Drive unit and method for using the drive unit to control a machine tool
First Claim
1. A drive unit for controlling a machine, in particular production machine, machine tool, robot and the like, with a plurality of components, each component comprising:
- at least one component-specific function associated with the component, and a uniform communication module forming an interface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A drive unit for a machine, in particular a machine-tool, robot and the like, is described. The drive unit has several components, and each component has at least one associated component-specific function, and a uniform communication module that forms an interface with the other components. The interfaces of the various components can be connected by logical point-to-point connections or via a bus. Each component is designated with a particular type, and the communication between the components uses a type-specific communication protocol. A least one of the components is a hierarchically superior component.
7 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A drive unit for controlling a machine, in particular production machine, machine tool, robot and the like, with a plurality of components, each component comprising:
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at least one component-specific function associated with the component, and a uniform communication module forming an interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for controlling machines, in particular machine tools, robots and the like, with a drive unit that includes a plurality of components, comprising the steps of:
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assigning a type to each of the components, assigning at least one component-specific function to each component type, associating a uniform communication module with each of the components, said communication module forming an interface, associating a type-specific communication protocol with each component type, designating at least one component of the plurality of components as being a hierarchically superior component, with the remaining components of the plurality of components being designated as subordinate components, and enabling communication between the superior component and the subordinate components via the type-specific communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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Specification