Mobile control and monitoring system

• US 8,401,678 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Rieger, Gottfried, Sinn, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaki, Kakali
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bharadwaj, Kalpana
• Application Number:
  US12/613,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20100057221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity

Abstract

An HMI system with a mobile control and monitoring device for automation components of a technical system is provided. The HMI system includes means for a contactless data transmission between the mobile control and monitoring device and the automation components, a manual device for triggering or blocking security relevant operations of the technical system and means for locating the mobile control and monitoring device. Evaluation means are provided for managing an active operational area which activate the automation components for security-relevant operations of the technical system via the mobile control and monitoring device solely when the manual device is released and the locating means detect that the mobile control and monitoring device is located inside the active operational area. Is he manual device placed directly on the housing of the technical system, an operator has to approach such that he/she enters the active operational area in a secure manner.

Claims

1. An HMI system, comprising:

a mobile control and monitoring device for controlling automation components of a technical facility;

a wireless transmitting device for data transmission between the mobile control and monitoring device and the automation components;

a safety device arranged on the technical facility for manually releasing or blocking safety-relevant operations of the technical facility by an operator;

an active operating area being an area generally surrounding the technical facility with the automation components in which an operator is present during execution of the safety-relevant operations,

a locating device for locating the mobile control and monitoring device; and

an evaluation device for managing the active operating area, wherein the evaluation device is configured to activate the automation components for executing safety-relevant operations triggered by the mobile control and monitoring device only when

the safety device is in a release position based upon a manual release of the safety relevant operations of the technical facility by the operator, and

the locating device confirms a current location of the mobile control and monitoring device within the active operating area,

wherein the evaluation device blocks the automation components for safety-relevant operations via the mobile control and monitoring device when the safety device is released but the mobile control and monitoring device is outside the active operating area.

2. The HMI system according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation device is further configured to manage a warning area located outside the active operating area and to output a warning message to the mobile control and monitoring device when the locating device detects a current location of the mobile control and monitoring device within the warning area.

3. The HMI system according to claim 2, wherein the warning message is output only when the mobile control and monitoring device has been located within the active operating area before being detected within the warning area.

4. The HMI system according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation device is further configured to suspend the automation components from executing safety-relevant operations triggered by the mobile control and monitoring device when

the safety device is in a release position, and

the locating device detects a current location of the mobile control and monitoring device outside the active operating area.

5. The HMI system according to claim 2, wherein the evaluation device is further configured to suspend the automation components from executing safety-relevant operations triggered by the mobile control and monitoring device when the locating device detects a current location of the mobile control and monitoring device outside the warning area.

6. The HMI system according to claim 1, wherein the safety device is directly attached to a housing of the technical facility.

7. The HMI system according to claim 1, wherein the locating device is configured to determine a distance between the mobile control and monitoring device and the technical facility.

8. The HMI system according to claim 1, wherein the locating device is configured to detect a current position of the mobile control and monitoring device.

9. The HMI system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile control and monitoring device has a display, a keyboard, an emergency switch, a disconnect acknowledge switch and key switch.