Node identification by displacement

• US 20040111234A1
• Filed: 12/06/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HEIDENHAIN Corp. (Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Acu-Rite, Inc. (Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH)
• Inventors: Spunaugle, Brian Lewis, Mazgaj, Mark Robert
• Granted Patent: US 6,807,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/163
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/02 Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass

Abstract

A method of identifying a node of an arrangement that includes a plurality of movable parts, the method including moving only one of a plurality of movable parts of an arrangement, detecting the moving of the one of the plurality of movable parts and distinguishing a node associated with the one of the plurality of movable parts based on the detecting.

Claims

1. An arrangement comprising:

a plurality of movable parts, wherein each movable part is connected to a corresponding actuator;

a measuring device that determines a position of one of said actuators; and

a master unit coupled to said actuators and to said measuring device, wherein said master unit receives measurement signals from said measuring device and sends control signals to said actuators so as to control movement of said plurality of movable parts, wherein said master unit distinguishes a node associated with said one of said actuators upon detecting movement of said movable part via said measurement signals.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a motor.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said one of said actuators rotates about an axis.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said measuring device comprises an encoder.

5. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein said encoder is a linear encoder.

6. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein said encoder is a rotary encoder.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said master unit comprises a configuration file with node identification, serial numbers, axis label and other product specific information related to said measuring device.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a user interface that is coupled to said master unit, said user interface enables an operator to manually input set-up information.

9. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a serial bus structure that connects said master unit, said actuators and said measuring device to one another.

10. A method of identifying a node of an arrangement that includes a plurality of movable parts, said method comprising:

moving only one of a plurality of movable parts of an arrangement;

detecting said moving of said one of said plurality of movable parts; and

distinguishing a node associated with said one of said plurality of movable parts based on said detecting.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said detecting is performed by a measuring device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said measuring device is programmed with a default node identification prior to said moving.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said arrangement is checked to insure its integrity prior to said moving.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

stopping said arrangement prior to said moving; and

placing all nodes of said arrangement into a configurable state after said stopping and prior to said moving.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising naming a desired node identification for a particular axis of movement of said arrangement prior to said moving.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising having said measurement device enter said configurable state.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein only one node of said arrangement may be in said configurable state at any particular time.