Sensor-machine interface and method for operation thereof

• US 20050203641A1
• Filed: 03/13/2003
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sick AG (Sick)
• Original Assignee: Sick AG (Sick)
• Inventors: Manner, Bernd
• Granted Patent: US 8,050,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/12
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21119 Circuit for signal adaption, voltage level shift, filter noise
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21122 Programmable signal discrimination, input can be used for several functions

Abstract

The invention relates to a sensor-machine interface for the coupling of at least one sensor to at least one machine with at least one sensor input for receiving sensor status signals, at least one machine output, for transmission of machine control signals, a programme memory and a controller for programme-controlled operation of the machine output dependent on the signals received by means of the sensor input and a method for operating such an interface.

Claims

1. A sensor/machine interface for the coupling of at least one sensor to at least one machine having at least one sensor input for the reception of sensor state signals, at least one machine output for the transmission of machine control signals, a program memory and a control unit for outputting program control signals to the machine output in dependence on the signals received via the sensor input.

2. A sensor/machine interface in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the sensor/machine interface is accommodated in a housings separate from the sensor and from the machine.

3. A sensor/machine interface in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that at least one machine input is provided for the reception of machine state signals, with it being possible to control the machine output in dependence on signals received via the sensor input and/or via the machine input.

4. A sensor/machine interface in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the machine output is designed for the transmission of machine switch-off signals and/or for the transmission of machine actuation signals, in particular machine clock signals.

5. A sensor/machine interface in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the hardware and the software satisfy customary safety standards, in particular the standards IEC61508 and/or EN 61496.

6. A sensor/machine interface in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that at least the control unit is present in duplicate in a redundant manner.

7. A sensor/machine interface in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that different programs or program modules can be stored in the program memory so that the program control of the machine output can be carried out in different manners.

8. A sensor/machine interface in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that the different programs or program modules can be loaded into the program memory by an external programming device, in particular by a computer or by a laptop, via a programming interface.

9. A sensor/machine interface in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that a plurality of program modules forming a program library can be assembled into programs.

10. A sensor/machine interface in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that the program modules, and thus also the programs assembled from them, satisfy customary safety standards, in particular the standards IEC61508 and/or EN 61496.

11. A sensor/machine interface in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a program selection switch is provided via which the different programs can be actuated.

12. A sensor/machine interface in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a sensor output is provided via which a connected sensor can be configured and/or monitored.

13. A sensor/machine interface in accordance with claim 12, characterized in that a sensor configuration memory is provided in which configuration data for a sensor connected to the sensor output can be stored.

14. A sensor/machine interface in accordance with claim 13, characterized in that different sets of configuration data can be stored in the sensor configuration memory which relate to different sensor types and/or to different programs.

15. A sensor/machine interface in accordance with claim 13, characterized in that configuration data can be loaded from the sensor into the sensor configuration memory(.

16. A sensor/machine interface in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a sensor operating mode selection switch is provided via which different operating modes of the sensory can be set.

17. A sensor/machine interface in accordance with claim 11, characterized in that a sensor operating mode selection switch is provided via which different operating modes of the sensor can be set and in that the functions of the program selection switch and of the sensor operating mode selection switch are combined in one single switch.

18. A sensor/machine interface in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of sensor inputs, sensor outputs, machine outputs and/or machine inputs are provided.

19. A method for the operation of a sensor/machine interface for the coupling of at least one sensor to at least one machine, the sensor/machine interface having at least one sensor input for the reception of sensor state signals, at least one machine output for the transmission of machine control signals, a program memory and a control unit for outputting program control signals to the machine output in dependence on the signals received via the sensor input, characterized in that the sensor state signals indicate the presence of objects in at least one predetermined monitored zone.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19, characterized in that, on the reception of sensor state signals which indicate a presence of an object in the monitored zone, a machine switch-off signal is transmitted via the machine output.

21. A method in accordance with claim 19, characterized in that, on the reception of specific sensor state signals or machine state signals or of specific combinations of sensor state signals or machine state signals, no machine switch-off signal is transmitted and, on the reception of other sensor state signals or other machine state signals or other combinations of sensor state signals or machine state signals, a machine switch-off signal is transmitted via the machine output.

22. A method in accordance with claim 19, characterized in that a machine clock signal generated in dependence on machine state signals and/or on sensor state signals is transmitted via the machine output to trigger specific machine functions.

23. A method in accordance with claim 19, characterized in that the programs stored in the program memory are assembled from pre-determined program modules via an operating interface in particular running on a computer or on a laptop.

24. A method in accordance with claim 19, characterized in that the question

whether the sensor/machine interface is working correctly, and/or whether the sensor matching the selected program is connected to the sensor input and/or output,

and/or whether the machine matching the selected program is connected to the machine input and/or output,

is automatically monitored by means of the programs stored in the program memory.

25. A method in accordance with claim 19, characterized in that a connected sensor is configured and/or monitored via a sensor output.

26. A method in accordance with claim 19, characterized in that configuration data are loaded from the sensor into the sensor configuration memory or vice versa.

27. A method in accordance with claim 19, characterized in that configuration data are loaded from a configuration device into the sensor configuration memory.

28. A method in accordance with claim 19, characterized in that, on the connection of a new sensor, in particular on the switching-on of the sensor/machine interface, configuration data matching the connected sensor type are automatically loaded from the sensor configuration memory into the sensor sand the sensor is thus configured.

29. A method in accordance with claim 19, characterized in that different operating modes of the sensor can be set via a sensor operating mode selection switch.

30. A method in accordance with claim 29, characterized in that the data to be communicated to the sensor for the setting of the sensor operating mode are matched to the respectively connected sensor type.