Patent ID: 6308231
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: G05B,G06F

Abstract:
A programmable analog I/O circuit for use in an industrial control system, the programmable analog I/O circuit having first and second modes of operation, the first mode of operation being as an input circuit, and the second mode of operation being as an output circuit, the programmable analog I/O circuit comprising:(A) a device-side I/O terminal,(1) wherein, in the first mode of operation, the device-side I/O terminal is adapted for receiving an analog input status signal from an analog input device, the analog input status signal indicating an input status of the analog input device,(2) wherein, in the second mode of operation, the device-side I/O terminal Is adapted for transmitting an analog output control signal to an analog output device, the analog output control signal indicating a desired output status of the analog output device;(B) signal conditioning circuitry, the signal conditioning circuitry being coupled to the device-side I/O terminal,(1) wherein, in the first mode of operation, the signal conditioning circuitry receives the analog input status signal as an input, and(2) wherein, in the second mode of operation, the signal conditioning circuitry produces the analog output control signal as an output; and(C) a control-side I/O terminal, the control-side I/O terminal being coupled to the signal conditioning circuitry,(1) wherein, in the first mode of operation, the control-side I/O terminal receives an output of the signal conditioning circuitry, the output of the signal conditioning circuitry being produced by the signal conditioning circuitry based upon the analog input status signal to provide the input status of the analog input device at the control-side I/O terminal, and(2) wherein, in the second mode of operation, the control-side I/O terminal provides an input to the signal conditioning circuitry, the input to the signal conditioning circuitry being used by the signal conditioning circuitry to produce the analog output control signal to provide the desired output status of the analog output device at the device-side I/O terminal.