COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH CONNECTION DETECTION

Abstract

The present invention relates to a communication device. It includes a connection unit having a plurality of input contacts. At least two input contacts are coupled to a network. The input contacts are usable according to a first network protocol and a second network protocol different from the first. The device also includes a detection module which is configured such that a use of the connection unit according to the first or the second network protocol can be identified based on input signals of at least a first and a second input contact. The device further includes a function module which can be configured based on the network protocol identified by the detection module such that a communication of the communication device according to the identified network protocol can be enabled by the function module.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising: a connection unit having a plurality of input contacts, wherein at least two input contacts are coupled to a network, and wherein the input contacts are usable according to a first network protocol and a second network protocol different from the first, a detection module configured such that a use of the connection unit according to the first or the second network protocol can be identified based on input signals of at least a first and a second input contact, and a function module which can be configured based on the network protocol identified by the detection module such that a communication of the communication device with the coupled network according to the identified network protocol can be enabled by the function module.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the detection module is configured to identify the use of the connection unit according to the first or the second network protocol based on voltage measurements for the first and the second input contact.

3. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a processing module, wherein the processing module configures the function module based on the identified network protocol according to the identified network protocol, and wherein subsequently, the communication device is enabled for communication according to the identified network protocol.

4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the detection module comprises protection means, wherein based on the protection means, damage to the detection module and the network coupled to the input contacts is prevented.

5. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein at least three input contacts are coupled to the network, and wherein the detection module is configured to identify the use of the connection unit according to the first or the second network protocol based on voltage measurements for the first and the second input contact and based on a presence or absence of an input signal for a third input contact.

6. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein at least four input contacts are coupled to the network, and wherein the detection module is configured to identify the use of the connection unit according to the first or the second network protocol based on voltage measurements for the first and the second input contact based on a presence or absence of an input signal for a third input contact, and based on a voltage measurement for a fourth input contact.

7. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the connection unit comprises a five-pole M12 circular connector or a five-pole M12 female connector.

8. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the first network protocol comprises I/O link and the second network protocol comprises CAN.

9. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein once configured, a function module is reconfigurable according to the first or second network protocol after disconnection of a coupling between the connection unit and the network.

10. A method of detecting a network protocol used by a network coupled to a communication device, the network being coupled to a plurality of input contacts of the communication device, the method comprising: a) sensing a voltage amplitude for at least a first and a second input contact, b) identifying the network protocol used by the network based on the sensed voltage amplitudes, c) configuring a function module according to the identified network protocol such that a communication of the communication device with the coupled network according to the identified network protocol can be enabled by the function module.

11. A field device comprising a communication device according to claim 1, wherein the field device comprises the detection module and the function module, wherein the field device has a plurality of connection lines by means of which it is coupled to the input contacts of the connection unit, and wherein the field device is configured to communicate with the network based on the configured function module.

12. A field device comprising a communication device configured to detect a network based on the method according to claim 10.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0030] In the following, the features and aspects are explained in more detail using example embodiments and with reference to the figures, in which

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a simplified schematic representation of an M12 circular connector, and

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a simplified schematic representation of a field device having a communication device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a simplified schematic representation of an M12 circular connector 10.

[0034] In the present case, the M12 circular connector 10 has five poles. In the present case, the M12 circular connector 10 has five pins 1-5, a housing 7, a filler material 8 and a plug-in coding 9. The pins 1-5 are surrounded by the housing 7 and electrically insulated therefrom by means of the filler material 8. Regularly, an M12 circular connector 10 can be manufactured by an injection molding method. The plug-in coding 9 prevents false plugging, as the corresponding female connector has a corresponding plug-in coding.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a simplified schematic representation of a field device 20 having a communication device 30.

[0036] The communication device 30 comprises a connection unit 40, the detection module 50, the processing module 60 and the function module 70. The detection module 50, the processing module 60 and the function module 70 are comprised by the field device 20. On the other hand, the connection unit 40 is external to the field device 20. The input contacts E1-E5 of the connection unit 40 are coupled to the field device 20 or the detection module 50 via the connection lines L1-L5.

[0037] The detection module 50 comprises protection means (not shown), for example protection circuits for the individual lines L1-L5 and the input contacts E1-E5 coupled thereto. However, the protection means also protect the detection module 50 itself and the remaining components of the communication device 30 as well as the field device 20 from damage.

[0038] As soon as a network is connected to the connection unit 40 (i.e. to the input contacts E1-E5), the detection module 50 detects that “something” has been connected via the lines L1-L5. The detection module 50 now evaluates the lines L1-L5 and generates a sensing result 52. The sensing result 52 is transmitted or provided to the processing module 60. Based on the sensing result 52, the processing module 60 configures the function module 70 for the detected network and enables communication K with the detected network for the field device 20.

[0039] When the network is disconnected from the input contacts E1 to E5, the communication K is interrupted and the detection module 50 again “waits” for a network to be connected to the input contacts E1-E5. Accordingly, the function module 70 is also reconfigurable based on a new sensing result 52.

[0040] The mode of operation of the detection module 50 is explained on the basis of the connection to a CAN network or I/O link on the five-pole M12 circular connector 10. The lines L1-L5 are substantially tested in a suitable sequence in which electrical measurements are taken. Protection circuits of the detection module 50 prevent damage to both the detection module 50 and the network under test. Based on known characteristics of I/O-Link and CAN, it is determined whether the connected network is I/O-Link or CAN. According to I/O-Link and CAN, the pin assignments of the M12 circular connector 10 are different, as can be seen from the following table.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Pin assignments of an M12-circular connector and the input contacts of the connection unit for I/O-Link and CAN Input contact M12 Pin I/O Link CAN E1 1 V+ shield E2 2 I/O V+ E3 3 GND GND E4 4 C/Q CAN_H E5 5 not used CAN_L

[0041] As the input contacts E1-E5 are coupled to the associated pins 1-5 via connection lines L1-L5, it can be concluded based on the different pin assignment which network protocol is used by the network coupled to the communication device 30.

[0042] After connection of a network to the five-pole M12 circular connector 10 on the input contacts E1-E5 of the connection unit 40, the detection module 50 starts its detection procedure.

[0043] First, a voltage measurement is performed across the connection lines L1 and L2. Based on the amplitude of the measured voltage, it can be respectively sensed what is coupled to the input contacts E1 and E2:

[0044] E1: V+ or shield

[0045] E2: I/O or V+

[0046] This means that the respectively sensed amplitude of the voltage is compared at least in terms of amount with a predetermined expectation value of the amplitude for the respective input contact and the respective configuration. If the measured amplitude corresponds to the respective expectation value within predetermined limits, the sensing of a specific configuration is positively determined. The detection module 50 can already identify the used network protocol based on these voltage measurements.

[0047] Optionally, the detection module 50 may then perform further voltage measurements to verify the sensing result 52 (sensed network protocol) found. For example, a voltage measurement can be performed via the connection line L5, and it can be sensed whether a voltage signal is present at all at the input contact E5:

[0048] E5: “something” or “nothing”

[0049] The detection that “something” is present may in particular require that the amplitude of the applied voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold in terms of amount. False sensings based on an electronic noise may thus be excluded.

[0050] In addition, a voltage measurement may also be performed via the connection line L4 at the input contact E4. For the input contact E4, the expected amplitude of the voltage is “near CAN_H” (CAN-high) for CAN and “something else” for I/O Link:

[0051] E4: “voltage near CAN” or “something else”

[0052] For this measurement, the sensing of a specific network protocol based on the voltage measurement may depend on whether the measured amplitude of the voltage differs by more than a minimum difference in terms of amount from the expected value for “CAN_H”.

[0053] The aforementioned sequence of the voltage measurements constitutes a particularly advantageous sequence. However, it is in principle also possible to deviate therefrom.

[0054] The detection module 50 may also be configured to perform the respective measurements multiple times to increase the security of the detection mechanism.

[0055] The sensing result 52 specifies the identified network protocol for each voltage measurement according to one of the connection lines L1 to L5 by type, i.e. respectively grouped in a line-dependent manner. The detection of an identified network protocol may then depend on the sensing result 52 listing for all tested connection lines/input contacts a uniform result for the found network protocol, i.e. having respectively identified either I/O Link or CAN for all tested input contacts. The sensing result 52 can be rejected if the sensing result 52 has found different network protocols for different input contacts. In this case, the detection module 50 can be configured to restart the detection.

[0056] After an unambiguous detection of the network protocol used by the coupled network, the processing module 60 configures the function module 70 for the identified protocol using the sensing result 52. The communication K of the communication device 30 with the coupled network is then enabled. The release may depend on the function module 70 positively confirming the configuration according to the identified network protocol, for example with respect to the processing module 60.

[0057] Once the network is disconnected from the contact points E1-E5, the communication K is interrupted, and the detection module 50 “waits” again for the connection of a network to the contact points E1-E5. The detection mechanism can then start again.