Method and system for transmitting data among various memory units of position measuring devices

• US 6,738,802 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2000
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
• Original Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
• Inventors: Mittmann, Rudi, Strasser, Erich
• Primary Examiner(s): Saras, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anyaso, Uchendu O.
• Application Number:
  US09/620,158
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/27, 345/863, 345/864, 345/331, 345/204, 709/212, 709/213, 711/100, 711/162, 318/601, 399/77, 399/12, 382/318, 714/3, 714/26, 700/82, 340/531
• US Class Current: 709/213
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25081 Clone, copy configuration from first device, in teach mode, to second identical device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25109 Eeprom loaded from external device with configuration data

Abstract

A method for transmitting data among various memory units of one or more position measuring devices, specific data pertaining to the position measuring device being stored in the memory units. Data are transmitted via a data transmission line, from a first memory unit into a second memory unit, so that once the data are transmitted, the identical, specific data are at least partially contained in both memory units.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting data among a first and second memory unit of at least one position measuring device, said data being stored in a first one of the memory units comprising:

connecting the memory units with a data transmission line;

transmitting the data from the first memory unit into the second memory unit, such that after the data are transmitted, the data of the first memory unit are at least partially contained in the second memory unit; and

replacing the first memory unit with the second memory unit;

wherein the data is specific for operation of a particular position measuring device, the position measuring device includes a scale and a scanning unit movably arranged in measuring relation thereto to produce position-dependent scanning signals by scanning the scale, the scanning signals transmitted to a downstream evaluation unit.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

checking if access to the data in the first memory is possible; and

if access is possible, transmitting the data automatically as soon as it is checked.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising indicating via a display whether the data transmission is succesful.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the display comprises a visual display having at least one LED, and is integrated in the data transmission line.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising indicating a correct data transmission by steadily lighting the at least one LED, and indicating an incorrect data transmission by flashing the at least one LED.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising displaying a plurality of flashing modes to indicate an incorrect transmission, a different error being assigned to each of the flashing modes.

7. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising displaying a type of transmission error during data transmission with the display means.

8. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the first and second memory units are arranged in a first and second scanning unit of a position measuring device.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising supplying with power from the first scanning unit during data transmission only the first memory unit and the at least one switching element.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising:

a) interconnecting the first and second scanning unit via a data transmission line;

b) connecting the second scanning unit to a supply line;

c) checking whether it is possible from the second scanning unit to access the first memory unit with the data stored therein;

d) if access to the first memory unit is possible, at least partially transmitting the data from the first memory unit into the second memory unit; and

e) activating display means to indicate whether the data transmission has proceeded correctly.

11. A system for transmitting data among a first and second memory unit of at least one position measuring device, the data being stored in the memory units, comprising:

a data transmission line adapted to connect the memory units to transmit data from a first memory unit into a second memory unit;

means for controlling transmission of the data such that once the data are transmitted, the data of the first memory unit are at least partially stored in the second memory unit; and

means for replacing the first memory unit with the second memory unit;

wherein the data is specific for operation of a particular position measuring device, the position measuring device includes a scale and a scanning unit movably arranged in measuring relation thereto to produce position-dependent scanning signals by scanning the scale, said scanning signals transmitted to a downstream evaluation unit.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, further comprising at least one display means adapted to indicate data transmission status.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one display means comprise at least one LED integrated in the data transmission line.

14. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the memory units are disposed in a first and second scanning unit respectively.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, further comprising a processor unit disposed in the first and second scanning units.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the processor unit is linked to display means, the processor unit activating the display means in response to one of a correct and incorrect data transmission.

17. The system as recited in claim 14, further comprising detachable, electrical connections formed on the first and second scanning units for the data transmission line.

18. The system as recited in claim 14, further comprising a plurality of switching elements disposed in the first and second scanning units, said plurality of switching elements being operable so that at least the first and second memory unit of the first and second scanning units are supplied with current during data transmission.

19. A method for transmitting data among memory units of at least one position measuring device, said data being stored in a first one of the memory units comprising:

connecting the memory units with a data transmission line;

transmitting the data from the first memory unit into a second memory unit, such that after the data are transmitted, the data of the first memory unit are at least partially contained in the second memory unit; and

indicating via a display whether the data transmission is successful;

wherein the position measuring device includes a scale and a scanning unit movably arranged in measuring relation thereto to produce position-dependent scanning signals by scanning the scale, said scanning signals transmitted to a downstream evaluation unit.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the display includes a visual display having at least one LED and is integrated in the data transmission line.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:

indicating a correct data transmission by steadily lighting the at least one LED; and

indicating an incorrect data transmission by flashing the at least one LED.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

displaying a plurality of flashing modes to indicate an incorrect transmission, a different error assigned to each of the flashing modes.

23. The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

displaying a type of transmission error during data transmission with the display.

24. A system for transmitting data among a first and second memory unit of at least one position measuring device, the data being stored in the memory units, comprising:

a data transmission line adapted to connect the memory units to transmit data from a first memory unit into a second memory unit;

an arrangement configured to control transmission of the data such that once the data are transmitted, the data of the first memory unit are at least partially stored in the second memory unit; and

an arrangement configured to replace the first memory unit with the second memory unit;

wherein the data is specific for operation of a particular position measuring device, the position measuring device includes a scale and a scanning unit movably arranged in measuring relation thereto to produce position-dependent scanning signals by scanning the scale, said scanning signals transmitted to a downstream evaluation unit.

25. The system as recited in claim 24, further comprising at least one display device adapted to indicate data transmission status.

26. The system as recited in claim 25, wherein the at least one display device includes at least one LED integrated in the data transmission line.

27. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein the memory units are disposed in a first and second scanning unit respectively.

28. The system as recited in claim 27, further comprising a processor unit disposed in the first and second scanning units.

29. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein the processor unit is linked to a display device, the processor unit configured to activate the display device in response to one of a correct and incorrect data transmission.

30. The system as recited in claim 27, further comprising detachable, electrical connections formed on the first and second scanning units for the data transmission line.

31. The system as recited in claim 28, further comprising a plurality of switching elements disposed in the first and second scanning units, said plurality of switching elements operable so that at least the first and second memory unit of the first and second scanning units are supplied with current during data transmission.