Abstract: An industrial control system with communication bar and power bar is provided. The industrial control system comprises a plurality of I/O modules; a plurality of terminal boards; at least one communication bar having an input connected with a controller and a plurality of output interfaces, wherein each output interface connects with one I/O module or one terminal board; at least one power bar having an input connected with power supply and a plurality of output interfaces, wherein each output interface connects with one I/O module or one terminal board; wherein each I/O module communicates with one corresponding terminal board through the communication bar respectively.

Abstract: The present application includes an automation control device with a control panel, the control panel comprising at least one button with specified control function; and at least one luminous element located adjacent to the at least one button; wherein the at least one button is operable in a locked mode and a standby mode; in the locked mode, the press on the button would not trigger the specified control function of the button but would light up the at least one luminous element and switch the button into the standby mode; and in the standby mode, the at least one luminous element keeps in lighting, and the press on the button would trigger the specified control function of the button. The automation device is adapted for safe and correct operation in dim or dark environment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a protective circuit to be used in a digital output module, the digital output module comprises a first voltage source and at least an output terminal. The protective circuit comprises: a first sampling unit for sampling a first voltage relevant to the output current from the first voltage source, a first comparing unit for comparing the sampled first voltage with a first reference voltage, a control unit for generating a current regulating signal based on a result from the first comparing unit, and a current regulating unit for regulating the output current from the first voltage source based on the current regulating signal. This protective circuit provides overflowing and short circuit protection, and is cheap in cost.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a pulse frequency measurement device and method and a control system, the device including: a hardware counter configured to perform a counting operation on an input pulse sequence to output a counting result; and a processing unit configured to obtain number of pulses from the counting result outputted by the hardware counter and measure a first time period during which the obtained number of pulses occupy, in which the processing unit includes a frequency calculation module configured to calculate a frequency of the input pulse sequence based on the obtained number of pulses and the first time period. According to the invention, it is possible to achieve adaptive pulse frequency measurement and multi-channel sampling for multiple input pulse sequences with a relatively low cost while ensuring the accuracy of the measurement result.

Abstract: A standalone automation device (100) comprises: a removable memory port (101), configured to transmit data between the device (100) and the equipment (200) which also has a removable memory port; a removable memory control unit (102), comprising a signal convertor (112) for converting a removable memory interface to a serial interface; a power supply unit (103), configured to provide power supply when the device (100) is connected to the equipment (200) and disconnected to the field, and an isolation unit (104), configured to isolate the power supply. Compared with the existing prior arts, the proposed solution is convenient for connecting with the computer or cellphone, especially with isolation solution for power supply.

Abstract: A redundant device unit includes a first device connected with a field device via a first link and a second link in series. The first device, initially active in use, when active sends diagnostic information indicating whether there is a fault in the first link and/or the second link. A second device connected with the field device via the second link and a third link in series, initially passive in use, receives the first diagnostic information from the first device. When the first diagnostic information indicates that there is a fault in the first link and/or the second link, the first device switches to passive and the second device switches to active and generates second diagnostic information indicating whether there is a fault in the second link and/or the third link. A determination regarding the fault is made based on the first and second diagnostic information.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a circuit structure and a method for reducing power consumption of a device including an active module and a passive module. The circuit structure comprises: an active module (22) comprising a main output voltage (221) for powering a load (26) via a first current control device (222) which is configured to control a current passing through the load (26), and an passive module (24) comprising a main output voltage (241) for when the active module (22) fails, powering the load (26) via a second current control device (242) which is configured to control a current passing through the load (26). The passive module (24) further comprises an auxiliary output voltage (243) for when the passive module (24) is in a backup state, powering the second current control device (242) so as to enable the second current control device (242) to be in a switching-on state.

Abstract: A module has switchable operation states. A first switching unit switches the module between a first operation state and a second operation state. A first interface switches between sending signals to another module which has switchable operation states and receiving signals from the other module. The first interface sends a first signal to the other module when the module is in the first operation state, sends a second signal to the other module when the module is to be switched into the second operation state, and receives signals from the other module when the module is in the second operation state. A second interface communicates with the other module. When the second interface receives a response of the other module to the second signal, the first switching unit switches the module into the second operation state. The reliability of module switching is improved in an embodiment.

Abstract: An industrial control system with communication bar and power bar is provided. The industrial control system comprises a plurality of I/O modules; a plurality of terminal boards; at least one communication bar having an input connected with a controller and a plurality of output interfaces, wherein each output interface connects with one I/O module or one terminal board; at least one power bar having an input connected with power supply and a plurality of output interfaces, wherein each output interface connects with one I/O module or one terminal board; wherein each I/O module communicates with one corresponding terminal board through the communication bar respectively.

Abstract: The present application includes an automation control device with a control panel, the control panel comprising at least one button with specified control function; and at least one luminous element located adjacent to the at least one button; wherein the at least one button is operable in a locked mode and a standby mode; in the locked mode, the press on the button would not trigger the specified control function of the button but would light up the at least one luminous element and switch the button into the standby mode; and in the standby mode, the at least one luminous element keeps in lighting, and the press on the button would trigger the specified control function of the button. The automation device is adapted for safe and correct operation in dim or dark environment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a protective circuit to be used in a digital output module, the digital output module comprises a first voltage source and at least an output terminal. The protective circuit comprises: a first sampling unit for sampling a first voltage relevant to the output current from the first voltage source, a first comparing unit for comparing the sampled first voltage with a first reference voltage, a control unit for generating a current regulating signal based on a result from the first comparing unit, and a current regulating unit for regulating the output current from the first voltage source based on the current regulating signal. This protective circuit provides overflowing and short circuit protection, and is cheap in cost.

Abstract: A standalone automation device (100) comprises: a removable memory port (101), configured to transmit data between the device (100) and the equipment (200) which also has a removable memory port; a removable memory control unit (102), comprising a signal convertor (112) for converting a removable memory interface to a serial interface; a power supply unit (103), configured to provide power supply when the device (100) is connected to the equipment (200) and disconnected to the field, and an isolation unit (104), configured to isolate the power supply. Compared with the existing prior arts, the proposed solution is convenient for connecting with the computer or cellphone, especially with isolation solution for power supply.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a circuit structure and a method for reducing power consumption of a device including an active module and a passive module. The circuit structure comprises: an active module (22) comprising a main output voltage (221) for powering a load (26) via a first current control device (222) which is configured to control a current passing through the load (26), and an passive module (24) comprising a main output voltage (241) for when the active module (22) fails, powering the load (26) via a second current control device (242) which is configured to control a current passing through the load (26). The passive module (24) further comprises an auxiliary output voltage (243) for when the passive module (24) is in a backup state, powering the second current control device (242) so as to enable the second current control device (242) to be in a switching-on state.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a module supporting hot plug, a backplane, a system comprising the module and the backplane, and a method for determining connection of the module with the backplane. The module may comprise a first connector comprising a first array of pins, and the backplane may comprise a second connector comprising a second array of pins corresponding to the first array of pins. A portion of the pins of the first array may be selected such that connection of the module with the backplane can be determined based on connection of the selected pins of the first array with corresponding pins of the second array. According to the embodiments of the present invention, the module will be enabled to work only after all the pins are effectively connected to the corresponding pins of the backplane. Thus, no invalid data will be transmitted to the field devices or controller.

Abstract: A redundant device unit includes a first device connected with a field device via a first link and a second link in series. The first device, initially active in use, when active sends diagnostic information indicating whether there is a fault in the first link and/or the second link. A second device connected with the field device via the second link and a third link in series, initially passive in use, receives the first diagnostic information from the first device. When the first diagnostic information indicates that there is a fault in the first link and/or the second link, the first device switches to passive and the second device switches to active and generates second diagnostic information indicating whether there is a fault in the second link and/or the third link. A determination regarding the fault is made based on the first and second diagnostic information.

Abstract: A module has switchable operation states. A first switching unit switches the module between a first operation state and a second operation state. A first interface switches between sending signals to another module which has switchable operation states and receiving signals from the other module. The first interface sends a first signal to the other module when the module is in the first operation state, sends a second signal to the other module when the module is to be switched into the second operation state, and receives signals from the other module when the module is in the second operation state. A second interface communicates with the other module. When the second interface receives a response of the other module to the second signal, the first switching unit switches the module into the second operation state. The reliability of module switching is improved in an embodiment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a DC-DC converter, an input/output (I/O) module including the DC-DC converter, and a method for controlling DC-DC converter. The converter can comprise a planar transformer (2); a first switch element (3) connected between one end of primary winding of the planar transformer and a ground potential, and a second switch element (4) connected between the other end of the primary winding of the planar transformer and a ground potential. The first and second switch elements (3; 4) are respectively controlled to be closed alternately.

Abstract: A control system may include a plurality of terminal boards. Each of the plurality of terminal boards may at least include a power pin. The definition of the power pin on at least one of the plurality of terminal boards may be different from the definition of the power pin on another one of the plurality of terminal boards. Thus, if the at least one of the plurality of terminal boards is connected to a wrong input/output module, the input/output module will not get a process power supplied via the power pin on the terminal board. Therefore, a wrong input/output signal will not be transferred, and the input/output module will not be damaged even if a higher process voltage is provided by a wrong terminal board.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a pulse frequency measurement device and method and a control system, the device including: a hardware counter configured to perform a counting operation on an input pulse sequence to output a counting result; and a processing unit configured to obtain number of pulses from the counting result outputted by the hardware counter and measure a first time period during which the obtained number of pulses occupy, in which the processing unit includes a frequency calculation module configured to calculate a frequency of the input pulse sequence based on the obtained number of pulses and the first time period. According to the invention, it is possible to achieve adaptive pulse frequency measurement and multi-channel sampling for multiple input pulse sequences with a relatively low cost while ensuring the accuracy of the measurement result.