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Publication Number
US-10089273-B2
Publication Date
2018-10-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
This invention relates to a dynamically addressable master-slave system and a method for dynamic addressing of slave units, wherein a master unit and a plurality of slave units are provided and the slave units are connected to the master unit via a bus system and can receive at least one broadcast command from the master unit via the bus line of the bus system, wherein the master-slave system is configured such that the master unit can send respective broadcast commands to the slave units, on the one hand, for activation, and on the other hand, for performing the dynamic addressing process of slave addresses, and wherein the slave units each comprise an address input and an address output and are serially connected via an address line that is separate from the bus line.
Core Innovation
A master-slave system for dynamically addressing n slave units is configured with a bus system having a bus line over which the master unit sends broadcast commands to the slave units. The master unit transmits broadcast commands for activation and for performing the dynamic addressing process of slave addresses, and the slave units are equipped with an address input and an address output and are serially connected via an address line separate from the bus line.
The dynamic addressing process is performed by activating the slave units using a first broadcast command to all slave units and by assigning an identical start value address to all slave units via the bus line. Each slave unit increases the input-side address value of its respective slave address by "1" as soon as a signal is received at the address input of the adjacent slave unit, and after increasing the respective slave address, a signal at the address output is conducted to the address input of the adjacent slave unit.
The process is repeated until the last address change is performed at the nth slave unit. Completion of the addressing method is detected by transmitting a signal from the nth slave unit to the master unit at its output via a return line after its nth addressing, as a result the master unit detects the completion of the addressing method. After completion, the master unit performs a deactivation broadcast command.
Claims Coverage
The document includes one independent claim covering a method for dynamic addressing of n slave units in a master-slave system using a broadcast command over a bus line and serial address-line forwarding with completion feedback via a return line. The main inventive coverage centers on the combination of master broadcast activation and start value assignment, slave address increment-by-one propagation along a separate address line, and master detection of completion from the nth slave via a return line.
Dynamic addressing using separate bus line and serial address line
The master-slave system uses a bus system with a bus line for broadcast commands from the master unit to slave units, while the slave units each comprise an address input and an address output and are serially connected via an address line separate from the bus line.
Broadcast activation and identical start value address via bus line
Activation of the dynamic addressing process is performed using a first broadcast command to all slave units, and an identical start value address is assigned to all slave units via the bus line.
Increment-by-one address propagation through adjacent slave units
The addressing process increases the input-side address value of a respective slave address by the value "1" as soon as a signal is received at the address input of the adjacent slave unit, and after increasing, a signal at the address output is conducted to the address input of the adjacent slave unit until the last address change is performed at the nth slave unit.
Completion detection by return-line signal from nth slave to master
A signal is transmitted from the nth slave unit to the master unit at its output via a return line after its nth addressing, so that the master unit detects completion of the addressing method.
Overall, the claim coverage protects a dynamic addressing method in which the master broadcasts activation and assigns an identical start value address over a bus line, while slave units serially propagate updated addresses by incrementing by "1" and forwarding via a separate address line, with addressing completion confirmed by a return-line signal from the nth slave to the master.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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