Method for positioning and a positioning system

• US 7,944,393 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bratthall, Lars, Svensson, Stefan, Mathiesen, Mogens
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIU, HARRY K
• Application Number:
  US10/583,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20080284649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,342 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.25
• US Class Current: 342/357.25
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 17/02 electric

Abstract

A method for recording a position of at least one component in a location system of a control system of an industrial facility for an industrial process. A model of the facility is created, including position coordinates for major parts of the facility. The model is stored in a location system storage. A component is identified. A mobile information processing device is placed adjacent the component and position coordinates are detected for the mobile information processing device. Identification information of the component and position coordinates of the mobile information processing device are stored in the location system storage.

Claims

1. A method configured to record a position of at least one component in a location system of a control system of an industrial facility configured to carry out an industrial process, the method comprising:

a) creating a model of the facility, including position coordinates for major parts of the facility,

b) storing the model in a location system storage system,

c) identifying a component in the facility,

d) placing a mobile information processing device adjacent the component and detecting position coordinates for the mobile information processing device,

e) determining a location of the component in the model of the facility based on the detected position coordinates for the mobile information processing device, and

f) storing identification information of the component and position coordinates of the mobile information processing device in the location system storage system.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

repeating steps c, d, e and f for each component that is to be recorded in the location system.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

using a positioning system to detect the position coordinates of each position in a geographical area of the model.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

using one or more nodes of wireless communication members to detect the position coordinates of each position in the model of the geographical area.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

using a wireless local area network to detect the position coordinates of each position in the model of the geographical area.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

using button or other input members to store the identification information of the component and position coordinates of the mobile information processing device in the location system.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

using a data display to store the identification information of the component and position coordinates of the mobile information processing device in the location system.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

using wireless communication members to store the identification information of the component and position coordinates of the mobile information processing device in the location system.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

using a positioning system to detect the position coordinates of the location of the mobile information processing device.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

using wireless system to detect the position coordinates of the location of the mobile information processing device.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein a component comprises individual identification members attached to the component, the method further comprising:

identifying the component in the control system by the individual identification elements on the component.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control system comprises an image recognition element of the component, the method further comprising:

identifying the component in the control system by the image recognition member.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

creating means to create position coordinates for a component in the location system when implementing the component in the control system.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a component in the location system by navigating through a corresponding control system.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

separating the model of the facility in sub-areas, wherein each component located in that sub-area also has a sub-area position coordinate in the location system.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

locating a component in a physical implementation by the location coordinates of the component in the location system.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein clicking on a component or a sub-area in the location system selects that component or sub-area.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the graphical representation of the location system is a data display picture.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile information processing device communicates with the control system through a cable between the device and the component, or the control system.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the data display picture comprises at least one of a spread sheet, a drawing or a diagram.

21. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium; and

programming instructions recorded on the computer readable medium to control a computer or a computer process to make it perform a method including

creating a model of the facility, including position coordinates for major parts of the facility,

storing the model in a location system storage system,

identifying a component in the facility,

placing a mobile information processing device adjacent the component and detecting position coordinates for the mobile information processing device,

determining a location of the component in the model of the facility based on the detected position coordinates for the mobile information processing device, and

storing identification information of the component and position coordinates of the mobile information processing device in the location system storage system.

22. A control system of an industrial facility configured to carry out an industrial process system, the control system being configured to record the position of at least one component in a location system of the control system, the control system comprising:

a mobile information processing device configured to identify the at least one component,

a computer program configured to create a model of the facility and store the model in a location system,

graphical user interface configured to display the configuration of the industrial facility based on the recorded position of the at least one component,

a positioning system configured to determine a position of the mobile information processing device,

a location system configured to locate the at least one component based on the determined position of the mobile information processing device, and

a computer configured to store identification information of the component and position coordinates of the mobile information processing device in the location system storage system.

23. The control system according to claim 22, further comprising:

wireless access to information.

24. The control system according to claim 23, further comprising:

a mobile information processing device for recording the position of at least one component in a location system of a control system of an industrial facility for an industrial process, comprising;

a processor,

a memory module,

standard interface, and

an input member.

25. The control system according to claim 24, wherein the mobile information processing device further comprises:

a radio antenna,

radio receiver/transmitter hardware, and

wireless means.

26. The control system according to claim 24, wherein the mobile information processing device further comprises:

a wireless hardware member.

27. The control system according to claim 24, wherein the mobile information processing device is compatible with the ISM band with significant interference suppression means by spread spectrum technology.

28. The control system according to claim 24, wherein the mobile information processing device is compatible with a protocol wherein each data packet may be re-sent one or more times per second at different frequencies in the spectrum.

29. The control system according to claim 24, wherein the mobile information processing device further comprises:

a configurable hardware input/output interface.

30. The control system according to claim 22, further comprising:

a database comprising information to be used in a method in an industrial system for recording the position of at least one component in a location system of the control system.

31. The control system according to claim 22, further comprising:

a website comprising means to perform a method in an industrial system for recording the position of at least one component in a location system of the control system.

32. The control system according to claim 22, wherein the positioning system comprises a global positioning system.

33. The method according to claim 22, wherein the mobile information processing device comprises a mobile hardware Personal Digital Assistant.

34. The control system according to claim 22, wherein the positioning system comprises indoor or outdoor GPS, positioning by WLAN or other standards or protocols, or GSM.

35. The control system according to claim 22, wherein the computer comprises a tablet personal computer.

36. The control system according to claim 23, wherein the wireless access to information comprises General Packet Radio Service, VLAN, or Bluetooth.

37. The system according to claim 22, further comprising:

a component with an individual identification attached to the component.

38. The system according to claim 37, wherein the individual identification comprises a tag.

39. The system according to claim 38, wherein the tag comprises a bar code, a radio frequency tag or a wireless technology link.

40. The system according to claim 22, further comprising:

a graphical user interface for recording the position of at least one component in a location system of a control system of an industrial facility for an industrial process, the graphical user interface comprising

a display element configured to display said at least one component,

a display element configured to display position coordinates for said component, and

an input member configured to register position coordinates of said component.

41. The system according to claim 40, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises:

an input element configured to register identification information of the component; and

an input element configured to register position coordinates of the mobile information.

42. The system according to claim 40, wherein the graphical user interface, further comprises:

a display element configured to identify a component.

43. The system according to claim 40, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises:

an input member configured to register the position coordinates for the mobile information processing device.

44. The system according to claim 40, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises:

a display element configured to create a model of the facility, including position coordinates for major parts of the facility such as sub-areas, and

an input member configured to register position coordinates of the model.