64) are connected. 8. Peripheral device according to claim 7, wherein during the analysis of the signal states, the signal states of certain individual contacts are recorded and the interface software to be loaded is selected as a function thereof. 9. Peripheral device according to claim 8, wherein during the analysis of the signal states, the signal states of certain individual contacts are recorded and, as a function thereof, data is recorded on certain other individual contacts of the connector and, as a function of this, the interface software to be loaded is selected. 10. Peripheriegeréat according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the peripheral device (60) is designed as an input / output module of an input / output station (10) for data acquisition and data output in a field bus system. 11. Data acquisition unit with a communication interface (53) via which the data from and to the data acquisition unit (60) can be transmitted according to one of a number of specified communication protocols, the communication interface (53) being designed to be transmitted to a number of specific Inputs / outputs of the communication interface (53) outputs certain signal states and / or certain data in order to enable a communication protocol to be recognized by a connectable peripheral device (60) by means of protocol analysis. 12. The data acquisition unit according to claim 11, wherein the data can be transmitted from and to the data acquisition unit (50) according to one of a number of / defined communication protocols, the communication interface (53) being designed to be transmitted to a number of | certain inputs / outputs of the communication interface applies certain static signal states and outputs data at certain other inputs / outputs, the data relating to a number of data words that have a | Include communication protocol type identification. : 13.Data acquisition unit according to claim 12, wherein the data acquisition unit (60) has a connector (54) via which: the data acquisition unit (60) can be connected to the peripheral device (50), and: the number of data words the assignment of certain contacts of the connector (54) indicates. 14. Data acquisition unit according to claim 12 or 13, the number of data words reflecting the function of the data acquisition unit (60) in relation to the displayed communication protocol, in particular whether the data acquisition unit (50) or the peripheral device (60) with regard to the | Bus access to the connected communication bus in a master -_ or slave operating mode with a master-slave communication protocol 101428. 15.Data acquisition unit according to one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the data acquisition unit (50) is designed as an intermediate module that can be plugged onto an internal system bus (46) of an input / output station (10) which is used for data acquisition and data output in a field bus system serves, the intermediate module having a second plug connector (51) via which the connection to the internal system bus (46) of the input / output station (10) can be established. _… 1. a eee