Mobile control and monitoring system

• US 7,657,492 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2004
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Rieger, Gottfried, Sinn, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Vincent; David R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bharadwaj; Kalpana
• Application Number:
  US10/571,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20070038341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,989 Days
• Field of Search: 700/83, 700/23, 701/24, 707/4
• US Class Current: 706/11
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity

Abstract

The HMI system is provided with a mobile control and monitoring device for automation components of a technical system. It comprises means for contactless data transmission between the mobile control and monitoring device and the automation components, a manual device for triggering or blocking security relevant operations of the technical system and means for locating the mobile control and monitoring device. Evaluation means are provided for managing an active operational area and which activate the automation components for security-relevant operations of the technical system via the mobile control and monitoring device solely when the manual device is released and the locating means detect that the mobile control and monitoring device is located inside the active operational area, the advantage thereof being that manual triggering of security-relevant operations by an operator is the condition upon which they can be activated via the mobile control and monitoring device. If the manual device is placed directly on the housing of the technical system, for example, an operator has to approach in such a way that he/she enters the active operation are in a secure manner.

Claims

1. A method to perform safety-relevant operations at a technical unit, comprising:

providing a Human Machine Interface (HMI) system with at least one mobile control and monitoring device for automation components of a technical unit, wherein a data transmission between the mobile control and monitoring device and the automation components is contactless;

providing a manual device for releasing or blocking safety-relevant operations of the technical unit;

providing a locating device for locating the mobile control and monitoring device;

providing an evaluation device to manage an active operating area, and to activate the automation components for safety-relevant operations of the technical unit via the mobile control only when the manual device is released by an operator and the locating means detects that the mobile control and monitoring device is located inside an active operating area; and

generating a warning signal when the mobile control and monitoring device is in a warning area located outside the active operating area,

wherein the manual release of safety-relevant operations is performed by an operator, wherein the manual release is a precondition for them being activated.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the manual device for the release or blocking of safety-relevant operations is attached directly to a housing of the technical unit.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein for the release or blocking of safety-relevant operations an operator first approaches the unit.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the manual device for the release or blocking of safety-relevant operations is attached in an immediate vicinity of the technical unit, wherein an operator first approaches the unit such that the operator enters its active operating area.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein when the manual device is released by the operator, all conditions for the activation of safety-relevant operations are complied with for the mobile control and monitoring device carried by the operator when the mobile control and monitoring device is located inside the active operating area.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein when the manual device is released by the operator, all conditions for the activation of safety-relevant operations are complied with for the mobile control and monitoring device carried by the operator when the mobile control and monitoring device is located inside the active operating area.

7. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the active operating area being an area generally surrounding the technical unit and in which a safety of the operator is ensured while the safety-relevant operations are executed.