SIGHT-LINE NON CONTACT COUPLED WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY

• US 20070229302A1
• Filed: 09/25/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Sichner, Gregg M., Penick, Jerry L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,018,324 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.720
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31133 Contactless connector, identify module wirelessly, short distance like less than twenty cm
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33192 Radio link, wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33198 Laser, light link, infrared
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

Control systems and methods are disclosed for controlling operation of movable systems in an automated process with a stationary system having a first control system component and at least one movable system having a second control system component, in which optical or other non-contacting signaling between the stationary and movable systems is used to ascertain whether a movable system is proximate the stationary system, and wireless communications is used to transfer control data between the systems while the non-contacting signal link is maintained.

Claims

1. A control system for controlling operation of a movable system, the control system comprising:

a wireless communications component associated with a stationary system;

a non-contacting signaling component associated with the stationary system and operative to transmit or receive a signal in a signal path proximate the stationary system; and

a control system component associated with the stationary system and operatively coupled with the non-contacting signaling component and with the wireless communications component, the control system component using the non-contacting signaling system to verify whether a movable system is proximate the stationary system and using the wireless communications component to communicate with a second control system component associated with a particular movable system while the particular movable system is proximate the stationary system.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the signal is an optical signal.

3. The control system of claim 2, wherein the non-contacting signaling component comprises an optical transmitter operative to transmit the optical signal in the signal path proximate the stationary system.

4. The control signal of claim 3, wherein the optical signal is modulated by the optical transmitter to include an identifier unique to the stationary system and wherein the control system component verifies that the particular movable system is proximate the stationary system based on wireless communications from the particular movable system that includes the identifier.

5. The control system of claim 1, wherein the non-contacting signaling component comprises a transmitter operative to transmit the signal in the signal path proximate the stationary system.

6. The control signal of claim 5, wherein the signal is modulated by the transmitter.

7. The control system of claim 1, wherein the non-contacting signaling component comprises a receiver operative to receive the signal in the signal path from a movable system proximate the stationary system.

8. The control system of claim 1, wherein the control system component is operative to assign an identifier to the particular movable system by wireless communications while the particular movable system is proximate the stationary system.

9. The control system of claim 8, wherein the particular movable system is operative to provide a previously assigned identifier to the control system component by wireless communications while the particular movable system is proximate the stationary system.

10. The control system of claim 1, wherein the particular movable system is operative to provide an identifier to the control system component by wireless communications while the particular movable system is proximate the stationary system.

11. A movable system for performing at least one controlled operation while proximate a stationary system, comprising:

a wireless communications component;

a non-contacting signaling component associated with the movable system and operative to transmit or receive a signal in a signal path proximate a particular stationary system while the movable system is proximate the particular stationary system; and

a control system component associated with the movable system and operatively coupled with the non-contacting signaling component and with the wireless communications component, the control system component using the non-contacting signaling system to verify whether the movable system is proximate the particular stationary system and using the wireless communications component to communicate with a second control system component associated with the particular stationary system while the movable system is proximate the particular stationary system.

12. The movable system of claim 11, wherein the non-contacting signaling component comprises a receiver operative to receive the signal from the signal path while the movable system is proximate the particular stationary system.

13. The movable system of claim 11, wherein the signal is an optical signal.

14. The movable system of claim 11, wherein the signal is modulated.

15. The movable system of claim 11, wherein the control system component is operative to receive an identifier from the particular stationary system by wireless communications while the movable system is proximate the particular stationary system.

16. The movable system of claim 11, wherein the control system component is operative to provide a previously assigned identifier to the particular stationary system by wireless communications while the particular movable system is proximate the stationary system.

17. In an automated system having at least one stationary system with a first control system component and at least one movable system having a second control system component, a method for controlling at least one operation of the movable system while proximate the stationary system, the method comprising:

determining whether the movable system is currently proximate the stationary system using non-contacting signaling apparatus on the stationary and movable systems;

transferring control information between the stationary and movable systems by wireless communications while the movable system is determined to be proximate the stationary system; and

discontinuing transfer of control information between the stationary and movable systems when the movable system is determined to be no longer proximate the stationary system.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein determining whether the movable system is currently proximate the stationary system comprises:

transmitting an optical signal by a first one of the stationary system and the movable system; and

determining that the movable system is currently proximate the stationary system is the optical signal is successfully received by a second one of the stationary system and the movable system.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein transferring control information between the stationary and movable systems comprises assigning an identifier to the movable system by wireless communications while the movable system is determined to be proximate the stationary system.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein transferring control information between the stationary and movable systems comprises providing a previously assigned identifier to the stationary system by wireless communications while the movable system is determined to be proximate the stationary system.