Industrial robot system with a portable operator control device
First Claim
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1. An industrial robot system, comprising:
- an industrial robot comprising a manipulator;
a control unit for controlling the manipulator;
at least one portable operator control device for teaching and manually operating the robot, which portable operator control device is adapted for communication with the control unit;
a position determining unit configured to determine a position of the at least one portable operator control unit and break a data link between the control unit and the at least one portable operator control device based upon a determined position of the at least one portable operator control device, thereby increasing a safety and security of the system, the position determining unit comprising at least one reference transmitter configured to send a reference signal from at least one reference station or the at least one portable operator control device, at least one reference receiver configured to receive the reference signal, at least one reply transmitter arranged with the at least one reference receiver configured to transmit a reply signal to a reply receiver arranged with the reference transmitter, wherein the position of the at least one portable operator control unit is determined based upon at least one of a timing of the transmission of the reference signal and receipt of the reply signal and a known position of the at least one reference station;
means to provide redundant software programs for control of communications of an emergency stop signal, an enabling status, and/or reset, wherein the software redundancy on any of the transmission and/or receiving sides is carried out by at least two redundant software programs which carry out the same function but are each written in a different computer language and/or formed using a different programming technology, and wherein the at least two redundant software programs are arranged to send duplicate wireless communication to allow an abnormal state to be detected when there is a discrepancy in the communication from the at least two redundant software programs; and
an indicator configured to indicate a failure of a data link between the at least one portable operator control device and the robot.
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Abstract
An industrial robot including a manipulator, a control unit for controlling the manipulator, a portable operating unit for teaching and manually operating the robot, which operating unit is adapted for wireless communication with the control unit and including an operator control. The transmissions may be made wirelessly with redundant software processes for transmission and/or reception. Safety is increased by ensuring that the operator is within the specified operating area.
37 Citations
44 Claims
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1. An industrial robot system, comprising:
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an industrial robot comprising a manipulator; a control unit for controlling the manipulator; at least one portable operator control device for teaching and manually operating the robot, which portable operator control device is adapted for communication with the control unit; a position determining unit configured to determine a position of the at least one portable operator control unit and break a data link between the control unit and the at least one portable operator control device based upon a determined position of the at least one portable operator control device, thereby increasing a safety and security of the system, the position determining unit comprising at least one reference transmitter configured to send a reference signal from at least one reference station or the at least one portable operator control device, at least one reference receiver configured to receive the reference signal, at least one reply transmitter arranged with the at least one reference receiver configured to transmit a reply signal to a reply receiver arranged with the reference transmitter, wherein the position of the at least one portable operator control unit is determined based upon at least one of a timing of the transmission of the reference signal and receipt of the reply signal and a known position of the at least one reference station; means to provide redundant software programs for control of communications of an emergency stop signal, an enabling status, and/or reset, wherein the software redundancy on any of the transmission and/or receiving sides is carried out by at least two redundant software programs which carry out the same function but are each written in a different computer language and/or formed using a different programming technology, and wherein the at least two redundant software programs are arranged to send duplicate wireless communication to allow an abnormal state to be detected when there is a discrepancy in the communication from the at least two redundant software programs; and an indicator configured to indicate a failure of a data link between the at least one portable operator control device and the robot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for controlling an industrial robot system comprising an industrial robot comprising a manipulator, a control unit comprising a processor for controlling the manipulator, at least one portable operator control device for teaching and manually operating the robot, which at least one portable operator control device is adapted for communication with the control unit via a data link, and a position determining unit comprising at least one reference transmitter configured to send a reference signal from at least one reference station or the at least one portable operator control device, at least one reference receiver configured to receive the reference signal, at least one reply transmitter arranged with the at least one reference receiver configured to transmit a reply signal to a reply receiver arranged with the reference transmitter, the method comprising:
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defining a working area for the at least one portable operator control device; determining a position of the at least one portable operator control device, wherein determining the potion comprises transmitting a reference signal with the reference transmitter, receiving the reference signal with the at least one reference receiver, transmitting a reply signal with at least one reply transmitter, and receiving the reply signal with the reply receiver, wherein the position of the at least one portable operator control unit is determined based upon at least one of a timing of the transmission of the reference signal and receipt of the reply signal and a known position of the at least one reference station; breaking the data link if the at least one portable operator control device is outside the working area, thereby increasing a safety and security of the system; connecting a data link upon the at least one portable operator control device being inside the working area; providing at least two redundant software programs for control of communication of an emergency stop signal, an enabling status, or reset on transmission and/or receiving sides, wherein the at least two redundant software programs carry out a same function but are each written in a different computer language and/or formed using a different programming technology; sending duplicate wireless communications with the at least two redundant software programs; detecting an abnormal state when there is a discrepancy in the communication from the at least two redundant software programs; and indicating a failure of a data link between the at least one portable operator control device and the robot. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A computer program product, comprising:
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a computer readable medium; and computer program instructions recorded on the computer readable medium and executable by a processor to control an industrial robot system comprising an industrial robot comprising a manipulator, a control unit comprising a processor for controlling the manipulator, at least one portable operator control device for teaching and manually operating the robot, which at least one portable operator control device is adapted for communication with the control unit via a data link, and a position determining unit comprising at least one reference transmitter configured to send a reference signal from at least one reference station or the at least one portable operator control device, at least one reference receiver configured to receive the reference signal, at least one reply transmitter arranged with the at least one reference receiver configured to transmit a reply signal to a reply receiver arranged with the reference transmitter, the method comprising; defining a working area for the at least one portable operator control device; determining a position of the at least one portable operator control device, wherein determining the potion comprises transmitting a reference signal with the reference transmitter, receiving the reference signal with the at least one reference receiver, transmitting a reply signal with at least one reply transmitter, and receiving the reply signal with the reply receiver, wherein the position of the at least one portable operator control unit is determined based upon at least one of a timing of the transmission of the reference signal and receipt of the reply signal and a known position of the at least one reference station; breaking the data link if the at least one portable operator control device is outside the working area, thereby increasing a safety and security of the system; connecting a data link upon the at least one portable operator control device being inside the working area; providing at least two redundant software programs for control of communication of an emergency stop signal, an enabling status, or reset on transmission and/or receiving sides, wherein the at least two redundant software programs carry out a same function but are each written in a different computer language and/or formed using a different programming technology; sending duplicate wireless communications with the at least two redundant software programs; detecting an abnormal state when there is a discrepancy in the communication from the at least two redundant software programs; and indicating a failure of a data link between the at least one portable operator control device and the robot. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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38. A robot controller for an industrial robot system comprising an industrial robot comprising a manipulator, the robot controller comprising:
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a control unit for controlling the manipulator, at least one portable operator control device for teaching and manually operating the robot, which at least one portable operator control device is adapted for communication with the control unit, and which at least one portable operator control device comprises a manually operated enabling device, which when continuously activated, permits motion of the robot and/or the associated equipment, at least two redundant software processes wherein the software redundancy on any of the transmission and/or receiving sides is carried out by at least two redundant software programs which carry out the same function but are each written in a different computer language and/or formed using a different programming technology or communication data generating circuits, which respectively generate communications data expressing an enabling device status command based on operation of said enabling device, and which respectively generate communications data expressing an enabling status command based on operations for said robot controller, wherein the at least two redundant software programs are arranged to send duplicate wireless communication to allow an abnormal state to be detected when there is a discrepancy in the communication from the at least two redundant software programs; a transmitter configured to transmit communications data expressing said enabling status command and communications data expressing said enabling status command to said control part by wireless network communication; and
which permits motion alternatively emergency stop of the robot or associated equipment when receiving even a single set of communications data expressing an enabling status command generated by said multiple and redundant software or communications data generating circuits;a position determining unit configured to determine a position of the at least one portable operator control unit and break a data link between the control unit and the at least one portable operator control device based upon a determined position of the at least one portable operator control device, thereby increasing a safety and security of the system, the position determining unit comprising at least one reference transmitter configured to send a reference signal from at least one reference station or the at least one portable operator control device, at least one reference receiver configured to receive the reference signal, at least one reply transmitter arranged with the at least one reference receiver configured to transmit a reply signal to a reply receiver arranged with the reference transmitter, wherein the position of the at least one portable operator control unit is determined based upon at least one of a timing of the transmission of the reference signal and receipt of the reply signal and a known position of the at least one reference station; and an indicator configured to indicate a failure of a data link between the at least one portable operator control device and the robot. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification