Method for using a mobile control device

• US 8,217,762 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2008
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Griessnig, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob, Sisay
• Application Number:
  US12/220,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20090033471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.41, 340/10.4, 340/1.1, 340/10.1, 340/10.2, 340/572.1, 701/23, 701/208, 701/253, 701/300, 318/16, 318/472.02, 318/568.1, 318/587, 318/471, 318/472, 318/567, 318/568
• US Class Current: 340/10.41
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/144 using light grids
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/147 using electro-magnetic technology, e.g. tags or radar

Abstract

There is described method for using a mobile control device that serves for controlling a machine within an assigned effective range which is only partially delimited by one or more RFID transponders and has protective measures. Control commands of the control device are also executed when it does not receive any valid transponder data, but the controller has received a corresponding signal.

Claims

1. A method for using a mobile control device that serves for controlling at least one machine, comprising:

controlling the at least one machine within an effective range;

partially delimiting the effective range by one or more RFID transponders;

registering a control device in the effective range based upon transponder data which the control device receives from the one or more RFID transponders;

receiving a control command by a controller for controlling the at least one machine, wherein the controller receives the control command from the control device via a wireless communications link; and

executing the control command by the controller

wherein, when the control device, although located within the effective range, does not receive the transponder data, the controller executes the control command received from the control device after the controller has received a signal from the control device indicating that the control device did not receive the transponder data.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transponder data include an identification number and a valid distance value for the RFID transponder.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a departure from the effective range only partially spanned by RFID transponders is signaled to the controller.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a departure from the effective range only partially spanned by RFID transponders is signaled to the controller.