CONTROL SYSTEM, TERMINAL DEVICE FOR MAINTENANCE WORKER AND CONTROL DEVICE

• US 20120176217A1
• Filed: 09/20/2011
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering, Ltd. (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Inventors: TAMARIBUCHI, Hiroyuki, Kono, Yuto
• Granted Patent: US 9,187,105 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.7
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/06 for warning men working on the route

Abstract

A terminal device carried by a maintenance worker transmits, to a central control device, a request to maintain a first state in which a central control device controls a target device so that maintenance work is safely performed. The central control device transitions to a PIN lock state in which the first state is maintained, according to this request.

Claims

1. A control system comprising:

a target device having an influence on safety of maintenance work;

a control device for controlling the target device; and

a terminal device manipulated by a worker performing the maintenance work, wherein

the control device includes a control unit for controlling the target device to enter a first state in which the worker is allowed to safely perform the maintenance work, and a first communication unit for performing communication,

the terminal device includes a first input unit for receiving an input manipulation by the worker, a request generation unit for generating a request directed to the control device; and

a second communication unit for performing communication,

the request generation unit generates a lock request to request the control device to maintain the first state in response to the input manipulation when the control unit controls the target device to enter the first state,

the second communication unit transmits the lock request,

the first communication unit receives the lock request, and

the control unit transitions to a lock state in which the control unit controls the target device to maintain the first state, based on the lock request received by the first communication unit.

2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the control device includes a second input unit for receiving an input manipulation by a worker,

the first communication unit transmits a work instruction indicating content of the maintenance work to the second communication unit according to the input manipulation received by the second input unit,

after receiving the work instruction, the second communication unit transmits first information indicating that the worker has confirmed the work instruction to the control unit according to the input manipulation received by the first input unit, and

the control unit controls the target device to enter the first state based on the first information transmitted from the second communication unit.

3. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

when the control unit controls the target device to enter the first state, the first communication unit transmits second information, indicating that the target device has entered the first state, to the second communication unit,

after receiving the second information, the second communication unit transmits the lock request to the control device according to the input manipulation received by the first input unit, and

the control unit transitions to the lock state based on the lock request transmitted from the terminal device.

4. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the first input unit receives an input manipulation for lock request including

personal identification code for identifying the worker,

the second communication unit transmits the lock request including the personal identification code, and

the control unit transitions to the lock state when judging that the personal identification code included in the lock request is coincident with previously registered personal identification code.

5. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the first communication unit and the second communication unit perform wireless communication.

6. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

after receiving the lock request, the second communication unit transmits a release request to request release of the lock state according to the input manipulation received by the first input unit, and

the control unit releases the lock state based on the release request.

7. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the first input unit receives an input manipulation for a release request including

an input of a personal identification code for identifying the worker;

the second communication unit transmits the release request including the personal identification code to the control unit, and

the control unit releases the lock state when judging that the personal identification code included in the release request is coincident with previously registered personal identification code.

8. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the control device includes a second input unit for receiving an input manipulation by the worker, and

the control unit releases the lock state based on the input manipulation received by the second input unit.

9. A terminal device comprising:

a communication unit for receiving information of a control device for controlling a target device having an influence on safety of maintenance work; and

an input unit for receiving an input manipulation, wherein

the communication unit receives information indicating that the control device controls the target device to enter a first state in which the maintenance work is safely performed, and transmits a lock request to the control device to request the control device to

maintain the first state in response to the input manipulation received by the input unit, after receiving the information.

10. The terminal device according to claim 9, wherein

after receiving the lock request, the communication unit transmits a release request to the control device to request release of the lock state according to the input manipulation received by the input unit.

11. A control device comprising:

a control unit for controlling a target device having an influence on safety of maintenance work to enter a first state in which the maintenance work is safely performed; and

a communication unit for receiving a lock request to request to maintain the first state, wherein

when controlling the target device to enter the first state, the control unit transitions to a lock state in which the control unit controls the target device to maintain the first state when the communication unit receives the lock request.

12. The control device according to claim 11, wherein

the communication unit receives a release request to request release of the lock state, and

from the lock state, the control unit releases the lock state based on the release request when the communication unit receives the release request.