Input and output modules for use in a control system uses optical communication between electronic modules

The invention relates to an input and / or output assembly for use in a control system according to the preamble of claim 1.

Input and / or output modules are known which represent the interface between a control level with data processing components and the sensor or actuator level in an electrical control system for the automation of technical processes. These input and / or output assemblies or modules thus have electrical input and / or output. Output interfaces for connection to the respective sensors or actuators. These interfaces are usually formed by terminal strips or by contact points for electrical cable connections to certain actuators, motors or sensors or sensors. It is also known to network several input and / or output modules with one another via cable connections and to connect the individual input and / or output modules communicatively to a higher-level master module or to a computer unit via the bus system formed in this way. The disadvantage here is that this wired bus system requires a complex assembly structure and the achievable net data transmission rates come up to the upper limit values ​​relatively quickly due to the need for extensive control measures for fail-safe data transmission.

The present invention is based on the object of creating a control system or input and / or output assemblies that can be used for this purpose, which can be networked in a simple manner and which, with conventional components, enable high net data transmission rates without the need for complex measures.

This object of the invention is achieved by the features in claim 1. It is of particular advantage that the transmission of the respective input or output data between the individual input and / or output modules by means of optical signals enables a relatively high data transmission rate of several megabits per second (Mbit / s) to be achieved without the Risk of faulty data transmission. One of the most important advantages, however, is to be seen in the fact that there are no problems with the electromagnetic compatibility of the input and / or output modules required by guidelines, since the high-frequency signal transmission between the individual modules is optical and therefore no electromagnetic interference fields in the vicinity of an input module or . an output module. With simple means, such as Housings or simple shielding measures, the prescribed electromagnetic behavior with regard to emitted electromagnetic fields and also with regard to the compatibility of external electromagnetic interference fields acting on the input module or output module can therefore be achieved without any problems. In addition, the subject matter according to the invention eliminates all of the assembly work required to set up the data or Signal transmission system between individual input and / or output modules is unnecessary. As a result, the assembly or construction time can be shortened in an advantageous manner and the risk of faulty bus connections - as can occur again and again when making manual cable connections if the fitter is careless - is virtually eliminated. Due to the almost fully automatic establishment of the bus connection when simply lining up or Placing the respective input and / or output modules on a corresponding mounting rail does not necessarily have to be carried out by qualified personnel, but such activities can also be carried out by untrained persons, such as the operator of the respective machine, without any problems executable. After any cable or If line connections between the individual input and / or output modules are unnecessary, conventional sources of error, such as cable or line breaks, or other causes of inadequate data transmission can no longer lead to difficulties. Last but not least, by saving connector components and cable connections, a reduction in the overall costs of the control system and the respective input modules or output modules can be achieved.

An embodiment according to claim 2 is also advantageous, since it allows the optically transmitted signals or data to be processed or changed, supplemented and passed on again by means of conventional electronic components in a so-called electrical intermediate circuit.

A possible embodiment according to claim 3 is advantageous here, since this results in the damping

AT 408 822 B of the optical signals in relation to the transmission path can be kept low or even low-power, optical signals can be reliably transmitted.

A further development according to claim 4 is also advantageous, since this creates a defined optical reception interface and a defined transmission interface that is delimited therefrom.

The embodiments according to claim 5 or 6 advantageously make a separate assembly effort for the formation of a data connection to an adjacent, bus-compatible input and / or output module superfluous.

The refinements described in claims 7 to 9 are also advantageous, since the respective communication interfaces are predefined and error-prone setting work is dispensed with or faulty structures can be easily detected visually.

The embodiments characterized in claim 10 are also advantageous, since on the one hand this achieves the lowest possible attenuation of the optical signals or mechanical protection against dust and liquids or moisture is created.

The use of an advantageous bus or data transmission system is made possible by the embodiment according to claim 11 or 12.

The embodiment according to claim 13 advantageously enables extensive separation of the input and / or output assembly or a wirelessly networked unit made of input and / or output assemblies from a decentralized computer unit. In addition, the communicative connection can be ensured via corresponding lines even with units that are separated from one another or moved relative to one another.

Further advantageous refinements are described in claims 14 to 17, since as a result the signal return path of the optical I / O bus system with a ring structure is automatically set up when the input and / or output modules are lined up without the need for a separate signal return line.

An embodiment according to claim 18 is also advantageous, since it allows a group or a unit of several input and / or output modules to be separated from a higher-level computer unit or CPU or master module in a large or spatial manner without causing transmission problems due to the very different transmission distances occur. Another advantage is that the wire-free section of the I / O bus system can be easily connected to computer units or master or CPU assemblies that are movable relative to this sub-area, for example, which are arranged on moving machine parts, for example.

As a result of the further development according to claim 19, the cabling and data outlay for the individual input and / or output assemblies can be additionally reduced.

Central computer units or CPU or master modules and decentralized input and / or output modules that are wired to bridge larger distances and are wirelessly coupled when shorter transmission distances are present are described in claims 20 to 23.

Optical deflection devices or elements deflecting the light flux can advantageously be dispensed with by the design according to claim 24.

A low-loss transmission of the optical signals or the use of relatively inexpensive, less powerful signal converters is promoted by the design according to claim 25.

The start of the optical signal feedback path in the last of the input and / or output modules in a row can be set by the configuration according to claim 26.

Due to the largely continuous signal return path with light guide elements bridging at least partial sections, a relatively large transmission distance can be covered with just one optical transmission element with a relatively low transmission power or low intensity of the optical signal and the optical transmission element or the optical signal can thus be covered. the electrical / optical signal converter in the last input and / or output module radiates through all upstream input and / or output modules.

With the development according to claim 27, either a manual or automatic bus termination or construction of the signal feedback path can be implemented.

Finally, an embodiment according to claim 28 is advantageous because, due to the comparatively low-loss signal transmission or the relatively low attenuation with low optical transmission powers, greater distances without the need for intermediate amplifier stages

AT 408 822 B can be bridged.

The invention is explained below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings.

Show it:

1 shows a system overview of a possible embodiment of a control system with the input and / or output modules according to the invention in a simplified, schematic representation;

FIG. 2 shows the unit made up of several input and / or output assemblies and a bus coupling module assigned to them according to FIG. 1 in a greatly simplified, schematic representation.

By way of introduction, it should be noted that in the differently described exemplary embodiments, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals or the same component designations, and the disclosures contained in the entire description can be transferred accordingly to the same parts with the same reference numerals or the same component designations. The position details chosen in the description, such as above, below, to the side, etc. based on the figure immediately described and shown and are to be transferred accordingly to the new position in the event of a change in position. Furthermore, individual features or combinations of features from the different exemplary embodiments shown and described can also represent independent, inventive or inventive solutions.

1 shows a block diagram of a possible embodiment of a control system 1 for automating any technical processes. Such a control system can preferably be used to control and / or regulate the processes of plastics processing machines, in particular injection molding machines or their handling or manipulation devices or other robots.

This embodiment of the control system 1 includes, inter alia, a computer unit 2 which takes on a central, data processing function and is in communicative connection with most of the components of the control system 1. The computer unit 2 thus represents a central unit which is superordinate to the other components of the control system 1 and which partially fulfills administrative, control and / or regulating tasks.

The computer unit 2 is optionally formed by a standardized industrial computer 3 in the form of a personal computer and also includes an optical or graphic display and operating device 4 in the form of a touch-sensitive screen or a so-called touch screen 5.

By combining the touch screen 5 with the industrial computer 3, a central management unit for the control system 1 is achieved, which enables comfortable and intuitive management of the overall system.

The computer unit 2 also includes a number of further input devices 6 and output devices 7. In particular, a keyboard 8, an identification device 9, preferably in the form of a reading device, and additional storage devices 10 in the form of CD or DVD drives 11 can be used for data input into the industrial computer 3 and / or be provided in the form of hard disk drives 12.

In addition to the optical output device 7, acoustic output devices 7 such as loudspeakers 13 or buzzers and graphic output devices 7 in the form of printers 14 can also be connected. If necessary, it is also possible to make the computer unit 2 or the display and operating device 4 mobile in the form of a so-called hand terminal.

At some distance from the computer unit 2 or from the display and operating device 4, a switching unit 15 in the form of a switch panel with a plurality of switching and / or display elements 16 is provided. The switching and / or display elements 16 can be formed by membrane keys, switches and optical signaling elements integrated or separately arranged therein, such as light-emitting diodes.

If necessary, the stationary switching unit 15 can also be formed by a mobile operating and display unit in the manner of a so-called hand terminal.

The communication between the switching unit 15 and a CPU assembly, in particular the computer unit 2, takes place via an input and / or output4 based on optical signals

AT 408 822 bus system, I / O bus system 17 for short. The I / O connection is made directly from module to module. Several independent I / O bus segments can therefore exist.

The I / O bus system 17 is used to connect a CPU assembly to the input and / or output assemblies, which are described in greater detail below and are designed with or without their own processor unit.

Master / slave access is therefore carried out via the I / O bus system 17 using optical signaling. The data transmission rate achieved with the optical I / O bus system 17 is between 10 Mbit / s to 50 Mbit / s. The transmission distance is up to 25 meters when using plastic fiber optic cables and a data transmission rate of 50 Mbit / s or up to approx. 300 meters when using fiber optic cables and a max 50 Mbit / s.

The serial communication between a master or CPU assembly 19 with its own processor unit and an I / O assembly (input and / or output assembly) thus takes place serially via optical fiber elements 18 in the form of optical fibers or fiber optic cables.

In contrast to this, communication between individual master or CPU assemblies 19, to which the computer unit 2 or the corresponding control panel computer also belongs, takes place via a standardized, serial multimaster system bus 20. This wired multimaster system bus 20 is through a wired bus system with electrical signal transmission, for example through a standardized Ethernet or Firewire connection. The multimaster communication between the master or CPU assemblies 19 thus takes place in a wired manner and by means of electrical signals via the multimaster system bus 20.

If necessary, it is also possible for the communication between the master or CPU modules 19 to also take place via the optical I / O bus system 17. In this case a CPU is the master. All other CPUs in the system are then slaves and in this case the electrical multimaster system bus 20 could be omitted entirely.

The master or CPU assemblies 19, which are arranged decentrally to the computer unit 2 or to the control panel computer, are basically independent arithmetic and control units with their own computer core and can, for example, take on partial tasks in the control system 1. These subtasks include the control of handling axes, paint mixing devices, hydraulic locking devices, heating devices and the like. CPU modules 19 are modules with their own CPU that directly process open-loop and closed-loop control applications. These are mainly fast control tasks or special functions.

The multimaster system bus 20 serves, among other things, to exchange the process image between the computer unit 2 and the master or CPU modules 19. In parallel with the time-critical data, the multimaster system bus 20 also transports debug data.

If an Ethernet connection is used as a multimaster system bus 20, then TCP / IP is used as the protocol for the data exchange. The corresponding hardware and software components of the Ethernet bus system are widespread and are easy to couple with the computer unit 2 or the industrial computer 3.

If a Firewire connection is used as a multimaster system bus 20, even greater distances of up to 100 meters can be bridged without any problems using fiber optic technology.

The multimaster system bus 20 between the master or CPU modules 19 and the I / O bus system 17 between master or CPU modules 19 and I / O modules 22 make it possible to decentralize individual modules of the control system 1. In the I / O bus system 17, the decentralization takes place via a bus coupling module 21. CPU assembly 19, for example with the switching unit 15 or the computer unit 2, are connected.

The bus coupling module 21 is used to couple and decouple the wired part of the I / O bus system 17 to the wireless part of the I / O bus system 17 with the I / O modules or the lined-up input and / or output assemblies 22.

The individual, independently constructed input and / or output assemblies 22 serve to integrate actuators or sensors into the control system 1.

AT 408 822 B

These input and / or output modules 22 can each be snapped separately onto a mounting rail 23 and represent the inputs and outputs of the control system 1.

The input and / or output assemblies 22 thus have electrical interfaces 24 for connecting actuators or sensors in the area of ​​the machine to be controlled.

An individual input and / or output module 22 preferably has either only inputs for connecting sensors or only outputs for controlling actuators. The inputs can be designed as digital inputs or as analog signal inputs. The outputs of an input and / or output module 22 can also be formed by analog signal outputs or by digital switching outputs.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the central input and / or output assembly 22 is formed by a multiple, in particular 32-fold, digital input module. The input and / or output assembly 22 adjacent to the right side is formed by a multiple, in particular 32-fold, digital output module

The input and / or output assembly 22 closest to the bus coupling module 21 is formed, for example, by a temperature measuring module which enables various types of temperature sensors to be connected. This temperature measuring module is therefore a unit for recording temperature values ​​from various types of sensors. This temperature measuring module is used, for example, to record the measured values ​​from temperature sensors on heating devices of plastics processing machines with several heating zones

In addition to the input and / or output assemblies 22 described, assemblies or modules for connecting pressure sensors can also be provided.

The input and / or output modules 22 and the associated bus coupling module 21 are supplied with electrical energy, as is known per se, via at least one busbar 25 on the mounting rail 23. The electrical energy is preferably fed into the busbar 25 via the bus coupling module 21, which to supply its CPU anyway has a power supply unit or a power supply unit.

During assembly or when the input and / or output assemblies 22 are snapped onto the mounting rail 23, the electrical contact with the busbar 25, from which the input and / or output assemblies 22 are supplied with electrical energy, is made at the same time, The electrical energy for the input and / or output modules 22 is primarily required to supply the electrical functional components and to operate optical display elements at the interfaces 24 to visualize the respective input or output states and, if necessary, to supply sensors or actuators .

Individual master or CPU assemblies 19 can also be snapped onto the mounting rail 23 and can also be supplied with electrical energy via the busbar 25 or feed electrical energy into the busbar 25.

In FIG. 2, a detail from FIG. 1 is shown in a highly schematic manner on an enlarged scale.

Several input and / or output assemblies 22 are lined up in rows or arranged on the mounting rail 23. Likewise, the bus coupling module 21 is placed on the mounting rail 23 at the beginning of the input and / or output assemblies 22, which are lined up in rows.

The input and / or output assemblies 22 each have their own cassette-like receiving housing 26. These cassette-like receiving housings 26 are formed at least by a base shell 27 and a cover element 28 that corresponds to it. In a front wall 29 of the receiving housing 26, the interfaces 24 for producing an optionally releasable connection to the sensors and / or to the actuators in the control system 1 are provided. These interfaces 24 on the front walls 29 of the receiving housing 26 can be formed by plug parts or electrical terminal points.

The receiving housings 26 have a snap device on the rear side by means of which they can be connected to the mounting rail 23 or to the rear wall of a switchgear cabinet.

As shown schematically, status displays 30, for example in the form of light-emitting diodes, can also be provided on the front wall 29 to visualize the respective input and output states at the interface 24.

In the interior of the receiving housing 26 is at least one printed circuit board 31 for holding and

AT 408 822 B electrical connection of several electronic or electrical components 32 arranged.

In addition to the electrical interface 24 to the sensors or actuators, each input and / or output assembly 22 includes at least one optical communication interface 33, 34 for wireless or wireless communication with at least one adjacent input and / or output assembly 22. In particular, an input and / or output assembly 22 comprises an optical communication interface 33 for receiving optical signals 35 and also an optical communication interface 34 for transmitting optical signals 36.

These two optical communication interfaces 33, 34 are provided on opposite side areas, in particular on opposite side walls 37, 38 of the receiving housing 26.

These optical communication interfaces 33, 34 are interfaces or “nodes” to the optical I / O bus system 17, which is located between the individual input and / or output modules 22, the bus coupling module 21 and decentralized master or CPU modules 19, such as For example, the computing unit 2 or the switching unit 15 extends.

The bus coupling module 21 in the I / O bus system 17 basically has the task of making the units of several input and / or output modules 22, which therefore also can be referred to as I / O module islands to be coupled to the next master or CPU assembly 19. In particular, the bus coupler 21 in the I / O bus system 17 must cover the relatively long transmission distance to the next master or CPU module 19 or to the switching unit 15 and the relatively short transmission distance to the adjacent input and / or output module 22 or to the relatively small distances between two input and / or output modules 22 or make appropriate adjustments. A fundamental change in the bus protocol or a change in the data on the I / O bus system 17 is not made by the bus coupler 21.

The bus coupler 21 can therefore also be referred to as a converter or converter from the wired part of the I / O bus system 17 to the wired or wireless part of the I / O bus system 17 and vice versa. The bus coupler 21 converts the line-bound optical signals received via the I / O bus system 17 for wireless transmission to the next input and / or output module 22 and transmits a correspondingly converted optical signal 35 to the subsequent input and / or output module Output assembly 22. Likewise, an optical signal 40 received wirelessly by the bus coupler 21, which can be received by the neighboring input and / or output module 22, is converted in the bus coupler 21 and used as a corresponding optical signal 41 for a wired transmission via the I / O bus system 17 to the switching unit 15 or conditioned to the master or CPU module 19.

Of course, it is also possible to temporarily store the data corresponding to the respective signals 35, 39, 40, 41 by means of electronic storage elements in the bus coupler 21 and, in particular, to assign a different data transmission rate and / or a different bus protocol in the wired part of the I / O bus system 17 choose between the bus coupler 21 and the input and / or output assemblies 22 than in the wireless or line-free part of the I / O bus system 17. If there is a change in the timing or the bus protocol in the bus coupler 21, the data transmission rate in the wired part of the I / O bus system 17 is usually higher than in the wired part of the I / O bus system 17 between the neighboring input and / or output modules 22.

The primary task of the bus coupler 21, however, is the fail-safe transfer of the optical signals 35, 39; 40, 41 from the wired part of the I / O bus system 17 to the wireless part of the I / O bus system 17 and vice versa.

The line-bound part of the optical I / O bus system 17 comprises at least two optical waveguides 42, 43, each of which is designed as an independent cable, or can also be brought together as optical fibers in a common cable.

If the wired part of the I / O bus system 17 is implemented with electrical signaling - as illustrated by a cable 44 shown in dashed lines - the bus coupler 21 converts the electrical signals into corresponding optical signals for subsequent transmission in the non-wired part of the I / O bus system 17.

AT 408 822 Β

In this case, the received optical signals 40 are likewise converted into corresponding electrical signals for transmission via the cable 40.

Of course, it is also possible to implement the puncture of the bus coupling module 21 in an input and / or output module 22, so that the bus coupling module 21 can be omitted as an independent module. In this case, the optical waveguides 42, 43 or at least one cable 44 for the wired part of the I / O bus system 17 connects directly to the first input and / or output assembly 22 of the corresponding I / O module island.

To set up the optical I / O bus system 17 with point-to-point connections between the individual bus subscribers, the bus coupling module 21 has on the one hand an optical / electrical signal converter 45, which is in operative connection with the optical waveguide 42, by means of which the optical signals 39 are supplied will. In addition, the bus coupler 21 comprises an electrical / optical signal converter 46, with which optical signals 41 are sent to the outgoing bus coupler 21 or to a master or signal converter. CPU module 19 returning optical waveguide 43 are emitted.

Optical signals 39 received in line are converted in the bus coupler 21 by means of the signal converter 45 to corresponding electrical signals and converted into a suitable optical signal 35 by means of a further electrical / optical signal converter 47, which is transmitted via an optical interface 48 of the bus coupling module 21 and an air transmission path that may be present 49 is forwarded wirelessly to the neighboring input and / or output assembly 22. In particular, the bus coupler 21 communicates wirelessly or wirelessly via its optical interface 48 with the assigned optical communication interface 33 of the adjacent input and / or output assembly 22.

For the illustrated case of building an I / O bus system 17 with a ring structure, the bus coupler 21 also has a further optical interface 50 and an optical / electrical signal converter 51 assigned to it for receiving an optical signal sent by the neighboring input and / or output assembly 22 40 on. This optical signal 40 received via the optical interface 50 is converted into a corresponding electrical signal by the signal converter 51 and subsequently as an optical signal 41 via the optical waveguide 43 to a master or CPU module 19 by means of the assigned electrical / optical signal converter 46 forwarded.

Each input and / or output assembly 22 also includes signal converters 52, 53 assigned to the two optical communication interfaces 33, 34. The optical / electrical signal converter 52 is assigned to the communication interface 33 for receiving the optical signals 35 and the electrical / optical signal converter 53 is assigned to the communication interface 34 assigned to the transmission of optical signals 36.

The electrical intermediate circuits between the signal converters 52, 53 are used to evaluate or process the signals or data on the I / O bus system 17. In particular, the data intended for the respective input and / or output module 22 are evaluated in the signal flow and, in the event of applicable or associated output data, are placed in the appropriate form via the interfaces 24 to the respective outputs or forwarded to the respective actuators.

Likewise, the electrical intermediate circuits in the input and / or output modules 22 are used to integrate input data from the interfaces 24 into the data stream of the I / O bus system 17 and to the subsequent ones via the electrical / optical signal converter 53 or via the corresponding optical communication interface 34 Forward input and / or output assembly 22.

In the electrical intermediate circuits, data transmitted on the I / O bus are read out or input data from an input and / or output module 22 is placed on the optical I / O bus system 17 and passed on in optical form to subsequent modules.

To achieve the “ring closure” in the illustrated optical I / O bus system 17 with a ring structure, an optical signal return path 54 is provided. For this purpose, at least one light guide element 55, 56 is provided in each input and / or output assembly 22, which extends essentially over the entire width of the receiving housing 26 between the opposite side walls 37, 38. Preferably, however, for each input and / or output assembly 22, two light guide elements 55, 56, which are arranged in a row and essentially follow one another without gaps, are preferred

AT 408 822 B is provided, whose end regions facing away from one another form a light entry point 57 and a light exit point 58. The light entry point 57 and the light exit point 58 are assigned to the opposite side walls 37, 38 of the receiving housing 26.

The lined up input and / or output assemblies 22 with the light guide elements 55, 56 passing through the receiving housing 26 can thus form the optical signal feedback path 54 from the last input and / or output assembly 22 to the bus coupler 21.

The position of at least one light guide element 55, 56, in particular the light guide element 56, can be assumed by a further electrical / optical signal converter 59 that can be assigned to the optical signal feedback path 54. In particular, the light-emitting surface of the optical signal converter 59 can be assigned to the light entry surface of the light-guiding element 55. Especially in the case of the last input and / or output assembly 22 of the I / O module island, the light guide element 56 is replaced by the electrical / optical signal converter 59 so that the signal converter 59 can introduce a corresponding optical feedback signal 60 into the light guide element 55. The uniform orientation or Exact alignment of all light guide elements 55, 56 in the individual input and / or output assemblies 22 creates a continuous optical signal return path 54 which extends over all input and / or output assemblies 22. As a result, the optical feedback signal 60 can radiate from the last input and / or output module 22 through all the upstream input and / or output modules 22 and can then be picked up as an optical signal 40 by the bus coupler 21.

The possibility of engaging and disengaging the signal converter 59 in the signal feedback path 54 is preferably provided in each input and / or output assembly 22. The signal converter 59, however, is only put into the light-transmitting position in the last or in that input and / or output assembly 22 which is furthest away from the bus coupler.

The electrical / optical signal converter 59, which is assigned to the signal return path 54, can therefore be moved from a rest position 61 into an operating position 62 and vice versa. In the rest position 61 of the signal converter 59, the light guide elements 55, 56 form a continuous light guide path over the entire width of the receiving housing 26. In the working position 62 of the signal converter 59, the longitudinal center axes of the two light guide elements 55, 56 are arranged offset from one another and the signal converter 59 can radiate the optical feedback signal 60 directly into the light guide element 55.

An adjusting device 63 thus offers the possibility of changing the position of the signal converter 59 with the position of at least one light guide element 56. For the adjustment device 63, all adjustment mechanisms known from the prior art for achieving rotary or translational adjustment movements can be provided.

The construction of the signal feedback path 54 in the last input and / or output assembly 22 by actuating the adjustment device 63 can take place manually or automatically when the last receiving housing 26 is snapped onto the mounting rail 23. The manual switching of the adjusting device 63 is preferably done without tools or with a standard tool, such as a screwdriver.

For an automatic switchover of the adjustment device 63 into the working position 62 of the signal converter 59, kinematic systems known from the prior art can be used for coupling the snap-on and adjustment movements.

In the last input and / or output module 22, the signal flow in the optical I / O bus system 17 is, as it were, diverted and returned via the signal feedback path 54 to the bus coupler 21 or to the master or CPU module 19 assigned to it.

If the last input and / or output module 22 is a module for receiving sensor data, this data is incorporated in the electrical intermediate circuit of this input and / or output module 22 in a corresponding form and in optical form on the I / O bus system 17 placed. The optical communication interface 34 resp. the corresponding electrical / optical signal converter 53 can be switched to inactive in the last input and / or output assembly 22 manually or automatically when the adjustment device 63 is actuated.

Instead of the optical signal feedback path 54 integrated in the input and / or output modules 22, it is also possible, starting from the last input and / or output module 22, to establish a line connection to the bus coupler 21 or directly to the associated CPU or output module.

AT 408 822 B

Build up master assembly 19.

Furthermore, it is stated that the illustration according to FIG. 2 is shown disproportionately and greatly simplified to illustrate the structure according to the invention. For example, the distance or the free space between adjacent input and / or output modules 22 or the distance from the bus coupling module 21 is only a few tenths of a millimeter to a few millimeters. In particular, the optical communication interfaces 33, 34 and / or the light entry and light exit points 57, 58 on the receiving housings 26 can be lined up without gaps.

The air transmission path 49 between the optical communication interfaces 33, 34 or between the optical interfaces 48, 50 and the associated optical communication interface 33 or the light exit point 58 is preferably kept as small as possible. In the ideal case, there is no air transmission path 49 or no gap and the light entry and light exit points 57, 58 of the mentioned optical interfaces lie next to one another without any gaps. Due to mechanical tolerances of the receiving housing 26 and inevitable assembly tolerances, however, an air transmission path 49 of a few tenths of a millimeter to a few centimeters is usually permissible.

Deviating from the illustrated embodiment of the optical I / O bus system 17 with ring structure, it is also possible within the scope of the invention to build a bidirectional data bus in which data or signals are sent and received consecutively on one and the same signal path, creating a separate one Signal feedback line can be dispensed with.

An optical I / O bus system 17 with a “daisy chain structure” is set up, ie The receiving and transmitting interfaces of an input and / or output module 22 are galvanically separated from one another and are each designed as an independent communication interface 33 for receiving signals and as an independent communication interface 34 for transmitting signals The electrical decoupling between the communication interface 33 and the communication interface 34 is also due to the optical / electrical resp. achieved by the electrical / optical signal converter 52, 53.

The bus users, in particular the input and / or output modules 22 and / or the bus coupler 21, form a so-called chain-like bus structure with a ring architecture. With this "daisy chain structure" with the serial line-up of the bus subscribers, a change in the signal state at an input of a bus subscriber does not have a direct effect on the signal states at the output interface of this bus subscriber.

The light guide elements 55, 56 preferably penetrate the side walls 37, 38 of the receiving housing 26. However, if necessary it is also possible to make at least partial areas of the side walls 37, 38 of the receiving housing 26 transparent and the light guide elements 55, 56 to the surfaces of the transparent areas facing the interior to introduce.

In any case, it is also possible to dispense with the light guide elements 55, 56 if a correspondingly intense or bundled light signal is emitted.

The same applies to the signal converters 52, 53 at the optical communication interfaces 33, 34. However, the optical communication interfaces 33, 34 also preferably include relatively short light guide elements 64, 65. These light guide elements 64, 65 then extend between the signal entry and signal exit points of the signal converter 52, 53 in the vicinity of the respective side wall 37, 38 of the receiving housing 26 to form the optical communication interface 33 and 34, respectively.

Instead of the electrical supply of the input and / or output modules 22 via the rear busbar 25, it is also possible to supply the electrical supply voltage directly via the side walls 37, 38 of an input and / or output module 22 by means of suitable contact tongues or contact pins and assignable contact points adjacent or downstream input and / or output assembly 22 to transmit. These contact tongues or Contact points on the side walls 37, 38 are guided to the corresponding points on the printed circuit board 31 in the receiving housing 26 in order to ensure the electrical supply of the respective components 32. The electrical contacting of the adjacent input and / or output assemblies 22 also takes place automatically when the assemblies are placed on the mounting rail

23.

AT 408 822 B

For the sake of clarity, it should finally be pointed out that, for a better understanding of the structure of the input and / or output assembly, this assembly or its components have been shown partially not to scale and / or enlarged and / or reduced.

The task on which the independent inventive solutions are based can be found in the description.

Above all, the individual embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 2 can form the subject of independent solutions according to the invention. The related tasks and solutions according to the invention can be found in the detailed descriptions of these figures.

List of reference symbols

<td> 1</td><td>Control system</td><td> 41</td><td>Signal (opt.)</td>

<td> 2</td><td>Computing unit</td><td> 42</td><td>optical fiber</td>

<td> 3</td><td>Industrial computers</td><td> 43</td><td>optical fiber</td>

<td> 4</td><td>Display and control device</td><td> 44</td><td>cable</td>

<td> 5</td><td>Touch screen</td><td> 45</td><td>Signal converter (opt./electr.)</td>

<td> 6</td><td>Input device</td><td> 46</td><td>Signal converter (electr./opt.)</td>

<td> 7</td><td>Dispenser</td><td> 47</td><td>Signal converter (electr./opt.)</td>

<td> 8</td><td>keyboard</td><td> 48</td><td>Interface (opt. OUT on the bus coupler)</td>

<td> 9</td><td>Identification device</td><td> 49</td><td>Air transmission line</td>

<td> 10</td><td>Storage device</td><td> 50</td><td>Interface (opt. IN on the bus coupler)</td>

<td> 11</td><td>CD or DVD drive</td><td> 51</td><td>Signal converter (in the bus coupler)</td>

<td> 12</td><td>Hard disk drive</td><td> 52</td><td>Signal converter (in I / O module)</td>

<td> 13</td><td>speaker</td><td> 53</td><td>Signal converter (in I / O module)</td>

<td> 14</td><td>printer</td><td> 54</td><td>Signal return path</td>

<td> 15</td><td>Switching unit</td><td> 55</td><td>Light guide element</td>

<td> 16</td><td>Switching and / or display organ</td><td> 56</td><td>Light guide element</td>

<td> 17</td><td>I / O bus system</td><td> 57</td><td>Light entry point</td>

<td> 18</td><td>Light guide element</td><td> 58</td><td>Light exit point</td>

<td> 19</td><td>Master or CPU module</td><td> 59</td><td>Signal converter</td>

<td> 20</td><td>Multimaster system bus</td><td> 60</td><td>Feedback signal (opt.)</td>

<td> 21</td><td>Bus coupling module</td><td> 61</td><td>Rest position</td>

<td> 22</td><td>Input and / or output module</td><td> 62</td><td>Working position</td>

<td> 23</td><td>Mounting rail</td><td> 63</td><td>Adjusting device</td>

<td> 24</td><td>Interface (electr.)</td><td> 64</td><td>Light guide element</td>

<td> 25</td><td>Busbar</td><td> 65</td><td>Light guide element</td>

<td> 26</td><td>Receiving housing</td><td></td><td></td>

<td> 27</td><td>Base shell</td><td></td><td></td>

<td> 28</td><td>Cover element</td><td></td><td></td>

<td> 29</td><td>Front wall</td><td></td><td></td>

<td> 30</td><td>Status display</td><td></td><td></td>

<td> 31</td><td>Printed circuit board</td><td></td><td></td>

<td> 32</td><td>Component</td><td></td><td></td>

<td> 33</td><td>Communication interface</td><td></td><td></td>

<td> 34</td><td>Communication interface</td><td></td><td></td>

<td> 35</td><td>signal</td><td></td><td></td>

<td> 36</td><td>signal</td><td></td><td></td>

<td> 37</td><td>Side wall</td><td></td><td></td>

AT 408 822 B

Side wall

Signal (opt./ before bus coupler) Signal (back in bus coupler)