Mobile human/machine interface for use with industrial control systems for controlling the operation of process executed on spatially separate machines
First Claim
1. An industrial control system for controlling the operation of a process executed on a plurality of spatially separate machines that interact to execute the controlled process, the control system comprising:
- a data network;
a plurality of interface circuits providing output signals to the machines and receiving input signals from the machines;
an electronic computer communicating with the interface circuits via the data network and executing a control program to read the input signals from the interface circuits and to generate the output signals to the interface circuit s based on the input signals and the control program so as to control the process;
a remote link;
a portable operator terminal including;
(i) terminal output means for providing a terminal output to a human operators wherein the terminal output indicates a portion of the control program associated with a given machine;
(ii) a locator means producing a location signal indicating a spatial proximity of the portable operator terminal to the given machine;
the electronic computer further communicating with the portable operator terminal via the remote link and executing an operator program to provide the terminal outputs based on the location signals and the operation of the given machine. therefore.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile human machine interface for a monitoring operation of a spatially distributed control system in a factory or the like provides a location signal to a central processor holding the control program and relevant I/O data. Based on that location signal, the mobile HMI receives data relevant to the machines near its location. As the user moves through the factory, its location signal changes and the data and program which it executes changes accordingly. The user may identify him or herself to the mobile HMI providing for a second degree of discrimination in the type of data provided to the mobile HMI.
211 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An industrial control system for controlling the operation of a process executed on a plurality of spatially separate machines that interact to execute the controlled process, the control system comprising:
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a data network; a plurality of interface circuits providing output signals to the machines and receiving input signals from the machines; an electronic computer communicating with the interface circuits via the data network and executing a control program to read the input signals from the interface circuits and to generate the output signals to the interface circuit s based on the input signals and the control program so as to control the process; a remote link; a portable operator terminal including; (i) terminal output means for providing a terminal output to a human operators wherein the terminal output indicates a portion of the control program associated with a given machine; (ii) a locator means producing a location signal indicating a spatial proximity of the portable operator terminal to the given machine; the electronic computer further communicating with the portable operator terminal via the remote link and executing an operator program to provide the terminal outputs based on the location signals and the operation of the given machine. therefore. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An industrial control system for controlling the operation of a process executed on a plurality of spatially separate machines that interact to execute the controlled process, the control system comprising:
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a data network; a plurality of interface circuits providing output signals to the machines and receiving input signals from the machines; an electronic computer communicating with the interface circuits via the data network and executing a control program to read the input signals from the interface circuits and to generate the output signals to the interface circuits based on the input signals and the control program so as to control the process; a remote link; a portable operator terminal including; (i) terminal output means for providing a terminal output to a human operator; (ii) a locator means producing a location signal indicating a spatial proximity of the portable operator terminal to a given machine; (iii) a memory holding an application program, wherein the electronic computer further communicates with the portable operator terminal to download an application program to the memory of the portable operator terminal, and wherein the application program is determined by the electronic computer based on at least one of the group consisting of an identification of the portable operator terminal, an identification of a user of the portable operator terminal and the location signal; the electronic computer further communicating with the portable operator terminal via the remote link and executing an operator program to provide the terminal outputs based on the location signals and the operation of the given machine. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification