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INTERFACE MODULES
•Local and remote interface modules (LIM & RIM): For a typical configuration with 2 drops per
channel using LIM & RIM, refer to Fig. 1.These modules enable digital and register input/output racks
to be remotely installed from the processor. To establish a remote I/O system, a remote interface module
is mounted in the remote rack. The local interface should have up to two communication channels. Each
channel may support up to eight remote interface modules.
Local and remote interface (LI and RI) modules allow a programmable controller to communicate with
remote I/O devices via an interconnecting dual twisted shielded cable connected between the LI and the
RI. Another use for LI is when a processor has no onboard registers. In this case, the registers that the
processor must address have to come from a local interface module. Also, where a processor can
address more registers than are residing on board, the LI gives these registers to the processor.For
typical indicators and wiring strips refer to Fig. 2.
These modules can be specified by giving their properties like the power consumed for each local and
remote unit, the maximum number of channels per local interface (eg. 2), the maximum number of
registers per channel, the maximum number of digitl i/o per channel, the maximum number of drops
per channel (eg. 8). The following data may proove to be useful for each drop: the total number of
digital i/o and the maximum number of registers. The compatability of these modules with the PLC, i/o
modules and the racks is always required. Command ports are characterized by the transmission rate
(eg. 31 Kbaud), the communication mode (eg. full duplex), the physical layer information (like data
encoding differential , serial, functional, procedural, electrical, mechanical properties RS 422). For
local remote connections refer to Fig. 3.
A mean is provided to set the address of each drop on each channel, like dip switches. The medium of
communication between the LIM and the RIM may be dual twisted pair or shielded wire. In general,
the LIM receives instructions from the CPU. The LIM then serializes this information and transmits it
to the appropriate remote interface module. This is done on one of the independent communication
channels. The RIM interprets this, verifies, acknowledges it and then acts upon it. The image table in
each of the LIM and RIM will store this information. Now, the exchange of the information between the
LIM and RIM is independent of the CPU scan. Transmitted information may have any or the
combination of commands to digital i/o, storage register or for housekeeping purposes. Usually, the
LIM module would store the control register information, while the RIM would store its own specific
drop control information. According to the control information stored in the RIM (per the user
program), in an event of a failure in any drop, the running drops may continue their operation (last state
condition maintained) or to shut down.
•Local and remote transfer interface modules: for critical applications, the transfer interface system will
decrease system downtimes by enabling a redundant processor to assume control of the input and
output system. This allows a system to operate despite faulty conditions of either the primary or back
up processor rack. The remote transfer interface and local transfer interface modules provide the
communication between processors and I/O and supervise the actual transfer of control from a faulty
primary process to a backup processor and change the designation of the last to primary. Each local
transfer interface module has two communiction channels a register transfer channel and an
input/output channel. The remote transfer interfaces have two communication channels one between the
input/output system and the primary processor the other to the backup processor local transfer
interfaces. Refer to Fig. 4 for a transfer interface system.
The
specifications for such devices may include the following: the power consumption per interface module
(to be included when sizing the power supply of the rack), the number of registers available for external
drops and internal data storage, the number of i/o channels per local transfer interface (eg. 1), the
maximum number of registers, drops,and digital i/o points, the maximum number of registers and
digital i/o per drop, the available i/o points and analog i/o per LTI and the maximum number of LTIs
per system, the number of rgister transfer channels per LTI, the communication method, the
transmission rate, the transmission distance, the update times under the different possible
configurations. Refer to Fig. 5 for typical front indicators of RTIs and LTIs, also, the external
connections are shown.
The
two possible transfers are the bumpless and the bump. The former is this that occurs when the backup
CPU is completely synchronized with the primary processor. I/o states, data values and processor scans
are synchronized in both units (no sudden change in the i/o status when the transfer takes place). The
latter occurs when sychronization has been lost between the backup and primary processors. Severe
noise and broken communication cables can cause loss of synchronization. If a transfer is to happen
while the backup and primary processors are out of sync., some i/o values may change when the
backup processor takes over and this is a bump in the transfer. The backup processor can be
programmed to shut down, if it loses or runs out of sync. with the primary. The register transfer channel
is responsible for the transferring of the internal registers contents from the primary LTIs to the backup
ones, synchronization of the processors scans and the determination to switch from primary to backup.
•Network interface modules. This is a communication interface that allows processors, CRTs, printers,
computers and other related devices to communicate with each other, exchanging registers and I/O
status. Several networks can be linked together which provides expansion capabilities and allows for
distributed networks and network redundancy. These modules can be plugged into any register slot in
any rack. The network interface module will have indicator lights, communication ports, the network
port, thumbwheel or rocker or dip switches to indicate NIM address and cosequently communication
ports addresses, these switches are also used to indicate the ports baud rate mode of operation of
communication ports and the receive of broadcast messages. The major accessories that may be needed
to complete a connection to a NIM are: tee connectors (1 per NIM), terminators (2 per network), cable
extension (as required). For a front view of a typical NIM refer to Fig. 6.
When power is applied to the NIM ,it will start its self test
sequence. In general, this procedure will test the internal PROM memory, clears the RAM memory and
performs read/write tests on the RAM. Any message received by the NIM during power up will be
ignored and the processor, CRT or any other initiating devices will receive an error. A power down will
cause the module to get into a shut down sequence, all communications will come to a halt, the network
port will be turned off (disconnected from the network). These modules may handle two types of
communications: network (NIM to NIM) and communication ports (PC to PC, CRT to PC,...). The
NIM may indicate the priority level of the module, when and for how long it can seize the medium to
transmit the message or messages it has. There are a few approaches to access the medium (medium
access control protocols). In general, these methods can be classified into distributed and centralized
control; another method of classification is whether the protocol is of the contention type (eg. carrier
sense medium access control with collision detection for bus topology, slotted ring for ring topology)
or the round robin (eg. token bus, token ring) or reservation. MAC protocols may or may not have a
provision for setting priorities of te messages to be transmitted from one station to another. For
example, the token bus protocol per IEEE 8802.4, the data are prioritized into 4 categories 6,4,2,0.
Category 6 being the highest priority, and this priority method works in conjunction with timers to
allow a station a maximum time of seizing and transmitting on the medium. The ring topology with the
token ring protocol per IEEE 8802.5 has in the access control field of the MAC packet data unit 6 bits
to indicate the priority and reservation requirements for each packet (message) to be put on the network.
For further details regarding local area network, refer to "An introduction to local area networks"
•Network transfer interface modules: Some critical applications demand a control system with
redundant capability. A redundant control system has a pair of controllers a primary and a backup.
Should the primary controller fail, the backup controller should immediately assume I/P/O/P system
control and status. If other devices require information from the redundant controller pair, the devices
must be connected to a communications network. Figure 4 shows a redundant control system
configuration.
The
TNIM pair will maintain the same communication route of the primary controller before and after the
transfer. The benefits of such systems are: fewer communication instructions for any device on the
network that communicates to the transfer system controllers. The fiels (connected) devices do not need
to determine which is the primary and which is backup controller, the need for different communication
rungs are eliminated. Communication instructions for the primary and backup controllers can be
identical, thus simplifying the control programs. When the primary controller fails, a flag is set in the
backup controller instructing it to assume primary control. The new primary controller informs its
associated TNIM to switch to primary status and the primary TNIM to backup status. Another method
to initiate a transfer is for the backup system to poll the primary system on a periodic basis for failure.
When a failure is detected, the backup controller assumes primary functions and directs the backup
TNIM to switch to primary status. In all cases the transfer between the primary and backup TNIM is
initiated under the supervision of the controller which assumes primary status.
•Multimedia network interface modules: with this module the PLC will be able to communicate via
leased and private carrier media. These types of modules could be configrued to interface between a
local area network (LAN) and processors, programmers, data log controllers and computers or between
two independent LAN environments. For a typical front panel layout refer to Fig. 6. Fig. 9 will show the
Network to network mode via cable and via microve tranceiver/antena.