Non-contacting code recognition system for code carriers on production line workpieces

• US 4,588,880 A
• Filed: 09/06/1983
• Issued: 05/13/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hesser, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAFTON, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US06/529,613
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/376, 235/454, 235/492, 235/449, 235/493, 364/468, 365/64, 340/825.23, 343/6.5 SS
• US Class Current: 235/376
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/34 Sorting according to other particular properties material testing per se G01N; quality control G07C3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 41/00 Combinations or associations of metal-working machines not directed to a particular result according to classes B21, B23, or B24 B23Q37/00, B23Q39/00 take precedence; features relating to operations performed, if the different metal-working operations are of the same kind, see the subclass for the kind of operation, e.g. punching B21D, welding B23K, grinding B24B; features relating to technically specified combinations of different metal-working operations B23P23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/128 the workpiece itself serves as a record carrier, e.g. by its form, by marks or codes on it
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25359 Special power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25462 Galvanic separation, galvanic isolation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/00 Arrangements for writing information into, or reading information out from, a digital store G11C5/00 takes precedence; auxiliary circuits for stores using semiconductor devices G11C11/4063, G11C11/413
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

To permit ready change of information on information carriers applied to workpieces which travel along a production line, for example to control further operating, machining or assembly steps, non-contacting sensors, typically inductive elements generating an electromagnetic field, transfer to a pick-up coil on the information carrier binary data. The information carrier includes a non-volatile permanent memory (ROM 25, 41) containing data characterizing the particular workpiece carrier or workpiece thereon, and a re-programmable, preferably non-volatile memory (RAM 27, 42) which contains added at the various operating stations to characterize operations, dimensions and the like of the respective workpiece and/or subsequent operations to be performed. The non-contacting transformer formed by the write/read stations and the pick-up coil (33, 47, 50) may, simultaneously, function as an energy transfer element to transfer operating energy for the memory units (23, 24, 40) on the workpiece carriers (11, 12) or the workpieces themselves (14, 15).

Claims

1. Non-contacting code recognition system, to sense information data, characterizing conditions, status, parameters, orientation, designation, and the like, of workpieces (14, 15) on a transport line, and providing said information data to a stationary data processing and control stage (22), having

a code information carrier (23;

24,

     40) including storage means for storing said information data form of bit patterns, associated with said workpieces;

read-out means indicating the status of the stored bit pattern;

and at least one stationary transducer station (19,

     20) having non-contacting sensing means, located in sensing relation with respect to said read-out means and sensing the bit pattern of information data indicated thereby,

wherein, in accordance with the invention,

the information carrier (23) comprises an electronic memory unit (24,

     40) and a control logic (37);

one transducer station includes induction coil means (33, 47;

191, 192, 193,

     194) for transmitting energy and data to the memory unit (24,

     40) and command signals to said control logic;

the information carrier (23) further comprises

input means (23, 33;

46-50) located in non-contacting data transfer relation to said at least one transducer station (19,

     20) for recording information and storing said information in the memory unit (24,

     40),

an electronic memory section (25, 27;

41,

     42) to store and receive information in the form of said bit pattern;

and output means (30;

44, 45,

     50) located in non-contacting data transfer relation to said at least one transducer station to permit scanning of data supplied to the output means by the transducer station for transmission to said control stage; and

said at least one transducer station (19) transmits energy by means of an alternating magnetic field having a basic frequency and transmits said command signals by superimposing a modulation, having a frequency different from said basic frequency, on said alternating magnetic field.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transducer station (19, 20) includes means for supplying operating energy to the input means of the electronic memory unit (24, 40);

and the input means of the electronic memory unit includes means (32, 33-36;

47,

     48) for accepting and storing operating energy supplied by the transducer station.

3. System according to claim 2, wherein the means for accepting and storing operating energy supplied by the transducer station comprises

an electromagnetic non-contacting coupling element located on the information carrier, and means (32) for storing electrical energy supplied to the electromagnetic coupling element when a memory unit is positioned opposite a stationary transducer station, as said line moves, and transports the respective memory unit past the stationary transducer station.

4. System according to claim 2, wherein the data transfer between the at least one stationary transducer station (19, 20) and the memory unit (24, 40) of the information carrier (23), and energy transfer from the stationary transducer station (19, 20) to the information carrier (23) are carried out essentially simultaneously.

5. System according to claim 1, wherein the electronic memory section comprises a non-volatile, programmable semiconductor memory element (ROM) (25, 41).

6. System according to claim 1, wherein the electronic memory section comprises

a non-volatile, programmable semiconductor memory (ROM) (25, 41) and a re-programmable semiconductor memory (RAM) (27, 42).

7. System according to claim 5, wherein said programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory includes a re-programmable, non-volatile semiconductor memory.

8. System according to claim 1, wherein the output means (30) comprises a plurality of light emitting semiconductor elements (30a).

9. System according to claim 1, wherein the output means (30) comprises an optical output indicator;

and the stationary transducer station includes means for reading and responsive to the optical indication furnished by said output means.

10. System according to claim 1, wherein the input means (28) comprises a plurality of semiconductor elements responsive to a physical quantity represented by at least one of:

a magnetic field;

light emission;

pressure.

11. System according to claim 6, wherein the information carrier (23) additionally comprises a control logic (44) and an inductive non-contacting transformer (50), the electronic memory section (41, 42) being coupled (43, 44, 45) to said transformer for exchange of data with the stationary data processing and control station (22);

and said control logic (46) is connected (46a) to the electronic memory section to control respective transfer and exchange of data.

12. System according to claim 11, further including multiplex means (M1, 44) controlling transfer of information from the electronic memory section (41, 42) to the stationary transducer station (19, 20).

13. System according to claim 11, including two multiplexers (M1, 44;

M2,

     45) connected to said electronic memory and to said transformer (50);

and wherein one of the multiplexers (M1,

     44) is controlled by the control logic (46) for transfer of data from the transducer station (19,

     20) to the electronic memory section (41,

     42), and the other multiplexer (M2,

     45) controls transfer of data from the electronic memory section (41,

     42) to the stationary transducer station (19,

     20),

said multiplexers and transfer of data being controlled by the control logic (46).

14. System according to claim 11, wherein the non-contacting transformer comprises a coil (47) coupled to the control logic (46);

and command data for the control logic (46) commanding operation thereof to control the electronic memory section, the input means (M1, 44,

     50) and the output means (M2, 45,

     50) for respective writing of data in the electronic memory section and read-out of data from the electronic memory section.

15. System according to claim 14, wherein the input means comprises an input multiplexer (M1, 44);

the output means comprises an output multiplexer (M2,

     45), said multiplexers being connected to the electronic memory section (PROM, 41;

RAM,

     42) and controlled for respective writing or reading-out of information into and from the electronic memory section by said control logic.

16. System according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transducer station (19, 20) includes means for supplying operating energy to the memory unit (24, 40) including

an induction or transformer coil (33, 47) coupled to receive electromagnetic energy from a high-frequency magnetic field generated by the at least one stationary transducer stage;

and an energy supply state including rectifier means (34, 35,

     48) supplying rectified output energy to the electronic memory unit (24,

     40).

17. System according to claim 16, wherein the information carrier further comprises a storage battery (32) receiving charging energy from said rectifier means, and supplying the input means, the electronic memory section and the output means of the memory unit (24, 40) with electrical energy.

18. System according to claim 16, wherein the electro-magnetic field generated by the at least one stationary transducer stage (19, 20) comprises a modulated high frequency of a predetermined carrier or base frequency, and modulation thereon, in which the modulation includes at least one of:

command data;

information data;

and decoding means (48) are provided, separating energy supply and data contents being transferred to the information carrier by the non-contacting transformer coil (33,

     47).

19. System according to claim 18, wherein the information carrier (23) includes a control logic (37, 46) responsive to temporally sequential command signals transmitted thereto in the form of modulation of the high-frequency field applied to the non-contacting transformer, and further responsive to data transfer signals, said data transfer signals being represented by modulation of a frequency different from the base or carrier frequency of the high-frequency field.

20. System according to claim 19, wherein the information data are transferred between the memory unit (40) and the at least one stationary transducer station (20) in serial form, and the modulation frequency characterizing information data differs from the modulation frequency characterizing command data applied to the logic unit and controlling, respectively, transfer of data into and from the memory unit.