IP Library Granted Patent US 10,006,557
Granted Patent B2
US 10,006,557 · App. 15/720,535 · Granted Jun 26, 2018

Valve manifold circuit board with serial communication and control circuit line

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,006,557
App. No.
15/720,535
Granted
Jun 26, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fluid control system has a first series of connected circuit boards that each actuate a respective valve unit mounted to a manifold block. A first communication module has a valve driver with a plurality of outputs for actuating the valve units connected to the first series of connected circuit boards. A serial control line extends through the first series of connected circuit boards and is connected to a second driver for actuating a second series of connected circuit boards.

Claims (24)

1. A fluid control system comprising:

a driver device and plurality of slave devices connected to said driver device through an operating circuit for operating;

a detection circuit connected to each slave device to detect whether said operating circuit is active;

said respective detection circuit connected to a single serial communication line that is in communication with said driver for communicating information between said driver and said plurality of slave devices;

a fluid valve manifold having a plurality of valve manifold blocks fastened to each other so as to form fluid pathways extending through said fluid valve manifold and a passage through each valve manifold block that aligns with each other to collectively form a continuous electrical conduit receiving a series of connected circuit boards that each actuate a valve unit mounted to each valve manifold block;

each circuit board having a set of conductive valve lines connected to and extending between a respective set of first electrical connectors and a respective set of second mating electrical connectors;

a conductive common line in each circuit board connected to one voltage side of a respective first electrical connector and a respective second mating electrical connector for connection to a respective conductive common line in another valve manifold block; and

said single serial communication line is formed by said series of connected circuit boards with each circuit board having a line segment with a respective first electrical connector and electrically connected to a respective second mating electrical connector for connection to a respective first electrical connector in another circuit board.

2. A fluid control system as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

at least one of said slave devices having its respective detection circuit connect to said single serial communication line through a microcontroller and a transmitter and receiving circuit in said at least one of said slave devices.

3. A fluid control system as defined in claim 2 further comprising:

said single serial communication line communicating between said driver and said plurality of slave devices by dropping voltage pulses for communication from one of said drivers and to the other of said driver and said slave device and by raising voltage pulses for communicating from the other of said driver and said slave device to one of said driver and slave devices.

4. A fluid control system comprising:

a fluid valve manifold having a plurality of valve manifold blocks fastened to each other so as to form fluid pathways extending through said fluid valve manifold and a passage through each fluid valve manifold that aligns with each other to collectively form a continuous electrical conduit for receiving a first series of connected circuit boards that each actuate a respective valve unit mounted to each valve manifold block;

each circuit board having a set of conductive valve lines connected to and extending between a respective set of first electrical connectors at a first edge thereof and a respective set of second mating electrical connectors at a second edge thereof opposite from said first edge;

a first communication module having a valve driver with a plurality of outputs for actuating the respective valve units connected to said first series of connected circuit boards;

a conductive common line connected to one voltage side of a respective first electrical connector and respective second mating electrical connector for connection to a respective conductive common line in another valve manifold block;

a serial control line extending through the first series of connected circuit boards and connected to a second driver for actuating a second series of connected circuit boards; and

said serial control line is formed by said first series of connected circuit boards with each circuit board having a line segment having respective first electrical connector at said first edge and a respective second mating electrical connector at said second edge for connection to a respective first electrical connector of another line segment in another circuit board valve in another manifold block;

said serial control line constructed to control the voltage for at least one of the plurality of outputs of the second driver to control the voltage to at least one valve unit connected to the second series of connected circuit boards.

5. A fluid control system as defined in claim 4 further comprising:

at least one valve connected to one of the circuit boards in the second series of connected circuit boards being a proportional valve.

6. A fluid control system as defined in claim 5 further comprising:

a plurality of valves connected to the second series of connected circuit boards being proportional valves.

Assignments (2)
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 22, 2018
From: NUMATICS, INCORPORATED; ASCO, L.P.
To: ASCO, L.P.
Reel/Frame 045872/0934 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2018
From: DE CAROLIS, ENRICO; HERIOT, SCOTT; GRISSOM, BRIAN
To: NUMATICS, INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 044694/0772 →