Wireless push button assembly for industrial automation environments

• US 10,146,210 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2015
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Wielebski, Wayne H., Gasperi, Michael L., Jensen, David L., Brandt, David D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sabur, Alia
• Application Number:
  US14/959,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20160085236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/414 Structure of the control system, e.g. common controller or multiprocessor systems, interface to servo, programmable interface controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31449 Monitor workflow, to optimize business, industrial processes
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33192 Radio link, wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

What is disclosed is a system for controlling a process, where the process is implemented by a machine system. The system includes a user interface device and a first transceiver coupled to the user interface device. The first transceiver is configured to receive communications from the user interface device and transfer the communications. The system also includes a second transceiver in communication with the first transceiver and configured to transfer power to the first transceiver, receive the communications from the first transceiver, and transfer the communications to control the process implemented by the machine system.

Claims

1. A wireless push button assembly comprising:

a push button operable to receive user input associated with an industrial process;

an indicator operable to display a state of the industrial process;

a transceiver coupled to the push button and the indicator, and coupled wirelessly with one other transceiver via a near-field electromagnetic link to receive power and to exchange communications indicative of at least the state of the industrial process and the user input;

wherein the transceiver and the one other transceiver each comprise a spiral coil;

wherein the spiral coil of the transceiver and the spiral coil of the one other transceiver are aligned along an axis; and

wherein the push button is mounted internally to and longitudinally along the axis of the spiral coil of the transceiver and the spiral coil of the one other transceiver.

2. The wireless push button assembly of claim 1, further comprising the one other transceiver configured to transfer power to the transceiver via the near-field electromagnetic link and to exchange the communications with the transceiver.

3. The wireless push button assembly of claim 2, wherein to exchange the communications, the transceiver transfers the communications to the one other transceiver to at least control a portion of the industrial process.

4. The wireless push button assembly of claim 1, wherein the transceiver and the one other transceiver are not coupled by a transformer core.

5. The wireless push button assembly of claim 3, wherein the industrial process includes at least one machine system associated with the push button.

6. The wireless push button assembly of claim 5, wherein the push button comprises an on/off function selectable by the user input to operate the one machine system.

7. The wireless push button assembly of claim 5, wherein the indicator comprises a light that lights based on the state of the industrial process implemented by the one machine system.

8. A wireless push button system comprising:

a first assembly comprising;

a push button operable to receive user input associated with an industrial process;

an indicator operable to display a state of the industrial process; and

a first coil;

a second assembly comprising a second coil;

wherein the first assembly is inserted axially into the second assembly to allow near-field power transfer over the first coil and the second coil;

wherein the first coil and the second coil each comprise a spiral coil;

wherein the spiral coil of the first coil and the spiral coil of the second coil are aligned along an axis; and

wherein the push button is mounted internally to and longitudinally along the axis.

9. The wireless push button system of claim 8, wherein the first coil forms a near-field electromagnetic link with the second coil over which to receive power and to exchange communications indicative of at least the state of the industrial process and the user input.

10. The wireless push button system of claim 8, wherein the first coil and the second coil are not coupled by a transformer core.

11. The wireless push button system of claim 8, wherein the industrial process includes at least one machine system associated with the push button.

12. The wireless push button system of claim 11, wherein the push button comprises an on/off function selectable by the user input to operate the at least one machine system.

13. The wireless push button system of claim 11, wherein the indicator comprises a light that lights based on the state of the industrial process implemented by the at least one machine system.

14. A wireless push button assembly comprising:

a user interface device operable to receive user input associated with an industrial process;

an indicator operable to display a state of the industrial process;

a transceiver coupled to the user interface device and the indicator, and coupled wirelessly with one other transceiver via a near-field electromagnetic link to receive power and to exchange communications indicative of at least the state of the industrial process and the user input;

wherein the transceiver and the one other transceiver each comprise a spiral coil;

wherein the spiral coil of the transceiver and the spiral coil the one other transceiver are aligned axially along an axis; and

wherein the user interface device is mounted internally to and longitudinally along the axis.

15. The wireless push button assembly of claim 14, wherein the user interface device comprises one of a push button, a dial, and a switch.