Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

Dayin Xu

David Dale Brandt

Guolin Zhang

Yi Qiang Yu

William Howell Martin

Clifford J Whitehead, Jr

Fuhua Ding

Brian Alan Batke

Tracy M Clark

Robert H Schmidt

John Patrick Caspers

Scott D Braun

Xikai Sun

Yutao Wang

Jadav Das

Zhenhuan Yuan

John Floresta

Wojciech Koczwara

Scott T Griffiths

Jeffrey Scott Martin

Shankha S Seal

Jes Asmussen

Chao Chen

Jun Li

Mark R Cooper

David Lee Jensen

Wayne H Wielebski

Arun K Guru

Jerry Michael Watkins

John Robert Figie

Rebecca R Jaeger

Patrick K Duffy

Ping Soon Lee

Yi Yu

Chetan Chandrasekara

Katherine Sokolnicki

Michaela R Kaufmann

Goulin Zhang

Jr Clifford J Whitehead

Systems and methods for synchronizing motion connection communication to time-aware network for industrial systems. One system includes an electronic processor configured to determine a controller Qbv configuration for an industrial controller included in a TSN. The electronic processor is also configured to determine, based at least in part on the controller Qbv configuration, a first start of a Qbv slot for isochronous traffic for an industrial device included in the TSN. The electronic processor is also configured to adjust, based at least in part on the first start of the Qbv slot for isochronous traffic for the industrial device, network scheduling for the industrial device. The electronic processor is also configured to deploy the adjusted network scheduling to the industrial device.

System and method to synchronize motion connection communication to time-sensitive networks for industrial systems

An industrial Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) system and method for connecting devices within an industrial automation system is provided. The industrial SPE system comprises a trunkline formed by a series of trunk cables, where each trunk cable includes a power pair and an SPE pair, and one or more taps connected between the trunk cables of the trunkline. The industrial SPE system further comprises a drop line connected to each of the one or more taps, and a device connected to each of one or more taps via the drop lines. The device is an actuator or a sensor, and at least one of the device and the one or more taps includes a dual-port SPE switch.

On-machine industrial SPE network system and method

For a bi-directional bus topology, a node connection includes two select line connections for a select line of a serial network. The select line is broken at the node connection. A bus direction module configures a first select line connection for an input line and a second select line connection for an output line in response to detecting a selection event. At least a portion of the bus direction module includes one or more of hardware and executable code, the executable code stored on a memory.

Bi-directional bus topology

A system and method of determining orientation of a physical location on a cart or end effector located on the cart in an independent cart system receives a feedback signal from a sensor on the cart. A multi-axis device may generate three or more signals corresponding to X, Y, and Z axes orientations. Processing may be performed on the signals to generate a value of yaw, pitch, or roll of the cart. The feedback or processed signals are transmitted from the mover to a remote device external from the track. The real-time orientation information may be used to implement closed-loop control of an actuator mounted on or external to each cart as the cart travels along the track. Power for the devices on the mover may be provided by a battery mounted on the cart or by a wireless power transfer system.

System and method for determining real-time orientation on carts in an independent cart system

A communication module mounted to a motor provides for communication between a motor controller and a motor or between the motor controller and devices mounted on or proximate to the motor. The communication module may be configured to accept signals from various different encoders and/or load devices mounted on or proximate to the motor. The communication module receives a position feedback signal from a primary encoder interface and is configured to transmit the data to the motor controller at a periodic update rate. The communication module also receives feedback signals from at least one additional device and transmits the data to the motor controller. The communication module synchronizes its periodic update rate with the motor controller such that the position feedback signal may be utilized to control operation of the motor. The additional feedback signals may be communicated at the same or differing update rates.

Method and apparatus for communication with a motor or load mounted device in motion applications

Embodiments of this present disclosure may include a system that includes a first network device. The first network device may perform an operation according to a device configuration file. The system may also include a second network device that directly communicatively couples to the first network device through a peer-to-peer (P-P) communication network. The second network device may include a backup file of the device configuration file. The second network device may transmit the backup file of the device configuration file to the first network device in response to detecting that the first network device is lacking the device configuration file.

Peer-level control of industrial automation system components

An independent cart system includes an inductive link for contactless power transfer between a track and each mover as the mover travels along the track. A system for contactless data transmission between movers and a controller in the independent cart system includes a transmitter and/or receiver mounted on each mover and a complementary receiver and/or transmitter mounted on a track. The transmitter receives data to be transmitted across the inductive link and modulates a voltage present on either the primary or secondary winding to which it is coupled. The modulated voltage present on one winding induces a corresponding modulation on the voltage present on the other winding. A receiver operatively connected to the other side of the inductive link detects the modulated voltage and decodes the data from the modulated voltage received across the inductive link.

Method and apparatus for data transmission over an inductive link for an independent cart system

A system may include a first device that has a first network component and a second device that has a second network component. The second network component may receive a data packet from the first network component based at least in part on a network address, where the network address is generated based at least in part on a location of the first device.

Generating location-based addresses for wireless network communication

The subject matter disclosed herein describes a switch embedded in a motor controller and a network protocol executing on the switch to provide communication between devices connected to the motor controller in a motor drive application. The embedded switch is configured to communicate via separate ports with an external controller, a network interface for the motor controller, additional motor controllers, and with the motor or other devices mounted on the motor. The network protocol includes a first tier for data that requires deterministic delivery at a high data rate, a second tier for data that requires a high delivery rate but is also tolerant of some variation in delivery time, and a third tier for data that may be delivered at a slower data rate. The embedded switch receives data at any port, identifies the communication tier to which the data belongs, and delivers it to another port accordingly.

Method and apparatus for communication in a motor drive application

A system is provided in which a position for each device (relative to other devices) in a topology, and a corresponding device ID for each device, may be predetermined. Then, the predetermined position and corresponding device ID for each device may be compared to actual devices in a topology having preprogrammed device ID's and pre-assigned IP addresses. If the comparison produces a match, the pre-assigned IP addresses in the actual devices may be utilized. However, if the comparison does not produce a match, the condition may be reported for further action.

Internet protocol (IP) addressing using an industrial control program

IP addresses may be allocated to devices in an industrial control system by applying starting address information in combination with each device's relative position in a local network. The starting address information, which may include an IP subnet address, gateway address, subnet mask, subnet size, and/or local network group identifier, may be provided to a first positioned, or 'initiator,' device in a local network. The initiator device may determine its IP address by applying the starting address information and knowledge of being the first positioned device. The initiator device may send the position information and at least a portion of the starting address information to a next device, which may determine its relative position based on the received position information, and which may apply its relative position with the portion of the starting address information to determine its IP address. This process may continue sequentially for each device.

Topology based internet protocol (IP) addressing

An electronic device in an industrial control system may be connected as a network device, such as via EtherNet/IP. The device may be configured to provide an 'unconnected' message notification (or 'active report') when the device detects an enumerated condition, such as an error or deviation. An unconnected message may be a message sent between two or more applications (which may be of the same or different devices) without pre-established communication channel bindings. An unconnected message may include routing path information for routing the message to the host computer, application path information for associating the applications, and data payload information related to at least one of a state of the electronic device and the enumerated condition.

Active report of event and data

Growing community of inventors

Shanghai, China

Dayin Xu