Patent ID: 6289042
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: H04B,H04L

Abstract:
A communication repeater system for use in an industrial control system to repeat communication activity detected on one communication port onto multiple communication ports in the industrial control system, the communication repeater system comprising:a communication repeater adapter device including:a repeater adapter connector having a first set of repeater adapter contacts at a first position on the repeater adapter connector and a second set of repeater adapter contacts at a second position on the repeater adapter connector: anda communication repeater circuit adapted to receive communication data on a one of said first set of repeater adapter contacts and said second set of repeater adapter contacts and broadcast said communication data onto the other one of said first set of repeater adapter contacts and said second set of repeater adapter contacts;a first repeater communication module including:a first communication circuit for transmitting and receiving said communication data on a first communication port in said industrial control system;a first input connector intermatable with said repeater adapter connector, the first input connector having i) a first set of electrical contacts connected to said first set of repeater adapter contacts, and ii) a second set of electrical contacts connected to said second set of repeater adapter contacts;a first output connector substantially identical in construction to said repeater adapter connector, the first output connector having i) a first set of electrical contacts arranged on the first output connector at a first position substantially corresponding to said first position of said first set of repeater adapter contacts on the repeater adapter connector, and ii) a second set of electrical contacts arranged on the first output connector at a second position substantially corresponding to said second position of said second set of repeater adapter contacts on the repeater adapter connector; anda first backplane interconnecting i) said first set of electrical contacts in said first input connector to said first communication circuit, and ii) said second set of electrical contacts in said first input connector to said first set of electrical contacts in said first output connector.