Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

Other

Rockwell Automation Switzerland Gmbh

Rockwell Automation Ag

Tockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

Wayne R Foster

Suresh Ramanujan Nair

Anatoly G Grinberg

Burt Sacherski

Yongyao Cai

Brian J Taylor

Kevin M Zomchek

Timothy P Wolfe

Rebecca R Jaeger

Lee A Lane

Michelle L Poublon

Ashley M Killian

Linxi Gao

Joshua D Vavra

Steven Robert Tambeau

Derek William Jones

Rudolf Papenbreer

Norbert Machuletz

Michael N Burdenko

Oliver Heckel

Alex Harris

Carl Meinherz

Thomas Helpenstein

Martin Hardegger

Dennis C Mackey

Van Duros

Simon Eggenberger

James Edward Dogul

Dirk Lorenz

Christopher Burke

Prachi S Kulkarni

William E Waltz

Richard W Boyd

Kevin Zomchek

Rudolf Laurenz Papenbreer

Rudolf Lorenz Papenbreer

Steven R Tambeau

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.

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 system for improving a sensing ability of an interlock switch system may include an interlock switch and a target component. The interlock switch may include a first antenna coil that may receive one or more signals from one or more antenna coils within a sensing range of the first antenna coil. The target component may include an actuator that may interface with the interlock switch. The target component may also include at least two antenna coils. Each of the at least two antenna coils may then include an electronic identification (ID) associated with the target component.

Systems and methods for improving a sensing ability of an interlock switch system

A control assembly includes a locking device having at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, the locking device configurable to change from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation. The locking device has a non-contact sensor and a microcontroller. An independent communicator is configured to communicate configuration data to the microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured to change from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation using configuration data received from the independent communicator.

Locking switch assembly and related methods

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

A single-wire safety system architecture 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 compatible safety devices connected in series with the safety relay via a single-wire communication circuit. The safety 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. 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, and can also allow safety devices to insert prognostic data into the safety signal in order to convey health information while the system is in normal operation mode.

Single-wire industrial safety system with safety device diagnostic communication

A single-wire safety system architecture 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 compatible safety input devices connected in series with the safety relay via a single-wire communication circuit. The safety input 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. The safety relay maintains safety mode as long as the pulse pattern is received and recognized. In addition to conveying the safety signal, the architecture allows bi-directional communication of initialization, configuration, and diagnostic messages over the single-wire safety channel. The architecture also facilitates rapid initialization of the safety channel using asynchronous sub-link detection and device enumeration.

Diagnostics and enhanced functionality for single-wire safety communication

The subject matter disclosed herein describes an optical sensor used in a safety system. The sensor includes two pixel matrices on a single substrate. Each of the pixel matrices are arranged in a row and column format, and pixels from one matrix are interspersed with pixels from the other matrix such that alternating pixels in each row and column belong to separate matrices. Two sets of selection logic allow each matrix to be enabled separately. Additional monitoring logic is included to detect shorted pixels and/or shorted selection lines. In addition, the frames generated by each pixel array may be compared to detect variation in performance between arrays.

Method and apparatus for enabling sensors in a dual matrix sensor array

Aspects of the present invention provide an RFID system for safely controlling an auto guided vehicle, an automated robot or other moving object ('AGV'). The system may include a plurality of radio frequency identification ('RFID') tags, and each may store a unique identification in a first memory location, a position in a second memory location and/or an instruction in a third memory location. An AGV having an RFID transceiver or antenna and a computer with a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing a predetermined table may read one or more of the memory locations. The table comprises a plurality of data elements with certain data elements associated with particular RFID tags. The AGV safely determines its location upon matching the one or more memory locations read with one or more data elements, or triggers a fault upon failing to match. The AGV may also predict the next RFID tag.

Radio frequency identification in safety applications

Systems and methods are provided relating to utilizing a plurality of RFID tags in conjunction with a circuit comprising at least one reed switch to facilitate determination of operational states and actions based thereon. A magnet can activate the reed switch causing a first RFID tag to be activated and transmit an associated RFID identifier from which a position/operation associated with the first RFID can be determined. The magnet can be removed to activate a second RFID tag whereupon a second RFID identifier is transmitted from which a second position/operation can be determined. The circuit comprising the reed switch and RFID tags can have an induction coil enabling the circuit to be activated when the induction coil is brought into proximity of a second induction coil and inductively coupled.

Determining operational state with tags

A system to test operation of an optical sensor is disclosed. The optical sensor includes one or more photosensitive devices configured to convert light to electrical signals. A test light source is included within the housing of the optical sensor. The test light source is periodically pulsed on to emit radiation at a sufficient intensity to saturate each of the photosensitive devices. Each of the photosensitive devices generates a signal corresponding to the intensity of light detected at that device. A logic circuit uses the signals corresponding to the intensity of light to identify whether each of the photosensitive devices is performing at an acceptable level.

Growing community of inventors

Tyngsborough, MA, United States of America

Wayne R Foster