WO1987002795A1 - Device for the modular connection of members of an industrial installation to a programmable control unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The device is comprised of a support (13, 14) comprising means for its implantation on a line (10) for the circulation of data issued from a programmable automatic machine, of a module (15, 16) containing electronic and/or adaptation means to control a transmission line connected to a member (11, 12) set to the support, and of an encoding device (17, 18) to assign to said electronic means a coded address by which the member (11, 12) is identified in the programm of the automatic machine.

Description

 Modular connection device for the organs of an industrial installation to a programmable control unit.

The present invention relates to the means of electrical, electronic and informational connections established between a programmable control unit and the organs of a machine or an industrial installation managed by this control unit.

More specifically, in these connections, the invention relates to a device allowing a simple and rational connection of each of these members to the control unit. An industrial installation, such as, for example a production machine managed by a programmable control unit, is an installation in which the functions performed by power devices (jacks, motors, etc.) are controlled in sequences and according to cycles which result from the programming of the comma unit which "dialogues" with essentially two types of organs associated with the power di spositi fs. These are the pre-actuators (solenoid contactors, etc.) which receive orders from the control unit and set up accordingly the power devices (or actuate them) and the sensors or detectors which emit information directed towards the control unit to inform it of the state in which the power devices are at a given instant or more generally on the existence or non-existence of a cause ( physical quantity, event, presence of an object whose knowledge by the control unit is required in the program, and constitutes a stage in its development. Physical quantity must be understood not only the magnitude in itself (current, voltage, pressure, flow, temperature length, time ..) but also its variation.

This dialogue between the control unit and the organs thus defined is carried out by the connection means, each of which comprises them in general, a first part along which pass through information (electronic signals to low power level) exploitable by the control unit, a second part along which circulate signals at an energy level called "industrial control power" significantly higher than the low level mentioned above, but generally lower than the energy level required by the power, these signals being exploitable (in transmission or in reception) by said organs, and means of interfacing and adaptation to correspond to signals of informational type and signals at the level of. pxi. industrial control service. Furthermore, the aforementioned link part in which the information circulates is generally a collective line for the successive circulation of this informa on (called bus in known devices) on which the interfacing and adaptation means are connected. It is therefore understood that each item of information circulating on this collective line must be identified by the control unit or by the member as coming from such or such member or intended for such particular member. To do this, the information is coded, that is to say that it includes a datum and an address and the interfacing means include electronic circuits capable of recognizing the addresses, either to derive an output datum specific to an address, or to introduce input data to the address interrogated by the control unit. In Current technological achievements

Said interfacing and / or adaptation means are carried by Input / Output cards in which the address is a code depending on the geographic position of each card and the geographic position on the map of connection terminals of the organs to which it is linked. In other words, the central unit can only recognize the organ by the coded geographical position of its terminals for connection to the map. A large number of drawbacks arise from this general arrangement. The first is in The need to establish a machine file by which a correspondence is established between the various terminals of the plurality of connection terminal blocks of the input-output cards and the members which are to be connected to these terminals. In fact, the program of the control unit being written using the aforesaid geographic addressing, a document must be drawn up allowing, on the one hand to the cable operator who has to connect the organs individually to the terminals and on the other hand hand, to the user of the machine to ^• Authorize him to carry out the desired Maintenance and modifications, of. replace the above coded geographic address with the name of the body.

The second lies in the source of numerous errors in the wiring and in difficulties in terms of maintenance, which this type of link constitutes. It will be readily understood that the wiring must be carried out in an extremely careful manner, by skilled labor, often bringing together two to three hundred members at the control unit, with a minimum of errors. This results in a cost of the wiring alone which is far from being negligible compared to the total price of the installation.

The wiring that escapes from the programmable unit is often difficult to contain in cable guides and, although most of the time gathered in bundles, detracts from the aesthetics of the installation while remaining exposed to it. have free to all kinds of shocks or blows that can damage it In addition, it is extremely complicated to introduce modifications in a wired installation, because they require destroying the bundles of cables to find the wires concerned by the Organs to modify. Recently, at least in part, attempts have been made to overcome these drawbacks by a technology known as decentralized input / output cards. This is ex ^¬ milking substance of the control unit, one or more cards to place more adjacent organs to serve avoiding a long length of son between terminals and organs, a single wire (or multiple conductor) connecting this or these cards, carried by a separate box, to the central unit. These provisions however retain the major drawback of geographic addressing and consequently of the lack of flexibility of connection that such P-ossed addressing due to the program which assigns to each terminal or gT-αupe of terminals a single organ. .

Other drawbacks are encountered in the t: e ^* c_τrro logiesde currently known. It will be mentioned that - in many cases, the member needs a supply separate from its connection to the control unit, at an adequate power level. It is in fact hardly possible or at least disadvantageous to put electrical conductors close to each other at different voltage levels. In addition, the wiring of these separate power supplies requires bulky and expensive connections. Finally, the Input / Output cards are elements whose high modularity level (8.12 or 20 inputs and / or outputs) and whose range offered is not satisfactory to adapt properly to the needs and the variety of situations encountered on machines.

All these drawbacks show that the current technological realizations of automatic machines managed by programmable systems, the advantages of which reside in great flexibility of use, modification and evolution, have serious limits to the fact that we could expect such sophisticated machines.

The present invention intends to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a connection technology which allows great freedom in the design, construction, maintenance and modifications of an industrial installation controlled by a programmable control unit.

It also makes it possible to obtain an aesthetic installation, of easy maintenance and above all not requiring extremely qualified labor both at the stage of its construction only at the stage of its use. Finally, it constitutes such a full system, for a manufacturer of machines, to integrate into them an automation technique by programmable control unit, capable of overcoming the feeling of incompetence that some of these manufacturers have and / or their customers who use machines in the face of these advanced techniques.

To this end, in a connection of the organs of an industrial installation with a programmable installation control unit, which comprises:

- a collective circulation line of coded information exchanged between the installation and the programmable unit, each of this information consisting of data associated with an address, and for each organ, - electronic means able to derive from The Line of said circulation, the data intended for the organ or to introduce into this circulation line data coming from the organ,

- adaptation means associated with said electronic means for consequently controlling a transmission line of a physical quantity connected to the organ. the subject of the invention is a device for modular connection of any one of the abovementioned members to said collective line consisting of: - a support comprising means for its installation on said collective line,

- a unitary module connected to said member, containing at least the aforementioned adaptation means, and reported on said suppo rt, - an encoding device making it possible to assign to the aforementioned electronic means contained in said support or in said module, among a plurality of possible addresses, the coded address by which the member in question is identified in the program of the programmable control unit. In an advantageous embodiment, at least the connection between the adaptation module and said support is made by disconnectable plug-in.

In order to facilitate the design, the programming, the construction, the maintenance and the realization of subsequent modifications to the machine, the said encoding device comprises means cooperating with the internal circuits of the aforementioned electronic means and display means of an alphanumeric transcription of the code produced, an automatic and permanent correspondence being carried out between these means ,,, in the encoding device itself, so that, from the design stage of the installation, then at the The programming of the programmable control unit and up to the stage of its operation, therefore, of its maintenance, the aforementioned alphanumeric transcription constitutes the sole benchmark of the organ arbitrarily chosen at the time of the design of the installation.

The invention, consisting of the combination of these electronic means, adaptation and coding-tracking can be carried out in several different ways depending on the place in the support or in the module, in which these means are installed.

In one of these embodiments, the aforementioned suppor contains said electronic means, the encoding device being carried by said support so that the aforementioned display means remain visible from the outside of the suppo rt.

In another embodiment. The aforementioned module contains said electronic means, the encoding device being carried by said module so that the aforementioned display means remain visible from the outside of the module when it is connected to the support.

Furthermore, the coded information circulating on the aforementioned collective line can be of two main distinct types: either they are constituted by the instantaneous state of n parallel conductors which constitute the Line above collective circulation, in which case they can be used directly by said electronic means encoded "in parallel", or they are constituted by signals circulating on a single Line (electrical or optical) which should be converted into an instantaneous state of voltage of _n conductors. In this last case. The electrical means contain an electronic circuit for transforming coded information of the serial type on the collective line into coded information of parallel type in order to make them usable by said electronic means encoded in parallel.

This electronic circuit can be, whatever

The previously mentioned embodiment is either contained in said support or is contained in said module, the difference being that the number of withdrawable connections between module and support is significantly greater when the electronic circuit is placed in the support.

We recalled above that there were two main types of organ, one grouping together the organs receiving a datum translated into physical magnitude (preact i onisseurs), the other grouping the organs emitting a physical magnitude converted into data for the programmable control unit (detectors, sensors, etc.).

Thus in the case where the aforementioned member receives a physical quantity, the module is an output module in which the adaptation means are constituted by a switch of a supply line of a signal generator in the said transmission line, said mentation line being connected to a source of electrical energy to a new industrial control level by means of the connection of said module to said support.

There are several specific cases of application depending on the various physical quantities capable of being received by the organ. So, in the case where this physical quantity is electric (for example a voltage) The signal generator is constituted by the switch itself, said supply line and the above transmission line being fused. The invention also applies to the case where the signal generator is constituted by a pneumatic pneumatic valve, the supply line being constituted by the electric excitation circuit of the solenoid valve, the transmission line. said ion being constituted by a pneumatic conduit connecting the member to a pressure source by means of said solenoid valve. It will then be advantageous for said solenoid valve to be carried by said module.

In another case, the signal generator consists of an opto-electric coupler, said supply line being constituted by an electrical circuit for excitation of said coupler. Said transmission line being constituted by an optical fiber connecting the member to said coup¬ their, the coupler can advantageously be carried by said module. In the case now where the organ is an organ emitting a physical quantity in the form of a signal, the module is an input module in which the adaptation means are constituted by a reader of said signal .

Several variants are then to be considered. First, the organ is a contact sensor and the signal it emits, an electric current in a line closed by said sensor and connected to a source of electrical energy at an industrial control level, by means of the connection of said module to said support. Then, the member can be a three-wire detector supplied with electrical energy at an industrial control level by a supply line connected to an energy source by means of the connection of the module or support.

In another variant, the above-mentioned member is a control bypass of a pressure conduit, the signal being a positive or negative pressure signal, the adaptation means comprising an electrical circuit, one element of which is controlled by the pressure prevailing in the above-mentioned conduit, closed on an energy source by connection of the module to the support.

In another variant, the above-mentioned member is an optical sensor, which is connected by a first optical fiber to an opto-electric coupler that forms a signal reader, and which is supplied with optical energy by a second optical fiber originating from 'an electro-optical coupler, the excitation of which is ensured by an electric line closed on an energy source at a suitable level, by the connection of the module to the support.

According to another aspect of the invention, while the module is always unitary for each member to be connected, the aforementioned support can be constituted by a box inside which the means are provided for deriving the above mentioned collective line and which comprises multiple connection means for receiving a plurality of modules parallel to each other.

It will be advantageous, in the case of a plurality of modules implanted on a housing, that all of the associated housing and modules form a para para Lélépi pédique of which a front face comprises, preferably towards one of its edges, the display means of the encoding device the remaining surface of this front face being equipped with signaling means relating to the nature (entry or exit) of each module and to its operation.

It is also possible to have on this face means for displaying an adjustment of the adaptation means, adjustment which can be manual or by programming and relative in the case of input modules to the establishment of a triggering threshold and in the case of output modules, at the fine adjustment of the adaptation functions such as a law of passage of the physical quantity, a cutoff level for a fuse...

An additional advantage can be drawn from the fact that one face of said volume perpendicular to said front face, in particular that adjacent to the abovementioned edge, is equipped with control or forcing means that can be actuated manually and acting on the circuits of electronic means. to simulate data sent by the unit in the case of an input module and to simulate data sent by the unit? In the case of an output module, the said means being preferably arranged in the vicinity of the edge common to the two faces.

The multiple connection means can be distributed on a laying plane, or can be constituted by a plurality of bases which can be combined by juxtaposition on either side of a junction box.

Finally, it should be noted that if, in the majority of the applications of the invention, the above-mentioned collective line is constituted by a cable forming a flexible bus running along the installation so that the boxes are located near the aforementioned organs, applications, for small installations in particular, where the module associated with each member can be directly installed on a communication card of the central unit itself, and this, in an easily withdrawable manner. In other applications, the module can be directly as.socié to the body and held in a bypass Boitie collective cable using a c ^* reliable décon¬ nectable.

The invention will be better understood during the description given below by way of purely indicative example and not .1 i i tat i f which will make it possible to identify the advantages and the secondary characteristics thereof.

Reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the prior art; - Figure 2 schematically illustrates the general provisions of the invention;

- Figure 3 wants to illustrate, by a simplified and partial diagram of an industrial installation applying the invention, the advantage of the location-encoding arrangements illustrated by a first embodiment

- Figures 4 and 5 illustrate by diagrams the principle of encoding a logic device;

- Figures 6 and 7 are the illustration outside and in terms of a second locating-encoding means according

The invention;

FIGS. 8A, 8B and 9 illustrate schematically the possible distribution of the various logic and adaptation circuits between the module and the support of the invention. FIGS. 10A to 10C are diagrams similar to those in 8A, 8B and 9 above integrating an electronic circuit for transforming serial information signals into parallel signals;

- Figures 11A, 11B, 12 and 13 show possible diagrams of adaptation modules intended for signal receiving members;

- Figures 14, 15, 16, 17A and 17B show diagrams of input adaptation modules intended to be connected to signal emitting members; - Figures 18 and 19 illustrate two variants of an embodiment of a support housing a plurality of modules;

- Figure 20 illustrates another embodiment of the support assembly and plurality of modules; - Figure 21 is a sectional view of an assembly according to the invention provided with a protective cover;

- Figure 22 is another embodiment of a housing-connection module assembly according to the invention

- Figures 23 and 24 are two schematic views of two other types of connection of a module with the information circulation bus;

- Figure 25 is a schematic illustration of a particular module by which two organs are connected to the control unit and are interconnected. 5 It will be recalled that a programmable control unit generally called a programmable automaton involves a p.rαcessor making it possible to ensure, in a certain ordr_ = djé.-fi nr by the program, The control of associated preactuators " ¹ power devices, based on the information supplied by sensors or detectors. The central unit communicates with the outside by means of input / output circuits connected to the bus itself connected to the control unit.

FIG. 1 shows the schematic illustration of a known arrangement in which the input / output circuits are formed on a plurality of printed circuit boards housed in a box 1, connected to the aforementioned bus 2 and having terminal blocks 3 intended to provide a disconnectable link between connection pads which 20 each card has and The conductors 4 connecting the controller to said preactuators and detectors, as shown schematically by References 5a, 5b, 5c _... Each of these organs 5a _... 5ç_ is assigned, by construction, one or more connection terminals carried by the terminal block 3 itself identified by the card carrying it. The connection instructions are contained in a document ⁽ machine file) which establishes the correspondence of the terminals and the members to be connected to it by means of secondary terminal blocks 3a_, 3b_. The complexity of such an operation can be understood when it is a question of one or more hundreds of members to be connected, often distant from each other. The wiring therefore requires very close attention and a lot of precautions along with a certain skill so that, in the end, the connections made are brought together in bundles to avoid 5 tangles of intertwined wires detrimental to the aesthetics and The installation security.

This FIG. 1 also illustrates a partial solution to the problem of wiring an installation to the programmable automaton, which is currently being developed by means of decentralized input / output cards, that is to say extracted from the housing 1 for be brought together, as shown in the case 6, of the members 7a_, 7b_ to which they must be connected. The connection to the central unit of such cards is carried out by an appropriate extension 8 of the communication bus coming directly from the processor by means of connection and adaptation means produced in the housing 1.

This solution effectively di es the lengths of wires or cables connecting the organs to the terminal blocks associated with the input / output cards, while retaining the constraint of having to use a document to assign the organs their connection terminals. In other words, unity

_* command knows the organs only by the geographic position of the map and / or, in this map, by the geographic position of the connection terminals.

In addition to the constraints i pose to wiring this type of means for connecting the organs to the control unit, their design itself is a technological restriction on the possibilities of adaptation and evolution of an installation controlled by a programmable controller. Thus, it will be recalled that the grouped nature of the inputs, the outputs or a combination of the two, freezes a certain configuration of the installation planned at the time of its design and the modification or evolution of which is hardly possible in a simple manner. Adding to the disadvantage due to this grouping The range of input / output cards offered to machine builders is relatively narrow to take into account the variety of situations encountered, and each card in this range has inputs and / or Multiple outputs do not allow correct adjustment of the number of connection points cordage offered to the number of those we need or to respond in a strictly adapted manner, to the specificity of each connection.

FIG. 2 is a very schematic view of the connection device according to the invention showing the general combination of means by which the connection of each o: rgane to the control unit is made rational and the manufacture i cai : i have standardized components and divided into a gam evol utiv.e ~ pou.vant respond precisely to an increase in: needs nrs ^* rré either the evolution of technology, or an improvement of facilities.

Thus in 10 there is shown a collective line of coded information flows, exchanged between organs such as those 11 and 12 of the installation and the programmable control unit which is not shown. This

Line can be constituted in several different ways depending on the nature of the optical or other electronic signals and the way in which the code is produced. By way of example, mention may be made of a multiple conductor comprising a plurality of wires whose voltage state of some of them at a given instant constitutes, in combination, an address, while the voltage state of one at least of the son remaining at the same instant or at a determined instant with respect to the above-mentioned point, constitutes the data item of the information associated with said address. Another example of a collective line for circulating information can be constituted by a pair of twisted conductors in which the flow of information is in series made up of successive pulses whose spacing and duration constitute a certain coded language processed. according to a known procedure. It can also be an optical fiber (or a pair of optical fibers ^{) along} which, like the above twisted pair, optical pulses propagate.

Each member 11, 12 is connected to this line 10 by a support 13 or 14 comprising means for its installation. tation in any place of the Line, these means having the function of making a connection capable of deriving The information circulating in The Line towards electronic means capable of recognizing among these that which is intended for the organ, that either to transmit data to it or to interrogate and receive data from it, and by a module 15, 16 which cooperates with said suppo 13 or 14- On which it can be reported, or once for all :, either in a disconnectable manner. This module, as will be explained in more detail with reference to the following figures, comprises at least the adaptation means, known in themselves which make it possible to match a datum belonging to the information to a physical quantity usable by the organ (electric current at a voltage level higher than that of the datum, optical flux, pressure by means of establishing a connection to a pressure source, etc.) or of transforming a physical quantity into a datum exploitable by the control unit (transformation of an electrical signal into a level signal i nféri eur .co pat i bl e with interface electronics, transformation of an optical or pneumatic, or hydraulic signal into an electronic signal, processing of a temperature, a variation in flux, etc. (also into an electronic signal).

This module can also contain all or part of the aforementioned electronic means. Thus in the case of module 15, we wanted to represent a module which only includes the part of the electronic means capable of processing only The data intended for the organ or emitted by the organ through said adaptation means, the derivation of this data among all those which circulate in the form of information coded in line 10 having been produced by the other part of the electronic means integrated in the support 13 and "in contact with all this information. On the other hand, in the case of module 16, the latter also contains the electronic means making it possible to select, by the coded address, the data exchanged. The support 14 only incorporates connection means capable of deriving all the information circulating in the Line 10 or, associated with these means, electronic means for processing the information in itself to essentially change their coding procedure ⁽ transform, for example, a serial transmission along a twisted pair or optical fibers into a so-called "parallel" transmission on a plurality of conductors). Finally, in addition to the above-mentioned support and module, the third general means of the invention is an encoding device 17,18 which makes it possible to give the above-mentioned electronic means an address which conforms to the address by which the unit Centrale knows the organ in question as it has been identified and named in the program of this control unit. This encoding device 17, 18 consists of means for creating, in an electronic circuit, known per se, of address recognition, a set value consis¬ tant to carry, in a predetermined combination representing L ' address, a number of electrical conductors, among a pre-existing plurality of these, to a potential by making the appropriate contacts between these conductors and a voltage source. Figures 4 to 7B diagrammatically illustrate such a device and its cooperation with the electronic recognition circuit. The encoding device, such as 17, will cooperate with the housing 13 when the corresponding electronic circuit is integrated therein or such as 18, with the module 16, when the latter comprises said electronic circuit. It can be seen, with regard to this FIG. 2, that the essential means of the invention, support, module containing at least the means of adaptation specific to the organ, and encoding device _/ have the advantage of offering a rac ¬ rational connection of each organ to the control unit. Collective line 10 which can extend throughout the installation, passes close to each organ or group of organs. As a result, the only wires connecting each member to this Line are of reduced length and can be brought together in small bundles. In addition, the conception of the connection means according to the invention lends itself to a rational grouping of the connections on several collective supports in which all or part of the electronic means can advantageously be grouped ensuring common functions for all the organs, the specificity of each member being found at the level of the module containing the adaptation means which can be easily exchanged as shown in the following figures. This arrangement allows, for a component manufacturer, to envisage a range of modules adapted to each of the types of sensors, detectors or preactuators existing on the market or to come. Furthermore, it will also be possible to rationalize the supplies that the actuators or certain detectors require at the industrial control power level, by supplying these supplies to each of the above collective supports, either separately or, in certain cases, along the collective line in a common grommet adequately protected against any disturbance coming from the outside and internally comprising an insulation of the collective line with respect to the supply line. In addition to these advantages which will appear in what follows, the invention, by a particular and preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned encoding device, has a particularly advantageous influence over the entire life of the installation, from its conception, passing by its construction, the programming of the central unit, its maintenance and its subsequent modifications.

Figure 3 shows a schematic drawing not only a particular embodiment of the available encoding ^¬ operative part, but also the consequences of its use for any installation. This figure shows in 20 a por¬ tion of any machine whose frame 21 carries a power device 22 such as a motor whose preactuator 23 can be a contactor. The latter is connected by a cable 24 to an adaptation module 25 which is itself plugged into a support 26. The support 26 cooperates as described above with a bus line 27 connected to a central control unit 28. At 29 we have wanted to represent a programming console of the central unit, on the screen from which appears The program phase: relating to contactor 23.

The module 25 is, in this figure, shown on a larger scale, to reveal an encoding device 30- pluggable into the module 25 by pins 31 cooperating with female terminals 32 carried by the module. The terminals constitute connection elements of the above-mentioned plurality of conducting wires of the electronic recognition circuit, and the pins 31 ensure connection of some of these with a source of potential. Inside the device 30 there is suitable electronics allowing the distribution on each of the pins concerned of the potential which could also come from a particular pin 31 When it is plugged into a corresponding terminal of the module. This electronics can be programmable to establish such and such a particular stri bution among the plurality of possible distributions.

In addition, the device 30 has on its face visible from outside the module 25 when it is inserted therein, a mark 5A constituting the translation into plain language, for example alphanumeric, of the code produced by programming. This mark can appear on a visualization panel comprising liquid crystals connected to an electronic circuit ensuring automatic correspondence, and Maintaining this correspondence and this display, between the programmed code and the mark. One can also consider a mechanical marking of this outer face which constitutes- confirms the programmed code and locks it when the marked mark corresponds to the programmed code.

By this simultaneous and automatic arrangement of encoding and tracking, the invention allows a significant simplifica¬ tion of the construction and maintenance of the machine. Indeed, from its conception, the creator decides to name each of the preactors and detectors he needs by an alphanumeric code, for example hexadecimal, which allows him to have 256 different markers either for the preactuators, or for the detectors, the distinction between information sending bodies and data receiving bodies being carried out in the general mode of information exchange. He thus names 5A Contactor 23.

At the Programming stage of the programable unit, the same organs are identified by the same markings (or their equivalent in machine language) in the program (see 5A on the screen of console 29 displaying the program phase corresponding to the contactor 23). The construction of the machine having been completed from the structural point of view, the control unit is linked to the various members. The cableur, having set up the collective line 27 as well as the supports 26 in the vicinity of the members to be connected, connects by the cable 24 the contactor 23 to a module 25 of the type corresponding to the nature of the contactor and either program by means of 'a portable console, an encoding-marking device 30 by displaying the mark 5A, or choose a device already prepared and bearing this mark, then plug it into the module 25. It will know the mark 5A of the contactor 23, or by a direct mark previously made on the contactor, either by referring to the plan of the machine on which the contactor will be identified 5A. Plugging the module 25 onto the support 26 will complete the connection operation. If necessary, using a self-adhesive label, the 5A mark can be recalled at both ends of the cable 24 if these are disconnectable.

The marking, associated in this way automatically than with encoding, avoids any wiring error which is noticeably complicated due to the modular nature of the connection elements.

Regarding the maintenance of the instal¬ lat, or even its modification, the operations of rewiring and rewiring in a different configuration are also very folded. The implantation of the module 25 as encoded and marked SA can indeed be carried out at any point on the line 27.

The description below relating to FIG. 4 of the drawings is a description of the principle of an electron "circuit" that of address recognition, well known to specialists, for example in the form of a cascade of funct on AND logic belonging to the electronic means of the connection device. This electronic circuit 40 receives the information coded on a plurality of conductors 41 as regards the addresses and is connected to an identical plural tee of conductors 43 encoded by an encoding-marking device 44. When the address carried by The plurality of conductors 41 is identical to that encoded, the device 40 transmits a write authorization signal in the direction of an electronic circuit 45 also known, by means of which the data which accompanies the address, present on the conductor 42 , is transformed into a signal transmitted to the adaptation means described with reference to FIGS. 11A, 118, 12 and 13 and maintained as long as the datum, accompanying the address at each of its passages, has not changed.

In Figure 5 there is shown in the same schematic manner an address comparison device 47 which ag t out, when the address identity is found, on a device. tf read authorization 48 which, activated, allows the transmission of the signal present on the ^' line 46 as it is emitted by the adaptation means described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 17B, in the direction of the collective circulation line of the coded information and thereby towards the control unit where it is operated and stored. It will be recalled once again that the diagrams in FIGS. 4 and 5 are different from reality, the electronic devices put. implemented including lines not shown necessary for the implementation of a serial data exchange protocol. It should be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 a device for locating and encoding which can be applied in the diagrams of FIGS. 4 and 5. This device is here constituted by two coding wheels 51, 52 mounted for rotation inside. either of the aforesaid support, or of the module, according to the planting of the electronic recognition circuit, and cooperating with a support panel 53 of printed circuit (see in FIG. 7) SUF which is engraved The plurality of conductors 43 and which supports also Electronics 40 or 47. FIG. 7 which is a schematic sectional view of the preferred arrangement of the coding wheels 51, 52, shows that the latter are equipped with a radial bar 54 for the wheel 51 and 55 for the wheel 52 which elastically rubs against one face of the printed circuit 53. If the number of conductors of the above-mentioned plurality is 8, the printed circuit comprises two series of four concentric zones, conductive by sector only, separated by a common circular tension 56, formed between the two above-mentioned series. The conductive zones are connected through the card 53 for supporting the printed circuit, to output conductors 57, which may constitute the origin of the plurality of conductors 4

Without going into construction details, we see that each radial bar communicates to each conductive area that it "bars", the potential of the conductor 56 and consequently this potential to each of the conductors 57. Connected to an overlapped conductive area by the bar. In turning each wheel, the bar is moved by an angular sector such that the arrangement of the conductive zones and their number has changed. The above potential is then communicated to other wires and in another arrangement: the code of the connection device has been changed. By way of example, it will be indicated that one can use wheels each having ¹ - 16 characters on its periphery, which allows d- '^' ob-t.eni-r- 2156. different combinations Which ones are "'s : or.-sorte--; ' ^* 'EU.Γ 8 wires The arrangement of the conductive zones can, for each zone, be presented according to a known diagram called GRAY code.

It can be seen that, in this case too, there is an automatic correspondence between the code produced and the mark displayed, which will appear outside the support or the module, through a window 58 of its wall. This window allows, using a tool, such as a screwdriver, to encode the circuit by rotating each wheel. To this end, the edge of each wheel has reliefs or hollows for accommodating said screwdriver. It is also possible to provide a code locking device produced so as to ensure that the code is maintained against any untimely and / or unauthorized manipulation.

In the foregoing, the connection line between the support and the module has been left deliberately unspecified. FIGS. 8A to 10C illustrate several variants on this subject.

In FIG. 8A, a support 60 is shown comprising an electronics 61 connected to the collective line 10. The support 60 carries the encoding device 62 and manual actuation means 63 which act on the electronic circuits. Finally, the support carries two types of connection pins, one symbolized at 64 for the exchange with the electronic signal module 65, and the other symbolized at 66 for supplying these adaptation means, see organs. connected to it, by a source of energy electric power of sufficient power to control said components or supply them properly.

Consequently, the module 65 no longer comprises any more than adaptation means which are connected to the type of pins 64 for the exchange of data and the power supply at low power level of the electronics of adapt when it exists, and on the type of pin 66 for power supplies at the level of industrial control power. The module 65 which is connected by a single cable 67 to the body, finally presents an indicator light 68 and possibly a fuse 69 which associated with the manual control member 63, the marking-encoding 62, constitute the hommermachi dialogue bodies do not decentralized near the organ. FIG. 8B is an alternative embodiment of FIG. 8A in which the same elements bear the same references, only their relative forms having changed. It will therefore be noted that the electronics 61 is still in the support, but in a wing of the latter. ci overhanging beyond the connection plane carrying the pins and terminals 64, 66 and having a front surface 60a_ which carries the device 62 for locating-encoding. This front surface 60a_ is substantially in the outermost plane of the module 65. In FIG. 9, the support 70 contains only one device 71 making it possible to derive each of the conductors of the collective line for the circulation of information coded on a series of terminals 72. It also carries the terminals 73 for bypassing an industrial control power supply line which is brought to said support, either along said collective line, or separately. The module 74 comprises all of the electronic means 75 cooperating with the manual actuation means 76, and the encoding device 77, and the adaptation means 78, respectively connected to the terminals 72 and 7 above by plugging the module onto the support, while the adaptation means are connected to the member by a cable 79.

FIG. 10A illustrates a variant embodiment of FIG. 8B in which the electronic means comprise a circuit 81 for transforming the inform signal tïO.πnel propagating in series in the collective line in u.rr- a-ignal in the form parallel in a plurality of conduc te = u.rs- .. The other elements bear on this figure the same ref-rerrces as those of Figure 8B.

FIG. 10B is a diagrammatic representation of a first alternative embodiment of FIG. 9 in which the electronic circuit 91 of "series-parallel" transformation, similar to circuit 81 of the previous figure, is incorporated into the support 70, The module 74, containing the rest of the electronic stage 75 and the ad tatio'n means 78, being connected at the output of this circuit 91 and to the terminals of type 73.

FIG. 10C illustrates a second variant of FIG. 9. The circuit 92 of transformation "series-by-Lè is in this case integrated into the module 74, the connection between support and module then being reduced, at the signal level, at a few terminals 93 for the passage of signals and of the electron supply than from the module at low power level.

It should be noted that the choice which will be made from any of the arrangements described in these six diagrams, will essentially depend on the cost of producing reliable and miniaturized electronics which, if it is low, will make it possible to place all of the electronics necessary in each module, or if it remains important, to provide as many electronic circuits as possible in common in the support, the latter being able to receive, as described below, a plurality of different modules by the adaptation means which 'they behave. Another selection criterion will reside in the reliability of plug-in connections, knowing that it may be preferable to minimize the number of terminals to be connected by plugging, which is the case with the solutions of FIGS. 8B and 10C. In FIGS. 11A, 11B, 12 and 13, various adaptation means have been shown, to illustrate a possible range of modules specific to certain preactuators. These modules all concern organs for receiving orders issued by the control unit. These are therefore by analogy with the input ^/ output cards ^* , output modules.

Figure 11A shows that the adaptation means here consist of a switch 100 which can be static (electronic) or dynamic (electromechanical) of a supply line 101 of a winding 102 of the preactor which can be an LVE electrova, or a contactor whose winding 102 is that of its magnetic operating element. On this Line, the presence of a witness fuse 103 and a warning light 104 is distinguished. The switch 100 is controlled on closing and / or opening by a relay 105 excited by the output of electronic means ⁽ such as those shown in Figure 4). It should be noted that all the switching means shown diagrammatically can be static or dynamic. The reference 106 symbolizes the connection terminals by which the line 101 is connected to a voltage source, when the module is plugged into the support.

In Figure 11B we find most of the. organs of FIG. 11A with the same references. The output module which is thus represented comprises a more complex electronics which makes it possible to transmit to the programmable unit a signal or information in return relating to the execution of the order sent and / or to the state circuits-, controlled. Thus in this figure, we see an opto-coupled transistor 107, with a derivation of the line 101 at the terminals of the switch 100 which allows a signal to be emitted when the switch is open, indicating that the controlled circuit does not have any abnormalities or breaks.

FIG. 12 schematically illustrates another output module in which a switch 110 controlled by the output of the electronic circuits can open or close the excitation circuit 111 of a m cro-electrova Lve 112 allowing to put a pneumatic conduit 113 with ^* a pressure source not shown but ending at the Leetrovanne 112 by a conduit 114. It is thus possible to generate a pneumatic control signal capable of controlling a receiving member of the distri butor or microverin type.

FIG. 13 finally illustrates an output module in which the adaptation means consist of a switch 120 of a line 121 supplying a light-emitting diode 122 the light of which can be collected by an optical fiber 123 and led to an organ of the opto-elect roni coupler type or simply at the other end of the fiber 123 serving as an indicator.

It will be recalled that the connection of each of the abovementioned supply lines to a source is preferably carried out by connecting the module to the support. FIGS. 14, 15, 16, 17A and 17B relate to input modules, that is to say modules in which the adaptation means are able to collect a physical quantity emitted by a sensor or a detector and transform this physical quantity into an electronic signal which the abovementioned electronic means can introduce on the collective line for circulation of coded information, in the direction of the control unit. It will be noted that these bodies often need a permanent supply of energy at a sufficient power level ( ^"this is the case of optical sensors ⁽ fig. 16) or 3-wire detectors (FIG. 15. or that. adapters themselves need this level of power to operate The above transformation. Also in these figures have been shown connection terminals 136 allowing the connection of said members or means of adaptat on to a source of electrical energy at the same time as the connection of the module to the support.

In FIG. 14, the member, shown, is a contact sensor 130a_ or a proximity detector 130] 3 of two wires, known in themselves, which constitute the switches external to the module of a line 131 of excitation d '' a light-emitting diode 132 opto-coupled to a transistor

133 emitting a signal to the electronic stage of the module o of the support When the Line 131 is closed by the member 130a_ or 130b_. An LED 134 indicates the status of the sensor.

In FIG. 15, the member 140 is a 3-wire detector known in itself, the supply line 141 of which is integrated in a circuit allowing, by a diode 142 and a transistor 143, to detect a variation in the flux of power supply generated by a variation of the electromagnetic field at the level of the detector and of emitting an electronic signal corresponding to this detection.

In FIG. 16, the sensor is optical and constituted by an arrangement, not shown, ensuring the transmission of a light flux between two optical fibers 150, 151 in which an opaque body can be inserted, thus cutting off the optical communication. previously established between these two ends. The adaptation module comprises a light-emitting diode 152, constantly excited by a supply line 153, closed on a power source by the terminals 136, emitting a light flux in the fiber 150 which is located in its proximity, and by a tran¬ sistor 154 opto-coupled to the end 151b _^ of the other fiber to receive light in return and detect the interruptio of its passage.

FIG. 17A is an input module in which the adaptation means include a pressure "sensor" (hydraulic or pneumatic, positive or negative) 160, connected by a conduit 161 to a pipe to be checked and capable of constituting the mobile element of a switch 162 of an excitation line 163 of an opto-coupl diode 164 to a transistor 165 emitting an electronic signal when the line 163 is closed. The movable element 162 can be associated with a device 166 (calibrated spring for example) for adjusting its triggering threshold making it possible to display on the module an adjustable reference value and displayed at 167 on an external module passage.

FIG. 17B finally, illustrates schematically an alternative embodiment of the adaptation means of FIG. 17A in which the "pressure sensor" 160 ′ can be of the pi ezo-electric type or with a strain gauge. This sensor is supplied (Line 161 ') by electrical energy at low power level and its return signal (or its variation) is exploited by an electronic circuit with threshold crossing 162' which will emit by line 163 '' an electronic signal indicating that the set threshold is exceeded. The determination of the threshold can be carried out, adjusted and displayed in various ways by means of a device 166 ′, either manually operated, or by separate programming or remote programming by the control unit eL itself. We can, without departing from the scope of the invention ,. provide other means of adaptation in the above module. As an indication, mention will be made of temperature detection, the sensor being constituted by the welding of a thermocouple placed either outside the module and electrically connected to the latter, or in the module itself, this sou¬ hard being then connected to the detection location by a heat pipe, known in itself, made of a good heat conductive material which can, with suitable precision and an acceptable response time, transport calories over a certain distance. Figures 18 to 22 illustrate arrangements in which the support of the connection device according to the invention constitutes a planting box for a plurality of modules. First of all, in FIG. 18, it can be seen that the aforementioned collective line for the circulation of coded information is constituted by a multiple conductor in sheet 170 brought into the base 171 of a housing equipped with means allowing the spreading of these conductors in a central area 171a of this base. In addition, in a compartment 172 of this base, isolated from the compartment in which the collective line circulates, a supply line 173 has been placed in electrical energy of industrial control power. A cover 174 is adapted to cover the base 171 and to be fixed there. This cover has, on its side not visible in the figure, self-stripping electrical connection means, for example, which make it possible to create a bypass of the collective line and of the supply line. In addition, the cover 174 is equipped with a printed circuit making it possible to start again and to multiply the connections on a front surface 175 which has, in the case of the figure, eight identical zones 175a forming a laying plane for eight modules, each of them being in the configuration 74 shown in FIG. 9. The base 171 of the housing thus formed will present means for its fixing to a fixed structure, not shown, which may be an element of the frame of the installation, The cover 174 being screwed onto this base. We will set screws such as 176 and corresponding threaded holes 177 in the vicinity of the central area of the base and lid for const-ituer force multipliers elements to help The established ^¬ ment insulation displacement connections aforesaid . The cover 174 and the base 171 will have means for sealing the interior volume which they delimit with respect to the exterior in order to protect the connections. FIG. 19 illustrates a variant of FIG. 18 in which the collective line for the circulation of coded information is constituted by a pair of optical fibers 180 leading to a coupler 181 for converting serial optical signals leading to electronic circuits, into electronic signals of the same type, and serial electrical signals from said circuits as optical signals s-é.π ^" e- .. An identical coupler 182 ensures this same double COπ e-rs; tαrr for the pair of optical fibers 180 which comes out of the ^" case. Between the two diets placed in the base 171 of the box, electronic circuits 183 have been placed for processing seri e / para L leLe electronic signals, the supply of low level energy of which is provided by conductors 184. The box , as in the case of the previous figure, is closed by a cover 174 which ensures the multiplication and distribution of the connection zones of the modules 74. The distribution between support and module of the various electronic circuits corresponds to the configuration of FIG. 1QB La FIG. 20 illustrates by an external view the installation of eight modules on a support which has

The configuration of one of the two diagrams in Figures 8B or 10A. In this case, the electronic circuits are contained entirely in the support 190 affecting the shape, in secti of an L, and equipped with manual actuation or forcing means 191 and all the devices. marking-encoding 192. The modules are then of the type 65 in FIGS. 8B or 10A.

FIG. 21 shows by a sectional diagram of an arrangement identical to that of FIGS. 18 or 19, which can be put in place on the plurality of modules 74 plugged into the housing, a protective cover 193 which has a face frontal 194 transparent through which one can observe the state of the LED 68 and the fuse (if the module is an output module) and a face 195 perpendicular to this front face having a deformable section 196 allowing The actuation of the forcing or manual control means 63. The cover 193 has means 197 for sealing the modules 74 relative to the outside atmosphere. In FIG. 22, a variant of embodiment is shown in the grouped planting of modules on a support. In this case, the support includes a housing 200 inside which the above described branches are operated. the ^collective line and the power line. These branches, in the illustrated case, are carried out without electronic processing of the signals which can be brought, for example, by means of a known conductor called twisted pair The housing 200 then has on each of its two lateral faces 201, 202, connection terminals for bases 203 which themselves are connectable to each other and to the housing along a connection plane parallel to the abovementioned faces and which have a branch leading to a face 204 perpendicular to the preceding ones on which can be implanted each module 205. Each base 203 is mechanically locked on the previous one or on the housing by fixing elements (screws, clips ...) not shown and each module, as moreover in the case of FIGS. 18, 19 and 20, is screwed onto the support, through its connection plane, by a fixing screw 206. In the case of FIG. 22, the connection of the module 205 to the member which corresponds to it is withdrawable and is provided by the intermediary of the base 203 having for this purpose two opposite faces 207 which can be used as desired, perpendicular to the three other aforementioned connection faces. The end of the cable 208, coming from the member and connected to said base by its face 257, may also include a fixing screw 209.

In the case of the figure, the connection face 204 of the module to the base reveals two types of connection terminals, namely terminals 204a for supplying control power and terminals 204b for exchanging of coded information of the serial type and the power supply at low power level. The box 200 mainly contains only means for deriving the Circulation lines ⁽ twisted pair ⁾ and supply, The interface electronics being entirely contained in each module 205. It is however possible to incorporate electronic means into this box of reg / generation of signals, known in themselves. This box can 'é-ga e-πrent contain the electronic transformation circuit, riie ^* parallel to the transfer protocol of the framed information. In this case, the terminals of type 204b will be greater in number, the exchange of information with the module being done in parallel mode. The module would then conform to the diagram in FIG. 10B. It should also be noted that the bases 203 contain only members ensuring electrical continuity between the various connection faces without any incorporated processing electronics. It is however possible to imagine, within the framework of the invention, that a secondary housing could be connected to a base and include serial / parallel transformation electronics or vice versa, allowing the start of a new branch of cable-bus to serve a subset of the installation. It can be seen that the design, according to FIG. 22, makes it possible to easily obtain a large number of possible configurations of the whole line for circulation of coded information (bus cable) and line • of power supply at the level of power for controlling preactuators and supplying detectors, which can be combined with installation boxes according to FIGS. 18, 19 and 20.

It should be noted, however, that each of these implantations of modules on a common housing is in the form of a volume substantially in the shape of a pedicle, one front face of which (in the plan of each figure) includes the display of the reference carried by the rage-encoding device and the means for displaying the state of the module (by the indicator light such as that 68 in FIGS. 8A to 10O and the state of fuse 69 in the case of an output module. This face also includes a sign - for example an arrow 178, 198, 210 - which indicates the direction in which the information circulates in each module, thus allowing '' at a glance to distinguish an input module from an output module. A letter I or 0 in the vicinity of the marker can also be used for this purpose (INPUT and OUTPUT). Certain special modules, having a function of adaptation to s ^* euil like those of FIGS. 17A, 17B, also include on this face a display of the threshold value which will have been predetermined (see 179, 199 in FIGS. 18 and 20). .

Said front face therefore groups all the display or visualization elements which allow a technician, at a glance, to check the correct functioning or to locate the failures of such or such module or organ of the 'installation. The above-mentioned volume also includes a second functional side, perpendicular to this front face, which carries it, in an aligned manner ^* , all the forcing control members, therefore of manual intervention which can be accessible by an operator. These organs shown diagrammatically at 63 in FIGS. 8A to 10C, are constituted by rocking buttons 211 in FIGS. 18, 19, 20 and 22 with a central neutral position and automatic return to this position. Pressing them on one side generates the simulation of a sensor state for the central unit or the forced control of a pre-actuator, to bring it to a first state, if it is respectively input or output module, their insertion on the other side causing the simulation of another state of the sensor or the forced control of the pre-aetionnator to cause it to take the other state that it is likely to reach during normal operation.

We will have provided in the program itself, or by any central device, the means allowing access to this manual control only to authorized persons and in specific circumstances in order to avoid inadvertent operation of these.

FIG. 21 summarizes by a cross-section diagram all the means of visual and manual dialogue that the invention allows with an operator and shows the easy access that the latter can have to these means thanks to the rationalization of Le ^* -ur location.

FIG. 23 schematically shows that the invention-oxr pcerrmet a direct and rational implantation of the modules-s: Z20 at the output of a programmable controller 221. The latter is. to do this, equipped with data exchange cards 222 ensuring the connection of the modules with the PLC bus, comprising electronic circuits in greater or lesser number, depending on the electronics incorporated in each module, and constituting the holding armature for a connection support 223 receiving exchangeably each module 220. This arrangement is advantageous for small installations. Of course, each module meets the general definition of the invention, namely that it includes the means of adaptation specific to the member that it intends to connect and that it cooperates either directly or by integrated electronic circuits. in the support with a locating-encoding device as described above. FIG. 24 is simply intended to show that a module according to the invention, such as that shown 230, can be installed on a member 231 which is associated with it and connected by a cable 232 to a connection box 233 ensuring so plement the derivation and the multiplication of the derivations of the collective circulation line and of the control power supply line, both enclosed in a cable guide 234. The connection of the cable at the level of the housing can be carried out by indifferently in any of the zones 233a of the housing, the address recognition being carried out at the level of the module 23Θ. Finally, Figure 25 illustrates the realization of a particular module 240, installed on a box 241 forming its support, by which communication is possible between the central control unit and a solenoid valve 242, between the central unit and a sensor 243 but also a coupling is ensured locally between the input information delivered by the sensor 243 and the output information intended for the solenoid valve 242. More precisely, the program of the central unit is such as The control of the output of the cylinder rod 250 should only be used if the cylinder rod 251 is retracted to avoid telescoping. We can very well ensure the dialogue of the central unit with the sensor 243 by means of a connection device ayan an adaptation function such as that illustrated in FIG. 14 and with L 'é L ect rovanne 242 by means of a module having an adaptation function in accordance with that shown diagrammatically in FIG. 11A. The module 240 will also have these two functions to which will be added an internal coupling of the supply line of the solenoid valve with that of the sensor, so that the sensor, in series on the supply of the solenoid valve , closes this line by being actuated by the rod of the jack 251 in the retracted position. Thus if for any reason, the central unit controls the excitation of the solenoid valve before the rod of the jack 251 is retracted, this command will only be effective when this rod has actuated the sensor 243. Thus, by the coupling, symbolized by the graphics 244 on the modul 240, ensures operational safety at the local level which overcomes the quality of communications between the sensor and solenoid valve and the central unit. It is well understood that such provision of security can be achieved in many other cases of application by coupling a pre actuator supply line, at a module, which can be Encom ^¬ BREMENT double that of a sensor or a detector, either at the level of physical quantities or at the level of electronic signals (eg an AND logic function).

The particular case of grouping or coupling a detection function with an aetion function in a single module is only an example to illustrate many different possibilities. It may indeed prove useful to carry out local couplings of one or more detection functions with one or more control or actuation functions making it possible to trigger actions in response to detections, outside the control unit, thanks to the multiple modules by which this coupling is achieved. Such an arrangement has numerous advantages such as decluttering the connection circuits with the central unit, shortening the response times improving the operational safety of the installation ... while maintaining a connection with the control unit which is is then informed of events that have occurred locally and who can thus take them into account in the general conduct of the installation.

The invention finds an interesting application in the field of automation.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. In a connection of the organs (5a_, 5b _... 7a_, 7b_, 11, 12) of an industrial installation with a programmable unit for controlling the installation, which comprises: - a circulation line ( 10) collective of coded information exchanged between the installation and the programmable unit, each of its information being constituted by a datum associated with an address, and for each organ,

- electronic means able to derive from the aforementioned circulation line, the data intended for the organ or to introduce into this circulation line data coming from the organ,

- means of adaptation associated with said electronic means for consequently controlling a transmission line of a physical quantity connected to the member, a modular connection device of any one of the said members to said collective line , characterized in that it is constituted by a support (13,14) comprising means for its implantation on said collective line (10) by a module (15,16) connected to said member (11,12) containing at least the aforementioned adaptation means and reported on said support, and by an encoding device (17,18) making it possible to assign to the aforementioned electronic means contained in said support or in said module, among a plurality of possible addresses, L coded address by which the organ in question is identified in the program of the programmable control unit.

2. Connection device according to revendi¬ cation 1, characterized in that at least the connection between the module (15,16) of adaptation and Said support (13,14) is produced by plugging deccnnectable.

3. Connection device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the above-mentioned encoding device comprises means (31, 54, 55) operating with the internal circuits of the electronic means. the above and display means (5A, 84 ⁾ of an alphanumeric trans¬ scription of the code produced, an automatic and permanent correspondence being carried out between these means, in the encoding device itself, so that, from the the design stage of the installation, then the programming stage of the programmable control unit, and, until now. s.ta-of its operation and therefore of its maintenance, the tτ "aτrsc: ri'p: ti on the above alphanumeric constitutes the unique reference. (55A-); of the organ (23) chosen arbitrarily at the time of installation design.

4. Connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (60d above contains said electronic means (61), the encoding device (62) being carried by said support so that the said display means remain visible from the outside of the support (60).

5. Connection device according to Quelle¬ conch of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the module (74) above contains said electronic means. The encoding device (77) being carried by said module so that the aforementioned display means remain visible from the outside of the module when it is connected to the support.

6. Connection device according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that the electronic means (61, 75) contain an electronic circuit (81, 91, 92) for transforming coded information of the serial type on the collective line in coded information of parallel type to make it usable by said electronic means (61, 75) encoded in parallel.

7. Connection device according to reven¬ dications 5 and 6, characterized in that said electronic circuit (81,91) is contained in said support (70).

8. Connection device according to claims 5 and 6, characterized in that said electro- circuit pic (92) is contained in said module.

9. Connection device according to a conch of the preceding claims, characterized in that the above-mentioned member receives said physical quantity said module is an output module in which the adaptation means are constituted by a switch ( 100, 110, 12J0 ⁾ of a supply line (101, 111, 121) of a signal generator (112, 122) in the above-mentioned transmission line ⁽ 113, 123), said supply line being connected ^' : tee (106) to a source of electrical energy at an industrial control level by means of the connection of said module to said suppo rt.

10. Rope cord device according to Reven¬ dication 9, characterized in that the signal generator is constituted by the switch (100) itself, said supply line and the above transmission line being combined ⁽ 101) .

11. Connection device according to Reven¬ dication 9, characterized in that the signal generator is constituted by a pneumatic solenoid valve (112), the supply line being constituted by the electrical circuit (111) for excitation of L 'solenoid valve, the aforementioned transmission line being constituted by a pneumatic conduit (113 connecting the member to a pressure source via said solenoid valve (112).

12. Connection device according to Reven¬ dication 11, characterized in that said solenoid valve ⁽ 112 ⁾ is carried by said module.

13. Connection device according to claim 9, characterized in that the signal generator is constituted by an opto-electric coupler (122), said supply line being constituted by an electric circuit (121) of excitation of said coupler (122 ⁾ , said transmission line being constituted by an optical fiber ⁽ 123 ⁾ connecting the member to said coupler.

14. Connection device according to reven¬ dication 13> characterized in that said coupler (122) is carried by said module.

15. Connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the aforementioned or¬ gane transmits a signal, the module is an input module in which the adaptation means are constituted by a Reader of said signal (132, 133, 142, 143, 151b_, 154, 164, 165).

16. Connection device according to revendi¬ cation 15, characterized in that the member is a contact sensor (130) and the signal which it emits, an electric current in a line (131) closed by said sensor and connected to an electrical power source (136) at an industrial control level, by means of the connection of said module to said support.

17. Connection device according to claim 15, characterized in that the member is a three-wire detector (140) supplied with electrical energy at an industrial control level by a supply line (141) connected to a source of energy by means of the connection of the module to the support.

18. Connection device according to revendi¬ cation 15, characterized in that the above-mentioned member is a bypass (161) for controlling a pressure conduit, the signal being a positive or negative pressure signal, the means of adaptation comprising a threshold detector circuit (163, 161 ', 163') closed on a power supply source when the module is connected to the support in which an element (160 ", 162) activated by said signal cooperates with a member (166, 166 ′) for adjusting the threshold to emit a signal that the threshold is exceeded when it is crossed.

19. Connection device according to revendi¬ cation 15, characterized in that the above-mentioned member is an optical sensor, connected to said reader (154) which is constituted by an opto-é L ectri coupler that, by a first optical fiber (151) and supplied with optical energy by a second optical fiber ⁽ 150) coming from an electro¬ optical coupler (152) whose excitation is ensured by a electric line ⁽ 153) closed on an energy source (136) by the connection of the module or support.

20. Connection device according to a Quel¬ conch of ^" s preceding claims, characterized in that the aforesaid support consists of a housing (171,174, 190, - 200 ⁾ inside which means are provided for deriving the Collective line mentioned above and which comprises means ⁽ 175a_) of multiple connection to receive a plurality of modules (74) parallel to each other.

21. Connection device according to claim 20, characterized in that all of the associated boxes and modules form a para para-pedic volume, one front face of which comprises the means for displaying the encoding device ⁽ 192) and Signaling means relating to the nature (input or output) of each module and to its operation (68, 69, 178, 179, 198, 199, 210).

22. Device according to claim 21, characterized in that one face of said volume perpendicular to said front face is equipped with means (211) of control or forcing operable manually and acting on the circuits of electronic means to simulate a data emitted by the member in the case of an input module and to simulate a data item emitted by the control unit in the case of an output module, said means being arranged in the vicinity of the edge common to the two faces.

23. Connection device according to claim 22, characterized in that the aforesaid multiple connection means are carried by an outer surface (175) of the housing, a protective cover (193 ⁾ cooperating in leaktight manner with the housing and each of the Transmission lines from the modules it door, being such that its parallel wall (194) with the above-mentioned front face is transparent, and whose parallel wall ⁽ 195 ⁾ on the other face, equipped with manual intervention means ⁽ 63) has a deformable section ( 196), opposite said means allowing their actuation through said cover.

24. Connection device according to claim 21, characterized in that the multiplying connection means are constituted by a plurality of bases (203), capable of being connected one behind the other, on at at least one side of said housing (200), said bases each having a face (204) for connecting a module perpendicular to its face for connection to the adjacent base.

25. Connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that said support consists of at least one card (222) of the programmable control unit (221).

26. Device according to any one of the claims 1 to 25, characterized in that the disconnectable connection between the support (233) and the module (230) is ensured by cable (232) of which at least its end is connected to the suppo rt est

27. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 24 and 26, characterized in that the collective circulation line of the coded information consists of a multiple conductor (170) running along the installation and on which a plurality of aforementioned boxes are located as close as possible to said members.

28. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said module (240) is connected to at least two members (242, 243) of which at least one ⁽ 242 ⁾ is a receiver. The other (243) being the transmitter of a physical quantity and in that a direct coupling through said adaptation means, or said electronic means, is established between the quantity transmitted and those received.