Patent ID: 7581053

Claim:
A distributed modular input/output system comprising: an industrial controller programmed to control an industrial process; a network adapter located remotely from and operatively connected to said industrial controller through a wired or wireless network connection; a master input/output portion comprising: (i) a first group of one or more input/output modules physically and electrically connected to each other and to said network adapter through a master backplane for exchange of input/output data with said industrial controller through said network adapter; and (ii) a primary wireless device physically and electrically connected to said network adapter and said first group of input/output modules by said master backplane; at least one servant input/output portion physically separate and spaced from the master input/output portion and comprising: (i) a second group of one or more input/output modules physically and electrically connected to each other by a servant backplane; and (ii) a secondary wireless device physically and electrically connected to said second group of input/output modules by said servant backplane; a primary wireless backplane link operatively connecting said secondary wireless device to said primary wireless device, wherein said second group of input/output modules exchange input/output data with said industrial controller through said servant backplane, said secondary wireless device, said primary wireless backplane link, said primary wireless device, said master backplane and said network adapter.