METHOD AND OPERATOR CONTROL UNIT FOR CONFIGURING AND MONITORING A DEVICE WITH FUNCTIONAL SAFETY

• US 20090303032A1
• Filed: 10/23/2006
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Betz, Jochen, Bork, Harald
• Granted Patent: US 7,990,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/20 using multiple transmitters or receivers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for configuring a safety sensor such as a application-specific basis, wherein an operator control unit equipped with input means is provided, which operator control unit is connected to the safety sensor under automatic interface and sensor identification, and the parameters on an application-specific basis are set using the input means, wherein a feedback message of the set parameters is simultaneously and automatically displayed in a visualized manner on a display unit (10) of the operator control unit. The present invention further relates to a corresponding operator control unit and to a method for monitoring a safety sensor with parameters which can be set on an application-specific basis.

Claims

1. :

Method for configuring a safety sensor (1, 100) with parameters which can be set on an application-specific basis, wherein an operator control unit equipped with input means is provided, which is connected to the safety sensor (1, 100) under automatic interface and sensor recognition, and the application-specific parameters are set by means of the input means, wherein an acknowledgement of the set parameters is simultaneously and automatically visually displayed on a display unit (10) of the operator control unit.

2. :

Method according to claim 1, wherein a safety light barrier or a safety light grating is used as safety sensor (1, 100), with a plurality of light beams with a light intensity of a transmitter (5, 50) which can be set on an application-specific basis, with an amplification at a receiver (6, 60) which can be set on an application-specific basis, and/or with a switching threshold at the receiver (6, 60) which can be set on an application-specific basis.

3. :

Method according to claim 2, wherein the light intensity for each light beam of the safety grating is dynamically visually displayed in real time by means of a bar chart, wherein a bar of the bar chart images precisely the light intensity of a light beam.

4. :

Method according to claim 2, wherein one or more light beams of the safety grating are blanked out in a targeted manner by means of the input means of the operator control unit.

5. :

Method according to one of the preceding claims claim 4, wherein the set parameters are modified and the modification is instantaneously visually displayed on the display unit (10) of the operator control unit.

6. :

Method according to claim 5, wherein the set parameters are modified only after authorization.

7. :

Method according to claim 6, wherein the authorization is defined and realized by means of a predetermined password.

29. :

Method according to claim 3, wherein one or more light beams of the safety grating are blanked out in a targeted manner by means of the input means of the operator control unit.

30. :

Method according to claim 29, wherein the set parameters are modified and the modification is instantaneously visually displayed on the display unit (10) of the operator control unit.

31. :

Method according to claim 30, wherein the set parameters are modified only after authorization.

8-11. -11. (canceled)

12. :

Method for monitoring a safety sensor (1, 100) with parameters which can be set on an application-specific basis, wherein an operator control unit equipped with input means is provided, which is connected to the safety sensor under automatic interface and sensor recognition, and wherein an acknowledgement of the set parameters and light intensities at a receiver is simultaneously and automatically visually displayed on a display unit of the operator control unit.

13. :

Operator control unit for configuring at least one safety sensor (1, 100) with parameters which can be set on an application-specific basis, wherein the operator control unit includes connection means for connecting the operator control unit to the at least one safety sensor (1, 100), detector means for the automatic interface and sensor recognition when the operator control unit is connected to the safety sensor, input means for setting and altering the application-specific parameters, and a display unit (10), wherein an acknowledgement of the set and/or altered parameters can be simultaneously and automatically visually displayed on the display unit (10) of the operator control unit.

14. :

Operator control unit according to claim 13, wherein the operator control unit can be used for configuring a safety light barrier or a safety light grating with a plurality of light beams with a light intensity which can be set on an application-specific basis.

15. :

Operator control unit according to claim 14, wherein the light intensity for each light beam of the safety grating can be dynamically visually displayed in real time on the display unit (10) by means of a bar chart, wherein a bar of the bar chart images precisely the light intensity of a light beam.

16. :

Operator control unit according to claim 14, wherein one or more light beams of the safety grating can be blanked out in a targeted manner by means of the input means of the operator control unit.

17. :

Operator control unit according to claim 16, wherein the set parameters can be modified by means of the input means and the modification can be instantaneously visually displayed on the display unit (10) of the operator control unit.

18. :

Operator control unit according to claim 17, wherein a modification of the set parameters via the input means can take place only after authorization.

19. :

Operator control unit according to claim 18, wherein the authorization is defined and realized by means of a predetermined password.

32. :

Operator control unit according to claim 15, wherein one or more light beams of the safety grating can be blanked out in a targeted manner by means of the input means of the operator control unit.

33. :

Operator control unit according to claim 32, wherein the set parameters can be modified by means of the input means and the modification can be instantaneously visually displayed on the display unit (10) of the operator control unit.

20-28. -28. (canceled)