METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY INTEGRATING SENSOR DEVICES IN A CENTRAL CONTROLLER

• US 20110245936A1
• Filed: 12/18/2009
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KHS GmbH (Salzgitter AG)
• Original Assignee: KHS GmbH (Salzgitter AG)
• Inventors: Zhang, Xiang, Weber, Matthias, Nendza, Thomas, Ewering, Dag, Hermann, Marius Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,731,692 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/86
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41845 characterised by system universality, reconfigurability, modularity
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25098 Detect connected sensors, set parameters, gain automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25099 Detect configuration I-O and select needed program
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25296 Identification module, type connected I-O, device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for automatically modularly integrating sensor devices (16) in a central controller (11) of a network having at least one first server comprising at least one first communication module (12) and the central controller (11) for at least one part of the network. The method comprises at least the following steps: a.) determining the sensor devices (16) actually associated with the at least one first server by the at least one first communication module (12); b.) comparing the determined actual sensor devices (16a, 16b) to a quantity of detectable sensor devices defined in a detecting order and determining matching sensor devices (16a); c.) transmitting data associated with the matching sensor devices from the first communication module (12) to the central controller (11); d.) automatically integrating predefined control modules in the central controller (11) based on the transmitted data, wherein the predefined control modules (16a) are each associated with the data of the matching sensor devices. The invention further relates to a device for performing the method, and to a computer program having program code means for performing all the steps of the method.

Claims

1. In a network having at least one first server, said at least one first server having at least one first communication module and a central controller for at least part of said network, a method for automatic modular integration of sensor devices in said central controller, said method comprising:

a.) determining the sensor devices actually associated with the at least one first server by the at least one first communication module,

b.) comparing the determined actual sensor devices with a plurality of detectable sensor devices defined in a detecting order and determining matching sensor devices,

c.) sending data assigned to the matching sensor devices from the first communication module to the central controller,

d.) automatically integrating predefined control modules in the central controller on the basis of the sent data,

wherein the predefined control modules are each assigned to the data of the matching sensor devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising triggering the integrated sensor devices by

e.) automatically integrating at least one defined detecting module in the server,

wherein, for the purpose of data interchange, the integrated defined detecting module is connected by communication technology with the first communication module and with at least one of the sensor devices assigned to the server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network further includes a plurality of second servers, with each of the second servers from the plurality of second servers being assigned a second communication module that is connected by communication technology with the first communication module, wherein steps a.) and b.) are executed by and in relation to at least one second server of the plurality of second servers in place of the at least one first server, said method further comprising:

a′

.) sending a defined detecting order from the first communication module to the second communication module of the at least one second server, a number of detectable sensor devices being defined in the defined detecting order,

c′

.) sending data assigned to the matching sensor devices from the second communication module of the at least one second server to the first communication module,

wherein step a′

.) is executed before step a.), and

wherein step c′

.) is executed before step c.).

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising triggering the integrated sensor devices by

f.) sending at least one defined detecting module by the first communication module to the second communication module of the at least one second server and

g.) automatically integrating the at least one defined detecting module in the at least one second server,

wherein the integrated defined detecting module is connected for data interchange by communication technology with the second communication module and with at least one of the sensor devices assigned to the at least one second server.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising forwarding, by the detecting module, of data interchanged between the at least one sensor device and the communication module.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising processing of the data by the detecting module.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein automatically integrating the detecting module comprises automatically integrating an automatically adaptable detecting module.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the detecting module automatically adapts on the basis of the assigned data.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting an automatically adaptable installation controller with the central controller by communication technology.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the installation controller adapts on the basis of the assigned data.

11. An apparatus comprising:

at least one network,

at least one first server,

a first communication module and central controller for at least one part of the network,

wherein the first communication module and the central controller are configured to perform the method of claim 1.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the network further comprises a plurality of second servers, with each of the second servers from the plurality of second servers being assigned a second communication module that is connected by communication technology with the first communication module.

13. A manufacture comprising a tangible computer-readable medium having encoded thereon software for execution of a method applicable to a network having at least one first server, said at least one first server having at least one first communication module and a central controller for at least part of said network, said encoded software including instructions for executing a method for automatic modular integration of sensor devices in said central controller, said instructions including instructions for causing a processing system to execute the method recited in claim 1.

14. (Canceled)