I/o systems, methods and devices for interfacing a pump controller

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide I/O systems, methods, and devices for interfacing pump controller(s) with control device(s) which may have different interfaces and/or signaling formats. In one embodiment, an I/O interface module comprises a processor, a memory, and at least two data communications interfaces for communicating with a pumping controller and a control device. The I/O interface module can receive discrete signals from the control device, interpret them accordingly and send the packets to the pump controller. The pump controller reads the packets and takes appropriate actions at the pump. The I/O interface module can interpret packets of data received from the pump controller and assert corresponding discrete signals to the control device. The I/O interface module is customizable and allows a variety of interfaces and control schemes to be implemented with a particular multiple stage pump without changing the hardware of the pump.

1 . An input/out interface apparatus, comprising:
 a processor residing on a circuit board;   a computer readable medium coupled to said processor and carrying software instructions executable by said processor; and   a first data communications interface configured to connect to a pump controller on board a pump, the first data communications interface configured to connect to the pump controller by a first serial communications link;   a second data communications interface configured to connect to a pump track via a second serial communications link and one or more discrete communication lines wherein each discrete communications line carries a discrete signal associated with a pump function;   wherein said software instructions are executable to convert pump control commands received over the second serial communications link from a first data communications protocol to a second data communications protocol, map signals received over the one or more discrete communications lines to the second data communications protocol and communicate with the pump controller over the first serial communications link using the second data communications protocol.   
     
     
         2 . The input/out interface apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first data communications interface comprises serial data transmission lines for transmitting data to said pump controller, serial data receive lines for receiving data from said pump controller, clock lines for carrying synchronization clock signals, slave enable lines, and power/ground lines. 
     
     
         3 . The input/out interface apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a first cable bundles said serial data transmission lines, said serial data receive lines, said clock lines, said slave enable lines, and said power/ground lines. 
     
     
         4 . The input/out interface apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said first cable has  15  or fewer conductors. 
     
     
         5 . The input/out interface apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said first cable is extendable in excess of three meters. 
     
     
         6 . The input/out interface apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first data communications interface comprises discrete communications lines for transferring data to and from said pump controller and wherein each discrete communications line carries a discrete signal associated with a function of said pump controller. 
     
     
         7 . A method for interfacing at least one pump controller with at least one control device, comprising:
 implementing a first I/O interface module on a circuit board, wherein said first I/O interface module comprises:
 a processor; 
 a computer readable medium coupled to said processor and carrying software instructions executable by said processor; 
 a first data communications interface configured to connect to a pump controller on board a pump, the first data communications interface configured to connect to the pump controller by a first serial communications link; 
 a second data communications interface configured to connect to a pump track via a second serial communications link and one or more discrete communication lines wherein each discrete communications line carries a discrete signal associated with a function of said pump controller; 
   converting pump control commands received over the second serial communications link from a first data communications protocol to a second data communications protocol;   mapping signals received over the one or more discrete communications lines to the second data communications protocol; and   communicating with the pump controller over the first serial communications link using the second data communications protocol.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising configuring said first I/O interface module for interpreting signals from said control device according to the first data communications protocol and asserting corresponding signals to said pump controller according to the second data communications protocol and for interpreting signals from said pump controller according to said second data communications protocol and asserting corresponding signals to said control device according to said first data communications protocol. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising configuring said first I/O interface module to utilize signals from said control device to determine a need and a corresponding process by which said pump controller is to move a motor. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising configuring said first I/O interface module to utilize signals received from said control device to generate and send simulated signals back to said control device to prevent one or more errors. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a pump having an on-board pump controller;   a pump track providing an interface with a control system;   an I/O interface module separate from the pump and the pump track, the I/O interface module having a first data communications interface and a second data communications interface, wherein the I/O interface module is connected to the on-board pump controller via a first serial communications link and is connected to the pump track via a second serial communications link and one or more discrete lines, the I/O interface module configured to:
 convert pump control commands from said pump track according to the first data communications protocol and forwarding the pump control commands to said pump controller according to the second data communications protocol; 
 map signals received over the one or more discrete communications lines to the second data communications protocol and communicate with the pump controller over the first serial communications link using the second data communications protocol. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said first data communications interface comprises serial data transmission lines for transmitting data to said pump controller, serial data receive lines for receiving data from said pump controller, clock lines for carrying synchronization clock signals, slave enable lines, and power/ground lines. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein a first cable connected between the I/O interface module and the pump controller bundles said serial data transmission lines, said serial data receive lines, said clock lines, said slave enable lines, and said power/ground lines. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said first cable has  15  or fewer conductors. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said first cable is extendable in excess of three meters. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said first data communications interface comprises discrete communications lines for transferring data to and from said pump controller and wherein each discrete communications line carries a discrete signal associated with a function of said pump controller. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said I/O interface module is further configured to receive information from the pump over the first serial communications link and assert one or more fake signals to the pump track. 
     
     
         18 . The input/output interface apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the said software instructions are executable to receive information from the pump over the first serial communications link and assert one or more fake signals to the pump track.