Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Frank Lahner

Jan Husak

Peter Thamm

Michael Bahr

Norbert Vicari

Thomas Völkel

A method for transmitting a beacon for a star network in manufacturing automation, for use in a communications protocol, such as IEEE Standard 802.15.4e, for manufacturing automation, using at least one gateway and at least one sensor node, wherein the beacon comprises a field including information about a number of base time slots in a superframe.

Method for transmitting a beacon in a star network (master-slave ad hoc network) and a sensor node in a star network

A light signal transmitter and a light receiver for an optical sensor may be used for an industrial automation system. The light signal transmitter has a semiconductor-based light source for generating light. The semiconductor-based light source is disposed in an installation space between outer layers of a multi-layer circuit board. The light emission direction of the semiconductor-based light source is oriented substantially parallel to the layers of the printed circuit board. A deflection unit deflects the light emitted by the semiconductor-based light source in a direction substantially perpendicular to the layers of the printed circuit board. In the case of the light receiver, a light sensor is provided in place of the light source. Such optical sensors can be designed in a particularly flat and installation-friendly manner.

Light signal transmitter and light receiver for an optical sensor

The invention relates to a method for the wireless communication between a base station and several devices. The base station monitors the non-use of the transmission of a device telegram to the base station in a time range, or in several consecutive time ranges, between two synchronization signals (S) in the communication mode and after a duration (Tping) of non-use emits an identification telegram (GWping).

Energy and time-efficient set-up of a wireless communication system

A method for wireless communication between a base station and a number of devices is provided, with the devices in each case having a limited energy supply. To establish a connection, the base station sends a sequence of synchronization signals on at least one of its communication channels. The devices in each case listen on their parameterized or unparameterized communication channel within a listening period, which is repeated with a repetition frequency that can be set. Outside the listening period, the device in question is set to an energy-saving mode. The length of the listening period, the repetition frequency and the energy consumption in the energy saving mode are synchronized with each other in such a way that the energy consumption up to the connection setup averaged over time does not exceed the energy consumption during normal operation of the device.

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Erlangen, Germany

Frank Lahner