An instrument panel includes a frame defining an opening, a plurality of cards, and an HMI. The cards have a front face, a rear face, one or more circuits, and a data interface on the rear face in communication with the circuits. The cards include one or more first cards and one or more second cards. The first cards front face have a vertical dimension approximately equal to a vertical dimension of the opening. The second cards have a body, a nose projecting from the body defining the second cards front face, and a recess between the nose and body. The HMI includes a front face received within the opening. The first cards are positioned with the front face visible within the opening. The second cards are positioned with the nose visible within the opening and a depth of the HMI received within the recess.

Systems, methods, and devices for monitoring operation of industrial equipment are disclosed. In one embodiment, a monitoring system is provided that includes a passive backplane and one more functional circuits that can couple to the backplane. Each of the functional circuits that are coupled to the backplane can have access to all data that is delivered to the backplane. Therefore, resources (e.g., computing power, or other functionality) from each functional circuits can be shared by all active functional circuits that are coupled to the backplane. Because resources from each of the functional circuits can be shared, and because the functional circuits can be detachably coupled to the backplane, performance of the monitoring systems can be tailored to specific applications. For example, processing power can be increased by coupling additional processing circuits to the backplane.

An industrial automation controller includes a housing with a forced convection chamber. First and second fans are releasably connected to the housing and are adapted to induce airflow through the forced convection chamber. The first and second fans are each connected to the housing by respective first and second latch systems that each include a primary latch and a secondary latch. The secondary latch imposes a time delay during removal and replacement of a fan to facilitate hot swapping of the fan with a replacement fan. A make-last/break-first contact system is provided for each fan such that the fan is shutdown in a controlled manner prior to removal of the fan from the housing. The controller monitors internal temperature and fan speed. The controller initiates, logs, and reports fault conditions based upon the monitored temperature and/or fan speed. The controller is shut down if the monitored temperature exceeds a select temperature level.

An electronic apparatus for inputting and outputting signals is provided with a plurality of processing circuits for inputting and outputting signals, a plurality of common power terminals connected to different processing circuits to supply power to each of the plurality of processing circuits, a plurality of individual power terminals connected to different processing circuits to supply power to each of the plurality of processing circuits, and a conductive member which is detachably provided and electrically connects the plurality of common power terminals.

Various embodiments relate to a method, controller, and machine-readable storage medium for verifying controlled devices attached to the controller including one or more of the following: selecting, using a system model that models a system of devices comprising the controlled devices attached to the controller, a grouping of the system of devices to be tested; conducting a test of the grouping to produce a test result for the grouping, wherein conducting the test comprises transmitting a communication to at least one device associated with the grouping; choosing a graphical representation of a portion of the system model from a plurality of graphical representations based on the graphical representation including a representation of the grouping; and displaying, on a user interface, the graphical representation and an indication of the test result.

A measurement and control system comprises a housing and an electrical power distribution sub-system. The housing includes a plurality of addressable and programmable modules, a module rack that is expandable and having a length, and a main controller configured to communicate with the plurality of addressable and programmable modules. Each of the addressable and programmable module is installed on the module rack in a sequential configuration and is addressable based on a specific physical location of it across the length of the module rack. The main controller communicates with the plurality of addressable and programmable modules by addressing through a communication network. The electrical power distribution sub-system is configured to monitor inputs and signals from the each addressable and programmable module.

An electronics module includes a housing with: (i) a forced convection chamber including an internal forced convection space; and, (ii) a passive chamber including an internal passive space that is separated from the forced convection space. At least one fan is connected to the housing and adapted to induce forced convection airflow in the forced convection space. A heat sink is connected to the housing and includes: (i) a heat input portion exposed to the passive space; and, (ii) a heat output portion exposed to the forced convection space. A circuit board assembly is located in the passive space and includes at least one electronic component that is thermally engaged with the heat input portion of the heat sink. A clamping plate is secured to the heat sink and captures the circuit board to the heat sink. The circuit board is isolated from the fan-induced forced convection airflow.

An expansion module of a programmable logic controller is provided. The expansion module comprises a function body and an expansion base. The function body comprises a housing, a circuit board and a first connector. The circuit board is disposed in the housing. The first connector is connected with the circuit board and is partially exposed from the housing. The expansion base is detachably assembled with the function body and comprises a bracket and a three-way connector. The three-way connector is detachably disposed in the bracket and comprises three conducting terminals. The first conducting terminal and the second conducting terminal are at least partially exposed from the bracket. The third conducting terminal is configured to connect with the first connector. When there are plural expansion modules, two adjacent function bodies can be detachably assembled with each other, and two adjacent expansion bases can be detachably assembled with each other.

A modular actuator control system comprising first and second actuator control modules configured to control first and second actuators and each having a housing, control and power electronics, power and communication connections, an actuator power connection, a flow path in each housing between an inlet and outlet port that is configured to provide a liquid coolant to the power electronics in the housing, an attachment connecting the first and second housings of the first and second actuator control modules, and a coolant inlet port of the first actuator control module configured to connect to a fluid coolant source and a coolant outlet port of the first actuator control module connected to a coolant inlet port of the second actuator control module, wherein the first actuator control module and the second actuator control module are stacked in coolant fluid communication with each other.

A measuring and/or control system (1), to control for example a machine tool, comprises at least a first and a second unit, each comprising a casing with a front wall, electronic circuits and at least one socket. The system further comprises a bridge connector (11) having a first multipolar connector (11A) and a second multipolar connector (11B), each of which can be coupled to one of the sockets in order to electrically connect the first and the second unit. In each of the first unit and second unit, the socket is positioned on the respective front wall and comprises planar electrical contacts. The first and the second multipolar connectors of the bridge connector are directed in the same direction so as to face the front wall of the first unit and the second unit and each comprise retractable contacts. The bridge connector comprises fastening elements for fastening the bridge connector to the front wall of the first unit and of the second unit.