METHOD FOR OPERATING AN ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLABLE TECHNICAL DEVICE AS WELL AS A CORRESPONDING CONTROL DEVICE

• US 20110077750A1
• Filed: 04/16/2009
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KEBA Industrial Automation Germany GmbH
• Original Assignee: KEBA AG (KLH Beteiligungs GmbH)
• Inventors: Stummer, Heinz, Lasinger, Guenter
• Granted Patent: US 8,483,851 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/17
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35505 Display two windows, one with nc-data, other with general application data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36153 Two, several consoles, displays, panels, two different input, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a control device (2) for operating an electrically controllable technical device (1), in particular a machine, an installation, a device or a technical process. A control panel (4) with input means (6) for issuing control commands to the technical device (1) and for inputting data into the control device (T) by an operator (7) is provided in this case. This control panel (4) also comprises a graphics-enabled output means (8) for displaying subsets of information which is available overall for an operator (7). The important factor here is to provide at least one second screen layout, which is designed to display a second subset of information on the graphics-enabled output means (8) and is intended to be viewed from a relatively great distance, in particular from outside an immediate control range (9) of the control panel (4) or the technical device (1). Furthermore, the presence and/or absence of a person in the immediate control range (9) of the control panel (4) or the technical device (1) is detected automatically and automated changeover between a first screen layout and the second screen layout is effected on the basis of the determined state relating to the presence and/or absence of a person in the immediate control range (9) of the control panel (4) or the technical device (1).

Claims

1. Method for operating an electrically controllable technical device (1), in particular a machine, an installation, a device or a technical process,

comprising a signal and data-processing control device (2), a control panel (4) operatively connected to the control device (2) and combined structurally with the latter or positioned separately (4) with input means (6) for the delivery of control commands to the technical device (1) as well as for the input of data into the control device (2) by an operator (7),

which control panel (4) comprises a graphical output means (8) for representing portions of all of the available information for an operator (7), in particular of status information on the operational or process status of the controllable, technical device (1), comprising

providing at least one first screen layout (10), which is designed for showing a first portion of information on the graphical output means (8) and is provided for viewing from an immediate operating area (9) of the control panel (4);

providing at least one second screen layout (11), which is designed for showing a second portion of information on the graphical output means (8) and is provided for viewing from a comparatively large distance, in particular from outside an immediate operating area (9) of the operating panel (4) or the technical device (1);

automated detection of the presence and /or absence of a person in the immediate operating area (9) of the operating panel (4) or the technical device (1); and

automated switching between the first and second screen layout (10, 11) by way of the established status concerning the presence and/or absence of a person in the immediate operating area (9) of the operating panel (4) or the technical device (1).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein having established the presence of an operator (7) who is authorized to operate the technical device (1) or the control device (2) in the immediate operating area (9) of the control panel (4) it is switched to the first screen layout (10).

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein having established the absence of a person in the immediate operating area (9) of the control panel (4) it is switched to the second screen layout (11).

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein to establish the presence of an operator (7) the activation of an input means (6) of the control panel (4) is established.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein to establish the absence of an operator (7) the absence of operational actions on the input means (6) of the control panel (4) during a defined first time period is established.

6. Method according to claim 5, wherein the defined first time period can be adjusted.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein to establish the presence and/or absence of a person within the immediate operating area (9) a signal or status information of a presence sensor (12), in particular a proximity sensor, is evaluated.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein on activating an input means (6) of the control panel (4) a function check or plausibility check of the function of the presence sensor (12) is performed.

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein the automatic switching between the first and the second screen layout (10, 11)—

and vice versa—

or the automatic change between the first and the second format on the graphic output means (8) can be deactivated by a predefined operational action or parameter setting, so that the first or second screen layout (10, 11) is set permanently independently of the presence or absence of a person.

10. Method according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of information has a comparatively greater degree of detail or a comparatively greater format or information depth than the second portion of information.

11. Method according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of information is formed by a portion of the first portion of information.

12. Method according to claim 1, wherein after the expiry of a second time period, within which the absence of persons is continually determined, a screen of the graphical output means (8) is darkened or switched off automatically, and if subsequently the presence of a person is determined within the operating area (9) of the control panel (4) or within a defined surrounding area around the technical device (1) the first or second screen layout (10, 11) respectively is re-established automatically.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein during or immediately after the darkening or switching off of the screen hardware components for the output of information on the screen are also switched off or put into a power saving mode.

14. Method according to claim 1, wherein in addition to determining information about the presence of a person also information can be obtained or determined about the identity or authorization of the respective person.

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein a personal identification or authorization check of persons is performed by means of a reading device (15) for contact-free determinable information carriers (16), such as e.g. transponders, barcodes, RFID-labels or the like.

16. Method according to claim 14, wherein a personal identification or authorization check of persons is performed by means of a camera (17) or an imaging sensor (18) and software for image or object identification.

17. Control device for an electrically controllable technical device (1), in particular a machine, an installation, a device or a technical process,

comprising a programmable control device (2), and a control panel (4) operatively connected to the control device (2) which is combined structurally with the control device (2) or designed separately (4) and comprises input means (6) for the delivery of control commands to the controllable technical device (1) as well as for the input of data into the control device (2) by an operator (7),

which control panel (4) comprises a graphical output means (8) for representing portions of all of the available information, in particular of status information on the operational or process status of the controllable, technical device (1), which information is provided for inspection by an operator (7) and wherein

by the control device (2) at least one first screen layout (10) for a first screen view of a first portion of all available information can be retrieved from a memory (14) and said first screen view is provided for observing information from the immediate vicinity of the control panel, in particular from within an operating area (9) of the control panel (4) or the technical device (1), wherein

by the control device (2) in addition at least one second screen layout (11) for a second screen view of a portion of available information can be retrieved from a memory (14), whereby said second screen view is provided for viewing from greater distances, in particular from outside the immediate operating area (9) of the control panel (4) or the technical device (1),

wherein a detection device (13) operationally connected to the control device or functionally integrated into the control device (2) is designed for determining the presence and/or absence of a person in the immediate operating area (9) of the control panel (4), and

wherein as a function of a detection value or output signal of the detection device (13) it is switched automatically between the first and second screen layout (10, 11) such that

having established the presence of a person in the immediate operating area (9) of the control panel (4) information is output on the graphical output means (8) of the control panel (4) according to the first screen layout (10), and wherein

if no one is present in the immediate operating area (9) of the control panel (4) information is output on the graphical output means (8) according to the second screen layout (11).

18. Control device according to claim 17, wherein the control device (2) is operationally connected to at least one detecting device (13) for determining the presence or absence of an operator (7) authorized to operate the technical device (1) or the control device (2) or is structurally combined with at least one such detection device (13).

19. Control device according to claim 17, wherein the detection device (13) comprises at least one presence sensor (12), which is designed for detecting the presence of general persons or authorized operators (7) in the vicinity of the control panel (4).

20. Control device according to claim 19, wherein the control device (2) or the detection device (13) is designed for evaluating an output signal or a result of the presence sensor (12) and the presence sensor (12) comprises a response hysteresis with an upper and a lower switching threshold.

21. Control device according to claim 17, wherein the first screen layout (10) is used for the representation of information with largely smaller character sizes and/or graphics than the second screen layout (11).

22. Control device according to claim 19, wherein the presence sensor (12) is at least one infrared proximity sensor (19).

23. Control device according to claim 19, wherein the presence sensor (12) is at least one ultrasound proximity sensor (20).

24. Control device according to claim 19, wherein the presence sensor (12) is at least one imaging sensor (18), in particular a CCD module or a camera (17).

25. Control device according to claim 19, wherein the presence sensor (12) is at least one weight-sensitive tread mat (22).

26. Control device according to claim 19, wherein the presence sensor (12) is formed by at least one light barrier (21).

27. Control device according to claim 19, wherein the presence sensor (12) is at least one transponder reading device (15).

28. Control device according to claim 19, wherein the presence sensor (12) is at least one barcode reading device (15).

29. Control device according to claim 17, wherein the control device (2), the detection device (13) or the presence sensor (12) is designed such that the response threshold of the presence sensor (12), in particular the distance for identifying the presence of a person can be parameterized.

30. Control device according to claim 29, wherein the control device (2), the detection device (13) or the presence sensor (12) is designed such that the response threshold is adjusted automatically during the operation of an input means (6) of the operating panel (4) by way of the thereby established output signal or result of the presence sensor (12).