Control system, terminal device for maintenance worker and control device

• US 9,187,105 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2011
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering, Ltd. (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kono, Yuto, Tamaribuchi, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri
• Assistant Examiner(s): Afrifa-Kyei, Anthony D
• Application Number:
  US13/237,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20120176217A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.7
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/06 for warning men working on the route

Abstract

A terminal device carried by a maintenance worker transmits, to a central control device, a request to maintain a first state in which a central control device controls a target device so that maintenance work is safely performed. The central control device transitions to a PIN lock state in which the first state is maintained, according to this request.

Claims

1. A control system comprising:

a target device having an influence on safety of maintenance work;

a control device for controlling the target device; and

a terminal device manipulated by a worker performing the maintenance work, wherein

the control device includes (i) a control unit for controlling the target device to enter a first state in which the worker is allowed to safely perform the maintenance work and (ii) a first communication unit for performing communication with the terminal device and for transmitting second information, indicating that the target device has entered the first state, to the terminal device,

the terminal device includes (i) a first input unit for receiving an input manipulation by the worker, (ii) a request generation unit for generating a request directed to the control device, and (iii) a second communication unit for performing communication with the control device and for receiving the second information,

after the second communication unit receives the second information, (i) the request generation unit generates a lock request to maintain the first state in response to the input manipulation and (ii) the second communication unit transmits the lock request,

the first communication unit receives the lock request,

the control unit transitions to a lock state in which the control unit controls the target device to maintain the first state, based on the lock request received by the first communication unit,

the first communication unit transmits lock information specifying that the target device is maintained in the first state by the control unit,

the second communication unit receives the lock information,

after transmitting the lock request, the second communication unit transmits a release request to request release of the lock state according to the input manipulation received by the first input unit,

the control unit releases the lock state based on the release request,

the first communication unit transmits release information specifying that the lock state is released by the control unit, and

the second communication unit receives the release information.

2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the control device includes a second input unit for receiving an input manipulation by a worker,

the first communication unit transmits a work instruction indicating content of the maintenance work to the second communication unit according to the input manipulation received by the second input unit,

after receiving the work instruction, the second communication unit transmits first information indicating that the worker has confirmed the work instruction to the control unit according to the input manipulation received by the first input unit, and

the control unit controls the target device to enter the first state based on the first information transmitted from the second communication unit.

3. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the first input unit receives an input manipulation for a lock request including a personal identification code for identifying the worker,

the second communication unit transmits the lock request including the personal identification code, and

the control unit transitions to the lock state when judging that the personal identification code included in the lock request is coincident with a previously registered personal identification code.

4. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the first communication unit and the second communication unit perform wireless communication.

5. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the first input unit receives an input manipulation for a release request including an input of a personal identification code for identifying the worker,

the second communication unit transmits the release request including the personal identification code to the control unit, and

the control unit releases the lock state based on the release request when judging that the personal identification code included in the release request is coincident with a previously registered personal identification code.

6. A control system comprising:

a target device having an influence on safety of maintenance work;

a control device for controlling the target device; and

a terminal device manipulated by a worker performing the maintenance work, wherein

the control device includes (i) a control unit for controlling the target device to enter a first state in which the worker is allowed to safely perform the maintenance work, (ii) a first communication unit for performing communication with the terminal device and for transmitting second information, indicating that the target device has entered the first state, to the terminal device, and (iii) a second input unit for receiving an input manipulation by the worker,

the terminal device includes (i) a first input for receiving an input manipulation by the worker, (ii) a request generation unit for generating a request directed to the control device, and (iii) a second communication unit for performing communication with the control device and for receiving the second information,

after the second communication unit received the second information, (i) the request generation unit generates a lock request to maintain the first state in response to the input manipulation and (ii) the second communication unit transmits the lock request,

the first communication unit receives the lock request,

the control unit transitions to a lock state in which the control unit controls the target device to maintain the first state, based on the lock request received by the first communication unit,

the first communication unit transmits the lock information specifying that the target device is maintained in the first state by the control unit,

the second communication unit receives the lock information,

the control unit releases the lock state based on the input manipulation received by the second input unit,

the first communication unit transmits release information specifying that the lock state is released by the control unit, and

the second communication unit receives the release information.

7. A terminal device comprising:

a communication unit for receiving information of a control device for controlling a target device having an influence on safety of maintenance work;

an input unit for receiving an input manipulation; and

a request generation unit which generates a request directed to the control device, wherein

after the communication unit receives information indicating that the control device has controlled the target device to enter a first state in which the maintenance work is safely performed, (i) the request generation unit generates a lock request to maintain the first state in response to the input manipulation received by the input unit and (ii) the communication unit transmits the lock request to the control device,

the communication unit receives lock information specifying that the target device is maintained in the first state by the control device from the control device, and

after transmitting the lock request, the communication unit (i) transmits a release request to the control device to request release of the lock state according to the input manipulation received by the input unit, (ii) receives release information specifying that the lock state is released by the control device from the control device, and (iii) after receiving the release information, transmits a work completion report generated based on the input manipulation received by the input unit to the control device.

8. A control device comprising:

a control unit for controlling a target device having an influence on safety of maintenance work to enter a first state in which the maintenance work is safely performed; and

a communication unit for receiving, from a terminal device, a lock request requesting that the first state be maintained, wherein

the communication unit transmits information, indicating that the target device has entered the first state, to the terminal device,

after the terminal device receives the information, the control unit transitions to a lock state in which the control unit controls the target device to maintain the first state when the communication unit receives the lock request from the terminal device,

the communication unit (i) transmits lock information specifying that the target device is maintained in the first state by the control unit to the terminal device and (ii) receives a release request to request release of the lock state from the terminal device,

the control unit releases the lock state based on the release request when the communication unit receives the release request, and

the communication unit transmits release information specifying that the lock state is released by the control unit to the terminal device.