Method for identifying the operating state of a control element, and a control apparatus

• US 8,688,244 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2007
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Kalhoff, Johannes, Huettemeier, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Padmanabhan, Kavita
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUNN, DARRIN D
• Application Number:
  US11/834,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20080046102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,430 Days
• Field of Search: 200/310, 700/27, 700/21, 700/79, 700/177, 700/245, 700/292, 901/1, 901/2, 901/6, 901/8, 901/49, 340/12.51, 340/12.54, 340/13.24, 340/532, 340/539.1, 340/539.23, 340/539.24, 340/853.2
• US Class Current: 700/27
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4183 characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31162 Wireless lan
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31282 Data acquisition, BDE MDE
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31286 Detect position of articles and equipment by receivers, identify objects by code
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/022 Emergency operating parts, e.g. for stop-switch in dangerous conditions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

In order to flexibly identify the current operating state of control elements which are used to control a process installation, the invention provides a method for identifying the operating state of at least one control element, which is designed for an active and a passive operating state, for a control apparatus, wherein, in the active operating state, the control element controls a process function of an area of a process installation, comprising the following steps:

• • the control apparatus is connected to the process installation,
  • the control element is functionally associated with the process function, and
  • the operating state of the control element is identified as active on the basis of successful functional association of the control element with the process function.

The invention also provides a control apparatus for controlling at least one process function for an area of a process installation, as well as a process installation which is suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention.

Claims

1. A method for indicating the operating state of a control element, which can control different process functions and is a part of a control apparatus, the method comprising:

connecting the control apparatus to a machine group;

selecting a first process function from multiple process functions, that are acting on an area of the machine group comprising one or more machines, by the steps of;

(i) providing an identification unit,

(ii) connecting the identification unit to the control apparatus, and

(iii) transmitting identification information from the identification unit to the control apparatus, wherein the identification information uniquely identifies the process function;

transmitting a request, from the control apparatus to a monitoring unit for the machine group, in order to associate the control element functionally with the first process function, wherein the control element is capable of controlling the first process function when the control element is associated functionally with the first process function;

indicating the operating state of the control element as active when a confirmation message is received at the control apparatus from the monitoring unit in response to the transmitting of the request, the confirmation message signifying that the control element is successfully associated functionally with the first process function; and

indicating the operating state of the control element as passive when the control element becomes no longer associated functionally with the first process function.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control apparatus is connected to the machine group by means of a cable connection.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control apparatus is connected to the machine group by means of a wire-free connection.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

selecting the machine group, wherein the control apparatus is automatically connected to the selected machine group.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

selecting the machine group by automatic position identification by means of non-contacting position identification systems, wherein the control apparatus is manually or automatically connected to the selected machine group.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the machine group is selected by:

providing an identification unit,

connecting the identification unit to the control apparatus, and

transmitting identification information from the identification unit to the control apparatus, wherein the identification information uniquely identifies the machine group.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

selecting the first process function, wherein the control element is automatically functionally associated with the selected first process function.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the identification unit is connected to the machine group, and obtains the identification information from the machine group.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the identification unit has a memory with identification information stored in it, wherein the identification information is logically linked to at least one of:

i) the machine group, ii) the area of the machine group, and iii) the first process function of the multiple process functions.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of indicating the operating state of the control element as active includes indicating the process function controlled by the control element.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first process function includes the emergency disconnection of at least one area of the machine group, and the step of indicating the operating state of the control element as active includes colored indication of the control element as an emergency-off control element in accordance with DIN EN Standard 418.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of indicating the operating state of the control element as active includes indication of the area of the machine group controlled by the control element.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, including corresponding indication of the control apparatus and of the area of the machine group controlled by the control element.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitting of the request includes data being interchanged between the control apparatus and the machine group.

15. A control apparatus connected to a machine group or process plant comprising one or more machines, the control apparatus comprising:

an identification unit which is connectable to the control apparatus; and

a control element for selecting a first process function from multiple process functions when the control element is associated functionally with the first process function by;

(i) connecting the identification unit to the control apparatus, and

(ii) transmitting identification information from the identification unit to the control apparatus, wherein the identification information uniquely identifies the process function,

the process functions being adapted to act on an area of the machine group comprising one or more machines,

the control apparatus being adapted to indicate an operating state of the control element as active or as passive, depending on whether the control element is successfully associated functionally with the first process function or not, the control apparatus further comprising;

a transmitter for transmitting a request to a monitoring unit for the machine group, in order to associate the control element functionally with the first process function, wherein the control element is capable of controlling the process function when associated functionally with the process function; and

a device for indicating the operating state of the control element i) as active when a confirmation message that signifies successful functional association of the control element with the first process function is received at the control apparatus from the monitoring unit in response to a transmitting of the request, and ii) as passive when the control element becomes no longer associated functionally with the first process function.

16. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the control apparatus is in the form of an interchangeable process module for the machine group.

17. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 15, in the form of a portable control unit that can be connected to the machine group in order to control the first process function.

18. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the control apparatus can be connected to the machine group without the use of wires.

19. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the identification information uniquely identifies a machine group, and the control apparatus is designed for automatic connection to the identified machine group.

20. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the identification information uniquely identifies a process function, and the control apparatus is designed for automatic functional association of the control element with the identified process function.

21. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the device for automatically indicating the operating state of the control element is designed to indicate the control element as an emergency-off control element in accordance with DIN EN Standard 418.

22. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the control element has a first area that can be illuminated, within which an operating element is arranged which has a second area that can be illuminated, and the device for automatically indicating the operating state of the control element is designed to illuminate the first and the second area that can be illuminated, in each case in a predetermined color.

23. A machine group, comprising:

at least one process area that can be identified, and

at least one control apparatus as claimed in claim 15 for controlling at least one process function of the process area that can be identified.