Method for identifying the operating state of a control element, and a control apparatus

• US 20080046102A1
• Filed: 08/06/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Huettemeier, Thomas, Kalhoff, Johannes
• Granted Patent: US 8,688,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/78
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4183 characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31162 Wireless lan
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31282 Data acquisition, BDE MDE
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31286 Detect position of articles and equipment by receivers, identify objects by code
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/022 Emergency operating parts, e.g. for stop-switch in dangerous conditions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

In order to flexibly identify the current operating state of control elements which are used to control a process installation, the invention provides a method for identifying the operating state of at least one control element, which is designed for an active and a passive operating state, for a control apparatus, wherein, in the active operating state, the control element controls a process function of an area of a process installation, comprising the following steps:

• • the control apparatus is connected to the process installation,
  • the control element is functionally associated with the process function, and
  • the operating state of the control element is identified as active on the basis of successful functional association of the control element with the process function.

The invention also provides a control apparatus for controlling at least one process function for an area of a process installation, as well as a process installation which is suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention.

Claims

1. A method for identifying the operating state of a control element, which is designed for an active and a passive operating state, for a control apparatus, wherein, in the active operating state, the control element controls a process function of an error of a process installation, the method comprising:

connecting the control apparatus to the process installation,

associating the control element functionally with the process function, and

identifying the operating state of the control element as active on the basis of successful functional association of the control element with the process function.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control apparatus is connected to the process installation by means of a cable connection.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control apparatus is connected to the process installation by means of a wire-free connection.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

selecting the process installation, wherein the control apparatus is automatically connected to the selected process installation.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

selecting the process installation by automatic position identification by means of non-contacting position identification systems, wherein the control apparatus is manually or automatically connected to the selected process installation.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the process installation is selected by:

providing an identification unit,

connecting the identification unit to the control apparatus, and

transmitting identification information from the identification unit to the control apparatus, wherein the identification information uniquely identifies the process installation.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

selecting a process function, wherein the control element is automatically functionally associated with the selected process function.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the process function is selected by:

providing an identification unit,

connecting the identification unit to the control apparatus, and

transmitting identification information from the identification unit to the control apparatus, wherein the identification information uniquely identifies the process function.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the identification unit is connected to the process installation, and obtains the identification information from the process installation.

10. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the identification unit has a memory with identification information stored in it, wherein the identification information is logically linked to at least one process installation, to at least one area of a process installation, and/or to at least one process function.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the operating state in the control element as active includes identifying the process function controlled by the control element.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the process function includes the emergency disconnection of at least one area of the process installation, and the step of identifying the operating state of the control element as active includes colored identification of the control element as an emergency-off control element in accordance with DIN EN Standard 418.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the operating state of the control element as active includes identification of the area of the process installation controlled by the control element.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, including corresponding identification of the control apparatus and of the area of the process installation controlled by the control element.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising identifying the operating state of the control element as passive if the functional association between the control element and the process function is lost.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of functional association of the control element with the process function includes data being interchanged between the control apparatus and the process installation.

17. A control apparatus for controlling a process function of an area of a process installation, comprising:

at least one control element which is designed for an active and a passive operating state, wherein, in the active operating state, the control element controls the process function, and

a device for automatically identifying the operating state of the control element.

18. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the control apparatus is in the form of an interchangeable process module for the process installation.

19. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 17, in the form of a portable control unit which can be connected to the process installation in order to control the process function.

20. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the control apparatus can be connected to the process installation without the use of wires.

21. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 17, which can be connected to an identification unit in order to receive identification information.

22. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the identification information uniquely identifies a process installation, and the control apparatus is designed for automatic connection to the identified process installation.

23. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the identification information uniquely identifies a process function, and the control apparatus is designed for automatic functional association of the control element with the identified process function.

24. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the device for automatic identification is designed to identify the control element as an emergency-off control element in accordance with DIN EN Standard 418.

25. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the control element has a first area which can be illuminated, within which an operating element is arranged which has a second area which can be illuminated, and the device for automatic identification is designed to illuminate the first and the second area which can be illuminated, in each case in a predetermined color.

26. A process installation, comprising:

at least one process area which can be identified, and

at least one control apparatus as claimed in claim 17 for controlling at least one process function of the process area which can be identified.