Patent Description:
The I/O module refers to a module that controls input and/or output. In the input/output module, a PCB board may be mounted inside and a terminal block may be mounted outside. The terminal block may be provided with input/output terminals electrically connected to the PCB. By connecting an external cable to the input/output terminal, signals can be transmitted between the external device and the PCB.

<CIT> discloses a coded connector arrangement for permitting a displacement of a pair of authorized components in a given direction toward each other from a diconnected position to a fully connected position.

Recently, many studies have been conducted to prevent electrical damage to the module that may occur during the operation of such an I/O module.

It is an object of the present invention to solve the above and other problems. Another object may be to be able to easily replace modular components.

Another object may be to prevent damage that may occur due to misassembly during replacement or repair work of modular components.

Another object may be to improve the matchability of components during replacement or repair work of modular components.

Another object may be to prevent electrical shorts during replacement or repair work of modular components.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to easily replace modular components.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to prevent damage that may occur due to incorrect assembly during replacement or repair work of modular components.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to improve the matchability of the components during replacement or repair work of modular components.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to prevent an electrical short during replacement or repair work of modular components.

Description will now be given in detail according to exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the sake of brief description with reference to the drawings, the same or equivalent components may be denoted by the same reference numbers, and description thereof will not be repeated.

In general, suffixes such as "module" and "unit" may be used to refer to elements or components. Use of such suffixes herein is merely intended to facilitate description of the specification, and the suffixes do not have any special meaning or function.

In the present disclosure, that which is well known to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art has generally been omitted for the sake of brevity. The accompanying drawings are used to assist in easy understanding of various technical features and it should be understood that the embodiments presented herein are not limited by the accompanying drawings.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected with" another element, there may be intervening elements present. In contrast, it will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "directly connected with" another element, there are no intervening elements present.

A singular representation may include a plural representation unless context clearly indicates otherwise.

In the present application, it should be understood that the terms "comprises, includes," "has," etc. specify the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof described in the specification, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

Referring to <FIG>, a modular device <NUM> may include a base <NUM>, a body <NUM>, and a terminal <NUM>. The base <NUM> may include connection terminals (connection electrodes, TE) exposed to the outside of a case <NUM>. The plurality of modular devices <NUM> may be electrically connected to each other by the connection terminals TE exposed to the outside of the case <NUM>. The body <NUM> may be mounted on the base <NUM>, and the terminal <NUM> may be mounted on the body <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, a terminal <NUM> may include a case <NUM> and a terminal block <NUM>. The case <NUM> provides an internal accommodation space, and the terminal block <NUM> may be accommodated or mounted in the internal accommodation space of the case <NUM>. A plurality of cables may be electrically connected to the terminal block <NUM> outside the case <NUM>. The terminal block <NUM> may be electrically connected to a PCB <NUM>. The terminal block <NUM> may be referred to as a port <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, a body <NUM> may include a case <NUM> and a PCB <NUM>. The PCB <NUM> may be accommodated or mounted inside the case <NUM>. The PCB <NUM> may be inserted or mounted in slots <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> provided in the base <NUM>. The PCB <NUM> may be electrically connected to the connection terminal TE.

Referring to <FIG>, the base <NUM> may include a first case <NUM> and a second case <NUM>. The first case <NUM> may be combined with the second case <NUM>. The first case <NUM> may have a first surface 120S1 facing the body <NUM> (see <FIG>). Slits <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be formed on the first surface 120S1. The slits <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may include a first slit <NUM>, a second slit <NUM>, and a third slit <NUM>. The number of slits <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be modified.

The second case <NUM> may include ribs <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The ribs <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may include a first rib <NUM>, a second rib <NUM>, and a third rib <NUM>. When the first case <NUM> and the second case <NUM> are coupled, the first rib <NUM> may be inserted into the first slit <NUM>, the second rib <NUM> may be inserted into the second slit <NUM>, and the third rib <NUM> may be inserted into the third slit <NUM>.

The ribs <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may include necks <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The thickness T1 of the ribs <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be greater than the thickness T2 of the necks <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The ribs <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be easily cut because of the necks <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

For example, an operator can manually cut the ribs <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> around the necks <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. At this time, the cut ribs <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may leave a residue or a debris or remains. Here, the residue may be a part of the ribs <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> left after being cut.

For another example, an operator or automated machine may cut the ribs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> by a laser cutting machine. At this time, the cut ribs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> can be cleanly deleted without residue. In this case, the necks <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may not be necessary.

Referring <FIG>, the PCB <NUM> may have a constant voltage and/or current and/or signal processing capacity according to required specifications (AC, DC, etc.). According to the specifications of the PCB <NUM>, the receiving portions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of the PCB <NUM> may be different. The receiving portions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be formed on the PCB <NUM> to be cut-out from a side of the PCB <NUM> into the PCB <NUM>. The receiving portions <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> may be referred to as lower receiving portions <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> of the PCB <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the PCB <NUM> may include a first receiving portion <NUM>, a second receiving portion <NUM>, and a third receiving portion <NUM>. The first rib <NUM> may be inserted into the first receiving portion <NUM>, the second rib <NUM> may be inserted into the second receiving portion <NUM>, and the third rib <NUM> may be inserted into the third receiving portion <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the PCB <NUM> may include a first receiving portion <NUM> and a second receiving portion <NUM>. The first rib <NUM> may be inserted into the first receiving portion <NUM> and the second rib <NUM> may be inserted into the second receiving portion <NUM>. The third rib <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) may be cut or deleted.

Referring to <FIG>, the PCB <NUM> may include a first receiving portion <NUM> and a third receiving portion <NUM>. The first rib <NUM> may be inserted into the first receiving portion <NUM>, and the third rib <NUM> may be inserted into the third receiving portion <NUM>. The second rib <NUM> (see <FIG>) may be cut or deleted.

Referring to <FIG>, the PCB <NUM> may include a second receiving portion <NUM> and a third receiving portion <NUM>. The second rib <NUM> may be inserted into the second receiving portion <NUM> and the third rib <NUM> may be inserted into the third receiving portion <NUM>. The first rib <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) may be cut or deleted.

The cutting or deletion of the ribs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be performed during the production of the modular device <NUM>. Accordingly, in the field where the modular device <NUM> is installed and/or replaced and/or maintained, the operator can combine the PCB <NUM> and the base <NUM> requiring a certain specification without error. That is, damage to the modular device <NUM> due to erroneous coupling can be prevented.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, a slot <NUM> may be formed on the lower part or lower surface of the terminal <NUM>. The slot <NUM> is elongated so that the PCB <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) may be inserted into the slot <NUM>. A first side wall <NUM> may protrude from the lower surface of the terminal <NUM> and may be extends along the length direction of the slot <NUM>. A second side wall <NUM> protrudes from the lower surface of the terminal <NUM> and extends along the length direction of the slot <NUM>. The first side wall <NUM> may be opposite to the second side wall <NUM> with respect to the slot <NUM>. That is, the slot <NUM> may be located between the first side wall <NUM> and the second side wall <NUM>. The bridge <NUM> may connect the first side wall <NUM> and the second side wall <NUM>. The bridge <NUM> may be formed to extend in a direction crossing the length direction of the first side wall <NUM> and the second side wall <NUM>.

The first side wall <NUM> may include a vertical portion <NUM> and a horizontal portion <NUM>. The vertical portion <NUM> may be positioned adjacent to a side surface of the electrode EL1 provided on the terminal block <NUM>. The horizontal portion <NUM> may be positioned adjacent to the lower end of the electrode EL1. The horizontal portion <NUM> may cover the lower end of the electrode EL1. The horizontal portion <NUM> may be connected to the vertical portion <NUM>. For example, the vertical portion <NUM> and the horizontal portion <NUM> may have a L shape as a whole. The electrode EL1 may be referred to as a terminal electrode EL1.

The second side wall <NUM> may include a vertical portion <NUM> and a horizontal portion <NUM>. The vertical portion <NUM> may be positioned adjacent to a side surface of the electrode EL2 provided on the terminal block <NUM>. The horizontal portion <NUM> may be positioned adjacent to the lower end of the electrode EL2. The horizontal portion <NUM> may cover the lower end of the electrode EL2. The horizontal portion <NUM> may be connected to the vertical portion <NUM>. For example, the vertical portion <NUM> and the horizontal portion <NUM> may have a L shape as a whole.

Accordingly, the electrodes EL1 and EL2 may not be exposed to the outside of the case <NUM> of the terminal <NUM>. It is possible to prevent damage that may occur by contacting the electrodes EL1 and EL2 while the operator is replacing the terminal <NUM> in the field.

Due to the features disclosed in the above-described embodiments, the operator can perform the installation or replacement of the modular device even when the modular device is operating or power is supplied to the modular device.

Certain embodiments or other embodiments of the disclosure described above are not mutually exclusive or distinct from each other. Any or all elements of the embodiments of the disclosure described above may be combined or combined with each other in configuration or function.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A modular device (<NUM>) comprising:
a base (<NUM>) including a connection electrode (TE) exposed to the outside of the modular device (<NUM>);
a body (<NUM>) including a PCB (<NUM>) electrically connected to the connection electrode (TE), the body (<NUM>) mounted on the base (<NUM>);
a terminal (<NUM>) mounted on the body and including a port (<NUM>) electrically connected with the PCB (<NUM>);
wherein the base (<NUM>) comprises:
a first case (<NUM>); and
a second case (<NUM>) coupled to the first case (<NUM>),
wherein the first case (<NUM>) includes:
a first surface (120S1) facing the body (<NUM>); and
a plurality of slits (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) formed on the first surface (120S1),
wherein the second case (<NUM>) comprises:
at least one of ribs (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) extending from the base (<NUM>) toward the body (<NUM>) and inserted into the plurality of slits (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>),
wherein at least one of the plurality of slits (<NUM>) is empty with the at least one of ribs (<NUM>),
wherein the PCB (<NUM>) comprises a lower receiving portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) such that the at least one of ribs (<NUM>, <NUM>) is inserted into the lower receiving portion (<NUM>, <NUM>).