Locking switch assembly and related methods

• US 9,934,919 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2014
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Foster, Wayne R., Kulkarni, Prachi S., Vavra, Joshua, Dogul, James Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Amrany, Adi
• Application Number:
  US14/539,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20150137622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 307139, 307326
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/08 in connection with the locking of doors, covers, guards, or like members giving access to moving machine parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 27/06 Key inserted and then turned to effect operation of the switch

Abstract

A control assembly includes a locking device having at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, the locking device configurable to change from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation. The locking device has a non-contact sensor and a microcontroller. An independent communicator is configured to communicate configuration data to the microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured to change from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation using configuration data received from the independent communicator.

Claims

1. A locking switch assembly comprising:

a locking device having at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, the locking device configurable to change from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation, wherein the first mode of operation is POWER-TO-LOCK in which a locking switch is mechanically locked when power to a lock input is applied, and the second mode of operation is POWER-TO-RELEASE in which the locking switch is mechanically unlocked when power to the lock input is applied;

the locking device having a non-contact sensor;

the locking device including a microcontroller;

an independent communicator having configuration data, the configuration data relating to the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation, the independent communicator configured to communicate configuration data to the microcontroller via the non-contact sensor; and

the microcontroller configured to change from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation using configuration data received from the independent communicator.

2. The locking switch assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising an actuator configured to communicate with the non-contact sensor.

3. The locking switch assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the actuator includes the independent communicator.

4. The locking switch assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the independent communicator is an RFID.

5. The locking switch assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the first mode and second mode of operations include auxiliary output.

6. The locking switch assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein the auxiliary output indicates one or more of device type, inputs, door sensing, or lock sensing of the locking device.

7. The locking device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first mode and second mode of operations include LED operation.

8. The locking switch assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein the LED operation includes an indication of one or more of device type, inputs, door sensing, lock sensing of the locking device, or device faults.

9. The locking switch assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising non-volatile memory configured to store the configuration data.

10. A locking switch assembly comprising:

a locking device having at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation;

the locking device configurable to change from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation, wherein the first mode of operation is POWER-TO-LOCK in which a locking switch is mechanically locked when power to a lock input is applied, and the second mode of operation is POWER-TO-RELEASE in which the locking switch is mechanically unlocked when power to the lock input is applied;

the locking device including a microcontroller to change from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation;

one or more inputs coupled with the microcontroller,

the locking device having a wiring connection; and

a communicator configured to communicate configuration data to the microcontroller via the wiring connection.

11. A method for changing a mode of operation of a locking switch assembly, the method comprising:

presenting an independent communicator having configuration data within sensing distance of a locking device, the locking device having at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, the locking device configurable to change from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation, the locking device having a non-contact sensor and a microcontroller;

transferring configuration data from the communicator to the locking switch;

the microcontroller changing the locking device from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation with a microcontroller using the configuration data from the communicator; and

wherein changing the locking device from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation includes changing from a POWER-TO-LOCK mode to a POWER-TO-RELEASE mode, when the first mode of operation is POWER-TO-LOCK a locking switch is mechanically locked when power to a lock input is applied, and when the second mode of operation is POWER-TO-RELEASE the locking switch is mechanically unlocked when power to the lock input is applied.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising storing configuration data to non-volatile memory.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising sending confirmation from microcontroller that change from first mode of operation to second mode of operation has occurred.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein changing the locking device from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation includes changing auxiliary output.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein changing the locking device from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation includes changing LED indicator operation.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein changing LED indicator operation includes configuring the locking device to indicate a status of device type, inputs, door sensing, lock sensing, or faults.