Method for using a control device in a safety-related environment

• US 7,915,841 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2008
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Griessnig, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Leykin; Rita
• Application Number:
  US12/220,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20090033269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 340/990, 340/10.1, 235/472.02, 701/208, 701/300, 701/301, 701/302, 700/253, 318/587, 318/568.1, 318/568.12, 318/568.16, 318/568.25, 318/581, 318/16
• US Class Current: 318/16
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/147 using electro-magnetic technology, e.g. tags or radar
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

There is described a method for using a mobile control device, with which a machine can be operated within an assigned effective range. To this end an effective range list is configured, which is checked on the basis of transponder data from RFID transponders.

Claims

1. A method for using a mobile control device, with which at least one machine can be controlled in safety-related fashion in a system, comprising:

effecting the control within an effective range which is assigned to the machine and which is delimited by one or more RFID transponders;

configuring a effective range list, in which in each case the effective range associated with the RFID transponders installed in the system and the maximum distance between the control device and the relevant RFID transponders are stored; and

checking the effective range list, for which purpose the relevant transponder identification number is received from the RFID transponders using the control device in test mode in the effective ranges of the RFID transponders and subsequently the relevant effective range identification number is displayed.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the displayed effective range identification number is identical to a coding on the relevant machine a corresponding confirmation check remark is made in the effective range list.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein after checking all entries in the effective range list containing the corresponding confirmation check remarks, a checksum is formed.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein names are assigned to the effective ranges and the relevant name is displayed to a user when logging on in an effective range, whereupon the user enters into the control device a coding which is relevant to the effective range and which is readable in the area of the relevant machine.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein names are assigned to the effective ranges and the relevant name is displayed to a user when logging on in an effective range, whereupon the user enters into the control device the coding which is relevant to the effective range and which is readable in the area of the relevant machine.

6. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein names are assigned to the effective ranges and the relevant name is displayed to a user when logging on in an effective range, whereupon the user enters into the control device the coding which is relevant to the effective range and which is readable in the area of the relevant machine.