Abstract: System and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes serial peripheral interface (SPI) bus and a master device communicatively coupled to the serial peripheral interface (SPI) bus. The system further includes a first slave device communicatively coupled to the SPI bus. The system additionally includes a second slave device communicatively coupled to the SPI bus and to the first slave device; wherein the first and the second slave devices are communicatively coupled in parallel to the SPI bus and wherein the first and the second slave devices are communicatively coupled to each other by using a first chain line, and wherein the master device is configured to communicate with the first and with the second slave devices over the SPI bus.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a controller that is configured to enable communication between one or more sensors and a processor. The controller includes a plurality of input-output (IO) ports each configured to couple to the one or more sensors. Moreover, each of the IO ports is configured to couple to a plurality of sensor types such that each IO port is configured to couple more than one sensor type. The controller also includes an interface configured to receive a selection of a selected mode from a plurality of modes each corresponding to a sensor type. Furthermore, the controller includes a switch block having a plurality of switches each configured to toggle a connection in the switch block according to the selected mode.

Abstract: At embedded control logic, electrical information with respect to a switching device is sensed. A decision is made as to an operation of the control logic based on the sensed information. The operation may be one or more of setting a wetting current or determining whether the electrical information is within an acceptable range.

Abstract: A device includes a digital to analog converter (DAC) configured to generate a voltage output or a current output. The device also includes an integrated circuit configured to receive at least one of the voltage output or the current output and transmit the at least one of the voltage output or the current output to a load, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to measure a voltage level or a current level related to the transmission of the at least one of the voltage output or the current output. In one embodiment, a current limiter is included for voltage outputs as a form of power limiting and circuit protection. Additionally, the device includes a controller configured to receive an indication of the measurement from the integrated circuit and determine if the indication of the measurement exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A document access control system includes a location-based document reader designed to provide a reading service, a location-based physical storage located in a first location and designed to store a physical document, and a location-based document server. The location-based document server stores an electronic document and delivers the electronic document to the location-based document reader. The location-based document reader derives a second location, and provides access to the electronic document based on the first and the second locations.

Abstract: A device includes a digital to analog converter (DAC) configured to generate a voltage output or a current output. The device also includes an integrated circuit configured to receive at least one of the voltage output or the current output and transmit the at least one of the voltage output or the current output to a load, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to measure a voltage level or a current level related to the transmission of the at least one of the voltage output or the current output. In one embodiment, a current limiter is included for voltage outputs as a form of power limiting and circuit protection. Additionally, the device includes a controller configured to receive an indication of the measurement from the integrated circuit and determine if the indication of the measurement exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a controller that is configured to enable communication between one or more sensors and a processor. The controller includes a plurality of input-output (IO) ports each configured to couple to the one or more sensors. Moreover, each of the IO ports is configured to couple to a plurality of sensor types such that each IO port is configured to couple more than one sensor type. The controller also includes an interface configured to receive a selection of a selected mode from a plurality of modes each corresponding to a sensor type. Furthermore, the controller includes a switch block having a plurality of switches each configured to toggle a connection in the switch block according to the selected mode.

Abstract: A system includes a triple modular redundant (TMR) control system comprising three controllers. Each controller of the three controllers includes a current driver system configured to detect and regulate a portion of a total current output of the TMR control system, and a universal input-output (UIO) system comprising a plurality of universal input-output (UIO) ports, wherein the universal input-output (UIO) system is configured to detect the portion of the total current output and the total current output of the TMR control system via one or more of the plurality of the UIO ports, compare the portion of the current output and the total current output of the TMR control system, and adjust the portion of the total current output according to a predetermined total current output threshold.

Abstract: An input/output module for use in an industrial control system and connectable to a programmable logic controller (PLC), the input/output module having an interface configured for an electrical connection to the PLC, a plurality of pins configured for connection to one of a plurality of peripherals, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) disposed in the I/O module and electrically coupled to a system controller, the ASIC having a plurality of connection paths, each path being configured for a function, and a switch block configured to reassign a signal from a first connection path of the plurality of connection paths to a second connection path of the plurality of connection paths.

Abstract: System and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a first processor comprising a serial peripheral interface (SPI) port, and a second processor. The system further includes a galvanic isolation barrier. The system additionally includes a SPI bridge comprising a first output pin control configured to control a device. The SPI bridge additionally includes a first analog multiplexor control configured to route signals to a circuitry. The SPI bridge is configured to communicatively couple the first processor with the second processor through the galvanic isolation barrier, and to communicatively couple the first processor to the device through the first output pin control, and to route the signals between the first processor and the circuitry by using the first analog multiplexor control.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems and methods for determining electrical faults. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for determining electrical faults. One method can include providing switch circuitry including at least one first switch detector resistor in parallel communication with at least one switch; providing terminal board circuitry including at least one terminal board resistor in parallel communication with the switch circuitry and in communication with a power source; receiving a power source reference; comparing a field voltage value to a generated reference voltage value, generating a comparison value output based at least in part on the comparison of the field voltage value and the generated reference voltage; and determining one of a plurality of field conditions based at least in part on the comparison value output.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems and methods for determining electrical ground faults. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided determining ground leakage electrical faults. The method includes providing a voltage source having a positive lead in communication with a first contact conductor and a negative lead in communication with a second field conductor, wherein the first contact conductor is connected to a ground through a first resistor Rp, and wherein the second field conductor is connected to the ground through a second resistor Rn; monitoring a first voltage potential associated with the first contact conductor; and determining a condition associated with the first contact conductor, based at least in part on the monitored first voltage potential.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for fault detection are disclosed. At least one controller may identify a plurality of values where each value corresponds to a monitored parameter or a measured parameter. The at least one controller may determine a respective deviation between each of the plurality of values and an expected value, and may further determine whether at least one of the respective deviations exceeds a threshold. Upon a determination that at least one of the respective deviations exceeds the threshold, a fault may be detected. Each of the plurality of values may be associated with a respective device that monitors or measures the value. A detected fault may be associated with the device that monitors or measures the value determined to deviate from the expected value by more than the threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring input signal parameters are provided. One embodiment may include an input unit for receiving at least three signals. The at least three signals can comprise at least one value associated with at least one monitored parameter. The system may further include at least one controller for determining that the at least one value of the at least three signals is outside of a predetermined range of values, detecting a deviation in the at least one value associated with the at least three signals from an expected value within the predetermined range of values, determining that the deviation exceeds a predetermined period of time threshold, and determining a change in at least one of the at least three signals based at least in part on the determination that the deviation exceeds the threshold period of time.

Abstract: System and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a master device comprising a first serial peripheral interface (SPI) port having only a first four wires. The system further includes a slave device comprising a second SPI port having only a second four wires. The system additionally includes a galvanic isolation barrier communicatively coupling the first four wires to the second four wires. The master device is configured to use the first four wires to transmit a plurality of signals representative of a reset and of a first communications mode. The first communications mode is used to transfer data between the master device and the slave device.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide for a resistance temperature device (RTD) measurement device. In one embodiment, aspects of the invention include a RTD measurement device that includes: an input including a plurality of terminals from an RTD sensor; a plurality of burnout switches, each burnout switch connected to a terminal of the RTD sensor; a plurality of resources; and a switch block connecting the plurality of terminals and the plurality of resources to determine a measurement of the RTD sensor.

Abstract: System and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes serial peripheral interface (SPI) bus and a master device communicatively coupled to the serial peripheral interface (SPI) bus. The system further includes a first slave device communicatively coupled to the SPI bus. The system additionally includes a second slave device communicatively coupled to the SPI bus and to the first slave device; wherein the first and the second slave devices are communicatively coupled in parallel to the SPI bus and wherein the first and the second slave devices are communicatively coupled to each other by using a first chain line, and wherein the master device is configured to communicate with the first and with the second slave devices over the SPI bus.

Abstract: An input/output module for use in an industrial control system and connectable to a programmable logic controller (PLC), the input/output module having an interface configured for an electrical connection to the PLC, a plurality of pins configured for connection to one of a plurality of peripherals, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) disposed in the I/O module and electrically coupled to a system controller, the ASIC having a plurality of connection paths, each path being configured for a function, and a switch block configured to reassign a signal from a first connection path of the plurality of connection paths to a second connection path of the plurality of connection paths.

Abstract: Certain embodiments herein describe filtering signals or channels using a programmable bandwidth filter. Each channel may be filtered according to a different bandwidth such that noise may be removed from each channel without the need to increase the complexity of an anti-aliasing filter, for example. In one embodiment, the programmable filter may be a decimation filter that may be coupled to a delta sigma modulator, which may sample an analog channel according to a programmable sampling rate to generate a digital representation of the analog channel. In one embodiment, multiple analog channels may be multiplexed and subsequently sampled and filtered by the delta sigma modulator and decimation filter, respectively. According to various embodiments, the above processing may be performed by an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a microcontroller, or a computing device including one or more software programs and/or modules.

Abstract: An interface circuit board apparatus can include a shared circuit board base, a transceiver section disposed on the circuit board base, and having circuit transceiver sites configured to receive a plurality of transceiver component types, a termination section disposed on the circuit board base, and having circuit termination sites configured to receive a plurality of termination component types, and a connection section operatively coupled to the transceiver and termination sections, wherein the transceiver section, the termination section and the connection section are configurable to support a plurality of interface types based on the plurality of transceiver component types and the plurality of termination component types.