Patent Publication Number: US-6704815-B1

Title: Input-output unit for serial-parallel signal conversion

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an input-output unit for serial-parallel conversion for performing mutual conversion between serial signals transmitted to and from a control system and parallel signals transmitted between various devices by interposing between the control system and a number of the various devices drive-controlled by the control system, such as electromagnetic valves, motors. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, when a number of various devices such as electromagnetic valves, motors are centralized-controlled, the various devices are operated with required timing by a control signal transmitted from a control system. In this case, plural devices can be readily controlled by one operation by transmitting a control signal using a serial signal from the control system. 
     However, in order to control the various devices by a serial signal in such a manner, it is necessary that an electronic member or the like for extracting a driving signal from the serial signal be mounted in each device and a converter for converting the serial signal into a parallel signal be provided thereon. Accordingly, it is difficult to respond on changes in the number of the devices in series. 
     On the other hand, there may be provided various sensors for positional sensing, operational confirmation, or the like in the devices depending on the type thereof, and in order to confirm the operational state of the device by the control system on the basis of an output signal, etc., of those sensors, it is necessary that the output signal be sequentially transmitted to the control system. The transmission by converting into a serial signal is advantageous for ready wiring rather than by wiring to the control system directly; however, the responding to changes in the number of sensors becomes a problem. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     It is a technical object of the present invention to provide an input-output unit for serial-parallel signal conversion having a simple structure and being capable of controlling various devices together by a serial signal or transmitting output signals from various sensors together to a control system by converting them into serial signals. 
     It is another technical object of the present invention to provide an input-output unit for serial-parallel signal conversion capable of readily responding to changes in the number of various devices or sensors. 
     In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an input-output unit for serial-parallel conversion according to the present invention comprises: a plurality of input-output blocks in series for inputting control signals into various devices or for transmission of output signals from the various devices; and a relay block for relaying signals between the input-output blocks and a control system, the relay block comprising a serial terminal to be connected to the control system and a signal converter for converting between serial signals transmitted to and from the control system and parallel signals transmitted to and from the input-output blocks via a multipolar joint connector to be connected to the input-output block, wherein the input-output block comprises an input-output connector for wiring to each of various devices, a multipolar male connector disposed on one coupled surface between the input-output blocks, and a multipolar female connector disposed on the other coupled surface therebetween and connected to the male connector of the adjoining input-output block or to the joint connector disposed in the relay block, and wherein the input-output connector and a terminal of the multipolar female connector are electrically connected by wiring on a printed board disposed within the input-output block while the remaining terminals in the multipolar female connector are electrically connected to terminals of the multipolar male connector. 
     In the input-output unit according to the present invention, each housing of the input-output blocks may be joined with each other in a state of maintaining watertightness outwardly while the input-output connector may be attached to the housing in a state of maintaining watertightness, and a required number of the input-output blocks may be detachably assembled on a mounting rail along with the relay block connected to one end of the input-output blocks and an end block connected to the other end thereof. 
     In the input-output unit for serial-parallel conversion having the above-mentioned structure, the relay block and the corresponding number of input-output blocks to the required number of input-output connectors are sequentially connected to each other by joining the adjoining male and female connectors together, so that the input-output unit is used by connecting each input-output connector to various devices to be controlled or various sensors for positional sensing, operational confirmation, or the like, while the control system and the serial terminal of the relay block are connected together. 
     When each input-output connector is connected to each kind of devices to be controlled, since a serial signal from the control system is converted to a parallel signal for each device in the signal converter of the relay block, the parallel signal in turn is transmitted to the input-output block connected to the corresponding device via the joint connector so as to be output to each device from the input-output connector, a large number of various devices can be controlled together by the serial signal. 
     Also, when each input-output connector is connected to each kind of sensors, since an output signal from the sensor is transmitted to the relay block via the input-output blocks so as to be output to the control system by converting it into a serial signal in the signal converter, the output signals of various sensors and so forth can be transmitted to the control system as a serial signal by combining them to one signal. 
     Furthermore, since the input-output blocks adjoining to each other are joined together by respective joining of the male and female connectors, the number of blocks to be connected in series can be readily changed in demand, enabling them to correspond to changes in the number of devices or sensors readily. 
     Also, the input-output blocks are joined together in a state of maintaining watertightness outwardly and the input-output connector is attached to the housing in a state of maintaining watertightness to thereby render the input-output unit waterproof readily. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an input-output unit for serial-parallel signal conversion according to an embodiment of the present invention, although a part of an input-output block is omitted. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the input-output block according to the embodiment. 
     FIG. 3 is an assembly view of the input-output block shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a second housing of the input-output block. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial circuit diagram showing an electrical coupling manner of the input-output unit for serial-parallel signal conversion according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a partial circuit diagram showing an electrical coupling manner of an input-output unit for serial-parallel signal conversion according to another embodiment different from that shown in FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an input-output unit for serial-parallel signal conversion according to the present invention. The input-output unit according to the embodiment comprises plural input-output blocks  1  for inputting a control signal into various devices or for transmitting an output signal from the various devices, a relay block  3  connected to one end of a line of the input-output blocks  1  for relaying the signal between each input-output block  1  and a control system  7  such as a controller (see FIG.  5 ), and an end block  5  connected to the other end of the line of the input-output block  1 . The input-output blocks  1 , the relay block  3 , and the end block  5  are slidably mounted on a mounting rail  6  and detachably assembled thereon by respectively fixing the relay block  3  and the end block  5 , which are respectively disposed on both ends of the line, to the mounting rail with fixing screws  8 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the relay block  3  is provided with a serial terminal  32  disposed on the top surface of a housing  31  to be connected to the control system  7  and a multipolar joint connector  33  disposed on the coupled surface of the housing  31  to the input-output blocks  1  by opening respective connecting ports of the serial terminal  32  and the joint connector  33  outwardly. 
     The housing  31  has within a line transceiver  34  for relaying a serial signal to be transmitted to and from the control system via the serial terminal  32  and a signal converter  35  for converting between the serial signal and a parallel signal to be transmitted to the input-output block  1 . 
     The electrical power for operating the various devices connected to the input-output blocks  1  and the relay block  3  itself is supplied to the relay block  3  via the serial terminal  32  along with the serial signal from the control system so as to be supplied to the input-output blocks  1  via the joint connector  33 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 to  3 , the input-output block  1  is provided with plural input-output connectors  11  and  11  for connecting the wiring to various devices such as an electromagnetic valve and the so forth, a multipolar male-connector  12  disposed on one coupled surface of the housing, and a multipolar female-connector  13  disposed on the other coupled surface thereof to be connected to the male-connector  12  of the adjoining input-output block  1  or the joint connector  33  of the relay block  3 . The input-output connectors  11  and  11  are assembled to a first housing  14  forming the upper half part of the input-output block  1 , while the male-connector  12  and the female-connector  13  are respectively assembled to a second housing  15  forming the lower half part thereof. 
     The input-output connectors  11  and  11  mounted on a first printed board  16  built-in the first housing  14  along with necessary electronic components such as lamps  21  and  21  for monitoring operations are fitted to fitting holes  14   a  and  14   a  on the top surface of the first housing  14  in the state that respective connecting ports of the input-output connectors  11  and  11  are opened outside. On the outer peripheral surface of the input-output connector  11 , an O-ring  11   a  is fitted so that the gap to the fitting hole  14   a  of the first housing  14  is sealed to be watertight. 
     In addition, the numeral  21   a  represents a lamp display window made of a light-transmissive material and having an internal wall for leading the light of the lamp  21  to the top of the first housing  14 . 
     The multipolar male-connector  12  and female-connector  13  are attached to the second housing  15  by mounting them on a second printed board  17  built-in the second housing  15  in the laterally opposite direction to each other so that connecting ports of both the connectors  12  and  13  open outwardly from coupled surfaces of the second housing  15  on the right and left, respectively. Therefore, when plural input-output blocks  1  are sequentially connected, the male-connector and the female-connector of adjoining respective blocks are connected to each other. In addition, the male-connector  12  and the joint connector  33  of the above-mentioned relay block  3  have the same shape. 
     The second printed board  17  is fitted within the second housing  15  along with the male-connector  12  and female-connector  13 , etc., through an opening for connection  15   a  formed in the second housing  15  to be assembled thereto with fitting screws  22  and  22 . 
     The input-output connectors  11  and  11 , and the male-connector  12  and the female-connector  13  are connected as follows with wiring on the first and second printed boards  16  and  17  disposed within the input-output block  1 , and conductors  18  electrically connecting between the first and second printed boards  16  and  17  via male and female relay connectors  24  and  25 . 
     That is, as understood from FIG. 5, the input-output connectors  11  and  11 , and two terminals  13   a  and  13   a  at one end of the female-connector  13  are respectively connected electrically through the conductors  18 , the male and female relay connectors  24  and  25 , and the printed wiring on the first printed board  16 , while the remaining terminals  13   b  of the female connector  13  are connected to terminals  12   a  of the multipolar male connector  12  through the printed wiring on the second printed board  17 . At this time, the above-mentioned terminals  13   b  of the female connector  13  are connected to two terminals  13   a  and  13   a  in the female connector  13  of the next-order input-output block  1  in the sequentially shifted state toward the connected direction, so that the input-output connector  11  is connected to the terminal  13   a  at one end of the female-connector  13  in any input-output block  1 . 
     The second housing  15  is provided with the opening for connection  15   a  toward the coupled surface in which the male connector  12  is located and the connection port of the male connector  12  is exposed from the opening  15   a.    
     On the other hand, on the coupled surface in which the female connector  13  is located, a hollow connecting cylinder  15   b  (see FIG. 4) for fitting the opening for connection  15   a  of the adjoining input-output block  1  is provided, and the connection port of the female connector  13  is exposed from the opening of the connecting cylinder  15   b.  On the external peripheral surface of the connecting cylinder  15   b,  a sealing member  19  for sealing the gap to the opening for connection  15   a  to be fitted of the adjoining input-output block  1  to be watertight. 
     In the second housing  15 , the female connector  13  and the male connector  12  of the adjoining input-output block  1  are connected to each other by completely fitting the connecting cylinder  15   b  into the opening for connection  15   a  of the adjoining input-output block  1 . 
     In addition, the relay block  3  is provided with the same opening as the opening for connection  15   a  for fitting the connecting cylinder  15   b  of the input-output block  1  sequentially connecting thereto so that the joint connector  33  is exposed therethrough. Also, the above-mentioned end block  5  is provided with the same connecting cylinder as the connecting cylinder  15   b  for fitting the opening for connection  15   a  of the input-output block  1  sequentially connecting thereto. 
     The first housing  14  and the second housing  15  are connected to each other with fixing screws  23  and  23  via a gasket member  20  for sealing the gap between the housings  14  and  15  to be watertight. 
     Therefore, when the required number of the input-output blocks  1  are sequentially connected by fitting the openings for connection  15   a  into the connecting cylinders  15   b  while the relay block  3  and the end block  5  are respectively attached to one end of the input-output blocks  1  and the other end thereof, owing to the functions of the O-ring  11   a,  the sealing member  19 , the gasket member  20 , and so forth, the housings of the input-output blocks  1  are joined together in a state of maintaining watertightness outwardly. Thereby, the input-output unit itself can be readily rendered waterproof. 
     In the input-output unit for serial-parallel conversion having the above-mentioned structure, the relay block  3  and the corresponding number of input-output blocks  1  to the required number of input-output connectors  11  are sequentially connected to each other by joining the adjoining male and female connectors  12  and  13  together, so that the input-output blocks  1  are connected to various devices to be controlled and various sensors for positional sensing, operational confirmation, or the like through each input-output connector  11 . 
     When each input-output connector  11  is connected to each kind of devices to be controlled, since a serial signal from the control system is converted to a parallel signal to each device in the signal converter  35  of the relay block  3 , the parallel signal in turn is transmitted to the input-output block  1  connected to the corresponding device via the joint connector so as to be output to each device from the input-output connector  11 , a large number of various devices can be controlled together by the serial signal. 
     Also, when each input-output connector  11  is connected to each kind of sensors, since an output signal from the sensor is transmitted to the relay block  3  via the input-output blocks  1  to be output to the control system by converting it to a serial signal in the signal converter  35 , the output signals of various sensors and so forth can be transmitted to the control system as a serial signal by combining them to one signal. 
     Furthermore, since the input-output blocks  1  adjoining to each other are joined together by joining of the male and female connectors  12  and  13 , the number of blocks to be connected can be readily changed in demand, enabling them to correspond to changes in the number of devices or sensors readily. 
     In the above-mentioned embodiment, plural input-output connectors  11  are provided in one input-output block  1 ; however, the number of input-output connectors  11  may be single. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, one terminal  13   a  in terminals of the female connector  13  of the input-output block  1  is connected to an input-output connector  11  on the input-output block  1 . Also, the block having plural input-output connectors  11  and the block having single input-output connector  11  may be mixed. 
     In addition, the other structure of the unit shown in FIG. 6 is substantially the same as that of the above-mentioned embodiment, so that like reference characters designate like portions, and description thereof is omitted. 
     Also, in the embodiment, one serial terminal  32  is provided in the relay block  3 ; however, terminals having the same shape as the serial terminal  32  may also be provided therein for transmitting or inputting a serial signal to a next-order input-output unit or various devices. 
     As described in detail above, according to an input-output unit for serial-parallel conversion of the present invention, when each input-output connector  11  is connected to each type of devices to be controlled, since a serial signal from the control system is converted to a parallel signal for each device in the signal converter of the relay block, the parallel signal in turn is transmitted to the input-output block connected to the corresponding device via the joint connector so as to be output to each device from the input-output connector, a large number of various devices can be controlled together by the serial signal. When each input-output connector is connected to each kind of sensors, since an output signal from the sensor is transmitted to the relay block via the input-output blocks so as to be output to the control system by converting it into a serial signal in the signal converter, the output signals of various sensors and so forth can be transmitted to the control system as a serial signal by combining them to one signal. 
     Furthermore, since the input-output blocks adjoining to each other are joined together by respective joining of the male and female connectors, the number of blocks to be connected in series can be readily changed in demand, enabling them to correspond to changes in the number of devices or sensors readily. 
     Also, the input-output blocks are joined together in a state of maintaining watertightness outwardly and the input-output connector is attached to the housing in a state of maintaining watertightness to thereby render the input-output unit waterproof readily.