Sight-line non contact coupled wireless technology
First Claim
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1. A control system for controlling operation of a movable system, the control system comprising:
- a wireless communications component associated with a stationary system;
a non-contacting signaling component associated with the stationary system and operative to transmit or receive a signal in a signal path proximate the stationary system;
a control system component associated with the stationary system and operatively coupled with the non-contacting signaling component and with the wireless communications component, the control system component using the non-contacting signaling system to verify whether a movable system is proximate the stationary system and using the wireless communications component to provide control information to a second control system component associated with a particular movable system to control at least one positioning actuator of the particular movable system to control a position of a workpiece transported by the particular movable system while the particular movable system is proximate the stationary system; and
wherein the moveable system is a robotic moving platform.
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Abstract
Control systems and methods are disclosed for controlling operation of movable systems in an automated process with a stationary system having a first control system component and at least one movable system having a second control system component, in which optical or other non-contacting signaling between the stationary and movable systems is used to ascertain whether a movable system is proximate the stationary system, and wireless communications is used to transfer control data between the systems while the non-contacting signal link is maintained.
15 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A control system for controlling operation of a movable system, the control system comprising:
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a wireless communications component associated with a stationary system; a non-contacting signaling component associated with the stationary system and operative to transmit or receive a signal in a signal path proximate the stationary system; a control system component associated with the stationary system and operatively coupled with the non-contacting signaling component and with the wireless communications component, the control system component using the non-contacting signaling system to verify whether a movable system is proximate the stationary system and using the wireless communications component to provide control information to a second control system component associated with a particular movable system to control at least one positioning actuator of the particular movable system to control a position of a workpiece transported by the particular movable system while the particular movable system is proximate the stationary system; and wherein the moveable system is a robotic moving platform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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11. A movable system for performing at least one controlled operation while proximate a stationary system, comprising:
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a wireless communications component; a non-contacting signaling component associated with the movable system and operative to transmit or receive a signal in a signal path proximate a particular stationary system while the movable system is proximate the particular stationary system; a control system component associated with the movable system and operatively coupled with the non-contacting signaling component and with the wireless communications component, the control system component using the non-contacting signaling system to verify whether the movable system is proximate the particular stationary system and using the wireless communications component to receive control information from a second control system component associated with the particular stationary system while the movable system is proximate the particular stationary system; at least one positioning actuator operated by the control system component according to the control information received from the particular stationary system to control a location of a workpiece transported by the movable system; and wherein the moveable system is a robotic moving platform. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 23, 24, 34)
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17. In an automated system having at least one stationary system with a first control system component and at least one movable system having a second control system component and a positioning actuator, a method for controlling at least one operation of the movable system while proximate the stationary system, the method comprising:
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determining whether the movable system is currently proximate the stationary system using non-contacting signaling apparatus on the stationary and movable systems; transferring control information between the first control system component of the stationary system and the second control system component of the movable system by wireless communications while the movable system is determined to be proximate the stationary system; controlling the positioning actuator of the movable system to control a location of a workpiece transported by the movable system according to the control information transferred between the first control system component of the stationary system and the second control system component of the movable system; discontinuing transfer of control information between the control system components of the stationary and movable systems when the movable system is determined to be no longer proximate the stationary system; and wherein the moveable system is a robotic moving platform. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 35)
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Specification