USER INTERFACE DEVICES FOR CONTROL OF MACHINE SYSTEMS

• US 20100097186A1
• Filed: 02/23/2009
• Published: 04/22/2010
• 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: Brandt, David D., Wielebski, Wayne H., Jensen, David L., Gasperi, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,207,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• 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 5/0037 for power transfer
• 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 system for controlling a process, wherein the process is implemented by a machine system, comprising:

a user interface device;

a first transceiver coupled to the user interface device and configured to receive communications from the user interface device and transfer the communications; and

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.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second transceiver is configured to wirelessly transfer the power to the first transceiver and wirelessly receive the communications from the first transceiver.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver are not coupled by a transformer core.

4. The system of claim 1,

wherein the first transceiver is configured to induce a first current in the second transceiver by way of a first magnetic field and wirelessly transfer the communications over near-field energy of the first magnetic field;

and

wherein the second transceiver is configured to induce a second current in the first transceiver by way of a second magnetic field, wirelessly transfer the power to the first transceiver over near-field energy of the second magnetic field, and wirelessly receive the communications from the first transceiver over the near-field energy of the first magnetic field.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second transceiver is configured to transfer information related to a state of the process implemented by the machine system to the first transceiver, and wherein the first transceiver is configured to transfer the information related to the state of the process implemented by the machine system to the user interface device.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the second transceiver is configured to wirelessly transfer the power to the first transceiver, wirelessly receive the communications from the first transceiver, and wirelessly transfer the information related to the state of the process implemented by the machine system to the first transceiver.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the user interface device is configured to light an indicator based on the information related to the state of the process implemented by the machine system.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver each comprise a spiral coil, and wherein the spiral coil of the first transceiver and the spiral coil the second transceiver are aligned axially.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the user interface device is mounted internally to and longitudinally along the axis of the spiral coil of the first transceiver and the spiral coil of the second transceiver.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a radio-frequency identification (RFID) circuit coupled to the second transceiver and configured to receive the communications from the second transceiver and wirelessly transfer the communications to control the process implemented by the machine system.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a radio-frequency identification (RFID) circuit coupled to the user interface device and configured to receive the power from the first transceiver and wirelessly transfer the communications to control the process implemented by the machine system.

12. A method of controlling a process, wherein the process is implemented by a machine system, comprising:

in a first transceiver coupled to a user interface device, receiving communications from the user interface and transferring the communications;

in a second transceiver, transferring power to the first transceiver, receiving the communications from the first transceiver, and transferring the communications to control the process implemented by the machine system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second transceiver is configured to wirelessly transfer the power to the first transceiver and wirelessly receive the communications from the first transceiver.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

in the first transceiver, inducing a first current in the second transceiver by way of a first magnetic field and wirelessly transferring the communications over near-field energy of the first magnetic field; and

in the second transceiver, inducing a second current in the first transceiver by way of a second magnetic field, wirelessly transferring the power to the first transceiver over near-field energy of the second magnetic field, and wirelessly receiving the communications from the first transceiver over the near-field energy of the first magnetic field.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver are not coupled by a transformer core.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the second transceiver is configured to transfer information related to a state of the process implemented by the machine system to the first transceiver, and wherein the first transceiver is configured to transfer the information related to the state of the process implemented by the machine system to the user interface device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second transceiver is configured to wirelessly transfer the power to the first transceiver, wirelessly receive the communications from the first transceiver, and wirelessly transfer the information related to the state of the process implemented by the machine system to the first transceiver.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the user interface device is configured to light an indicator based on the information related to the state of the process implemented by the machine system.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver each comprise a spiral coil, and wherein the spiral coil of the first transceiver and the spiral coil of the second transceiver are aligned axially.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the user interface device is mounted internally to and longitudinally along the axis of the spiral coil of the first transceiver and the spiral coil of the second transceiver.