Optically connected system for exchanging data among industrial automation devices

Abstract

An optically-connected system is disclosed for exchanging data among industrial automation devices, that is composed of a plurality of connection modules, where each module comprises at least two pairs of optical transmitters and receivers on the main side, and one optical receiver on the opposing main side, that are opposite with respect to another pair of transmitters and receivers in a following module; and where each one of the transmitters and receivers is adapted to communicate with industrial automation devices to cooperate for exchanging data between modules, sending one interrogation signal requesting an identity of the module and the receiver is adapted to send to each corresponding response signal containing characteristics of the receiver.

1 . An optically-connected system for exchanging data among industrial automation devices, the system comprising a plurality of connection modules;
 where each connection element has a main side and an opposing main side, and, perpendicular to the main sides, a minor side and an opposing minor side;   where each one of the connection modules comprises at least two pairs of optical transmitters and receivers;   where each pair of the optical transmitters and receivers comprises one optical transmitter on the main side of each one of the connection modules, and one optical receiver on the opposing main side of each one of the connection modules;   where each pair of the optical transmitters and receivers is further placed on the main side of the connection modules in an opposite way with respect to another pair of the transmitters and receivers in a following connection element, in such a way as to place on each main side of the connection modules one transmitter followed by one receiver eventually followed by one transmitter;   where each one of the transmitters and receivers is adapted to communicate with industrial automation devices;   where each one of the transmitters and receivers is adapted to cooperate for exchanging data with a respective receiver and transmitter of another adjacent of the connection modules;   where each one of the transmitters is adapted to send to each corresponding one of the receivers one Interrogation signal requesting an identity of the receiver, and each one of the receivers is adapted to send to each corresponding requesting transmitter a Response signal containing characteristics of the receiver, the Response signal identifying each receiver as a receiver that passes information from a first one of the transmitters to a last one of the receivers, the Response signal of the last one of the receivers containing information identifying the last one of the receivers as an end receiver of the system; and   where an optical beam transmitted through the system is a combination of a beam transmitted by each connection module and a beam received by a following connection module.   
   
   
       2 . The optically-connected system according to  claim 1 , where at least one of the connection modules is equipped on one of its minor sides with at least one additional pair of transmitters and receivers. 
   
   
       3 . The optically-connected system according to  claim 1 , where each of the connection modules is placed inside a box for industrial automation, each one of the boxes being equipped with holes next to the transmitters and receivers in order to allow their mutual operability. 
   
   
       4 . The optically-connected system according to  claim 2 , where the connection modules are placed inside a box for industrial automation, each one of the boxes being equipped with holes obtained next to the transmitters and receivers in order to allow their mutual operability and with holes obtained next to the at least one additional pair of transmitters and receivers in order to allow their operability. 
   
   
       5 . The optically-connected system according to  claim 1 , where the optical transmitters and receivers transmit and receive infrared rays. 
   
   
       6 . The optically-connected system according to  claim 5 , where the transmitters and receivers operate according to the IrDa protocol. 
   
   
       7 . The optically-connected system according to  claim 5 , where each pair of the transmitters and receivers is connected to a respective encoder/decoder, that is in turn connected to a control and management device; and
 where the control and management device is connected, through an I/O interface, to a terminal board for supply and signal input/output from one or more than one external industrial automation device.   
   
   
       8 . The optically-connected system according to  claim 7 , where the control and management device is composed of a UART-type element and a microprocessor. 
   
   
       9 . The optically-connected system according to  claim 6 , where each path of the transmitters and receivers is connected to a respective encoder/decoder, that is in turn connected to a control and management device; and
 where the control and management device is connected, through an I/O interface, to a terminal board for supply and signal input/output from one or more than one external industrial automation device.   
   
   
       10 . The optically-connected system according to  claim 9 , where the control and management device is composed of a UART-type element and a microprocessor. 
   
   
       11 . The optically-connected system according to  claim 1 , where the optical transmitters and receivers transmit and receive laser rays. 
   
   
       12 . The optically-connected system according to  claim 1 , where the optical transmitters and receivers transmit and receive microwave rays. 
   
   
       13 . The optically-connected system according to  claim 1 , where the optical transmitters and receivers transmit and receive rays in the visible spectrum. 
   
   
       14 . The optically-connected system according to  claim 13 , where the supply is provided by serial connections through small cables. 
   
   
       15 . The optically-connected system according to  claim 13 , where the supply is provided by detachable connection terminal boards. 
   
   
       16 . The optically-connected system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a supply to each one of the connection modules that is separate from the optically-connected system. 
   
   
       17 . The optically-connected system according to  claim 16 , where the supply is provided by serial connections through small cables. 
   
   
       18 . The optically-connected system according to  claim 16 , where the supply is provided by detachable connection terminal boards. 
   
   
       19 . The optically-connected system according to  claim 1 , where the connection modules further comprise a plurality of data input and output elements respectively connected to industrial automation devices; and
 where the connection modules further comprise a data collecting and queuing element operatively connected to the data input and output elements, the element being connected, through a field bus, to a numeric control for managing data.   
   
   
       20 . A method for exchanging data among industrial automation devices comprising:
 a) providing a system according to  claim 1 ; and   b) starting transmission and reception of data among the industrial automation devices; where each of the industrial automation devices is connected to one of the connection modules.