Multiple connection networked man-machine interfaces for computer numerical controls

• US 6,101,425 A
• Filed: 11/26/1997
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allen-Bradley Company (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Allen-Bradley Company LLC (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Peshek, Thomas J., Govindaraj, Subbian, Sevcik, George J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel, Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US08/979,985
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 318/561, 318/568.1, 700/181
• US Class Current: 700/181
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31156 Network structure, internet
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31205 Remote transmission of measured values from site, local to host
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31467 Display of operating conditions of machines, workcells, selected programs
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34262 DDE direct data exchange, DLL dynamic library linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/543 User-generated data transfer, e.g. clipboards, dynamic data exchange [DDE], object linking and embedding [OLE]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A system combines multiple man-machine interfaces with multiple computer numerical controls over a network. Typically, each man-machine interface comprises a personal computer with a Windows-based operating system utilizing a standard process-to-process communication protocol, such as Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE). This type of system allows a wide variety of M-to-N topologies in CNC environments. Further, the use of standard personal computer operating systems and common process-to-process communication protocols permits the networking of other types of devices and the use of other third party applications.

Claims

1. A system for networking a plurality of man-machine interfaces with a plurality of computer numerical controls, comprising:

a network;

a plurality of computer, numerical controls linked to the network each computer numerical control having the capability of being linked to at least one machine, wherein each computer numerical control is able to control the motions of the machine to which it is linked; and

a plurality of man-machine interfaces linked to the network, each man-machine interface comprising a personal computer having a Windows-based operating system, wherein each man-machine interface is configured to communicate with one or more of the computer numerical controls via the network.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising additional networked devices linked to the network, wherein one or more of the man-machine interfaces is able to communicate with the additional networked devices.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the network comprises a local area network.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the network comprises an Ethernet network.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein each computer numerical control may be coupled to one or more machine tools.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein each computer numerical control is configured to receive communications from at least three man-machine interfaces.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein each computer numerical control is configured to receive communications from at least four man-machine interfaces.

8. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein only one of the man-machine interfaces serves as a controlling man-machine interface at any given time, further wherein the controlling man-machine interface controls communications sent to a designated computer numerical control until that control is relinquished.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the man-machine interface comprises an application program interface configured for use with the Windows-based operating system.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the application program interface comprises Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE).

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein each man-machine interface comprises a data server configured to convert communications in DDE format to a format recognizable and usable by one or more of the plurality of computer numerical controls.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of non-networked front panels, each non-networked front panel being dedicated to one computer numerical control of the plurality of computer numerical controls.

13. A system for networking man-machine interfaces and computer numerical controls, comprising:

a plurality of man-machine interfaces, each utilizing a process-to-process communication protocol;

at least one computer numerical control including a processor and a CNC executive capable of controlling machine motion; and

an open network to which multiple types of devices may be linked, the plurality of man-machine interfaces and the at least one computer numerical control being linked to the network, wherein the plurality of man machine interfaces are configured to selectively communicate with the at least one computer numerical control via the network.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein each man-machine interface comprises a Windows-based operating system for utilizing a Windows-based application.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the man-machine interface is configured to convert communications from each Windows-based application into a protocol recognizable and usable by the at least one computer numerical control.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the man-machine interface is configured to convert communications from the at least one computer numerical control into a protocol recognizable and usable by each Windows-based application.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the at least one computer numerical control comprises a plurality of computer numerical controls.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the plurality of computer numerical controls are configured to be coupled to a plurality of machines, each machine having movable components for conducting an operation on a workpiece, wherein the motion of the movable components of each machine may be controlled by one of the plurality of computer numerical controls.

19. A method for implementing a computer network for use in a computer numerical control environment, comprising:

linking at least one computer numerical control to a network capable of carrying packets of data;

linking at least one personal computer, utilizing a Windows-based application, to the network;

exchanging data related to machine control between the at least one computer numerical control and the at least one personal computer via the network; and

converting the data into a format recognizable and usable by the computer numerical control and the Windows-based application depending on which of the computer numerical control or the Windows-based application is receiving the data.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the step of linking at least one numerical control includes linking a plurality of computer numerical controls to the network.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the step of linking at least one personal computer includes linking a plurality of personal computers to the network.

22. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the step of converting includes converting data from a DDE format to a computer numerical control compatible format and converting data from the computer numerical control compatible format to the DDE format.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising linking additional devices to the network and exchanging data between the at least one personal computer and the additional devices.

24. The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising utilizing third party applications on the personal computer.