Method of connecting a mobile control and/or monitoring unit to a machine and a control and/or monitoring unit for same

• US 20010035729A1
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KEBA AG (KLH Beteiligungs GmbH)
• Original Assignee: KEBA AG (KLH Beteiligungs GmbH)
• Inventors: Graiger, Dieter, Richter, Siegfried
• Granted Patent: US 6,717,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/587
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33192 Radio link, wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36133 MMI, HMI: man machine interface, communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36137 Configuration of display device, operator panel
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36159 Detachable or portable programming unit, display, pc, pda
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36169 Remote, host controlled, operated manual data input, keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39443 Portable, adapted to handpalm, with joystick, function keys, display
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39448 Same teach pendant connects to many robot controllers over network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/71 Directional beams
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0043 for taking measurements, e.g. using sensor coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/73 for taking measurements, e.g. using sensing coils

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of connecting a mobile, electronic control and/or monitoring unit (9) to at least one machine or at least one machine component in a group or a plurality of machines (2) or machine components to be controlled and/or monitored. During a connection or log-on procedure between the control and/or monitoring unit (9) and a co-operating distant point on the respective machine (2), a clear link or log-on connection is set up either by means of interfaces (14, 15) to the selected, wireless direction-finder of the co-operating distant point or alternatively by means of transmitters and/or receivers (16, 17) tuned to a restricted, localized functional or operating range (21). Once the connection has been acknowledged and established, the programmed control and/or monitoring of the machine (2) or the machine component is managed via another, standard data transmission means (22), for example a hard-wired network and/or via a wireless link between the control and/or monitoring unit (9) and the selected machine (2). Also proposed is a control and/or monitoring unit (9) for implementing this method.

Claims

1. A method of connecting a mobile, electronic control and/or monitoring unit to at least one machine or at least one machine component in a group or a plurality of machines or machine components to be controlled and/or monitored, for example robots, characterised in that during a connection or log-on procedure between the control and/or monitoring unit and the respective machine or a distant point on the machine, a clear link or log-on connection is set up by means of interfaces to the selected, wireless direction-finder of the corresponding distant point or by means of transmitters and/or receivers tuned to the transmission range or reception range, having a limited, localised functional or operating range and, once the connection has been acknowledged and established, the programmed control and/or monitoring of the machine or the machine component is managed via another, standard data transmission means, for example a hard-wired network and/or via a wireless link between the control and/or monitoring unit and the selected machine or selected machine component.

2. Method as claimed in

claim 1

, characterised in that clear signalling at least on the respective machine and/or on the control and/or monitoring unit indicates when a link or connection has been established.

3. Method as claimed in

claim 1

or

2

, characterised in that an active connection or log-on of a control and/monitoring unit to one or more machines or machine components can not be terminated except by a deliberate or conscious log-off by the user, who must operate at least one control element of an input device of the control and/or monitoring unit or a control device of the machine or the machine component.

4. Method as claimed in

claim 1

or

2

, characterised in that the link or log-on connection is cyclically checked against a valid log-on process and control and/or monitoring of the machine is terminated either automatically or by the user, who simply quits by selecting the log-off option, if the selected link or log-on connection goes down or is interrupted.

5. Method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that, during the log-on procedure of the control and/or monitoring unit, an identification number or code is transmitted and acknowledgement is returned, via the standard data transmission means or via the same wireless transmission channel, by the distant point or machine receiving this code, which also checks to ensure that the control and/or monitoring unit transmitting the code is valid.

6. Method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connection between the control and/or monitoring unit and the respective machine to be controlled and/or observed is managed automatically on entering the functional or operating range of the transmitter and/or receiver device or simply by cancelling the potential connection.

7. Method as claimed in one or more of

claims 1

to

5

, characterised in that the connection between the control and/or monitoring unit and the respective machine to be controlled and/or observed is managed automatically when the selected connection becomes available or by actively cancelling the potential assignment or connection.

8. Method as claimed in

claim 6

or

7

, characterised in that the connection is cancelled by means of an operating element on the control and/or monitoring unit.

9. Method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the functional and operating range of the transmitters and/or receivers lies within a close immediate vicinity around the machines and/or around the control and/or monitoring unit.

10. Method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the wireless connection is provided by a radio link.

11. A control and/or monitoring unit having an input device with several operating elements and/or an optical display and having at least one interface to at least one control unit for one or more machines or machine components, for example robots, in particular for applying a method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that another interface for a wireless connection system to a co-operating distant point in or on the machine to be controlled and/or monitored ensures that a clear and selective connection or link can be established with or on the control and/or monitoring unit or to one or more machines or machine components to be monitored.

12. Control and/or monitoring unit as claimed in

claim 11

, characterised in that the interface has a transmitter with a directional transmission characteristic.

13. Control and/or monitoring unit as claimed in

claim 11

or

12

, characterised in that the interface has a transmitter with a locally restricted transmission characteristic or a transmission characteristic that is restricted to the area in the immediate vicinity.

14. Control and/or monitoring unit as claimed in one or more of

claims 11

to

13

, characterised in that the distant point comprises a receiver responding to the transmitter.

15. Control and/or monitoring unit as claimed in one or more of the preceding

claims 11

to

14

, characterised in that the distant point comprises a receiver with a defined, limited reception sensitivity.

16. Control and/or monitoring unit as claimed in one or more of the preceding

claims 11

to

15

, characterised in that the interface of the control and/or monitoring unit comprises a receiver for signals transmitted by the transmitter in the vicinity of a machine.

17. Control and/or monitoring unit as claimed in one or more of the preceding

claims 11

to

16

, characterised in that the connection link between the transmitter and the receiver is one-way.

18. Control and/or monitoring unit as claimed in one or more of the preceding

claims 11

to

17

, characterised in that the interface is provided as an optical transmitter for infrared signals or laser light.

19. Control and/or monitoring unit as claimed in one or more of the preceding

claims 11

to

18

, characterised in that the interface is provided as a transmitter for electromagnetic waves.

20. Control and/or monitoring unit as claimed in one or more of the preceding

claims 11

to

19

, characterised in that the co-operating transmitter and receiver are provided as a transponder system.

21. Control and/or monitoring unit as claimed in one or more of the preceding

claims 11

to

20

, characterised in that the interface is provided as an acoustic transmitter, for example for ultrasonic signals.

22. Control and/or monitoring unit as claimed in one or more of the preceding

claims 11

to

21

, characterised in that the interface is provided either in the form of contact pins and/or a contact rod or by means of an electrical contact surface with a complementary counter-contact on the machine to be controlled and/or monitored.

23. Control and/or monitoring unit as claimed in one or more of the preceding

claims 11

to

22

, characterised in that an operating element is provided on the in input device for selectively establishing and/or terminating the connection.

24. Control and/or monitoring unit as claimed in one or more of the preceding

claims 11

to

23

, characterised in that a distance-measuring device and/or a position sensor is provided for detecting the distance of the control and/or monitoring unit relative to a machine or a machine component.

25. Control and/or monitoring unit as claimed in one or more of the preceding

claims 11

to

24

, characterised in that the interface is provided as a transmitter and/or receiver for signals to and/or from a co-operating distant point or transmitter and/or receiver, which is disposed in the immediate vicinity of the machines to be controlled and/or monitored.