Robotic tool coupler rapid-connect bus
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of rapidly communicating information between a tool module of a robotic tool coupler and a robotic system communications network upon coupling a master module of said robotic tool coupler to said tool module, comprising:
- coupling said master and tool modules of said robotic coupler, said master module including a robotic system communications network node;
communicating tool information from said tool module to said master module network node via a communication bus between said master and tool modules, said communication commencing within about 250 msec. after said coupling; and
communicating said tool information from said master module network node to said robotic system communications network.
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Abstract
A tool changer comprising a master module and a tool module includes a rapid-connect communication bus between the master and tool modules. A unique tool identification number, along with other tool-related information, may be transmitted from the tool module to the master module within about 250 msec of the master and tool modules coupling together. The master module includes a robotic system communications network node connected to the rapid-connect communication bus, and operative to transmit data between the tool and the network via the communication bus. The need for a separate network node in the tool module is obviated, reducing cost and reducing the start-up time required to initialize such a network node upon connecting to a new tool. The rapid-connect communication bus may be a serial bus.
132 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of rapidly communicating information between a tool module of a robotic tool coupler and a robotic system communications network upon coupling a master module of said robotic tool coupler to said tool module, comprising:
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coupling said master and tool modules of said robotic coupler, said master module including a robotic system communications network node; communicating tool information from said tool module to said master module network node via a communication bus between said master and tool modules, said communication commencing within about 250 msec. after said coupling; and communicating said tool information from said master module network node to said robotic system communications network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A robotic tool changer, comprising:
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a master module connected to a robotic system communications network and a tool module adapted to be coupled and decoupled to said master module; and a clocked communication bus between said master and tool modules; wherein said tool module is not connected to said robotic system communications network, and said tool module is operative to communicate tool information to said robotic system communications network via said master module. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of communicating information between a tool module of a robotic coupler and a robotic system communications network, comprising:
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connecting said tool module to a master module of said robotic coupler, said master module including a robotic system communications network node; supplying tool information from said tool module to said master module network node via a serial communication bus between said master and tool modules; and communicating said tool information from said master module network node to said robotic system communications network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A robotic tool changer, comprising:
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a master module connected to a robotic system communications network through a network node in said master module; and a tool module adapted to be coupled and decoupled to said master module and not connected to said robotic system communications network, said tool module operative to communicate tool information to said robotic system communications network via said master module network node. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification