Master unit and communication system
A master unit for transmitting signals to devices connected to I/O units is divided into: a connector module having a first connector and a main module having a master processing circuit, a second connector, a branch terminal, and a power supply part. The second connector and the master processing circuit are connected by first connection terminals provided to the connector module and the main module.
1 . A master unit that transmits a signal, via an input/output unit, to a device connected to the input/output unit, the master unit comprising:
a master processing circuit configured to perform signal processing;
a first connector configured to be connected to another master unit provided in a subsequent stage of the master processing circuit;
a second connector configured to be connected to a control device provided in a preceding stage of the master processing circuit or another master unit provided in the preceding stage;
a branch-line terminal configured to be connected to the input/output unit; and
a power supply unit configured to supply electric power to the master processing circuit,
wherein the master unit is divided into:
a first connector module including the first connector; and
a main module including the master processing circuit, the second connector, the branch-line terminal, and the power supply unit, wherein the second connector, the branch-line terminal, and the power supply unit are connected to the master processing circuit, and
wherein each of the first connector module and the main module further includes a first connection terminal,
the first connection terminal of the main module and the first connection terminal of the first connector module are connected to a preceding-stage main-line terminal and a preceding-stage branch-line terminal of one or more input/output units, respectively, between the main module and the first connector module and connect the first connector and the master processing circuit to each other via the one or more input/output units.
2 . The master unit according to claim 1 , wherein
the main module is divided into:
a second connector module including the second connector; and
a signal processing module including the branch-line terminal, the master processing circuit, and the power supply unit, and
each of the second connector module and the signal processing module further includes a second connection terminal configured to connect the second connector and the master processing circuit.
3 . A master unit that transmits a signal, via an input/output unit, to a device connected to the input/output unit, the master unit comprising:
a master processing circuit configured to perform signal processing;
a first connector configured to be connected to another master unit provided in a subsequent stage of the master processing circuit;
a second connector configured to be connected to a control device provided in a preceding stage of the master processing circuit or another master unit provided in the preceding stage;
a branch-line terminal configured to be connected to the input/output unit; and
a power supply unit configured to supply electric power to the master processing circuit,
wherein the master unit is divided into:
a first connector module including the first connector; and
a main module including the master processing circuit, the second connector, the branch-line terminal, and the power supply unit, wherein the second connector, the branch-line terminal, and the power supply unit are connected to the master processing circuit, and
wherein each of the first connector module and the main module further includes a first connection terminal configured to connect the first connector and the master processing circuit via the input/output unit, wherein
the main module is divided into:
a second connector module including the second connector; and
a signal processing module including the branch-line terminal, the master processing circuit, and the power supply unit, and
each of the second connector module and the signal processing module further includes a second connection terminal configured to connect the second connector and the master processing circuit,
the first connector module and the second connector module are standardized and thereby each formed as a common connector module, and
the common connector module includes:
the first connection terminal;
the second connection terminal; and
a common connector that is a connector formed by standardizing the first connector and the second connector and that is connected to the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal.
4 . The master unit according to claim 3 , wherein
the first connection terminal, the second connection terminal, and the common connector are connected in a T-connection manner.
5 . A communication system comprising an input/output unit to which a device is connected, and a master unit configured to transmit a signal to the device via the input/output unit,
wherein the master unit includes:
a master processing circuit configured to perform signal processing;
a first connector configured to be connected to another master unit provided in a subsequent stage of the master processing circuit;
a second connector configured to be connected to a control device provided in a preceding stage of the master processing circuit or another master unit provided in the preceding stage;
a branch-line terminal configured to be connected to the input/output unit; and
a power supply unit configured to supply electric power to the master processing circuit,
wherein the master unit is divided into:
a first connector module including the first connector; and
a main module including the master processing circuit, the second connector, the branch-line terminal, and the power supply unit, wherein the second connector, the branch-line terminal, and the power supply unit are connected to the master processing circuit,
wherein each of the first connector module and the main module further includes a first connection terminal configured to connect the first connector and the master processing circuit via the input/output unit, and
wherein the input/output unit includes:
a preceding-stage main-line terminal and a preceding-stage branch-line terminal configured to be connected to the first connection terminal and the branch-line terminal of the main module provided in a preceding stage of the input/output unit;
a subsequent-stage branch-line terminal configured to be connected to the preceding-stage branch-line terminal of another input/output unit provided in a subsequent stage of the input/output unit;
a slave processing circuit connected to the preceding-stage branch-line terminal and the subsequent-stage branch-line terminal and configured to perform input and output of a signal with respect to the master processing circuit; and
a subsequent-stage main-line terminal connected to the preceding-stage main-line terminal not via the slave processing circuit and configured to be connected to the first connection terminal of the first connector module provided in the subsequent stage.