System and method for identifying automation components

• US 7,551,084 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Gunther, Harald, Munz, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAU, HOI CHING
• Application Number:
  US11/346,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20060125607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 340/10.34, 340/10.1, 340/10.52, 340/5.62, 340/505, 340/506, 700/215, 700/221, 700/222, 700/224, 700/227, 700/229, 384/448
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/12 using record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4183 characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25297 Identify controlled element, valve, and read characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31034 Component identifier and location indicator corresponding to component
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31283 Communication memory, storage, ram, eprom on workpiece or pallet
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33203 Wireless transmission of power and data, inductively, rotary transformer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and a method for identifying automation components, particularly sensors, actuators and wiring components. According to the invention, each component (sensor, actuator, cable, compensation box, etc.) that is to be identified is equipped with an identification unit in which a code for identifying the automation component is stored and which outputs said identification code when being activated. Preferably, the identification unit comprises an electronic circuit (e.g. an RFID chip or a discreet circuit) while being provided with galvanically insulating (inductive, capacitive, radio-based) or galvanically conducting coupling to the component that is to be identified. The identification unit can be subsequently mounted on a component or can be inseparably connected thereto already during the production of the component.

Claims

1. An identification system for determining identities among a plurality of automation components connected in a manufacturing system, the components including production and manufacturing units in an automation system, the identification system comprising:

an identification unit assigned to each in the plurality of automation components while connected for operation in the manufacturing system;

an identification code stored in the identification unit for identifying the respective automation component;

a read unit for reading the identification code from each identification unit and thereby (i) determine the identity of the automation component to which the identification unit is assigned and (ii) verify and monitor whether correct ones of the automation components are installed to prevent or eliminate problems resulting from connection of wrong components; and

an activating unit for activating the identification units, the activating unit configured to address a pre-definable component class so that such identification unit corresponding to the pre-definable component class is caused to output its respective identification code, wherein at least one component class is selected from the group consisting of a class for sensors, a class for actuators, a class for thermal cables, a class for accessories, a class for thermal elements and a class for thermal resistance.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the automation components are sensors, actuators or line components.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the read unit is configured to be connected to a peripheral module or an operating device of the automation system.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the read unit operates in conjunction with the activating unit and is configured to activate the identification units in an addressed component class or to scan the output identification code of each automation component in an addressed component class.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the read unit is configured to inject into a peripheral channel the energy required to supply the identification units.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the identification unit includes an electronic circuit and a coupling unit providing connection to the respective automation component.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the identification unit is embodied as a separate unit configured for subsequent mounting on an automation component or as a unit permanently connected to the respective automation component.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the activating unit is configured to activate the identification units such that providing energy supply to the respective identification unit causes the respective identification unit to output its respective identification code automatically as soon as a specified energy supply level is present at the respective identification unit.

9. An identification subsystem, operable within an automated manufacturing system, for determining identities among a plurality of automation components connected in the manufacturing system, the components including production and manufacturing units, the identification subsystem comprising:

a plurality of addressable identification units each assignable to a different one of the automation components, the identification units each including an identification code stored therein for determining identity of the automation component to which it is assigned;

a transmit unit for transmitting the identification code from the identification unit to a read unit;

a read unit for reading the identification code from each identification unit and thereby (i) determine the identity of the automation component to which the identification unit is assigned and (ii) monitor and verify whether correct ones of the automation components are installed, this enabling the subsystem to prevent or eliminate problems resulting from incorrect connection of components in the manufacturing system; and

an activating device for activating the transmit unit to output the identification code stored in the at least one identification unit to identify the first automation component when a pre-definable component class corresponding to the identification unit is addressed, wherein at least one component class is selected from the group consisting of a class for sensors, a class for actuators, a class for thermal cables, a class for accessories, a class for thermal elements and a class for thermal resistance.

10. The identification unit according to claim 9, wherein the transmit unit is configured to output the identification code automatically as soon as a specified energy supply level is present at the identification unit.

11. A read subsystem, operable within a system, for identifying automation components each having a predefined connection for operation in a manufacturing system, wherein the components are deployed to effect manufacturing processes and wherein addressable read units are connected to receive data from the automation components, each read unit including a receiver for receiving an identification code output by an identification unit of an automation component, the read subsystem including an activating unit for activating the identification unit, the activating unit configured to address read units according to pre-definable component classes so that an identification unit in a pre-definable component class is caused to output the identification code, wherein at least one component class is selected from the group consisting of a class for sensors, a class for actuators, a class for thermal cables, a class for accessories, a class for thermal elements and a class for thermal resistance, the subsystem providing determination of (i) an automation component identity to which the identification unit is assigned and (ii) whether correct ones of the automation components are installed according to the predefined connections, this enabling the subsystem to prevent or eliminate problems resulting from incorrect connection of components in the manufacturing system.

12. The read unit according to claim 11, wherein the read unit is configured to inject into a peripheral channel the energy required to supply the identification unit.

13. The read unit according to claim 11, wherein the read unit is configured to activate the identification unit such that providing an energy supply to the identification unit causes the identification unit to output its identification code automatically as soon as a specified energy supply level is present at the identification unit.

14. A method for identifying automation components in a manufacturing system, wherein the components are deployed according to predefined connections to effect manufacturing processes, the method comprising:

assigning an addressable identification unit to each automation component;

storing an identification code for identifying the respective automation component in a storage unit of the identification unit;

reading the identification code under program control or user control from the identification unit;

activating the identification unit by selectively addressing a pre-definable component class to cause the identification unit corresponding to the pre-definable component class to output the identification code;

injecting the energy required to supply the identification unit into a peripheral channel, by a read unit; and

executing an identification process regarding the automation components by a peripheral module upon switching on the automation system, wherein the automation system includes at least one peripheral channel, the identification process comprising;

connecting the read unit to the peripheral channel;

injecting the energy into the peripheral channel by the read unit;

activating the identification unit;

scanning the identification code;

terminating the injection of the energy; and

separating the read unit from the peripheral channel, the identification process determining (i) the identity of the automation component to which the identification unit is assigned and (ii) whether correct ones of the automation components are installed in accord with the predefined connections, this enabling the subsystem to prevent or eliminate problems resulting from incorrect connection of components in the manufacturing system.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein activating the identification unit includes applying an energy supply to the identification unit and automatically outputting the identification code as soon as a specified energy supply level is present at the identification unit.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the automation system includes a plurality of peripheral channels, and the identification process is executed sequentially for each peripheral channel.