Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080275578 | DATA COLLECTOR CONTROL SYSTEM WITH AUTOMATIC COMMUNICATION PORT SWITCH - A data collector control system for semiconductor manufacturing comprises a data collector and a automatic communication port switch control circuit. The control system is placed between an equipment and an equipment automation programming (EAP) system. The data collector processes and transmits communication messages between the equipment and the EAP system while the data collector operates normally. The communication messages between the equipment and the EAP system are transmitted through the control circuit instead of the data collector while the data collector operates abnormally. | 11-06-2008 |
20090055001 | Controlled Terminal in Centralized Control System and Centralized Control System - A content providing device includes: a second communication device transmitting and receiving data with a mobile phone having a connection function to a second network; and a control device requesting the mobile phone to receive content as a substitute by using the second communication device, and receiving the content from the mobile phone which has received the content from a content control server in response to the request when it is failed to receive the content from the content control server through a first network by using a first communication device. | 02-26-2009 |
20090062937 | WIRELESS TRANSMISSION OF SIGNALS - A system for wireless transmission of signals is provided. The system includes a mobile operator unit that is operable to transmit signals; and a base unit of a safety-critical device that is operable to receive signals from the mobile operator unit. The mobile operator unit is operable to categorize the signals to be transmitted as safety-relevant control signals and non-critical communication signals. Only the safety-relevant control signals are checked for error-free transmission. The non-critical communication signals are transmitted without error safety checking. | 03-05-2009 |
20090088874 | Valve manifold assemblies and method of operating valve manifold assemblies - A fieldbus valve station with a valve manifold and a communications module having a bus communication unit mounted therein for using a fieldbus protocol and connectable to a fieldbus network and to provide local and peer to peer network control by the valve station if a fault is detected or there is a break from the main fieldbus network. | 04-02-2009 |
20090112336 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING TIME SYNCHRONIZATION MONITORING AND DETECTION IN A SAFETY INSTRUMENTED SYSTEM - An apparatus, system and process is provided from communicating safety-related data, over an open system, from a sender to a receiver. Safety-related components, including function blocks, flexible function blocks, resource blocks and transducer blocks, as well as, safety-related objects are provided. Also, a time synchronization monitor is provided for monitoring timing distributions and determining when such distributions have drifted beyond an acceptable limit. | 04-30-2009 |
20090118843 | System and method for displaying status of field devices - The invention is a system for monitoring the status of a field device having data including a data acquisition module, a first and a second diagnosis engine, and a client having a user input element for receiving user input status. | 05-07-2009 |
20090138105 | Method of controlling an irrigation system - The present invention is a method of controlling an irrigation system that minimizes the amount of irrigation water applied with the use of evapotranspiration (ET) to adjust the irrigation controller. By basing the irrigation program on run times which equal a specific amount of water, ET can be used as a percentage to adjust the amount of water applied during an irrigation cycle. By setting a run time to equal 1″ of rainfall ET can be used as a multiplier against the run time to make the correct adjustment to provide required water. By setting the amount of water to be applied to 2″ or any other amount would need an additional multiplier added to make the proper adjustment. Adjustments for landscape coefficient and distribution uniformity would be placed in run time formula based on use of ET set at 1″. The adjusted run time would be the input into the control system. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138106 | CONTROL DEVICE, MACHINE TOOL, AND DISPLAYING METHOD - A numerical control device includes a display, a memory, and a CPU (central processing unit). The display displays an image based on image information stored in a video memory. The memory stores internal information used when a failure occurs in the numerical control device. The CPU includes a code creator and a display controller. The code creator creates a matrix two-dimensional code of the internal information stored in the memory. The display controller synthesizes image information stored in the video memory with a matrix two-dimensional code created in the code creator to display the matrix two-dimensional code on the display. | 05-28-2009 |
20090143876 | Method for limiting expansion of earthquake damage and system for limiting expansion of earthquake damage for use in semiconductor manufacturing apparatus - To predict occurrence of an earthquake so as to minimize damage by preventing an object to be processed from flying out of an opened container. A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus | 06-04-2009 |
20090149971 | INTELLIGENT MEDICAL CONSUMABLES - The present invention is directed to a host device and an associated consumable item that electronically communicates with the device. Exchanged information between the device and attachment is used to prevent improper device operation, limiting injury and ensuring reliable and proper operation. Communication between the host device and consumable electrodes allow for the continuous monitoring and adjustment of therapeutic electrical signals, ensuring the accurate and safe delivery of therapeutic energy into deep tissue. Embodiments include consumable items that exchange information including a physical type, a status, and/or quality control standards of the consumable item. Embodiments include an assembly or group of consumables that can communicate among themselves and with a host device; performing fixed or varied tasks for one another and/or the host device. Embodiments of the consumable item include medical consumable items. Methods of operation thereof are also disclosed. | 06-11-2009 |
20090171479 | Plant Control System - A plant control system includes at least one control apparatus, and an engineering apparatus for changing a security state of the control apparatus. The control apparatus includes: a security management part for accepting a security level change request downloaded from the engineering apparatus and changing a security level of the control apparatus by referring to a password held by the control apparatus; and a change permission part for permitting a change in the security level by the security management part. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171480 | FULLY AUTOMATED, COMPUTER-AIDED INTERVENTION APPARATUS WITH OPERATIONAL STABILIZATION APPARATUS FOR MALFUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATE METHOD - The invention proposes a fully automated, computer-aided intervention apparatus ( | 07-02-2009 |
20090216350 | CONTROL VALVE AND POSITIONER DIAGNOSTICS - Valve positioning systems may include one or more components and a controller. Components may include one or more electric-to-pressure output converters, relays, gas supplies, and/or actuators. A controller may adjust a position of a valve by sending a signal. The valve positioning system may individually monitor components and determine the condition of each component being individually monitored. The valve positioning system may determine if a component will fail prior to failure and/or determine if a problem will occur in a component prior to the problem occurring. | 08-27-2009 |
20090222112 | Safety device for the safe activation of connected actuators - A safety device ( | 09-03-2009 |
20090276063 | Control Device Having an Integrated Machine Model - A production machine can be controlled by a control device in accordance with a control program which is stored in the control device. The production machine has at least two elements having interfaces, which are connected to one another at the interfaces. The control device stores element descriptions of possible elements, which respectively comprise at least one list of the existing interfaces, such that the control device can determine which elements can be connected to one another. The control device also stores a desired expansion description which at least comprises which elements the production machine has and which interfaces are said to connect the elements to one another. The control device has an operator interface which an operator of the production machine can use to request the desired expansion description which can be output to the operator on the basis of the request and can be changed by the operator. | 11-05-2009 |
20090287321 | CONFIGURATION SYSTEM USING SECURITY OBJECTS IN A PROCESS PLANT - A configuration system uses process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant to assist in configuring, organizing, and changing the control and display activities within the process plant. Access to the items may be controlled by associating access control data with the items. The configuration system may also use objects that represent, or may be capable of representing, one or more steps to be performed by entities in the process plant. Access to these objects may be controlled by associating access control data with the objects. The access control data may indicate whether users or certain users may be able to, for example, view or modify all or some data associated with the process plant items or the objects. The process plant items may comprise, for example, module class objects which may be capable of generically representing process entities of the process plant, module objects which may be capable of specifically representing process entities of the process plant, composite templates, module templates, etc. The objects that represent, or may be capable of representing, one or more steps to be performed by entities in the process plant may comprise, for example, phase classes or unit phases. | 11-19-2009 |
20090292374 | Substrate Processing System - A substrate processing system capable of making it easy to set an operation authority in a plurality of substrate processing apparatuses and a management device is provided. In a substrate processing system including a plurality of substrate processing apparatuses for executing a process on a wafer, a management device connected to the plurality of substrate processing apparatuses via a communication line, the management device has a display screen for setting an operation authority to each of the management device and the plurality of substrate processing apparatuses capable of communicating with the management device for each user. | 11-26-2009 |
20090319061 | Apparatus for integrating device objects into a super ordinated control unit - An apparatus for integrating device objects into a superordinated control unit for field devices in automation technology, wherein a predetermined operating system runs on the control unit, the control unit communicates via a fieldbus with the field devices and the device objects serve for servicing the field devices. A communication hardware is provided, having a first communication link for connecting to the control unit and a second communication link for connecting to the fieldbus. Associated with the communication hardware is a memory element, in which the device objects, a driver for the communication hardware and a frame application for the device objects are stored. The communication hardware is so embodied, that, upon coupling of the communication hardware to the control unit via the first communication link, the frame application is started via the operating system of the control unit and the driver for the communication hardware is installed, so that operating personnel can, via the device objects stored in the memory element and the fieldbus, service the associated field devices. | 12-24-2009 |
20090326683 | CONTROL SYSTEM OF A TECHNICAL INSTALLATION - A control system of a technical installation including at least one field device which makes available at least two redundant protocol values that are converted by the control system into a single non-redundant functional value is provided. The control system is provided with at least two redundant communication channels for converting the at least two redundant protocol values, the channels controlling the respective protocol value with respect to its exactitude and transmitting an exact protocol value. | 12-31-2009 |
20100016997 | MANIPULATION AID FOR A DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING CONTAINERS - A device for manipulating containers, comprising a manipulation unit manipulating the containers in a predetermined manner, this manipulation unit including at least one condition detection unit which detects at least one operating condition of the manipulation unit and sends out condition signals which are characteristic for this operating condition of the manipulation unit, and including a monitoring unit for monitoring the manipulation unit, the monitoring unit including a visual display device for displaying information as well as a storage device in which presentation data for components of the manipulation unit is deposited. According to the invention, the monitoring unit includes an image manipulation unit which as a response to emitted condition signals provides image sequences on the basis of presentation data stored on the storage device, which image sequences may be output via the display device. | 01-21-2010 |
20100023139 | PROGRAM EDITING DEVICE FOR PROGRAMMABLE CONTROLLER - A common library stores therein user function blocks and ready-made protected function blocks. By being manipulated by the user, an editing device links some of function programs stored in the function blocks in the library to form a control program which controls the exchange of signals between I/O modules and external devices. A control section in the terminal device allows the alteration of the function programs included in the user function blocks, but inhibits the alteration of the function programs included in the protected function blocks. | 01-28-2010 |
20100042232 | Method for operating an industrial plant - A process is disclosed for operating an industrial plant by means of a guidance system that controls processes in the industrial plant, in which process operation-relevant data such as states, malfunctions and/or degradation of devices of the industrial plant are acquired by an operator; the operation-relevant data are acquired in an operation monitoring system and stored in electronic, preferably standardized form, and operation-relevant data on events which can affect process control, such as malfunctions of devices, are electronically transmitted to the guidance system. Operation-relevant data and events can thus be reliably archived, documented and made available to the operators of the industrial plant, it being ensured that process-relevant data are taken into account in the guidance system even when said data relate to devices which are not connected to the guidance system | 02-18-2010 |
20100057225 | AUTOMATION APPARATUSES WITH INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS SERVERS - A protection relay with integrated communications may include a protective relay portion to perform protective relay operations associated with a load operatively connected to the protection relay, and a communications server portion to perform communications operations as an independently operating communications server. | 03-04-2010 |
20100063604 | Method for the Secure Transmission of Data of a Field Device used in Process Automation Technology - In a method for safe transmission of data of a field device of process automation technology via a fieldbus, the transmission signal is registered as a check signal in the field device during the transmission. Analysis of the check signal, on the basis of data content or signal form, detects whether the desired data were transmitted properly. | 03-11-2010 |
20100082127 | MODULAR OBJECT DYNAMIC HOSTING - An object can be used in an industrial control configuration in relation to performing a function or task. Matching can occur such that an object with operational requirements can bind with a host that has capabilities that meet those operational requirements—matching can occur automatically as well as through user operation. Once matched, different functionality can be presented to a user pertaining to the object. To assist the user, the object can include external references, logic, local or private data, as well as others in addition to resources. To facilitate operation, capabilities and resources can be published in a directory that can be accessed by different entities—sometimes with security constraints in order to protect configuration integrity. Likewise, a subscription system can be employed such that when a change to a related entity is made, a notice can transfer to related entities and operation can alter based upon the change. | 04-01-2010 |
20100082128 | FIELD COMMUNICATION TEST DEVICE AND FIELD COMMUNICATION TEST SYSTEM USING THE SAME - A field communication test device is provided on a field bus, to which a plurality of field equipments are connected, and also connected to a debug network to apply a communication test to respective field equipments. The field communication test device transmits/receives cooperation data, which is used to apply the communication test in cooperation with each other, to and from other field communication test device provided on the field bus, via the debug network, and transmits test data for the communication test to the respective field equipments via the field bus base on the cooperation data. | 04-01-2010 |
20100094436 | Plant Control System - A plant control system includes: an engineering apparatus for defining change information so as to change definition information about the system; and a control apparatus for referring to the change information downloaded from the engineering apparatus to set an output value of a field device. The control apparatus includes a locking part for inhibiting setting of the output value of the field device. | 04-15-2010 |
20100100203 | Insuring proper communication with chosen implant among multiple implants in proximity to one another - A system and method for restricting proper regulation by a control unit of only the functionality of the targeted device whose operations are intended to be programmed so as to insure no adverse regulation of functionality with respect to any other non-targeted device. A memory associated with each of the control device and the targeted device stores a unique identification assigned to that targeted device compressed using an error detection scheme, wherein the compressed unique identification has a length less than or equal to that of each of the messages. Circuitry, such as a logic function, mixes the stored compressed unique identification with each message transmitted between the two devices subsequent to receipt of a response signal from the targeted device to an interrogation command from the control device to insure proper communication between the control device and the targeted device. | 04-22-2010 |
20100211195 | Method for Logical Connection of Safety Circuits in an Industrial Automation Arrangement, and Configuration Device for Carrying Out the Method - A method and a programmer for logical connection of a plurality safety circuits in an industrial automation arrangement, wherein a subordinate one of the safety circuits and a super-ordinate one of the safety circuits are each described in a safety matrix. An overall matrix is generated from the safety matrices of the subordinate and super-ordinate safety circuits and the overall matrix indicates the connection of the safety circuits and is automatically converted into a safety-related program. | 08-19-2010 |
20100217408 | Method and device for the bus coupling of safety-relevant processes - The invention proposes a method, in which, according to German Patent Application No. 10 2004 039932.8, a data set that is relevant for a safety-critical process is processed by means of at least two redundant processing channels ( | 08-26-2010 |
20100217409 | Method for Isolating a Plant Device of an Industrial Plant - A method for isolating a plant device of an industrial plant, wherein at least one safety measure is implemented on the plant device in order for work to be done safely on the plant device is provided. Isolation information is communicated to a control and protection system using a data communication unit having a data input that receives data from the plant device. An interface between the data communication unit and a control and protection system of the industrial plant is used to transmit the isolation information from the data communication unit to the control and protection unit. A device for isolating a plant device of an industrial plant to carry out work on the plant device is also provided. | 08-26-2010 |
20100268356 | Method for Checking Suitability of a Data Processing Device for Performing Failsafe Automation Processes - A method for checking a data processing device to determine its suitability for performing failsafe automation processes, wherein the data processing device includes a first and a second time base. The method comprises determining a first time value of the first time base after expiration of a time period of length T, determining a second time value of the second time base after the expiration of the time period of length T, determining a deviation between the first and the second time value, and initiating a troubleshooting measure if the deviation undershoots, i.e., undershoots or reaches, a predefined or pre-definable limit value. | 10-21-2010 |
20100298956 | Safety system for equipment - Apparatus ( | 11-25-2010 |
20100318199 | PLANT CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A plant control system includes a process computer ( | 12-16-2010 |
20110054643 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MANAGE TESTING OF A PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEM - Example methods and apparatus to manage testing of a process control system are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes generating a test application from a process control routine, the test application including at least one test that is to be performed within a time period, monitoring an operation of the process control routine, determining if the operation of the process control routine during the time period includes an execution of a portion of the process control routine that is substantially similar to the at least one test, and updating the test application by indicating that the at least one test has been performed within the time period. | 03-03-2011 |
20110060427 | Diagnostic Module For Distributed Industrial Network Including Industrial Control Devices - A network component for an industrial automation system. The component includes a network switch processor configured to implement a networking switching function, at least one communication port configured to provide a communication channel between the network switch processor and at least one industrial control device over a network, and a diagnostic module configured to be implemented by the network switch processor and configured to retrieve diagnostic information from the at least one industrial control device. | 03-10-2011 |
20110071654 | Control system for controlling safety-critical processes - The invention relates to a control system for controlling safety-critical processes in an automated system by using a communications network with a communications master for controlling the communications on the network and a plurality of network subscribers. At least a few of the network subscribers are constructed as decentralized, secure network subscribers, and each has a separate, decentralized safety controller for controlling a safety-relevant application. Each of the decentralized, secure network subscribers has a unique safety address. The decentralized, secure network subscribers themselves execute the safety functions and/or safety logic operations relevant to them. The decentralized, secure network subscribers communicate with each other in a fail-safe way in which each executes automatic, fail-safe point-to-point communications with another of the decentralized, secure network subscribers, in order to be able to provide safety functions covering the decentralized, secure network subscribers. | 03-24-2011 |
20110082569 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MANAGE DATA UPLOADING IN A PROCESS CONTROL ENVIRONMENT - Example methods and apparatus to manage data uploading in a process control environment are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a request to upload a parameter value associated with a process control system and retrieving an upload rule profile associated with the process control system. The example method also includes identifying an upload action from the upload rule profile based on the parameter value and a personnel classification, and determining whether to upload the parameter value based on the upload action. | 04-07-2011 |
20110098830 | Safety Controller - A safety controller ( | 04-28-2011 |
20110137432 | AUTOMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method for monitoring performance of at least one task in controlled equipment is disclosed herein. The method includes collecting a series of signals associated with the at least one task, at least some of the signals in the series define timing values for the at least one task. comparing each of at least some of the timing values to a reference value, generating an accumulated variance value based on the comparisons and selectively generating a predictive failure indication based on the generated accumulated variance value. | 06-09-2011 |
20110153039 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION AND GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE THEREFOR - It has been recognized that to improve the usability of diagnostic systems and software, such a system can be designed to step the user through a systematic diagnosis of a problem. The process of systematically stepping through the diagnosis can be designed to teach the user how the system operates. In the result, as users gain more knowledge about how the control system operates they can become more efficient at solving problems independently of the diagnostics software. A methodology is utilized which incorporates a hierarchy of conditions in order to drill down into a problem by making one or more simple queries that can be understood without special skills or training. | 06-23-2011 |
20110153040 | Arrangement with a superordinated control unit and at least one intelligent field device connectable with the control unit - An arrangement with a superordinated control unit and at least one intelligent field device connectable with the control unit, wherein associated with the control unit is at least one interface with a connection element for accommodating a corresponding connection counterpart. The connection counterpart is associable with an interface module, wherein associated with the interface module is a software protection system securing accessing of the field device. The interface module permits communication between the corresponding field device and the superordinated control unit, wherein associated with the superordinated control unit is a software-protected processing program for the field device, and wherein the processing program is started or enabled via the software protection system, when the connection counterpart of the interface module of the field device is connected with the connection element of the control unit. | 06-23-2011 |
20110166676 | Fault Detection in a System Under Control | 07-07-2011 |
20110190910 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WEB-ENABLED ENTERPRISE ENVIRONMENT CONTROL AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT - A system and method for an environment control and energy management. The system includes a server computer, at least one environment control device (ECD) and at least one mobile device communicatively coupled via a web-based communication system. A mobile device, also having a touch screen display, may be configured to display a replica screen of the touch screen user interface of the ECD, and allows modification of the control program accessed at the ECD. | 08-04-2011 |
20110208327 | SAFETY CONTROLLER HAVING A REMOVABLE DATA STORAGE MEDIUM - A data storage medium has a carrier element configured to carry a memory element. The memory element stores data for configuring or even programming a safety controller. The data storage medium has at least one mounting element which is able to move relative to the carrier elements such that it is able to interact with a holding unit arranged on the safety controller. As a result, the data storage medium can be easily and removably be connected to the safety controller. | 08-25-2011 |
20110218655 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING WASTEWATER TREATMENT INSTALLATION - Apparatus for managing a residential wastewater treatment system includes an in situ control unit that monitors an individual system. The control unit provides local control and alarms, and also sends status reports and/or alarms to a remote monitoring center via a telemetry device. The remote monitoring center makes information concerning the individual system available through a website. | 09-08-2011 |
20110224808 | Security for Objects in a Process Plant Configuration System - A configuration system uses process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant to assist in configuring, organizing, and changing the control and display activities within the process plant. Access to the items may be controlled by associating access control data with the items. The configuration system may also use objects that represent, or may be capable of representing, one or more steps to be performed by entities in the process plant. Access to these objects may be controlled by associating access control data with the objects. The access control data may indicate whether users or certain users may be able to, for example, view or modify all or some data associated with the process plant items or the objects. The process plant items may comprise, for example, module class objects which may be capable of generically representing process entities of the process plant, module objects which may be capable of specifically representing process entities of the process plant, composite templates, module templates, etc. The objects that represent, or may be capable of representing, one or more steps to be performed by entities in the process plant may comprise, for example, phase classes or unit phases. | 09-15-2011 |
20120016500 | PREEMPTIVE CHANGE VERIFICATION VIA ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES IN INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION SYSTEMS - The subject invention relates to a system and methodology facilitating automated manufacturing processes in a regulated industrial controller environment. In one aspect, a system for automated industrial processing is provided. The system includes an interface component to facilitate processing of one or more electronic signature components and a verification component that operates with the interface components and the electronic signature components to validate requested or proposed process changes before actual system implementation of the process changes. | 01-19-2012 |
20120022671 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING A SAFETY STEP AND SAFETY MANAGER - For determining a safety step in an automation network with subscribers the data and process-specific links between the subscribers in the automation network are automatically determined by means of a configuration-detecting module. Further the subscriber-specific safety parameters are determined The safety step in the automation network is calculated by means of an algorithm which connects the determined data and process-specific links of the subscribers in the automation network and the determined subscriber-specific safety parameters. | 01-26-2012 |
20120022672 | APPARATUS FOR REDUCING OR MINIMIZING DISTURBANCE SIGNALS IN THE CASE OF A FIELD DEVICE OF PROCESS AUTOMATION - An apparatus for reducing or minimizing disturbance signals in the case of a field device of process automation, wherein the field device has a control/evaluation unit and a sensor, with, respectively, at least one main electronics and at least one sensor electronics. At least one data line is provided, via which the main electronics and the sensor electronics communicate. At least one galvanic isolating component is provided, which is integrated into the at least one data line, and which prevents transmission of disturbance signals via the one or more data lines. Power supply lines are provided, via which a power supply voltage sufficient for operation of the sensor is made available to the sensor; and wherein, in the power supply lines , filter means are provided, which are designed in such a manner that predetermined requirements for disturbance resistance of the power supply lines are fulfilled. | 01-26-2012 |
20120035749 | SEAMLESS INTEGRATION OF PROCESS CONTROL DEVICES IN A PROCESS CONTROL ENVIRONMENT - In order to facilitate seamless integration of process control devices in a process control system, an integrated seamless diagnostic device collects diagnostic data related to the operation of (or problems associated with) one communication link that supports one process control protocol but communicates the collected diagnostic data to other entities in the process control system via another communication link that supports a different process control protocol. As a result, problems with the communication link monitored by the integrated seamless diagnostic device can be reported to the appropriate entities in the process control system as they occur and without unwanted delay. Moreover, problems with the monitored communication link can be communicated to the appropriate entities via process control protocols that are understood by those entities (and other entities in the process control system) and without consuming the potentially valuable resources of the monitored communication link. | 02-09-2012 |
20120035750 | Control System for Safely Operating at Least One Functional Component - A system includes a functional control unit and a controller. The functional control unit is configured to enable and disable operation of a functional component. The controller is configured to receive a sensor signal, evaluate safety quality of the sensor signal, generate an evaluation parameter representing the safety quality of the sensor signal, and output the sensor signal with the evaluation parameter as a pair for receipt by the functional control unit. The functional control unit is configured to control operation of the functional component depending on the safety quality indicated by the evaluation parameter. | 02-09-2012 |
20120046764 | METHODS, APPARATUS AND ARTICLES OF MANUFACTURE TO TEST PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS - Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to test process control systems are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes obtaining user inputs to a first process control system, obtaining process inputs and first process outputs of the first process control system, providing the user inputs and the process inputs to a second process control system to operate the second process control system, obtaining second process outputs of the second process control system operated with the user inputs and the process inputs, and comparing the first and second process outputs to determine whether the second process control system is implemented as intended. | 02-23-2012 |
20120089240 | SCALABLE AND FLEXIBLE INFORMATION SECURITY FOR INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION - A security system that relates to industrial automation security comprises a component that receives a request to modify security relating to a zone of a factory floor, the zone being less than an entirety of the factory floor. A zonal security component generates security procedures for the zone, the security procedures differ from security procedures implemented on the factory floor outside the zone. | 04-12-2012 |
20120095575 | TIME OF FLIGHT (TOF) HUMAN MACHINE INTERFACE (HMI) - Systems and methods are provided for controlling industrial equipment in the performance of various industrial activities based on the detected body movement of a user in an industrial automation environment. The method includes employing a time-of-flight sensor to detect movement of a body part of the user, ascertaining whether or not the movement of the body part conforms to a recognized movement of the body part, interpreting the recognized movement of the body part as a performable action, and thereafter actuating industrial machinery to perform the performable action. | 04-19-2012 |
20120130511 | Motion sensor with ultrasonic modulation - A dual-technology motion sensor with an ultrasonic sensor element (transducer) and a PIR sensor element is disclosed. The dual-technology motion sensor is configured to modulate ultrasonic radiation emitted from the ultrasonic sensor element when the motion sensor detects a condition under which other wireless devices, especially ultrasound-based wireless devices, are in operation, thereby eliminating problems associated with interference. | 05-24-2012 |
20120179276 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROTECTION SYSTEM DESIGN SUPPORT - A method and system for examining, auditing, and safely evaluating process systems, including fluid pressure systems and nuclear plant systems, to aid overpressure design and/or sizing of overpressure equipment. The system includes a server subsystem, a storage subsystem, an assessment subsystem, and optionally a report generation subsystem, including computer hardware and application software for supporting these subsystems. | 07-12-2012 |
20120191226 | PROGRAMMABLE CONTROLLER WITH BOTH SAFETY AND APPLICATION FUNCTIONS - A controller that controls both safety and application functions of connected equipment is disclosed. The controller allows a user to freely program application specific functions while preventing the application functions from affecting the safety functions of the controller. This may give the user more flexibility and leeway when programming the application specific programming functions, without having to worry about affecting the safe operation of the connected equipment. | 07-26-2012 |
20120265325 | Circuit arrangement and method for monitoring a hazardous device by evaluating the acceleration - A circuit arrangement which comprises at least two acceleration sensors for measuring an acceleration of at least one part of the hazardous device, at least one logic circuit for evaluating measured values of the at least two acceleration sensors, at least one memory for storing a comparison value, and at least one safety device controlled by an output of the logic circuit. The safety device is adapted to bring the hazardous device into a safe state in response to a switching command received via the output of the logic circuit. The logic circuit transmits the switching command to the safety device when the measured acceleration of the part of the hazardous device or a value derived from the measured acceleration has a predetermined ratio to the stored comparison value. Furthermore, a method for monitoring a hazardous device is also disclosed. | 10-18-2012 |
20120290106 | METHOD FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS AND AN INDUSTRIAL TRUCK - In a method for the management of industrial trucks, the industrial truck has a control computer which transmits data via a data transmission system to a central service computer. The following steps are carried out: detection of malfunctions of the industrial truck by the control computer, generation of fault codes by the control computer corresponding to the malfunctions, transmission of the fault codes via the data transmission system to the central service computer, and generation by the central service computer of instructions and/or information about required replacement parts. | 11-15-2012 |
20120296450 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND DEVICE FOR MACHINE - Embodiments of the invention provide systems, methods, and devices for controlling a machine. In one embodiment, the invention provides a system for a machine, the system comprising: a device including: a module adapted to perform a support function associated with a machine; and a power cable for connecting the module to an electrical supply, the power cable including an identifier operable to be read by the device; and a host computer operable to: receive from the device a request for a network identifier for the device, the request including information from the identifier; and obtain the network identifier using the information from the identifier. | 11-22-2012 |
20120303143 | SAFETY-EXTENSION BASE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A safety-extension base connected to a main base and a control method thereof are disclosed, the base includes a communication unit, a system state monitoring unit, a module control unit, a memory unit, a state conversion unit and a safety-processing unit. The communication unit performs data communication with the main base. The system state monitoring unit monitors a state of the PLC system. The module control unit controls a general operation of the safety-extension base and outputs different cases of control signals. The memory unit stores the data transmitted from the main base and a program and information. The state conversion unit converts the state of the safety-extension base into the normal state or safety state. The safety-processing unit performs a control of the safety-extension base. | 11-29-2012 |
20120310378 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WRITE PROTECTING FOUNDATION FIELDBUS LINKING DEVICES - Systems and methods for write protecting Foundation Fieldbus linking devices are described. A message output by an external system for communication to a Foundation Fieldbus linking device may be received by a gateway device. The linking device may be identified by a virtual address included in the received message. The gateway device may determine whether the message includes a command to write data to the linking device or a Foundation Fieldbus device connected to the linking device. If it is determined that the message does not include a command to write data, then the gateway device may direct communication of the message to the linking device. If, however, it is determined that the message includes a command to write data, the gateway device may generate an exception for preventing the requested write operation. | 12-06-2012 |
20120310379 | PROGRAMMABLE CONTROLLER - A PLC includes a detachable first storing unit configured to store first key data and protected from access, a second storing unit configured to store a user program in association with second key data, and a startup processing unit configured to execute startup processing for the PLC itself when a power supply is turned on. The startup processing unit includes a startup-processing-stop determining unit configured to read out the first key data stored by the first storing unit inserted in the PLC itself and the second key data stored in the second storing unit and associated with the user program and determine, based on collation of the read-out two key data, whether the startup processing is continued or the startup processing is stopped and abnormal processing is executed. | 12-06-2012 |
20130041485 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SERVICING FIELD DEVICES IN AN AUTOMATED PLANT - A system for servicing field devices in an automated plant with a superordinated control/service unit, wherein the superordinated control/service unit accesses the field devices via a communication network. The communication network has at the control/servicing level a first bus system with a first transmission protocol and at the field level a second bus system with a second transmission protocol. The conversion of the two transmission protocols occurs in a gateway and provided in the gateway a basic software, which, upon the occurrence of an event, scans to ascertain the field devices arranged at the field level and utilizes the ascertained information concerning the field devices, in order to download the corresponding electronic device descriptions from an application server and to provide these to the control/service unit for servicing the field devices. The application server contains server apps. | 02-14-2013 |
20130096699 | ASSET HEALTH MONITORING - A machine management system, including one or more sensors arranged to take readings of one or more operating variables for a machine. Data processing equipment is arranged to receive data indicative of said operating variable readings for the machine and to analyse the received operational data to determine a probability distribution there-for. The processing equipment includes one or more modules of machine-readable code for assigning a value to one or more Stable distribution parameters in dependence on the received operational data, and a departure in the machine operation from a predetermined normal operating condition is determined from the assigned distribution parameter. | 04-18-2013 |
20130110263 | BI-DIRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION AND GRAPHICAL ACQUISITION OF TIME-BASED EQUIPMENT SENSOR DATA AND MATERIAL-BASED METROLOGY STATISTICAL PROCESS CONTROL DATA | 05-02-2013 |
20130123951 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ERROR DETECTION AND DIAGNOSTICS VISUALIZATION - A human machine interface (HMI) configured to provide visualizations of one or more device elements that correspond to one or more components in an industrial automation system on an HMI screen. The HMI includes computer-executable instructions stored on a tangible machine-readable medium configured to determine whether at least one of the device elements is associated with an error and modify at least one graphic that corresponds to the at least one of the device elements when the one of the device elements is associated with the error. | 05-16-2013 |
20130144407 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CAPTURING AUTOMATION DATA - A system and method for capturing automation data from an automated system uses a multi-array populated by an automation controller with automation data including timing data defined by a controller clock. The multi-array includes at least one member corresponding to a sensor sensing a state of the member and a plurality of member-defined data elements, which may correspond to a start time and end time of the member state. Automation data is captured from the controller multi-array by a computing device in communication with the controller including a first data table corresponding with the controller multi-array for efficient collection of the automation data from the controller memory, and a second data table for associating each data element with its defining member and storing the associated data in a historical database which may be used for analysis of cycle time data of a member, device or operation of the automated system. | 06-06-2013 |
20130144408 | Method for Controlling an Electric Machine and Control Device - A method for controlling an electric machine or electric unit by actuating a component of the electric machine or unit using a predicate and by automatically examining the component in regard to the performance of the predicate to permit examination of an automated system for possible errors in a simply manner, wherein the predicate contains an expected value of a (physical) quantity of the component, and wherein in the examination of the component, a check is performed to determine whether the expected value actually arises when the predicate is performed such that erroneous situations can be detected by a runtime system without explicit programming being necessary therefor. | 06-06-2013 |
20130150985 | Abnormality Detection for Isolating a Control System - A mechanism is provided for effectively detecting an abnormality occurring in a control system and isolating the control system in which abnormality is acknowledged. The mechanism receives, from one or more control systems in the plurality of control systems, respective abnormality notifications for respective counter control systems to be monitored by the plurality of control systems. The mechanism adds up abnormality notifications transmitted from respective monitoring sections of the plurality of control systems so as to evaluate the reputation of a control system suspected to have an abnormality. The mechanism causes a protected area for operating the control system suspected to have an abnormality to restrict outbound traffic from at least the inside of the protected area, when an indication is identified that the control system is abnormal according to criteria from a result of the evaluation. | 06-13-2013 |
20130158681 | Safety-Oriented Controller in Combination with Cloud Computing - A control device cyclically accepts each safety-oriented input signal from an industrial-technical process in a fail-safe manner, and transfers the safety-oriented input signals to a Cloud using a fail-safe protocol over a link to a computer network. The control device also accepts signals from the Cloud over the link to the computer network, using the fail-safe protocol for the industrial-technical process specific safety-oriented control signals, and decides based on additional information in a fail-safe manner whether it recognizes the safety-oriented control signals determined by the Cloud for the industrial-technical process as correct. Depending on the result of the decision, the device controls the industrial-technical process in accordance with the safety-oriented control signals in a fail-safe manner or places the industrial-technical process into a safe state in a fail-safe manner. | 06-20-2013 |
20130173028 | Systems and Methods for Extending Physical Sensor Range Using Virtual Sensors - A control system is disclosed. The control system may have a physical sensor that may output a physical output value, and a virtual sensor network that may output a virtual output value. The control system may also have an electronic control module that may be configured to receive the physical output value from the physical sensor and receive the virtual output value from the virtual sensor. The electronic control module may be further configured to determine a trust level of the physical sensor based on the physical output value, and determine that the trust level of the physical sensor is below a first threshold trust value. The electronic control module may control a machine based on the virtual output value responsive to determining that the trust level of the physical sensor is below the first threshold trust value. | 07-04-2013 |
20130173029 | Optical device with interchangeable corrective elements - Exemplary embodiments enable an enhanced direct-viewing optical device to include customized adjustments that accommodate various optical aberrations of a current user. Customized optical elements associated with an authorized current user are incorporated with the direct-viewing optical device to produce a specified change in optical wavefront at an exit pupil. Possible replacement optical elements may have refractive and/or reflective and/or diffractive and/or transmissive characteristics based on current performance viewing factors for a given field of view of the direct-viewing optical device. Some embodiments enable dynamic repositioning and/or transformation of replaceable corrective optical elements responsive to a detected shift of a tracked gaze direction of a current user. Replaceable interchangeable corrective optical elements may be fabricated for current usage or retained in inventory for possible future usage in designated direct-viewing optical devices. | 07-04-2013 |
20130178955 | APPARATUS SAFEGUARD - A safeguard method and system. The method includes receiving and analyzing apparatus data associated with an electro/mechanical apparatus. A type, mode, and state of the electro/mechanical apparatus are determined and a list of associated safeguard devices is generated and presented to a user. A selection for a safeguard device is received and it is determined if the safeguard device is currently present. In response, a specified action is executed. | 07-11-2013 |
20130204405 | CONTROL DEVICE AND NUCLEAR POWER PLANT CONTROL SYSTEM - A nuclear power plant control system including: a detection unit for detecting a specific event occurring in the nuclear power plant; an on-site equipment handling the event; and a majority decision judging device and an on-site equipment control device which constitute a plurality of control devices respectively operating independently. Each control devices includes a plurality of arithmetic units which perform arithmetic processes independently and in parallel based on a detection result of the detection unit, and output a signal for controlling the on-site equipment according to the results of operations of the arithmetic processes. The plurality of arithmetic units perform a matching process for harmonizing process statuses of the arithmetic processes of respective arithmetic units with each other when starting up the control devices, and after completing the matching process, respectively perform the arithmetic processes independently and in parallel. | 08-08-2013 |
20130211558 | Suspension of Processes in Industrial Control System When an Anomaly Occurs - A method for suspension of processes in an industrial control system includes detecting at least one anomaly in an industrial control system; notifying a controller of the at least one anomaly; accessing a database comprising emergency suspend procedures; sending a stream comprising at least one emergency suspend command through at least one firewall/gateway to at least one downstream zone; and terminating or suspending a process in the at least one zone. | 08-15-2013 |
20130218306 | Method and Automation System for Replacing an Existing Control Device in an Automation System with a New Control Device and Automation System Designed for this Purpose - In an automation system, a control device processes measured values received from automation components and generates control values for the, or for individual, automation components and/or other automation components. In order to shorten down times when replacing an existing control device, the new control device is tested during operation of the existing control device, for which purpose the measured values and control values are wirelessly transmitted to the new control device and the control values generated by the device are compared to the control values generated by the existing control device. After the test, the control values generated by the new control device are output to the automation components instead of the control values generated by the existing control device. | 08-22-2013 |
20130231756 | ELECTRIC INSTALLATION MAINTENANCE METHOD AND DEVICE - The method for performing maintenance of an electric installation comprising at least one electric equipment unit comprises:
| 09-05-2013 |
20130245791 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROTECTION SYSTEM DESIGN SUPPORT - A method and system for examining, auditing, and safely evaluating process systems, including fluid pressure systems and nuclear plant systems, to aid overpressure design and/or sizing of overpressure equipment. The system includes a server subsystem, a storage subsystem, an assessment subsystem, and optionally a report generation subsystem, including computer hardware and application software for supporting these subsystems. | 09-19-2013 |
20130245792 | CONTROL PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHANGING CONTROL PROGRAM - A control arithmetic device controls so that an approval-receiving device displays a content of a new control program that the control arithmetic device received from the editing device. The approval-receiving device receives input of approval information that indicates whether a change of a control program is approved or not from an manager. The control arithmetic device changes the control program to the new control program in the case where the approval information received from the approval-receiving device indicates approval of the control program. | 09-19-2013 |
20130245793 | ANOMALY DETECTION SYSTEM, ANOMALY DETECTION METHOD, AND PROGRAM FOR THE SAME - An anomaly detection system for detecting an anomaly within a network as a first embodiment in order to provide an anomaly detection system, anomaly detection method, and program for the same. An anomaly detection system which has a plurality of industrial control systems (hereinafter “ICS”s) which are connected to the network, an integrated analyzer which receives the operational status of each ICS as monitoring data in order to identify an ICS for which an anomaly is suspected so as to perform an anomaly assessment, a receiving unit provided for each ICS which receives data from other ICSs, a transmission unit which transmits data to other ICSs and transmits the monitoring data to the integrated analyzer, a security policy which includes recording of data and generation rules, and a wrapper which refers to the security policy in order to control the data so as to transmit the same to other ICSs. | 09-19-2013 |
20130245794 | SAFETY DEVICE AND COMPUTATION METHOD FOR SAFETY DEVICE - A safety device includes a first computation unit, a second computation unit, an output control unit, and a first central processing device. The first computation unit is configured to perform a first computation on a detected value detected from a subject to be controlled, thus obtaining a first result value. The second computation unit is configured to perform a second computation on the detected value, thus obtaining a second result value which is to be determined if equal to the first result value. The output control unit is configured to output the first result value in a case that the second computation unit determines that the first result value is equal to the second result value, and not to output the first result value in a case that the second computation unit determines that the first result value is not equal to the second result value. | 09-19-2013 |
20130253669 | Facility Control System and Facility Control Method - A facility control system comprises a selection processing portion that selects, based on a manual operation and when an abnormal condition occurs in a second-layer computer that issues a task command to a first-layer program which issues an apparatus operating command to an apparatus controller, whether to cause a first-layer computer to execute a second-layer program that had been executed by the second-layer computer, and a substitute command output processing portion which outputs a substitute command in accordance with selection information selected by the selection processing portion. The first-layer computer executes the second-layer program that had been executed by the second-layer computer in which the abnormal condition occurred based on a substitute command outputted by the substitute command output processing portion. | 09-26-2013 |
20130253670 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING DAMAGE TO TOOL IN MACHINE - The apparatus for detecting damage to the tool in the machine and the method of detecting damage to the tool according to the present disclosure are applied to a machine, such as a CNC, to detect and control damage to a tool and possibility of damage in advance, thereby efficiently managing processing work by the machine while achieving safety of the machine. | 09-26-2013 |
20130261772 | Method and Apparatus for Parameterizing a Safety Device - A method and apparatus for parameterizing a device with parameters from a parameter list, wherein in an event of a match occurring between an external parameter token calculated externally based on the parameter list, and an internal parameter token calculated internally by the device to be parameterized based on the parameter list, an external device token input into the device is compared with an internal device token, which is calculated internally by the device to be parameterized based on a device ID for the device and the internal parameter token to validate the parameter list such that fast and reliable parameterization of a device, particularly a safety critical device, which is provided in an industrial installation or a vehicle, is achieved. | 10-03-2013 |
20130289748 | INTELLIGENT SWITCHING - An intelligent switching method and system. The method includes retrieving by a computer processor of an intelligent switching device, detection data indicating that an individual is located within a specified proximity of an apparatus. The intelligent switching device is lockably attached to the apparatus. The computer processor receives a request from an individual for enabling the apparatus. The computer processor determines that the individual is in compliance with safety procedures associated with operating the apparatus and generates an enable signal. The enable signal enables a power signal for the apparatus. The computer processor indicates that the apparatus has been enabled and is operational. | 10-31-2013 |
20130304238 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONFIGURING A BLACKOUT PERIOD FOR SCHEDULED DIAGNOSTIC CHECKS OF A FIELD DEVICE IN A PROCESS PLANT - A diagnostic system and method for a field device in a process plant is provided. The diagnostic apparatus includes a processor operatively connected to the field device and a calendar having a proscribed period stored in memory. A diagnostic check is executed on the field device if an occurrence of a diagnostic event is detected and execution of the diagnostic check does not coincide with the proscribed period. | 11-14-2013 |
20130304239 | METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR AN AUTOMATIC RECOVERY FROM A FAULT SITUATION IN A PRODUCTION PLANT - A method automatically recovers from a fault situation in a production plant and provides production resources and a manufacturing execution system having a production modeler for modeling the production resources into a plant model and a production scheduler to schedule operations of the modeled production resources. A production controller executes the production process and a fault manager detects fault situations and automatically decides a corrective action. A production resource runs an application for the operation of the production resource and a fault analysis agent provides categorized error situations and checks operational data representing the operation of the production resource against the categorized error situations and when, an error situation occurs, forwards an error event to the fault manager. The error events are collected and then analyzed by a neural network system to assign the error event to an error category. A corrective action is executed on the production resource. | 11-14-2013 |
20130317632 | PLATFORM APPARATUS FOR AGRICULTURAL ENVIRONMENT CONTROL SYSTEM - A platform apparatus for an agricultural environment control system includes an application support layer unit configured to generate and execute an environment task for supporting an application corresponding to an environment to which the agricultural environment control system is applied, a service layer unit configured to provide service libraries used in the application, a function layer unit configured to perform functions necessary to execute the application, a dynamic adaptation layer unit configured to define the environment task in an application layer irrespective of the number of sensors and actuators installed within the environment to which the agricultural environment control system is applied, and a physical abstraction layer unit configured to generate a mapping table using abstraction results of the sensors and the actuators and enable the agricultural environment control system to access the sensors and the actuators through the mapping table. | 11-28-2013 |
20130331962 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND SOFTWARE TO IDENTIFY AND PRESENT RELIABILITY INFORMATION FOR INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION DEVICES - Systems, methods, and software for determining and visualizing reliability data for industrial automation equipment are provided herein. In one example, anon-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon program instructions executable by a computing device is presented. When executed by the computing device, the program instructions direct the computing device to at least present a graphical user interface configured to receive a user input indicative of a reliability target applicable to an industrial automation environment. In response to the graphical user interface receiving the user input, the program instructions direct the computing device to select from a plurality industrial automation devices at least one industrial automation device that satisfies at least the reliability target, and present a representation of the at least one industrial automation device via the graphical user interface. | 12-12-2013 |
20130345834 | METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR MINOR LOOP FEEDBACK FALLBACK - Methods and system for minor loop feedback fallback are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a minor loop feedback having a first mode and a second mode. The first mode is to output a first value used to control a process control device in a normal operation. The second mode is to output a second value used to control the process control device during a failure condition. The apparatus includes a controller to transition between the first mode and the second mode based on an identification of the failure condition. | 12-26-2013 |
20140031957 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROL RELIABILITY OPERATIONS - In one embodiment, a system includes a data collection system configured to collect a data from a control system. The system further includes a configuration management system configured to manage a hardware configuration and a software configuration for the control system based on the data. The system additionally includes a rule engine configured to use the data as input and to output a health assessment by using a rule database, and a report generator configured to provide a health assessment for the control system. | 01-30-2014 |
20140031958 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RULE-BASED CONTROL SYSTEM RELIABILITY - In one embodiment, a system includes system includes a data collection system configured to collect a data from a control system. The system further includes a configuration management system configured to manage a hardware configuration and a software configuration for the control system based on the data. The system additionally includes a rule engine configured to use the data as input and to output a health assessment by using a rule database configured to store at least one rule, and a report generator configured to provide a health assessment for the control system. The system also includes a rule editor configured to create the at least one rule, update the at least one rule, delete the at least one rule, or a combination thereof. | 01-30-2014 |
20140039648 | SYSTEM FOR INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF A PLANT OR OTHER FACILITY - The present invention is a computerized inspection and maintenance system for an industrial plant or other facility. The system comprises a plurality of software modules which are both interactive with inspectors, maintenance, and supervisory personnel and interact with one another | 02-06-2014 |
20140058540 | ERROR DETECTION DEVICE FOR PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE - An error detection device and method for a programming language is provided, the device including a program preparation unit configured to prepare a program by using a programming language, a logic converter configured to convert the prepared program to a sequence, a hash code calculator configured to detect a same logic relative to a sequence by dividing the converted sequence to a minimum unit of a plurality of program languages, calculating each hash code by the divided minimum unit of the plurality of program languages and comparing each calculated hash code, and an LCS (Longest Common Subsequence) calculator calculating an LCS relative to the sequence divided by the minimum unit of the plurality of program languages, and detecting a similar logic relative to the sequence by applying the calculated LCS to an LCS algorithm | 02-27-2014 |
20140058541 | Circuit Arrangement Having a Fail-Silent Function - The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for a control device (SG). The circuit arrangement serves to implement a fail-silent function/a fail-safe function, particularly with a hardware-realized detection of a fault/fault state in a microcontroller (MC) of the circuit arrangement, as well as to interrupt the communication of the control device (SG) with a communications network (BN) in the event of a fault. | 02-27-2014 |
20140067090 | MOVABLE DEVICE ALLOWING INSTANTANEOUS CORRECTION OF ERROR IN MOVING STATE AND ERROR CORRECTION METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed are a movable device allowing instantaneous correction of error in a moving state and an error correction method thereof. The movable device includes a drive unit that is previously set up with an allowable error and has a moving path along which detection units are installed in a line. Precise measurements are taken in advance to obtain position data of each of the detection units. Comparison is then made by the controller between instantaneous data and corresponding comparison data. When the controller determines the instantaneous data exceed the comparison data, an instantaneous correction operation is made to make the instantaneous data not exceeding the comparison data. Acceleration or deceleration may be made by the drive unit to effect such a control that when the movable piece reaches the next detection unit, the instantaneous data do not exceed the comparison data. | 03-06-2014 |
20140088736 | Consistency Analysis in Control Systems During Normal Operation - A consistency analysis system provides consistency analysis for a control system that includes sensors for monitoring a number of different physical parameters. The analysis system uses a rules set and overlapping or redundant sensor data to determine alterations in system behavior or parameters even in the presence of subversion designed to alter or hide sensor trace data. Specific embodiments deliberate perturb the system or alters sensor data in order to detect whether other system or sensor data responds consistently to the perturbation. Specific embodiments also comprise associated methods performed by logic apparatus. | 03-27-2014 |
20140100675 | Sicherheitssystem - A safety system includes a safety unit and at least one safety related participant which comprises a protective device and a first and a second interruptible signal transmission path which can be interrupted together on the occurrence of a non-secure state of the protective device. The safety system includes at least one test signal path which runs through the safety related participant to a safety input of the safety unit starting from an output of the safety unit and comprises at least one of the first and the second interruptible signal transmission paths. The safety related participant comprises an interruption switch arranged in the test signal path and an evaluation unit which is connected to the first signal transmission path and/or to a first switching signal output of the protective device and to the second signal transmission path and/or to a second switching signal output of the protective device. | 04-10-2014 |
20140128999 | Recording of Operating Parameters of an Intelligent Electronic Device - The present disclosure provides systems and methods for recording operating parameters of an intelligent electronic device (IED). A system may include a parameter acquisition module, a parameter storage module, and a memory management module. The parameter acquisition module may be configured to periodically obtain operating parameters of an IED at a first interval. The first interval may have a first time length to provide a first resolution of operation of the IED. The parameter storage module may be configured to store the operating parameters. The memory management module may be configured to delete, outside a first resolution period, a first portion of the operating parameters while maintaining a second portion of the operating parameters. The second portion may include operating parameters for each of a second interval. The second interval may have a second time length to provide a reduced second resolution of the operation of the IED. | 05-08-2014 |
20140129000 | Systems and Methods For Dynamic Risk Derivation - A system may include a dynamic risk calculation engine (DRCE) system. The DRCE includes a model library configured to model a system, wherein the model library comprises a plurality of subsystem models, and each of the plurality of subsystem models is configured to derive a reliability measure. The DRCE further includes a fault tolerance input and a maintenance policy input. The DRCE additionally includes a run-time risk calculation engine configured to use a user-defined set of the plurality of subsystem models, the fault tolerance input, and the maintenance policy input, to derive a system risk for an apparatus. | 05-08-2014 |
20140129001 | SAFETY CRITICAL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING DISTRACTION OF AN OPERATOR OF A SAFETY CRITICAL APPARATUS - A safety critical apparatus comprises a set of safety relevant modules; one or more comfort modules having one or more user interfaces; and a distraction controlling device arranged to adapt at least one of the one or more user interfaces to a current situation of operation of the safety critical apparatus. The distraction controlling device comprises an operator imposition estimation unit arranged to receive a set of safety relevant status signals from the set of safety relevant modules and to provide a current acceptable-distraction threshold value depending on the set of safety relevant status signals; a distraction managing unit arranged to receive one or more comfort status signals from the one or more comfort modules and to provide a current distraction value depending on the one or more comfort status signals; and a decision unit arranged to receive the current acceptable-distraction threshold value and the current distraction value and to provide one or more deactivation decision signals for the one or more user interfaces of the one or more comfort modules when the current distraction value exceeds the current acceptable-distraction threshold value. | 05-08-2014 |
20140142727 | SPC Fault Detection and Diagnostics Algorithm - A method for diagnosing a fault condition in a climate system is disclosed and a computer program product for doing the same. The climate system may be an HVAC system. The method comprises receiving current data from a climate system in a fault condition, calculating an anomaly score for the climate system from a first set of transition probabilities based on the current data and a second set of transition probabilities based on the climate system operating in a normal condition, and generating automatically a diagnosis of a first problem causing the fault condition when the anomaly score is above a predefined threshold. In an embodiment, the current data may include a plurality of operational Parameters of the climate system. | 05-22-2014 |
20140156033 | INTEGRATED MONITORING, CONTROL AND EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AND TRACKING SYSTEM - An integrated monitoring, control and equipment maintenance and tracking system and method is provided for managing a plurality of field devices. The integrated and coordinated system includes the monitoring and control system that uses safety subsystem field device data and process control subsystem field device data. When a compromised field device is determined, e.g., by the safety system and/or the process control system, information about testing, maintenance, repair or replacement is conveyed to the monitoring and control system. This information is used to modify the work orders created by the equipment maintenance and tracking system processor such that the compromised field device, or a field device at a location of the compromised field device, is not subject to unnecessary or excessively redundant testing. | 06-05-2014 |
20140200687 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A SAFETY CONTROL DEVICE - A safety control device for safely controlling a hazardous installation has a first and a second calculation unit and an output unit for driving at least one actuator. The control device acquires an input signal and determines a floating point value depending on the input signal. The first and second calculation units each determine an input interval as a function of the floating point value. The first and second calculation units each further determine a result interval as a function of the input interval by applying a first calculation algorithm to the input interval. The first calculation algorithm is based on interval arithmetic. The result intervals from the first and second calculation units are compared and an output value is determined as a function of the result intervals. An output signal is determined as a function of the output value. The output signal drives the at least one actuator. | 07-17-2014 |
20140236318 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FIELD DEVICE FEEDBACK - The embodiments described herein include a system and a method. In one embodiment, a system includes an industrial controller configured to control a first field device. The first field device includes an actuator and a positioner coupled to the actuator. The positioner is configured to position the actuator. The first field device is configured to detect an undesired condition and to communicate the undesired condition to the industrial controller by using a ReadBack facility of the first field device. | 08-21-2014 |
20140257529 | BACKGROUND COLLECTION OF DIAGNOSTIC DATA FROM FIELD INSTRUMENTATION DEVICES - In a method and system, a device tag allows automatic configuration of a process control system to download and cache device diagnostic data associated with one or more process control field devices. The device diagnostic data are downloaded and cached using bandwidth not otherwise required for real-time process control communications. The device diagnostic data may be polled asynchronously and/or according to a low priority, background task. The device diagnostic data include one or more non-static parameter values. The cached parameter values may be used in display routines, control routines, or any routine for which the update frequency is sufficient. Each cached parameter value may also have associated with it a status. | 09-11-2014 |
20140257530 | NUMERICAL CONTROLLER FOR MACHINE HAVING COMPONENT INSPECTION TIMING NOTIFICATION FUNCTION - A numerical controller for a machine tool has a component inspection timing notification function for notifying a user of the timing for inspection of each individual component used in the machine tool. The numerical controller reads an inspection cycle, acquires the date of inspection and state quantity of the component, and calculates an amount of change in state quantity. If the amount of change in state quantity is larger than a predetermined threshold, the inspection cycle is changed. If not, the next inspection date is calculated based on the last inspection date and the inspection cycle. Then, the next inspection date is notified. | 09-11-2014 |
20140277608 | Fault Tolerant Control System - A fault tolerant controller system includes a first controller and a second controller. One of the first and second controllers designated as a primary controller for generating control signals intended to control actuation devices on a vehicle under non-fault operating conditions, and the other of the first and second controllers designated as a secondary controller generating control signals intended to control actuation devices on the vehicle. The actuation devices are responsive only to the designated primary controller. An error is detected in the primary controller and a message is transmitted from the faulty controller to the non-faulty controller identifying the error. The non-faulty controller is subsequently designated as the primary controller. The control signals including an identifier that identifies the non-faulty controller as the designated primary controller. In response to detecting the error, the faulty controller is reset to operate in a safe operating mode as the secondary controller. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277609 | MONITORING REMOVAL OF AN AUTOMATION CONTROL PANEL - A control panel is used to control and/or monitor an automation system. The control panel may be removed from a mounted location to repair or replace the control panel. Replacement may be performed by a different provider of automation systems, potentially without prior notice to the current provider of the automation system. To alert the provider of the replacement, the control panel may use an anti-tamper switch to detect removal from the mounted location. A signal may be sent to a remote service system indicating the removal. If the control panel also loses AC power, or if the control panel loses all power, the remote service system may assume that the control panel is being replaced. In response, the remote service center may request that a customer service representative contact the customer to potentially retain the customer, recover equipment, or resolve any concerns about the automation system equipment. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277610 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING FOOL-PROOFING FUNCTIONS OF OPERATIONS USING THE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - In a method for an electronic device to adjust fool-proofing functions of operations, an algorithm corresponding to each of the operations, and ranges for triggering the fool-proofing functions of the operations are preset. When an operation inputted by an operator is obtained, the method calculates a skilled value of the operation according to reference parameters of the operator and an algorithm corresponding to the operation. The method further determines a fool-proofing function of the operation that is triggered by the electronic device according to the skilled value and the ranges for triggering the fool-proofing functions, and adjusts the electronic device to execute the determined fool-proofing function. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277611 | INFLATABLE AIR MATTRESS SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE - A method may comprise receiving, at a central controller, a command, from a remote control, to adjust a feature of a first component of an air mattress framework; relaying, from the central controller, the command to the first component; receiving from the first component at the central controller, an indication of the success of the command; and relaying the indication from the central controller to the remote control. | 09-18-2014 |
20140288675 | Diagnostic Processing System, Onboard Terminal System, and Server - Disclosed is a diagnostic processing system including an onboard terminal system and a server connected together via radio communication channels. The onboard terminal system is provided with a data receiving unit for receiving data from sensors arranged on a self-propelled machine and a first diagnostic unit for diagnosing an abnormality of the self-propelled machine, and the server is provided with a second diagnostic unit for diagnosing the abnormality of the self-propelled machine. The diagnostic processing system is configured such that one of the first diagnostic unit and second diagnostic unit performs a primary diagnosis as to the abnormality of the self-propelled machine based on the data received at the data receiving unit and transmits a result of the primary diagnosis to the other diagnostic unit, and upon receipt of the result of the primary diagnosis, the other diagnostic unit performs a secondary diagnosis based on the result of the primary diagnosis. | 09-25-2014 |
20140303753 | Anti-hacking system for PLC - The invention provides a control system which is resistant to external interference such as hacking. The control system receives sensor data from a remote sensor indicating a physical condition such as temperature, flow rate, or internal pressure, and provides operational data to a remote operational mechanism such as those found in a variety of production and manufacturing environments which is adapted to influence the physical condition. The system employs a memory unit which contains a data set establishing range of operational values for the operating mechanism. A programmable logic circuit accesses the data set and the sensor data, allowing the programmable logic circuit to generate the operational data for the remote operational mechanism. To maintain the data in pristine state, a programmable unit periodically accesses the memory unit to verifying that the range of operational values within the data set is within a prescribed range and adjusts the data set to comply with the prescribed range. | 10-09-2014 |
20140316540 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING PLC AND HMI TAG DATABASE AND SYSTEM - A method and system for producing a plc tag database is provided. The method is for use with a set of fragment types, a set of tag values for each fragment type and a collection of PLC programming logic. The collection contains a PLC programming code for each of a plurality of classes of equipment. A PLC tag database is produced for a project. The classes of equipment required for the project are selected together with a quantity required for each class of equipment selected. A PLC logic associated with the PLC programming code for said each class, and tags defined by the PLC logic, are replicated a number of times equal to the quantity of each class selected. A specific PLC card type, rack and slot is assigned to selected tags in accordance with the requirements of the project. | 10-23-2014 |
20140324196 | REAL-TIME DEBUGGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Embodiments of the disclosure relate to real-time debugging systems and methods. In one embodiment, a system that includes a server module and a client module can be provided. The server module can be executable on a first computer and can be adapted to use a native communications format for interactive transfer of industrial automation data between the first computer and at least one industrial automation element. The client module, which can be executable on the same computer as the server module or on a different computer, can include a debugging application configured to use a universal communications format for communicatively interacting with the server module for accessing the industrial automation data and debugging one or more programming portions associated with the industrial automation data. | 10-30-2014 |
20140336792 | SAFETY SYSTEM - This invention relates to a communication system assembly comprising a communication module and a safety module, wherein the communication module is adapted to be connected to a network and to a host system, wherein the communication module is adapted to receive data from the network and provide a subset of said data as safety data to said safety module and provide a different subset of said data as process data to the host system. | 11-13-2014 |
20150012121 | AUTOMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - Disclosed herein is a method for monitoring performance of equipment located in an automation environment including identifying a sequence of tasks performed by the equipment, wherein each task in the sequence is defined by a series of signals; for each task in the sequence: (a) collecting data pertaining to the series of signals; (b) determining a completion time based on the collected data; and (c) determining a difference between the determined completion time and a predetermined reference value indicative of an expected completion time; repeating (a)-(c) for a plurality of repetitions of the sequence; summing, over the plurality of repetitions of the sequence, at least some of the determined differences to calculate an accumulated variance value for each given task; and selectively generating a predictive failure indication based on the accumulated variance values. | 01-08-2015 |
20150032232 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SERVER REDUNDANCY - A system is provided. The system includes a plurality of nodes. One of the plurality of nodes is designated as a server node, and the others of the plurality of nodes are designated as Human Machine Interface (HMI) client nodes. The designated server node comprises a network interface configured to communicate with a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) either directly or through a network switch. Each of the designated HMI client nodes includes a network interface configured to communicate with the designated server node through one or more of a network switch, and another designated HMI client node. Also, the each of the designated HMI client nodes includes a failover module configured to detect a failure of the designated server node and designate a new server node from among the designated HMI client nodes based on detecting the failure of the designated server node. | 01-29-2015 |
20150045914 | Apparatus and Method of Configuring and/or Programming a Safety Control - In order to guard against a possible erroneous configuration and/or programming of a safety control an apparatus for configuring and/or programming a safety control having a display for displaying a program part of the safety control in the form of a block diagram is provided in accordance with the invention, wherein individual blocks represent program elements, a memory unity having at least one processing element, in particular a logic link and/or a function and having both safety related as well as non-safety related communication elements which in particular form input signals and output signals and having a calculation unit for selecting the processing and communication elements in the memory unit and for the generation of a link of the selected processing and communication elements in the block diagram indicated in the display, wherein the calculation unit is configured in such a way that a communication element characterized as a non-safety related communication element results at an output side of the processing element when on a link of a safety related communication element to a non-safety related communication element which are present at an input side of the processing element is made. | 02-12-2015 |
20150045915 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING SAFETY-CRITICAL PROCESSES IN AN AUTOMATED PLANT AND METHOD FOR PARAMETERIZING THE CONTROL DEVICE - Safety-related functions in automation systems for controlling industrial production processes are achieved by providing a simple and safe parameterization of the safety-related apparatuses of such an automation plant. After a start signal sent by the communication master is received, all further activities for parameterization are controlled by a logic module. | 02-12-2015 |
20150066164 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY REPORTING MANUFACTURING DATA IN A SPREADSHEET FORMAT - An illustrative example system for monitoring a plurality of events in a manufacturing facility includes a plurality of monitoring devices. Each of the monitoring devices obtains data regarding a selected one of the events. A reporting device receives the data obtained by the monitoring devices and provides a report regarding the monitored events. The report includes information regarding at least one characteristic of each of the monitored events. The information in the report is dynamically updated to provide a real time indication of the characteristics of the monitored events. The real time indications are presented in respective cells of the report. | 03-05-2015 |
20150105872 | RELIABILITY CALCULATION DEVICE AND METHOD - A technique for calculating the reliability of a control instruction with high precision is provided. A reliability calculation device that calculates reliability of a control instruction given to a control device which executes a control according to the control instruction includes an instruction acquisition unit, an information acquisition unit, and a reliability calculation unit. The instruction acquisition unit acquires the control instruction to the control device. The information acquisition unit acquires relevant information relevant to the control which is executed by the control device. The reliability calculation unit calculates the reliability of a target control instruction which is the control instruction to be calculated in reliability, on the basis of the relevant information relevant to the control of the target control instruction, which is acquired by the information acquisition unit in association with the target control instruction to be acquired by the instruction acquisition unit, and the target control instruction. | 04-16-2015 |
20150105873 | Optoelektronischer Sicherheitssensor - The invention relates to an optoelectronic safety sensor comprising an electronic measuring device for generating measured signals which depend on a state of a safety zone observed by the safety sensor and an electronic evaluation unit for evaluating the measured signals. The electronic evaluation unit comprises a programmable logic controller integrated into the optoelectronic safety sensor for the logic evaluation of logic state variables which are derived from the measured signals. | 04-16-2015 |
20150120009 | Independent Operation of Control Hardware and a Monitoring System in an Automation Controller - The subject matter disclosed herein describes an improved system for self-monitoring of an industrial controller. Two processors are provided on a control board for the industrial controller. One of the processors is designated the control processor and executes the control program for the industrial control system. The other processor is designated the monitoring processor and verifies proper operation of the controller. The monitoring processor verifies proper operation of the industrial controller and is in communication with the control processor. The control processor periodically verifies that the monitoring processor is operational. If the monitoring processor ceases operation, the control processor generates a warning message and provides for a delayed shutdown of the industrial controller. The control processor may copy the current state of the industrial controller to memory. After a technician has corrected the problem with the monitoring processor, the control processor may restore the stored state of the industrial controller. | 04-30-2015 |
20150309481 | Safety Control for the Secure Operation of a Technical Plant and Method of Operating a Safety Control - In order to reduce the power-loss in digital inputs of a safety control, a safety control for the secure operation of a technical plant is provided that comprises at least one input unit for the reception of a signal of at least one signal generator connected to the technical plant, a control unit for the reading in of the received signal and for generating a control command, and at least one output unit for the transmission of the generated control command to at least one connected actuator of the technical plant, wherein the input unit has a switching element at the input side that can be controlled by means of the control unit and is configured in such a way that the switching element can be actuated by means of the control unit directly prior to the reading in of the received signal, in particular can be closed, and can be actuated again by means of the control unit, in particular opened, following the reading in of the received signal. | 10-29-2015 |
20150309507 | MONITORING CONTROL APPARATUS AND MONITORING CONTROL METHOD - When identifying a maintenance target device that is subject to maintenance in an information system realized by connecting a plurality of devices including a monitoring target device, a maintenance target device identification unit identifies the maintenance target device on the basis of contents of configuration information in the information system or contents of maintenance target device information, and a filtering target device identification unit identifies a filtering target device to be affected by the maintenance of the maintenance target device on the basis of a distance matrix calculated from an adjacency matrix obtained from the configuration information. | 10-29-2015 |
20150316899 | FIELD DEVICE FOR DETERMINING OR MONITORING A PROCESS VARIABLE IN AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY - A field device for determining or monitoring a process variable in automation technology. The field device meets a safety standard, which is required in a predetermined safety-critical application, comprising: a sensor, which works according to a defined measuring principle; and a control/evaluation unit, which processes and evaluates measurement data delivered by the sensor along at least three redundant and/or diversely designed measurement channels, wherein a redundant analog electrical current interface is provided, via which an electrical current representing the process variable is settable in a two-wire line. The analog electrical current interface is designed triply redundantly wherein the following components are associated with the analog electrical current interface: three electrical current setting channels connected in parallel, a doubly redundant voter, which detects a malfunction in one of the measurement channels and/or the electrical current setting channels a doubly redundant turn off stage, via which a measurement channel, respectively an electrical current setting channel, is turned off, when the voter detects a malfunction in the measurement channel or in the electrical current setting channel. | 11-05-2015 |
20150338835 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR A SECURITY-CRITICAL APPLICATION - An apparatus and a method for the parallel and independent operation of a normal program and a secure program on the basis of a runtime system structure have all components that are relevant to the control integrated on a hardware component | 11-26-2015 |
20150346706 | INDUSTRIAL CONTROL SYSTEM SMART HARDWARE MONITORING - According to some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a computerized method for automatic monitoring of control systems. The method may comprise receiving electronic measurement values, measured on one or more conductors of computerized control devices, where the conductors may be a system bus conductor and/or and input-output line of a programmable logic controller. The method may comprise automatically calculating normal data patterns based on an analysis of the electronic measurement values. The method may comprise matching between new electronic measurement values measured on the computerized control devices and the normal data patterns to automatically detect abnormal data patterns. The method may comprise sending automatically an abnormal operation alert in response to the abnormal data patterns. | 12-03-2015 |
20150370235 | ANALYZING SCADA SYSTEMS - A method for analyzing SCADA projects includes generating a configuration for the SCADA system deployed in a default environment, receiving a first result of a set of tests run on the SCADA system SCADA system using the configuration in the default environment, determining whether the first result of the set of tests is successful, deploying the SCADA system using the configuration in a customer environment, comparing the default environment with the customer environment, determining differences between the default environment and the customer environment, receiving a result of another set of tests run based on the differences between the default environment and the customer environment, adjusting the configuration in the customer environment based on the result of the another set of tests to generate an adjusted configuration, and receiving a second result of the set of tests nm on the SCADA system using the adjusted configuration in the customer environment. | 12-24-2015 |
20150378323 | INTELLIGENT SWITCHING - An intelligent switching method and system. The method includes retrieving by a computer processor of an intelligent switching device, detection data indicating that an individual is located within a specified proximity of an apparatus. The intelligent switching device is lockably attached to the apparatus. The computer processor receives a request from an individual for enabling the apparatus. The computer processor determines that the individual is in compliance with safety procedures associated with operating the apparatus and generates an enable signal. The enable signal enables a power signal for the apparatus. The computer processor indicates that the apparatus has been enabled and is operational. | 12-31-2015 |
20150378337 | FIELD DEVICE FOR A SAFETY-CRITICAL APPLICATION WITH REDUNDANT MEASURING CHANNELS IN AN FPGA - The invention concerns a field device to determine or monitor a process variable in automation technology, with the field device meeting a safety standard that is required in a given safety-critical application, with a sensor (S) working according to a defined measuring principle, and a control/evaluation unit ( | 12-31-2015 |
20160011578 | ENGINEERING TOOL | 01-14-2016 |
20160011582 | NUMERICAL CONTROLLER WITH FUNCTION OF AUTOMATICALLY RECONSTRUCTING SETTINGS AND FUNCTION OF PREVENTING INCORRECT SETTINGS | 01-14-2016 |
20160011596 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTE CONTROL OF UNMANNED VEHICLES | 01-14-2016 |
20160033942 | METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR MINOR LOOP FEEDBACK FALLBACK - Methods and system for minor loop feedback fallback are disclosed. An example method includes controlling a process control device using first values from a first sensor; comparing the first values to reference values to identify a difference; and in response to the difference being outside of a threshold, controlling the process control device using second values from a second sensor. | 02-04-2016 |
20160040827 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SAFEGUARDING AN AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING MACHINE - An apparatus for safeguarding a monitoring area, in which an automatically operating machine is disposed, comprises: (i) a sensor unit including a camera system for producing images of the monitoring area; (ii) a configuration unit for defining first and second protection areas; and (iii) an evaluation unit for triggering a safety-related function. The first protection area is at a first distance from the machine and the second protection area is at a second greater distance from the machine. The sensor unit monitors both the first protection area and the second protection area. The evaluation unit analyzes the images produced by the camera system so as to evaluate both (i) whether a machine element of the machine enters the first protection area as well as (ii) whether a foreign object enters the second protection area. The evaluation unit triggers the safety-related function if at least one of these events occurs. | 02-11-2016 |
20160077510 | SYSTEM FOR PREDICTING ABNORMALITY OCCURRENCE USING PLC LOG DATA - The present disclosure relates to a system for predicting abnormality occurrence using a PLC log data, the system including a controller configured to receive a data from a lower-level device connected to a PLC data log module and determine the data, and to store the data in an event storage when the data is a data related to abnormality occurrence, an analyzer configured to generate an abnormality analysis result by analyzing the data related to abnormality occurrence, and an analysis result storage configured to store the abnormality analysis result, wherein the controller compares the data transmitted from the lower-level device with the abnormality analysis result stored in the analysis result storage, and generates an abnormality occurrence prediction signal, when it is determined that the data transmitted from the lower-level device is similar to the abnormality analysis result. | 03-17-2016 |
20160091870 | REDUNDANCY-READY CONTROL APPARATUS, REDUNDANCY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONFIGURING REDUNDANT LOGICS FOR ASSURING LOW POWER CONSUMPTION AND RELIABILITY AT THE SAME TIME - A redundancy-ready control apparatus, a redundancy system, and a method for configuring redundant logics are disclosed. The redundancy-ready control apparatus includes a plurality of function blocks, a redundancy configuration determining unit, a function block activating unit, and a synchronizing unit. The plurality of function blocks respectively performs a predetermined function. The redundancy configuration determining unit determines function blocks to be included in a redundancy configuration based on the priorities of the respective function blocks. According to the redundancy configuration, the function block activating unit activates the function blocks corresponding to the redundancy configuration to connect power and operational clocks to the activated function blocks, or deactivates function blocks excluded from the redundancy configuration to disconnect power or operational clocks to the deactivated function blocks. The synchronizing unit synchronizes each of the function blocks of the redundancy configuration with a function block that performs an identical redundant function. | 03-31-2016 |
20160091875 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADVANCED CONFIRMATION OF CONTROL OPERATIONS - Verification systems are provided for verification of proper execution of control commands on remote devices. In some embodiments, the verification systems can include video cameras, audio sensors, thermal detectors, etc., to provide secondary sources of information by which to verify primary reports on a state of a remote device. Each device can be associated with a device profile defining operating characteristics of the remote device in various states. In some examples, device properties can also be defined based on a current state of the device and a received control command. In some examples, the device profiles are models of expected device properties that can used to verify proper execution of control commands. In some embodiments, detection of state mismatch can trigger a variety of actions by the system to mediate the mismatched state according to a variety of control rules. | 03-31-2016 |
20160091893 | DEVICE FOR MONITORING THE HEALTH STATUS OF A LIMITED LIFE CRITICAL SYSTEM COMPRISING A DATA DISPLAYING UNIT - A device for monitoring the health status of a limited life critical system, comprising: at least one measurement sensor adapted to measure a magnitude adapted to affect the health status of the critical system; at least one processing unit (13) operatively connected to the sensor (S | 03-31-2016 |
20160116893 | AUTONOMOUS CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A system for autonomous enforcement of rules may comprise a protected system operative in response to input signals and an autonomous control system. The autonomous control system may include a monitor circuit which is coupled to the input signals to monitor the input signals for violations of the rules and an action circuit coupled to the protected system which prevents the violating input signals from affecting the protected system. | 04-28-2016 |
20160116895 | REMOTE UNIT AND ABNORMALITY DETERMINING METHOD THEREIN - A remote unit ( | 04-28-2016 |
20160124397 | HANDHELD UNIT WITH COMBINED SIGNAL EVALUATION - A handheld unit for an industrial technical system comprising some of the following: a proximity sensor, an acceleration sensor, an orientation sensor, a position-determining device and an image-capturing device. Commands input by a user to the handheld unit and output signals from the modules are fed to an evaluation device in the handheld unit that transmits control commands to a control device in the industrial technical system. The evaluation device compares output signals of the modules to predetermined first signal patterns and transmits commands that activate components in the industrial technical system to the control device only if the command requested and the output signals of the modules match one of the predetermined first signal patterns. Otherwise the evaluation device does not transmit the control commands. | 05-05-2016 |
20160139570 | CONFIGURABLE SAFETY LOGIC SOLVER - A control system may include a display device and a processor that receives one or more inputs from the display device. The processor may generate a cause and effect visualization to be depicted on the display device, such that the cause and effect visualization represents a cause and effect logic configured to control one or more operations of a first set of industrial devices based one or monitored conditions. The processor may receive the inputs via the display device, such that the inputs include one or more configuration settings associated with the operations of the first set of industrial devices, the monitored conditions, or any combination thereof. The processor may then control the one or more operations of the first set of industrial devices based on the cause and effect logic and the inputs. | 05-19-2016 |
20160163485 | PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT FOR AN APPARATUS - A protective circuit for an apparatus includes an accelerometer having an output and a microcontroller coupled to the output of the accelerometer. The protective circuit also includes a switch for controlling the apparatus coupled to an output of the microcontroller and a load coupled to the switch. A power source is coupled to the load and the switch. In operation the microcontroller is cable of sending a signal to the switch to turn of power to the load when a dangerous condition as detected from the accelerometer data has occurred. | 06-09-2016 |
20160170395 | CASE MANAGEMENT LINKAGE OF UPDATES, EVIDENCE, AND TRIGGERS | 06-16-2016 |
20170235302 | CONTROL PROGRAM MAINTENANCE DEVICE, CONTROL PROGRAM MAINTENANCE METHOD, AND PROGRAM | 08-17-2017 |
20180024522 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SAFETY-RELEVANT INPUT TO A CONTROL SYSTEM | 01-25-2018 |
20180024535 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY REPORTING MANUFACTURING DATA IN A SPREADSHEET FORMAT | 01-25-2018 |
20190146450 | PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLER WITH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM | 05-16-2019 |
20220137589 | A METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING MACHINE SAFETY AND PRODUCT QUALITY FOR A FLEXIBLE CYBER-PHYSICAL PRODUCTION SYSTEM - A computer-implemented method for determining automatically a machine safety and/or a product quality of a flexible cyber-physical production system with a configuration adaptable during a production process including production steps executed by machines forming equipment of a physical factory of the cyber-physical production system to produce a product according to a product recipe, wherein the machine safety and/or product quality are calculated during runtime of the flexible cyber-physical production system by processing a meta-model of the flexible cyber-physical production system stored in a computer readable storage medium, is provided. | 05-05-2022 |
20220137598 | ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, ELECTRONIC SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus instructs an operation of at least a part of a control target device via wireless communication. The electronic apparatus comprises a processor configured to acquire communication quality information of the wireless communication between the electronic apparatus and the control target device, acquire first information indicating a degree or a risk that can be caused by the operation, and generate a control signal instructing the operation based on the communication quality information and the first information. | 05-05-2022 |