Sensor management system and computer-readable medium for sensor management program

• US 7,006,942 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2002
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keyence Corporation (Keyence)
• Original Assignee: Keyence Corporation (Keyence)
• Inventors: Fukumura, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US10/196,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20030057356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 702/122, 702/117, 702/118, 702182-185, 356/606, 356/450, 356/213, 356/218
• US Class Current: 702/122
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/87 Combinations of systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/04 Arrangements for synchronous operation

Abstract

Pluralities of sensor blocks are provided to one system. A photoelectric sensor management system is connected selectively to a communication unit of one sensor block via a cable. A photoelectric sensor management program in the photoelectric sensor management system displays a set window and a monitor window on a screen. The set window is displayed to set the information such as set values of amplifiers included in a plurality of sensor blocks. The monitor window is displayed to monitor the information such as current set values, current values, etc. of respective amplifiers included in the sensor block that is connected currently.

Claims

1. A sensor management system connected to two or more sensor groups, wherein each sensor group includes one or more sensors the sensor management system comprising:

a selecting means for selecting any one of the sensor groups connected to the sensor management system;

a communicating means for communicating with the one sensor group selected by the selecting means so that the communicating means acquires sensor information including information for defining an operation of the one sensor group and information to indicate an operation state of the one sensor group;

a displaying means for displaying the sensor information acquired by the communicating means,

wherein at least one of the sensors in at least one sensor group comprises a photoelectric sensor comprising a light projection portion and a light receiving portion; and

wherein the displaying means includes a first screen for displaying the sensor information concerning the sensors included in the sensor group that is selected by the selecting means; and

a second screen for displaying, when at least one of the sensors included in the sensor group that is displayed in the first screen is selected, the sensor information concerning the selected sensors, and for providing a display to configure the sensor information.

2. The sensor management system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an updating means for updating information sent to the one sensor out of the sensor information displayed by the displaying means; and

wherein the communicating means transmits the information updated by the updating means to the one sensor.

3. The sensor management system according to claim 2, wherein the communicating means acquires identification information, which identifies the one sensor connected to the sensor management system, via communication, and wherein the displaying means displays the identification information acquired by the communicating means, the selecting means selects the one sensor based on the identification information displayed by the displaying means.

4. The sensor management system according to claim 1, wherein the communicating means acquires identification information, which identifies the one sensor connected to the sensor management system, via communication, and wherein the displaying means displays the identification information acquired by the communicating means, the selecting means selects the one sensor based on the identification information displayed by the displaying means.

5. The sensor management system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor information for each of the sensors includes two or more of the following:

a) a threshold value that is configured for an amount of light received by the sensor;

b) a sensor operation mode that is selectable from a ON-when-light-received mode in which a detection signal is switched on when the sensor receive light, and an ON-when-light-shielded mode in which the detection signal is switched on when the sensor is switched on when the light to be received by the sensor is shielded;

c) a type of the sensor;

d) a timer mode;

or

e) a key lock concerning a lock-unlock state of the operation key for the sensor.

6. The sensor management system according to claim 1, wherein the second screen is configurable to be displayed in a mode selected from a plurality of displaying modes.

7. The sensor management system according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of displaying modes includes two or more of the following:

a) a first mode for displaying a threshold value configured for the sensor and an amount of light presently received by the sensor;

b) a second mode for displaying a peak value and a bottom value of an amount of light received by the sensor;

or

c) a third mode for displaying a margin amount and the amount of light presently received by the sensor.

8. The sensor management system according to claim 1, wherein the second screen displays a displaying portion in which an amount of light received by each of the sensors and the threshold value for each of the sensors are displayed, and an operating portion for configuring sensor parameters including the threshold value.

9. A computer-readable medium including a sensor management program connectable to a sensor group including a plurality of sensors, the sensor management program comprising:

a process for selecting any one of the plurality of sensors connected to the sensor management system;

a process for acquiring sensor information including information to defining an operation of the one sensor and information for indicating an operation state of the one sensor by communicating with the selected one sensor; and

a process for displaying the acquired sensor information, wherein the sensor management program is executed by a computer,

wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors comprises a photoelectric sensor comprising a light projection portion and a light receiving portion.

10. The computer-readable program according to claim 9, the sensor management program further comprises:

a process for updating information sent to the one sensor out of the displayed sensor information; and

a process for transmitting the updated information to the one sensor, wherein the sensor management program is executed by the computer.

11. The sensor management program according to claim 10, wherein the process for selecting any one of the plurality of sensors includes a process for acquiring identification information, which identifies the plurality of sensors connected to the sensor management system, via communication, a process for displaying the acquired identification information, and a process of selecting any one of the one sensor based on the displayed identification information.

12. The sensor management program according to claim 9, wherein the process for selecting any one of the plurality of sensors includes a process for acquiring identification information, which identifies the plurality of sensors connected to the sensor management system, via communication, a process for displaying the acquired identification information, and a process of selecting any one of the one sensor based on the displayed identification information.

13. A sensor management system connected to two or more sensor groups, wherein each sensor group includes one or more sensors, the sensor management system comprising:

a storing means for storing information sent to define an operation of the plurality of sensors as set information;

a displaying means for displaying set information stored in the storing means;

an updating means for updating set information displayed by the displaying means and updating the set information stored in the storing means; and

a communicating means for transmitting the set information displayed by the displaying means to the plurality of sensors

wherein at least one of the sensors in at least one sensor group comprises a photoelectric sensor comprising a light projection portion and a light receiving portion;

wherein the displaying means includes a first screen for displaying the sensor information concerning the sensors included in the sensor group that is selected by the selecting means; and

a second screen for displaying, when at least one of the sensors included in the sensor group that is displayed in the first screen is selected, the sensor information concerning the selected sensors, and for providing a display to configure the sensor information.

14. The sensor management system according to claim 13, wherein the sensor management system connects to at least one of the sensor groups, the storing means stores the set information at each of the sensor groups, the displaying means displays the set information of the selected one sensor group out of the stored set information, and the communicating means transmits collectively the set information displayed by the displaying means to the one sensor group.

15. The sensor management system according to claim 13, wherein the sensor information for each of the sensors includes two or more of the following:

a) a threshold value that is configured for an amount of light received by the sensor;

b) a sensor operation mode that is selectable from a ON-when-light-received mode in which a detection signal is switched on when the sensor receive light, and an ON-when-light-shielded mode in which the detection signal is switched on when the sensor is switched on when the light to be received by the sensor is shielded;

c) a type of the sensor;

d) a timer mode;

or

e) a key lock concerning a lock-unlock state of the operation key for the sensor.

16. The sensor management system according to claim 13, wherein the second screen is configurable to be displayed in a mode selected from a plurality of displaying modes.

17. The sensor management system according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of displaying modes includes two or more of the following:

a) a first mode for displaying a threshold value configured for the sensor and an amount of light presently received by the sensor;

b) a second mode for displaying a peak value and a bottom value of an amount of light received by the sensor;

or

c) a third mode for displaying a margin amount and the amount of light presently received by the sensor.

18. The sensor management system according to claim 13, wherein the second screen displays a displaying portion in which an amount of light received by each of the sensors and the threshold value for each of the sensors are displayed, and an operating portion for configuring sensor parameters including the threshold value.

19. A computer-readable medium including a sensor management program connectable to at least one of sensor groups including a plurality of sensors, the sensor management program comprising:

a process for storing information sent to define an operation of the plurality of sensors as set information;

a process for displaying the stored set information;

a process for updating the displayed set information and the stored set information;

a process for transmitting the displayed set information to the plurality of sensors, wherein the sensor management program is executed by a computer and

wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors comprises a photoelectric sensor comprising a light projection portion and a light receiving portion.

20. The computer-readable medium according to claim 19, wherein the computer is connected to at least one of the sensor groups, the process for storing includes a process for storing the set information at each of the sensor groups, the process for displaying includes a process for displaying the set information of the selected one sensor group out of the stored set information, and the process for transmitting includes a process for collectively transmitting the displayed set information to the sensor.