COMMUNICATION NETWORK BASED ON MASTER/SLAVE ARCHITECTURE FOR CONNECTING SENSORS AND ACTUATORS

摘要

A communications network for servo systems and the like comprises a controller (5; 6; 48), first and second slave nodes (20, 25; 19, 26; 52, 62) configured to respond to control signals from the controller and to send respective feedback control signals to the controller, and a control signal transmission line (18, 24; 17, 23; 54, 62) between the controller and the slave nodes; wherein communication between said controller and said slave nodes employs reflective signaling, and wherein the transmission line incorporates a router (9; 8; 60) configured to route control signals from said controller to one or other of said first and second slave nodes in dependence on a further signal from said controller.