Method and Automation System for Replacing an Existing Control Device in an Automation System with a New Control Device and Automation System Designed for this Purpose

• US 20130218306A1
• Filed: 03/10/2011
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Polzer, Kurt
• Granted Patent: US 9,383,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/79
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/058 Safety, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41845 characterised by system universality, reconfigurability, modularity
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25471 Replace existing control system with new different system in real time
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31251 Redundant access, wireless and hardware access to fielddevices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

In an automation system, a control device processes measured values received from automation components and generates control values for the, or for individual, automation components and/or other automation components. In order to shorten down times when replacing an existing control device, the new control device is tested during operation of the existing control device, for which purpose the measured values and control values are wirelessly transmitted to the new control device and the control values generated by the device are compared to the control values generated by the existing control device. After the test, the control values generated by the new control device are output to the automation components instead of the control values generated by the existing control device.

Claims

1-6. -6. (canceled)

7. A method for replacing an existing control device in an automation system by a new control device, the existing and new control devices being configured to receive measured values from automation components of the automation system, process the received measured values and generate control values for at least one of at least one automation component of the automation components and other automation components of the automation system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, by the existing control device, measured values and outputting control values from the existing control device to the automation components to test the new control device during operation of the existing control device;

transmitting the measured values and control values wirelessly to the new control device;

comparing control values generated by the new control device with the control values generated by the existing control device; and

outputting the control values generated by the new control device to the automation components after the test instead of the control values generated by the existing control device.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least some of the automation components are connected to the existing control device over wired communication paths, the method further comprising the step of:

disconnecting the wired communication paths from the existing control device after the test and connecting the wired communication paths to the new control device.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the automation components include radio adapters for wireless transmission of at least one of the measured values and control values to the new control device.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the automation components include radio adapters for wireless transmission of at least one of the measured values and control values to the new control device.

11. An automation system with a control device configured to receive measured values from automation components of the automation system and to generate control values for at least one of at least one automation component of the automation components and other automation components of the automation system;

wherein the automation components comprise a transmission device for wirelessly transmitting the measured values and received control values to the control device; and

wherein the control device comprises a comparison device for comparing the control values generated by the control device with the received control values from the automation components.

12. The automation system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the transmission device consist of radio adapters detachably mounted on the automation components.

13. The automation system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the control device comprises a switching device for switching between wireless and wired reception of the measured values.

14. The automation system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the control device comprises a switching device for switching between wireless and wired reception of the measured values.