Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

Rockwell Automation Germany Gmbh & Co Kg

Cedes Safety & Automation Ag

Rockwell Automation Switzerland Gmbh

Rockwell Automation Safety Ag

Suresh Ramanujan Nair

Richard Galera

Derek William Jones

George E Rollins

James Edward Dogul

Ray Carlisle Delcher

George Karl Schuster

Burt Sacherski

Wayne R Foster

Brian J Taylor

Rudolf Papenbreer

Yongyao Cai

Timothy P Wolfe

Rebecca R Jaeger

Lee A Lane

Ashley M Killian

Linxi Gao

Michelle L Poublon

Norbert Machuletz

Oliver Heckel

Elik I Fooks

Kevin M Zomchek

Thomas Helpenstein

Martin Hardegger

Alex Harris

Robert M Black

Craig Martin Brockman

Scott H Wakefield

Roberto S Santos

Carl Meinherz

Frederic Boutaud

Dennis C Mackey

Steven Robert Tambeau

Mussa Tohidi Khaniki

Christopher Burke

Michael Flannery

Van Duros

Manfred Norbert Stein

Reto Berner

Jan Anslinger

David Dale Brandt

Thong T Nguyen

Anthony Gerard Gibart

Jianhua Wang

Michael N Burdenko

Steven J Scott

Dirk Lorenz

Derek Washington Gallon

Timothy F Roback

Eric Clinton Henefield

David M O'Brien

Kentaro Sugimoto

Wei Jie Chen

Roger Merz

Steven A Eisenbrown

Michael J Gilson

Adonis Evangelista Reyes

Norbert Manfred Stein

Kevin Zomchek

Rudolf Lorenz Papenbreer

Manfred Stein

George K Schuster

Manfred Norbert Dr Stein

Timothy Roback

Rudolf Laurenz Papenbreer

A method for monitoring machine operation for various machine speed and loads includes measuring vibration information at a sensor associated with a machine and an associated machine speed. The machine is a rotating machine. The method includes performing an operational frequency analysis of the vibration information and comparing results from the operational frequency analysis with a vibration signature for the machine. The vibration signature is for a machine speed that matches the machine speed of the measured vibration information. The vibration signature is one of several vibration signatures for the machine where each is for a different machine speed. The method includes identifying a potential failure mode based on a frequency range where the frequency analysis of the measured vibration information exceeds, by a threshold amount, the vibration signature of the plurality of vibration signatures that matches the machine speed, and transmitting an alert comprising the identified potential failure mode.

Monitoring machine operation for various speed and loading conditions

A method includes sending a first safety instruction to a machine in response to, within an entry window of time, receiving an open alert that a movable barrier is in an open state, where the movable barrier is at an entry point of an enclosure protecting personnel from the machine, receiving tag information of a person from a reader at the movable barrier, and confirming that the tag information belongs to a person authorized to enter the enclosure. The method includes sending a second safety instruction to the machine in response to, within the entry window of time, receiving the open alert, and without receiving tag information or confirming that the tag information belongs to a person authorized to enter the enclosure. The first and second safety instructions are different and the first safety instruction is less restrictive than the second safety instruction in terms of actions to prevent injury.

Radio frequency identifier apparatus for access control and user identification

A method for predicting end-of-life for a component includes determining a baseline lifetime model for a component connected to a machine functional safety system. The component is part of a system with physical devices. The method includes monitoring environmental conditions and usage conditions of the component and modifying the baseline lifetime model based on the monitored environmental and usage conditions to produce a modified lifetime model for the component. The method includes tracking a lifetime progress of the component with respect to the modified lifetime model and sending an alert in response to lifetime progress of the component reaching a lifetime threshold associated with the modified lifetime model.

Predicting end of life for industrial automation components

A method for derivation of a machine signature includes receiving sensor information from a primary sensor, where the primary sensor is positioned to receive information from a portion of an industrial operation, and receiving sensor information from one or more secondary sensors. The secondary sensors are arranged to provide additional information about the industrial operation indicative of current operating conditions of the industrial operation. The method includes using the sensor information from the secondary sensors and machine learning to determine if the portion of the industrial operation is operating in a normal condition and, in response to determining that the portion of the industrial operation is operating normally, using sensor information from the primary sensor during the normal operating condition to derive a primary sensor signature for the sensor information from the primary sensor.

Monitoring machine operation with different sensor types to identify typical operation for derivation of a signature

A component includes a housing mounted at an entry point of an enclosure protecting a machine. The component includes a first RFID sensor, in the housing, that reads a first RFID tag in close proximity to the first RFID sensor indicating a closed status of a movable barrier of the enclosure at the entry point. Opening of the movable barrier allows entry to the enclosure. The component includes a second RFID sensor, in the housing, that reads a second RFID tag of an authorized person. The component includes a barrier access module that sends an open alert that the movable barrier is in an open state in response to the first RFID sensor not being close enough to read the first RFID tag, and an identification module that sends tag information unique to a person from the second RFID tag.

An expansion module for an industrial controller is configured to perform independent local processing of its input signals and to independently generate control outputs in parallel with the primary control program executed by the industrial controller. This can reduce or eliminate response latency for time-critical processes that would otherwise be present if all monitoring and control were performed by the industrial controller alone. This approach can be beneficial for configurations in which the industrial devices that are monitored and controlled via the expansion module require fast response times, as in the case of industrial safety applications.

Input signal coordination and method for use with an expansion module

A component for light curtain alignment includes a light intensity receiver that receives a plurality of light intensity signals from beam receivers of a receiver unit of a light curtain. The light curtain includes a transmitter unit with beam transmitters arranged linearly on the transmitter unit. The light curtain includes the receiver unit with the plurality of beam receivers arranged linearly. Each beam receiver is configured to receive light from a corresponding beam transmitter. The component includes a light intensity transmitter configured to transmit, from the light curtain, the plurality of light intensity signals received by the light intensity receiver, where each light intensity signal is from one or more beam receivers, and a trip transmitter that transmits a trip signal in response to determining that a light intensity signal from a beam receiver of the plurality of beam receivers is below a trip threshold.

Light curtain alignment using beam intensities

A single-wire safety system architecture yields reliable safety device monitoring without the need for dual redundant signal channels. The safety system comprises a safety relay and one or more compatible safety input devices connected in series with the safety relay via a single-wire communication circuit. A safety signal with a recognizable pulse pattern traverses the single-wire safety circuit to the safety relay via the safety devices. The safety relay opens its contactors and deenergizes its associated industrial equipment if the pulse pattern is not received and recognized. The safety relay can also be configured to initiate a global emergency stop in response to a loss of a safety function by one of its safety input devices, the global emergency stop instructing other safety relays of other safety circuits to open their contactors and enter safe mode.

Global e-stop in an industrial safety system with local and global safety input devices

The present invention relates to an optoelectronic sensor used with light curtains for monitoring a sensing field. The optoelectronic sensor includes at least one optical unit having at least one radiation emitting element and at least one radiation receiving element and a control unit for processing an output signal generated by said radiation receiving element and for generating a defined sensor signal based on the output signal. The optical unit has a diagnostic unit including a monitoring unit operable to monitor at least one parameter indicative of an operational status of the optical unit. The diagnostic unit includes a processing unit operable to generate a communication signal indicative of said operational status, and the diagnostic unit is arranged in a separately housed, detachable plug-in module. The processing unit comprises a wireless communication interface for wirelessly receiving and transmitting communication signals.

Optoelectronic sensor having plug-in unit for providing extended functionality

Photo sensor housing

An energy-efficient industrial sensor is provided that optimizes power consumption based on characteristics of the requirements of the sensing application in which the sensor is used. Operating parameters of the sensor, such as sensing range, operating frequency, response time, noise immunity, or other such parameters, can be scaled to suit the sensing and response requirements and environmental conditions of the sensing application. This allows the sensor to consume less energy when used in sensing applications that do not require peak sensor performance. In some embodiments, the sensor can measure the environmental or machine operating conditions in its immediate vicinity and dynamically scale its operating parameters based on the measured information. By down-scaling the sensor's operating parameters from their maximum performance levels where appropriate, the overall energy footprint of a network of sensors can be reduced.

Application-based power consumption optimization for sensing devices

A housing for an industrial sensor comprises integral U-shaped pockets configured to engage with attachment features of a complementary mounting bracket. The bracket comprises an overhang feature on a second end and a snap feature on an opposing first end. The housing can be mounted to the bracket by inserting a mounting boss formed within one of the U-shaped pockets underneath the overhang feature of the bracket, and pressing the housing against the bracket to cause the snap feature to engage with another mounting boss formed in the other U-shaped pocket. These mounting features allow the housing to be mounted easily and quickly without the use for additional tools. The housing can also be quickly removed from the bracket by pressing an extended tab near the snap feature to facilitate disengagement of the housing from the bracket.

Housing and complementary snap-fit bracket

Smart tap housing

A time-stamping layer is provided for time-stamping of events detected in an industrial safety system. The technique implemented by the time-stamping layer uses autonomous device counters and simple arithmetic to label detected events (e.g., safety switching events) with accurate time-stamps without the need to synchronize clocks of the individual safety input devices and safety relay on the safety circuit. In some embodiments, the time-stamping technique is implemented in a single-wire safety system architecture that yields reliable safety device monitoring without the need for dual redundant signal channels.

Time-stamping and synchronization for single-wire safety communication

A single-wire safety system is provided that yields reliable safety device monitoring without the need for dual redundant signal channels. The safety system comprises a safety relay acting as a communications master device and one or more safety devices connected in series with the safety relay via a single-wire communication circuit. A smart tap device is used to interface safety devices that are not compliant with the single-wire protocol to the single-wire channel. The safety device or smart tap device farthest from the safety relay on the safety circuit modulates a safety signal with a recognizable pulse pattern that traverses the single-wire safety circuit to the safety relay via the intermediate safety devices or smart taps. The safety relay maintains safety mode as long as the pulse pattern is received and recognized. The architecture allows bi-directional communication of initialization, configuration, and diagnostic messages over the single-wire safety channel.

Smart taps for a single-wire industrial safety system

Growing community of inventors

Amherst, NH, United States of America

Suresh Ramanujan Nair