JP5565623B2 - Input/Output Modules - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an input/output module, and more specifically to improvements to input/output modules implemented in programmable logic controllers (hereinafter referred to as PLCs) and the like.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an analog input/output system in a conventional building block type PLC. In Figure 2, the CPU module 1 is connected to an analog output module 2 and an analog input module 3 via a bus B, and transmits and receives various signals between the analog output module 2 and the analog input module 3.

The analog output module 2 is composed of a bus interface circuit 20 for connecting the analog output module 2 to the bus B, a memory 21 for storing analog output digital values set and input from the CPU module 1, a control circuit 22 for controlling the operation of the analog output module 2, an analog output circuit 23 for converting the analog output digital values stored in the memory 21 into multiple analog signals and outputting them to the outside, and an external connection terminal 24.

The analog input module 3 is composed of an analog input circuit 31 that converts multiple analog signals input from the external connection terminal 30 into digital signals, a control circuit 32 that controls the operation of the analog input module 3, a memory 33 that stores the analog input digital values converted by the analog input circuit 31 for transfer output to the CPU module 1, and a bus interface circuit 34 that connects the analog input module 3 to the bus B.

In other words, in conventional building block PLCs, functions such as logic input, logic output, analog input, and analog output are each designed as separate modules, and users are able to select and implement these modules according to their application.

Patent document 1 describes the configuration of an actuator controller equipped with a general-purpose analog input/output module and a D/A conversion module.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-95624

However, the conventional analog input/output module shown in Figure 2 is configured separately for each function, so if analog input and analog output functions are required, two types of modules with each function must be implemented in the PLC. Specifically, if it is desired to process two systems of analog input and analog output signals, for example, one analog input module and one analog output module configured to process four systems of signals must be implemented in the PLC.

However, when analog input and output modules configured to process four signal systems each are implemented in a PLC, since only two signal systems each require processing, each module ends up with two wasted signal systems that will not be used for the time being, and each module has two extra external connection terminals, which ultimately becomes an obstacle to miniaturizing the PLC.

The present invention aims to solve these problems, and its purpose is to provide an input/output module that can effectively utilize multiple input/output signal processing systems.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising the steps of:
In an input/output module provided with a plurality of input/output signal processing systems,
providing a user interface for defining functionality of said modules ;
The functions of the modules are defined individually for each module or for a plurality of input/output signal processing systems;
The user interface is characterized by combining at least two functions among functions including analog output, analog input, ON/OFF logic signal, pulse counter, pulse output, and communication .

This configuration allows multiple input/output signal processing systems to be effectively utilized.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional analog input/output system.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the CPU module 4 is connected to the analog input/output module 5 via a bus B, and transmits and receives various signals between the CPU module 4 and the analog input/output module 5.

The analog input/output module 5 is composed of a bus interface circuit 50, a user interface 51, and an external connection terminal 52, and the user interface 51 is connected to the bus B via the bus interface circuit 50.

The user interface 51 is composed of a memory 510, a control circuit 511, an analog output circuit 512, and an analog input circuit 513. The memory 510 is connected to the control circuit 511, and the analog output circuit 512 and the analog input circuit 513 are also connected to the control circuit 511. Note that the analog output circuit 512 and the analog input circuit 513 each have multiple signal processing systems, and each signal processing system is connected to a common external connection terminal 52.

The memory 510 stores the function definition data of the analog input/output module 5 set by the CPU module 4 under the control of the control circuit 511, the analog output digital value output to the outside from the analog output circuit 512, the analog input digital value taken in from the outside via the analog input circuit 513, and the like.

The control circuit 511 controls the read/write of the memory 510, and enables/disables the analog output circuit 512 and/or analog input circuit 513 individually for each signal processing system according to the function definition data of the analog input/output module 5 stored in the memory 510.

A specific operation will now be described.
When the digital input/analog output function is used, the control circuit 511 enables a corresponding signal processing system of the analog output circuit 512 in accordance with the function definition data stored in the memory 510 from the CPU module 4 via the bus interface circuit 50. Then, the analog output digital value stored in the memory 510 is sent to the analog output circuit 512, and the converted analog output signal is output to a predetermined external connection terminal 52.

At this time, by simultaneously enabling the corresponding signal processing system of the analog input circuit 513, the analog output signal can be converted by the analog input circuit 513 and stored in the memory 510, and the digital output value can be transmitted to the CPU module 4 via the bus interface circuit 50.

When the analog input digital output function is used, the control circuit 511 disables the corresponding signal processing system of the analog output circuit 512 according to the function definition data stored in the memory 510 from the CPU module 4 via the bus interface circuit 50. Then, by making the output high impedance, the external connection terminal 52 can be driven by an external device.

In addition, by enabling the corresponding signal processing system of the analog input circuit 513, the analog input applied to the external connection terminal 52 is converted into a digital signal, and the digital output value is stored in the memory 510. The digital output value stored in the memory 510 is transmitted to the CPU module 4 via the bus interface circuit 50.

With the analog input/output module 5 configured as shown in FIG. 1, multiple external connection terminals can be freely defined and used individually for analog output or analog input, so the external connection terminals can be used effectively, and the module can be used effectively. And by making effective use of the module, the number of modules implemented in the PLC can be reduced, allowing the PLC to be made smaller.

In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the user interface 51 is configured with an analog output system and an analog input system, but this is not limited to this, and it may be configured to combine, for example, an ON/OFF logic signal, a pulse counter, a pulse output, a communication function, etc.

In addition, in the above embodiment, an example of an input/output module implemented in a building block type PLC was described, but the input/output module is not necessarily limited to being implemented in a PLC, and may be implemented in other controllers.

As described above, the present invention makes it possible to realize an input/output module that can effectively utilize multiple input/output signal processing systems.

4 CPU module 5 Analog input/output module 50 Bus interface circuit 51 User interface 510 Memory 511 Control circuit 512 Analog output circuit 513 Analog input circuit 52 External connection terminal B Bus

Claims (1)

In an input/output module provided with a plurality of input/output signal processing systems,
providing a user interface for defining functionality of said modules ;
The functions of the modules are defined individually for each module or for a plurality of input/output signal processing systems;
The user interface is an input/output module that combines at least two functions including analog output, analog input, ON/OFF logic signal, pulse counter, pulse output, and communication .

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