Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

Memsic, Inc.

Aceinna, Inc.

Yongyao Cai

Timothy P Wolfe

Yang Zhao

Burt Sacherski

Suresh Ramanujan Nair

Wayne R Foster

Brian J Taylor

Lee A Lane

Rebecca R Jaeger

Michelle L Poublon

Ashley M Killian

Linxi Gao

Kevin M Zomchek

Leyue Jiang

David Alan Vasko

Bijan Sayyarrodsari

Steven T Haensgen

Roberto S Santos

Alexander Dribinsky

Kyle A Crum

Albert M Leung

Chirag L Malkan

Gregory P Pucci

Katherine Sokolnicki

Shuo Gu

Jiaoming Qiu

Thomas Lloyd Botker

Yutao Wang

Mathew Varghese

Girish S Mali

Haidong Liu

Jerome S Marcelino

Michael E Rebeschini

Zongya Li

Thomas O Maginnis

Yaping Hua

Daniel Vasquez

Zhengxin Zhao

Gary J O'Brien

Nan Jou Pern

Kevin Zomchek

James Fennelly

Paul Zavracky

Boeun Uy

Mark Laich

Mali S Girish

A method for correlating data from different sensors for product lifecycle management includes receiving sensor information from an additional sensor of a plurality of sensors of an industrial operation. The additional sensor is different from component sensors used for functionality of a component of the industrial operation. Sensor information from the additional sensor monitors conditions of a portion of the industrial operation different from sensor information of the component sensors used for the functionality of the component. The method includes deriving, using the sensor information, a correlation between an operational parameter of the component and sensor information of the additional sensor. The operational parameter is related to a predicted operational lifetime of the component. The method includes identifying an abnormal operating condition of the component based on a comparison between additional sensor information from the additional sensor and the operational parameter, and sending an alert with the abnormal operating condition.

Product lifecycle management

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 for correlating data from sensors includes receiving sensor information from a plurality of sensors of an industrial operation. Sensor information from component sensors is used for functionality of a component of the industrial operation and sensor information from additional sensors monitor conditions of a portion of the industrial operation different from the component. The method includes deriving, using the sensor information, correlations between component sensors and additional sensors and deriving a baseline signature from the sensor information and the correlations. The baseline signature encompasses a range of normal operating conditions. The method includes identifying an abnormal operating condition based on a comparison between additional sensor information and the baseline signature. The sensor information is used differently for functionality of the component than for deriving the correlations and baseline signature and identifying the abnormal operating condition. The method includes sending an alert with the abnormal operating condition.

Aggregate and correlate data from different types of sensors

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

An industrial locking switch comprises multiple locking tongue entry slots formed on adjacent sides of the locking switch housing, thereby supporting receipt of the corresponding locking tongue from multiple directions of approach without the need to mechanically modify the switch's head or to reorient the switch itself. The locking switch houses locking bolt detection circuity comprising multiple series connected RFID coils configured to detect an RFID tag mounted on the locking tongue when the locking tongue is inserted into any of the entry slots.

Guard locking switch with three concurrent directions of approach

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 sensing a position of a locking bolt of an industrial locking switch includes an inductive circuit, a converter, and a master controller. The inductive circuit includes an inductive coil and a capacitor electrically connected in parallel. The inductive coil is positioned to receive a locking bolt of an industrial locking switch when the locking bolt is transitioned to a lock position. The converter is configured to convert a frequency of a current signal on the inductive circuit to a digital frequency value. The master controller is configured to generate a bolt detection signal in response to determining that the digital frequency value changes by an amount equal to or substantially equal to a defined frequency shift corresponding to a frequency shift induced by the inductive coil in response to presence of the locking bolt within the inductive coil's magnetic field.

Diagnostic element for validation of bolt detection of a guard locking switch in a static state

An industrial locking switch includes an inductive sensing circuit that uses a non-contact technique to detect when the switch's locking bolt has transitioned to the lock position. The inductive sensing circuit can comprise an inductive coil, a capacitor, and a converter that converts a frequency of a current signal through the inductive coil to a digital frequency value. A controller detects when the locking bolt has advanced to the lock position by monitoring the digital frequency value for frequency shifts indicative of a disturbance of the induction coil's magnetic field by the locking bolt. To validate operation of the inductive sensing system without requiring actuation of the locking bolt, a diagnostic switch connects a diagnostic capacitor to the inductive circuit to simulate the frequency shift caused by the locking bolt, and the inductive sensing system is validated if the expected frequency shift is detected.

A bobbin for holding inductive coils includes features that yield a smaller overall size and prevent irregular and asymmetric coil windings. The bobbin comprises a central hub and a single flange that extends from a middle circumference of the hub. The bobbin includes no end flanges at the ends of the central hub, reducing the height of the bobbin. The interface between the flange and the hub is a sharp corner with little or no radius, facilitating regular and symmetrical coil geometries. Coil assemblies can be attached to the respective two sides of the flange concentrically with the hub. Each coil assembly can be formed by winding a transmitter coil, then winding a receiver coil concentrically over the transmitter coil. Conductive pins that extend from the outer edge of the flange interface the coil lead wires to a printed circuit board of an inductive sensor or other device.

Bobbin construction and coil winding method

Systems and methods to detect when the external magnetic field becomes higher than the saturation field of AMR material are described. Approaches include saturation detection by combining sensors with different full-scale ranges, saturation detection using DC current and saturation detection by arranging sensitive axes at 45&#xb0; offsets.

Method and apparatus for detecting magnetic saturation in AMR sensors

The present invention provides a MEMS thermal flow sensor or meter for measuring the flow rate of a fluid without need for calibration of the flow sensor for that particular fluid. A response curve is determined by plotting the sensor output voltage against the volume flow rate divided by fluid thermal diffusivity for a calibration fluid of known thermal diffusivity, and storing response curve data in memory. A conversion factor is employed to provide a measure of correct flow rate of an unknown fluid. This conversion factor is derived from the ratio of the thermal time constant of the calibration fluid to the thermal time constant of the measured fluid, the time constants being measured at zero flow. These time constants are stored in memory. This conversion factor in conjunction with the response curve data is utilized by the processor to produce the correct flow rate. The invention also encompasses a method for measuring fluid flow rate of fluids of differing properties without necessity of a separate flow calibration for each fluid.

MEMS thermal flow sensor with compensation for fluid composition

A three-axis magnetic sensor or magnetometer is provided. Two magnetic sensor Wheatstone bridges using barber pole AMR structures are fabricated on opposite sides of a bump structure formed on a substrate to provide surfaces that are at a predetermined angle with respect to the flat surface of the substrate. The bridge assembly is oriented along the Y axis and the bridges are interconnected such that Y and Z channel signals can be produced by processing of the bridge signals. The X channel signals are provided by an X axis sensor provided on the level surface of the substrate.

Monolithic three-axis magnetic field sensor

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Acton, MA, United States of America

Yongyao Cai