Apparatus and method for planning bus systems

• US 6,975,952 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2000
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Krumsiek, Dietmar, Dietermann, Lydia, Aron, Ralf, Lessmann, Gunnar
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Washburn, Douglas N.
• Application Number:
  US09/566,587
• Time in Patent Office: 2,045 Days
• Field of Search: 395/701, 395/800, 438/14, 702/122, 702/182, 702/221, 702/83, 702/57, 702/117, 702/119, 702/123, 702/118, 703/2, 703/13, 703/14, 703/25, 703/21, 703/121, 703/1, 709/221, 710/105, 706/919, 700 95- 98, 700/1, 700/9, 700/86, 700/117, 700/182
• US Class Current: 702/117
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31135 Fieldbus
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31341 Design of factory information system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31342 Design of process control system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31343 Design of factory, manufacturing system control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

According to the invention, a method and an apparatus are provided for determining bus system parameters and/or configurations, in particular of field bus systems, in the form of digital information, lists, plans and graphical representations, which apparatus comprises a device for detecting, storing and selecting both machine-related and bus-related data and, furthermore, has at least one output device for outputting and/or displaying and/or transmitting data.

Claims

1. An apparatus for planning of parameters or bus system configurations, comprising:

a device for planning bus system parameters or configurations in a form of at least one of digital information, plans and graphical representations, including;

a device that detects, stores and selects input data comprising machine-related data and bus-related data, a device that automatically provides a bus system architecture on the basis of the input data, and

at least one output device that at least one of outputs, displays, and transmits data.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a device that carries out selected manual or automated logical operations on the input data.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a device that addresses the bus data.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the machine-related data comprises, in particular, design data and, in particular, data relating to sensors or actuators.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a device that carries out interactive logic operations on data fields or data.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is used for configuration on fieldbus systems.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a device that reads data from a machine construction drawing.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein an ECAD processing tool is linkable to the apparatus.

9. A method for planning bus system parameters or configurations in a form of at least one of digital information, lists, plans and graphical representations, comprising the following steps:

a) detecting, storing and selecting input data comprising machine-related data and bus-related data,

b) automatically designing a bus system architecture on the basis of the input data, and

c) at least one of outputting, displaying, and transmitting data by an output device.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the step of detecting, storing and selecting machine-related data comprises, in particular, the step of detecting design data.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the step of detecting, storing and selecting design data comprises, in particular, the step of detecting data from machine or machine part sensors or actuators that are to be driven.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the step of detecting, storing and selecting comprises the step of reading a machine construction drawing.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the method comprises the step of matched selection and assignment of bus modules to the design data.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step of selection and assignment of bus modules comprises the step of at least partially carrying out logic operations on the machine-related data and the bus-related data.

15. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the method comprises the step of at least partially carrying out matched logic operations between the bus modules.

16. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the method comprises the step of addressing data.

17. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the method comprises the step of testing the bus system architecture.

18. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the method comprises the step of interchanging data with an ECAD data processing tool.

19. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the bus system comprises fieldbus systems.