Production module for performing a production function on a product

• US 10,365,635 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2014
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Zahorcak, Vladimir
• Primary Examiner(s): Everett, Christopher E.
• Application Number:
  US15/526,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20170322542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,720 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4097 characterised by using design data to control NC machines, e.g. CAD/CAM G05B19/4093 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33053 Modular hardware, software, easy modification, expansion, generic, oop
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33055 Holon, agent executes task and cooperates with other, distributed control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33068 CCP coordination cooperation protocol, make optimal decisions with other agents
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33072 Two layer agent for execution of tasks and for communication, coordination
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35134 3-D cad-cam
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A production module for implementing a production function on a product, wherein the production module is configured couple to a second production module which is configured implement a second production function on the product, where self-description information relating to properties of the production module is stored on a storage device of the production module, and the second production module comprises second self-description information relating to properties of the second production module, where the production module is further configured to transmit the self-description information to the second production module and to receive second self-description information from the second production module, and where port information relating to the coupling process with the second production module is stored on the storage device, or the production module is configured to store port information relating to the coupling process with the second production module.

Claims

1. A production module for performing a production function on a product, the production module being configured to couple to a second production module which is configured to perform a second production function on the product, the production module comprising:

a memory device configured to store a piece of self-description information regarding properties of the production module;

wherein the second production module comprises a second piece of self-description information regarding properties of the second production module;

wherein the production module is configured to transmit the piece of self-description information to the second production module and to receive the second piece of self-description information from the second production module;

wherein one of (i) the memory device of the production module stores a piece of port information regarding the coupling to the second production module and (ii) the production module is configured to store the piece of port information regarding the coupling to the second production module; and

wherein the piece of port information regarding the coupling to the second production module comprises information regarding properties of the second production module including a piece of information about a size of an interaction or transfer area for the second production module, a situation or position of the transfer area and an identifier of the coupled second production module.

2. The production module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piece of port information regarding the coupling to the second production module further comprises a piece of information about a three-dimensional interaction area of the production module with the second production module;

and

wherein the interaction area is configured such that the production function of the production module and the second production function of the second production module can influence the product when said product is located in the interaction area.

3. The production module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the piece of port information further comprises a piece of information about at least one of (i) a geometry of the interaction area and (ii) a position of the interaction area.

4. The production module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piece of port information regarding the coupling to the second production module further comprises information regarding properties of further production modules at least one of directly and indirectly connected to the second production module.

5. The production module as claimed in claim 4, wherein the information regarding properties of further production modules at least one of directly and indirectly connected to the second production module comprises production functions of production modules at least one of directly and indirectly connected to the second production module.

6. The production module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piece of port information stored in the production module regarding the coupling to the second production module further comprises information regarding properties of a third production module coupled to the second production module;

wherein the third production module is coupled to the second production module, the third production module storing or can store a third piece of self-description information regarding properties of the third production module, and the third production module being configured to perform the third production function on the product.

7. The production module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the piece of port information stored in the production module regarding the coupling to the second production module further comprises information regarding a third production function of the third production module.

8. The production module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piece of port information regarding the coupling to the second production module further comprises information regarding the second production function of the second production module.

9. A production system for manufacturing an intermediate product or end product, comprising:

a plurality of production modules coupled to one another, each of the plurality of production modules being configured as claimed in claim 1.

10. The production system as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of the production modules stores the piece of port information as claimed in claim 1 for each production module directly coupled to this production module from the plurality of production modules.

11. The production system as claimed in claim 10, wherein a relative arrangement of the plurality of coupled production modules corresponds to at least one of (i) a prescribed or prescribable three-dimensional and (ii) two-dimensional structure.

12. The production system as claimed in claim 9, wherein a relative arrangement of the plurality of coupled production modules corresponds to at least one of (i) a prescribed or prescribable three-dimensional and (ii) two-dimensional structure.

13. The production system as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

means for attaining or observing the prescribed or prescribable structure.

14. A production module for performing a production function on a product, comprising:

a memory device which stores or can store a piece of self-description information regarding properties of the production module including (i) a piece of configuration information regarding at least one of a situation and an embodiment of the production module, (ii) a piece of capability information regarding available functions and services of the production module, said piece of capability information comprising a piece of information about the production function, (iii) a piece of instruction information regarding instructions executable by the production module and adjustable parameters and (iv) a piece of state information regarding an operating state of the production module;

wherein the production module is configured to ascertain a shared three-dimensional interaction area with a second production module coupled to the production module;

wherein the second production module is configured to perform a second production function on the product; and

wherein the shared three-dimensional interaction area of the production modules is configured such that the production function of the production module and the second production function of the second production module can influence the product when said product is located in the interaction area.

15. The production module as claimed in claim 14, wherein the memory device of the production module stores or can store a piece of port information regarding the coupling to the second production module;

and

wherein the piece of port information comprises a piece of information about the three dimensional interaction area of the production module with the second production module.

16. The production module as claimed in claim 15, wherein the piece of information about the three dimensional interaction area of the production module with the second production module comprises at least one of (i) a piece of information about a geometry of the interaction area and (ii) a position of the interaction area.

17. A method for coupling a first production module to a second production module, the first production module being configured to perform a first production function on a product and the second production module being configured to perform a second production function on the product, and the first production module storing a first piece of self-description information regarding properties of the first production module including status information and the second production module storing a second piece of self-description information regarding properties of the second production module including (i) a piece of configuration information regarding at least one of a situation and an embodiment of the production module, (ii) a piece of capability information regarding available functions and services of the production module, said piece of capability information comprising a piece of information about the production function, (iii) a piece of instruction information regarding instructions executable by the production module and adjustable parameters and (iv) a piece of state information regarding an operating state of the production module, the method comprising:

coupling the first and second production modules;

transmitting the second piece of self-description information of the second production module to the first production module including (i) the piece of configuration information regarding at least one of the situation and the embodiment of the production module, (ii) the piece of capability information regarding available functions and services of the production module, said piece of capability information comprising the piece of information about the production function, (iii) the piece of instruction information regarding instructions executable by the production module and adjustable parameters and (iv) the piece of state information regarding the operating state of the production module; and

ascertaining a first piece of port information regarding the coupling to the second production module via the first production module and storing the first piece of port information in the first production module;

wherein said ascertaining at least one of (i) the first and (ii) second piece of port information comprises ascertaining a piece of information about a three-dimensional interaction area of the first production module with the second production module; and

wherein the interaction area is configured such that the first production function of the first production module and the second production function of the second production module can influence the product when said product is located in the interaction area.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said coupling of the first and second production modules is additionally followed by:

transmitting the first piece of self-description information of at least one of (i) the first production module and (ii) the first piece of port information to the second production module; and

ascertaining by the second production module ascertaining a second piece of port information regarding the coupling to the first production module and storing said information in the second production module.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said ascertaining the piece of information about the three-dimensional interaction area is followed by a relative situation of the first production module in relation to the second production module being changed and the piece of information regarding the three-dimensional interaction area subsequently being re-ascertained.

20. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first and second production modules are each configured to couple to a third production module which is configured to perform a third production function on the product, each production module comprising:

a memory device configured to store a piece of self-description information regarding properties of the production module including status information;

wherein the third production module comprises a third piece of self-description information regarding properties of the third production module including status information;

wherein each production module is configured to transmit the piece of self-description information to the third production module and to receive the third piece of self-description information from the third production module; and

wherein one of (ii) the memory device of each production module stores a piece of port information regarding the coupling to the third production module and (ii) each production module is configured to store a piece of port information regarding the coupling to the third production module.

21. The method as claimed in one of claim 17, wherein the first production module is coupled to the second production module such that the relative arrangement of the coupled production modules corresponds to a prescribed or prescribable three-dimensional or two-dimensional structure.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

attaining or observing, via means for attaining or observing, the prescribed or prescribable structure;

wherein the first production module is coupled to the second via said means such that the relative arrangement of the coupled production modules corresponds to the prescribed or prescribable three-dimensional or two-dimensional structure.