Wireless location based automated components
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use in an automated environment including at least a first automated assembly including components that facilitate an automated process, at least one portable wireless information device (WID) and a controller for controlling the assembly, the apparatus comprising:
- a first component that is one of the plurality of components and that is linked to the controller to facilitate at least a sub-process associated with the automated process, the first component including at least a first wireless receiver for receiving wireless signals from the at least one WID; and
a processor receiving signals from the first receiver and running location determining software for determining the location of the at least one WID as a function of the signals received therefrom.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for use in an automated environment including at least a first automated assembly including components that facilitate an automated process, at least one portable wireless information device (WID) and a controller for controlling the assembly, the apparatus comprising a first component that is one of the plurality of components and that is linked to the controller to facilitate at least a sub-process associated with the automated process, the first component including at least a first wireless receiver for receiving wireless signals from the at least one WID and a processor receiving signals from the first receiver and running location determining software for determining the location of the at least one WID as a function of the signals received therefrom.
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Citations
70 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use in an automated environment including at least a first automated assembly including components that facilitate an automated process, at least one portable wireless information device (WID) and a controller for controlling the assembly, the apparatus comprising:
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a first component that is one of the plurality of components and that is linked to the controller to facilitate at least a sub-process associated with the automated process, the first component including at least a first wireless receiver for receiving wireless signals from the at least one WID; and
a processor receiving signals from the first receiver and running location determining software for determining the location of the at least one WID as a function of the signals received therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system comprising:
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a controller for controlling an automated assembly;
at least one portable wireless information device (WID) that transmits wireless signals;
at least a first automated assembly including a plurality of components that together facilitate an automated process, the plurality of components including a first component linked to the controller to facilitate at least a sub-process associated with the automated process, the first component including a wireless receiver for receiving signals from the at least one WID; and
a processor linked to the first component for obtaining signals from the receiver and running location determining software for determining the location of the at least one WID as a function of the received signals. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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31. A location determining assembly for use in an automated environment including at least a first automated assembly including components that facilitate an automated process, at least one portable wireless information device (WID) and a controller for controlling the assembly, the assembly comprising:
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a first human-machine interface (HMI) associated with the first automated assembly and linked to the controller via a communication network for at least one of providing information thereto and receiving information therefrom, the HMI including a first wireless receiver for receiving wireless signals from the at least one WID; and
a processor receiving signals from the receiver and running location determining software for determining the location of the at least one WID as a function of the signals received therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A system for use in an automated environment including at least first and second automated assemblies for performing first and second automated processes, at least one portable wireless information device (WID) and a controller for controlling the assemblies, the system comprising:
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a wireless data communication system linked to the controller and for transmitting data to and receiving data from the at least one WID;
a first human-machine interface (HMI) linked to the controller to facilitate at least a sub-process associated with the first automated process and including a first receiver for receiving signals from the at least one WID, the first HMI positioned proximate the first automated assembly for at least one of providing information related thereto and receiving control instructions there for;
a second human-machine interface (HMI) linked to the controller to facilitate at least a sub-process associated with the second automated process and including a second receiver for receiving signals from the at least one WID, the second HMI positioned proximate the second automated assembly for at least one of providing information related thereto and receiving control instructions there for; and
a processor receiving signals from the first and second receivers and running location determining software for determining the location of the at least one WID as a function of the signals received therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A method for use in an automated environment including at least a first automated assembly, at least one portable wireless information device (WID) and a controller for controlling the assembly, the assembly including a plurality of components provided to facilitate an automated assembly process, the plurality of components including a first component linked to the controller to facilitate an assembly sub-process, the method comprising the steps of:
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equipping the first component with a wireless receiver for receiving wireless signals from the at least one WID;
receiving WID signals via the receiver; and
using the received signals to determine WID location. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A system for use in an automated environment including a plurality of automated assemblies, each assembly including components that facilitate automated processes and at least one portable wireless information device (WID), the system comprising:
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at least a first processor;
a set of communication access points configured to receive signals from, and transmit signals to, the WID;
a set of wireless receivers, each wireless receiver integrated with a different component from a first sub-set of the assembly components and configured to receive signals from the WID; and
at least a first communication network linking at least a sub-set of the first sub-set component to the at least one processor and also linking each access point to the at least one processor, the at least one processor obtaining WID signals from each of the receivers and also at least one of transmitting signals to, and receiving signals from, each of the first sub-set assembly components, via the at least a first network. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A method for use in an automated environment including a plurality of automated assemblies, at least one portable wireless information device (WID) and at least one controller for controlling the assemblies, each assembly including a plurality of components provided to facilitate an automated assembly process, at least a first sub-set of the assembly components linked to the controller to at least one of provide signals thereto or receive signals therefrom, the method comprising the steps of:
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equipping at least a sub-set of the first sub-set of assembly components with wireless receivers for receiving wireless signals from the at least one WID;
receiving WID signals via the receivers; and
using at least a sub-set of the received signals to determine WID location. - View Dependent Claims (65)
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66. A system for use in an automated environment including at least a first automated assembly including components that facilitate an automated process, the system comprising:
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at least a first wireless information device (WID) including a transceiver and a first processor;
a first component that is one of the plurality of components that is linked to the controller to facilitate at least a sub-process associated with the automated process, the first component including at least a first wireless transmitter for transmitting wireless signals to the at least one WID;
at least one receiver; and
at least a second processor linked to the first component and to the at least one receiver, the at least a second processor running a program to determine WID position as a function of signal strength data generated by the transmitter and the WID;
wherein, the at least a first transmitter transmits signals of known signal strength to the WID, the WID determines signal strengths and transmits signal strength data to the at least one receiver and the at least a second processor obtains the signal strength data from the at least one receiver and uses the obtained data to determine WID position. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70)
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Specification