Patent ID: 6061600
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: G05B,Y02P

Abstract:
A control network, comprising:a common bus;a master node connected to the common bus; anda plurality of slave nodes connected to the common bus in a loop configuration with said master node, each slave node comprisinga downlink transceiver isolated from the common bus when the slave node is in normal operation,an uplink transceiver connected to the common bus, whereby said slave node receives master-control signals over the common bus, anda failure mode detector;wherein at least one slave node substitutes itself for the master node by connecting its downlink transceiver to the common bus when the slave node's failure mode detector detects a failure of said master node, while said slave node's uplink transceiver remains connected to the common bus such that the slave node thereafter receives master-control signals sent by its own downlink transceiver.