Input/output circuits and devices having physically corresponding status indicators

摘要

Systems and methods are provided for aligning status indicators on a terminal block of an I/O device by locating the status indicators directly adjacent to or integrated directly within their respective terminals on the terminal block. The status indicators are illuminated by LEDs or other light emitters disposed within a housing of the I/O device. Light from the LEDs are directed to the status indicators by light pipes disposed within the housing of the I/O device. LED activation circuitry disposed within the housing determines a manner in which to activate the LEDs to illuminate the status indicators based on inputs and outputs between the I/O device and a controlled process. In certain embodiments, the status indicators are disposed on a raised section of the I/O device, which may be part of a removable LED indication assembly including the LEDs, light pipes, and LED activation circuitry.

主权项

1. An input/output (I/O) device, comprising:
a base portion configured to communicatively connect the I/O device with at least one other device; an I/O module physically and communicatively connected to the base portion and comprising I/O communication circuitry; a terminal block physically and communicatively connected to the base portion and having a plurality of terminals disposed along a length of a front face of the terminal block, wherein each of the plurality of terminals comprises a terminal opening configured to receive a field wire from a field device, and an attachment activator configured to cause a wiring connection mechanism to tighten around the field wire; a plurality of terminal status indicators capable of displaying a status of a respective terminal, each terminal status indicator being positioned on the terminal block and aligned with and directly adjacent to the respective terminal, and each terminal being aligned with and directly adjacent to a respective terminal status indicator; a plurality of light emitters disposed within a housing of the I/O module, wherein the plurality of light emitters are configured to emit light for illuminating the plurality of terminal status indicators; a plurality of light pipes disposed within the housing of the I/O module, wherein each of the plurality of light pipes is configured to receive light from one of the plurality of light emitters and to direct the light to one of the plurality of terminal status indicators; and activation circuitry for determining a manner in which to activate the plurality of light emitters to illuminate the plurality of terminal status indicators based on signals transmitted through the plurality of terminals, wherein the activation circuitry is disposed in the terminal block.