Robot teaching pendant

• US 5,705,906 A
• Filed: 11/20/1995
• Issued: 01/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1994
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Yoshiki, Tanabe, Yoshikiyo
• Primary Examiner(s): Masih, Karen
• Application Number:
  US08/558,753
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 318/568.13, 318/568.2, 318/568.25, 318/569, 318/568.11, 318/568.1, 318/567, 901/3, 901/49, 901/50, 364/188, 364/184, 364/474.01, 414/730, 395/99, 395/84
• US Class Current: 318/568.13
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1671 characterised by simulation, either to verify existing program or to create and verify new program, CAD/CAM oriented, graphic oriented programming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36161 Common program panel for nc, pic, switch display diagnostic or part
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39447 Dead man switch
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50048 Jogging
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50198 Emergency stop
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/026 Application dead man switch: power must be interrupted on release of operating member
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0214 Hand-held casings

Abstract

A robot teaching pendant having improved operability achieved by being provided with a display function for a personal computer. The robot teaching pendant includes an emergency stop switch and a deadman switch necessary to secure the safety of an operator, and a jog key switch necessary for a teaching operation. The robot teaching pendant further includes a liquid crystal display unit for displaying an image signal supplied from a graphical (CRT) interface of the personal computer, whereby the robot teaching pendant not only serves as a display unit for the personal computer but also realizes an easy to operate display using the graphical user interface of the personal computer when a teaching operation and the like are carried out.

Claims

1. A robot teaching pendant, used together with a robot controller and a personal computer having a communication port and a graphical interface, for displaying a state of a robot and carrying out a robot teaching operation, the robot teachinq pendant comprising:

emergency switch means, connected to said robot controller, for commanding an emergency stop of the robot;

display means, connected to the graphical interface of the personal computer, for inputting and displaying an image signal; and

jog key switch means, connected to a communication port of the personal computer, for inputting a command for a teaching operation of the robot.

2. A robot teaching pendant according to claim 1, wherein said emergency switch means comprises an emergency stop switch and a deadman switch.

3. A robot teaching pendant according to claim 1, wherein said display means comprises a liquid crystal display unit and a liquid crystal display interface circuit.

4. A robot teaching pendant according to claim 1, further comprising a touch panel through which an input operation of the robot is carried out by touching a particular position on a screen of said display means.

5. A robot teaching pendant according to claim 1, wherein said display means receives the image signal from the graphical interface of the personal computer, to enable said display means to display images which are the same as those displayed on a display screen of the personal computer.

6. A robot teaching pendant according to claim 1, wherein a main body of the personal computer is disposed at a position different from that of the robot teaching pendant.

7. A robot system according to claim 5, wherein said emergency switch unit comprises an emergency stop switch and a deadman switch.

8. A robot system according to claim 5, further comprising a touch panel to perform input operations to control the robot by touch of a screen of said display unit.

9. A robot teaching pendant according to claim 5, wherein said display unit receives the image signal from the graphical user interface of said personal computer, to enable said display unit to display images which are the same as those displayed on a display screen of said personal computer.

10. A robot teaching pendant according to claim 5, wherein a main body of said personal computer is disposed at a position different from that of the robot teaching pendant.

11. A robot system for operating a robot, comprising:

a robot controller to control the operation of the robot;

a personal computer, having a graphical user interface, a communication board, and a communication port, said communication board being connected to said robot controller to perform high speed communication between said robot controller and said personal computer; and

a robot teaching pendant, being external of said personal computer and said robot controller, to display a state of the robot and to perform a robot teaching operation, said robot teaching pendant comprising

an emergency switch unit, connected to said robot controller, to control an emergency stop of the robot,

a display unit, connected to said graphical user interface, to display first data generated by operation of said robot teaching pendant and second data received from said cathode ray tube interface, and

a jog key switch, connected to said communication port, to input a teaching operation command for the robot.