Biometrics PLC access and control system and method

• US 20040260954A1
• Filed: 06/19/2003
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Schneider Automation Incorporated (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Automation Incorporated (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Morse, Carl P.
• Application Number:
  US10/465,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20040260954A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/6
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/058 Safety, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24162 Biometric sensor, fingerprint as user access password
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231

Abstract

A system for providing access to a PLC controlled subcomponent of an automation system. The system comprises a biometric identification device coupled to an I/O device of the automation system. The I/O device is configured to process input from the biometric identification device and provide an identification code for a user of the biometric identification device. The system further comprises a PLC based server configured to receive the identification code generated by the I/O device and process the identification code to determine whether to provide access to a PLC controlled subcomponent of the automation system to the user.

Claims

1. A system for providing access to a PLC controlled subcomponent comprising:

a biometric identification device coupled to an I/O device of an automation system, the I/O device configured to process input from the biometric identification device and provide an identification code for a user of the biometric identification device; and

,

a PLC based server configured to receive the identification code generated by the I/O device and process the identification code to determine whether to provide access to a PLC controlled subcomponent of the automation system to the user.

2. The system for providing access to a PLC controlled subcomponent of claim 1, further comprising:

a network connection for connecting the I/O device to the PLC based server to enable the PLC based server to receive the identification code from the I/O device.

3. The system for providing access to a PLC controlled subcomponent of claim 2, further comprising:

a computer connected to the network connection for controlling and monitoring aspects of the automation system.

4. The system for providing access to a PLC controlled subcomponent of claim 2 wherein the network is an Ethernet.

5. The system for providing access to a PLC controlled subcomponent of claim 1, wherein the biometric device is configured to recognize vocal output from the user.

6. The system for providing access to a PLC controlled subcomponent of claim 1, wherein the biometric device is configured to scan the user'"'"'s retna.

7. The system for providing access to a PLC controlled subcomponent of claim 1, wherein the biometric device is configured to recognize facial patterns of the user.

8. The system for providing access to a PLC controlled subcomponent of claim 1, wherein the biometric device is configured to scan a fingerprint of the user.

9. The system for providing access to a PLC controlled subcomponent of claim 1, wherein the biometric device is configured to map an iris of the user.

10. The system for providing access to a PLC controlled subcomponent of claim 1, wherein the biometric device is configured to analyze DNA from a user.

11. The system for providing access to a PLC controlled subcomponent of claim 1, wherein the subcomponent is a stamping machine in the automation system.

12. The system for providing access to a PLC controlled subcomponent of claim 1, wherein the subcomponent is an entry control into a maintenance area of a machine in the automation system.

13. The system for providing access to a PLC controlled subcomponent of claim 1, wherein the system checks a user'"'"'s identity to allow a PLC process to one of start and stop.

14. The system for providing access to a PLC controlled subcomponent of claim 1, wherein the system checks a user'"'"'s identity to determine whether to allow the user to one of change and overwrite data.

15. A method for allowing access and/or control of a subcomponent of an automation system at the I/O level of the automation system comprising the steps of:

providing a biometric device proximate a subcomponent of an automation system for generating an input responsive to a user of the biometric device;

providing the input to an I/O device of the automation system;

processing the input from the biometric device to generate an identification code representative of the user of the biometric device;

providing the identification code to a PLC server; and

,

processing the identification by the PLC server to determine if the user is authorized for to utilize the subcomponent.

16. The method for allowing access and/or control of a subcomponent of an automation system at the I/O level of the automation system of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

comparing the identification code received by the PLC server with a plurality of authorized codes stored in a memory accessible to the PLC server;

generating a signal by the PLC server to the subcomponent to activate the subcomponent upon a determination that the identification code matches one of the plurality of authorized codes.

17. The method for allowing access and/or control of a subcomponent of an automation system at the I/O level of the automation system of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

providing a network connecting the I/O device and the PLC server for providing the identification code to the PLC server.

18. The method for allowing access and/or control of a subcomponent of an automation system at the I/O level of the automation system of claim 16, wherein the biometric device is configured to recognize vocal output from the user.

19. The method for allowing access and/or control of a subcomponent of an automation system at the I/O level of the automation system of claim 16, wherein the biometric device is configured to scan the user'"'"'s retna.

20. The method for allowing access and/or control of a subcomponent of an automation system at the I/O level of the automation system of claim 16, wherein the biometric device is configured to recognize facial patterns of the user.

21. The method for allowing access and/or control of a subcomponent of an automation system at the I/O level of the automation system of claim 16, wherein the biometric device is configured to scan a fingerprint of the user.

23. The method for allowing access and/or control of a subcomponent of an automation system at the I/O level of the automation system of claim 16, wherein the biometric device is configured to map an iris of the user.

24. The method for allowing access and/or control of a subcomponent of an automation system at the I/O level of the automation system of claim 16, wherein the biometric device is configured to analyze DNA from a user.

25. The method for allowing access and/or control of a subcomponent of an automation system at the I/O level of the automation system of claim 16, wherein the subcomponent is a stamping machine.

26. The method for allowing access and/or control of a subcomponent of an automation system at the I/O level of the automation system of claim 16, wherein the subcomponent is a maintenance area of a machine.

27. The method for allowing access and/or control of a subcomponent of an automation system at the I/O level of the automation system of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

allowing the user to one of start and stop a PLC process upon a determination that the identification code matches one of the plurality of authorized codes.

28. The method for allowing access and/or control of a subcomponent of an automation system at the I/O level of the automation system of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

allowing the user to one of change and overwrite data in the automation system upon a determination that the identification code matches one of the plurality of authorized codes.

29. The method for allowing access and/or control of a subcomponent of an automation system at the I/O level of the automation system of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

allowing the user access to a PLC process log in the automation system upon a determination that the identification code matches one of the plurality of authorized codes.