Patent ID: 6154679
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: G05B,Y02B,Y04S

Abstract:
A bus industrial controller for use with an industrial controller having a first and second unit each having an internal multi-conductor bus having data lines and power lines communicating data and power, respectively, between functional modules of the unit attached to the bus, the modules configured to receive the data and power and provide I/O connection to a controlled process the bus interface comprising:a first and second bus connector configured to mate to a first bus of the first unit and a second bus of the second unit, respectively, the first bus connector being disposed within a hazardous environment, and the second bus connector being disposed within a non-hazardous environment;a galvanic isolator unit disposed within a housing that is positioned between the first and second bus connectors providing electrical isolation across a plurality of conductor pairs between the first and second bus connectors for conducting only data therebetween; andan energy limiting power converter receiving an external source of non-intrinsically safe electrical power and limiting the power at an output of the power converter to a level to avoid the generation of sparks with sufficient energy to ignite a flammable atmosphere during a fault condition, the output of the energy limiting power converter connecting to the power lines of the second bus connector for supplying power thereto and not to the first bus connector.