Wireless emergency stop systems including mobile device controllers linked with safety stop devices

A wireless emergency stop system comprising:

• a machine safety device connectable to a machine stop circuit for stopping operation of a machine when the machine stop circuit is activated, the machine safety device including a wireless communication interface;
• a mobile device controller configured to control operation of the machine;
• and
• a safety stop device including:
• a wireless communication interface for wireless communication with the machine safety device;
• and
• an emergency stop switch configured to, when activated, transmit an emergency stop signal to the machine safety device to trigger an emergency stop of the machine;
• wherein the mobile device controller is configured to be wirelessly tethered with the safety stop device via a short-range wireless communication protocol, such that the mobile device controller is operable for controlling operation of the machine with a specified level of safety without using a hardwired cable that links the mobile device controller to machine power as the safety stop device is operable for guaranteeing the ability to stop the machine at a threshold safety rating.

A wireless emergency stop system comprising:

• a machine safety device connectable to a machine stop circuit for stopping operation of a machine when the machine stop circuit is activated, the machine safety device including a wireless communication interface;
• a mobile device controller configured to control operation of the machine;
• and
• a safety stop device including:
• a wireless communication interface for wireless communication with the machine safety device;
• and
• an emergency stop switch configured to, when activated, transmit an emergency stop signal to the machine safety device to trigger an emergency stop of the machine;
• wherein the mobile device controller comprises a tablet computer configured to be wirelessly tethered with the safety stop device via a short-range wireless communication protocol, such that the tablet computer is operable for controlling operation of the machine with a specified level of safety without using a hardwired cable that links the tablet computer to machine power as the safety stop device is operable for guaranteeing the ability to stop the machine at a threshold safety rating.

A wireless emergency stop system comprising:

• a machine safety device connectable to a machine stop circuit for stopping operation of a machine when the machine stop circuit is activated, the machine safety device including a wireless communication interface;
• a mobile device controller configured to control operation of the machine;
• and
• a safety stop device including:
• a wireless communication interface for wireless communication with the machine safety device;
• and
• an emergency stop switch configured to, when activated, transmit an emergency stop signal to the machine safety device to trigger an emergency stop of the machine;
• wherein the mobile device controller is configured to link with the safety stop device via short-range wireless communication, whereby the mobile device controller is operable for controlling operation of the machine with security for emergency stop functionality;
• and
• wherein the mobile device controller is configured to identify the safety stop device based on an identity table that cross references machine identity with an associated safety stop device.

A wireless emergency stop system comprising:

• a machine safety device connectable to a machine stop circuit for stopping operation of a machine when the machine stop circuit is activated, the machine safety device including a wireless communication interface;
• a mobile device controller configured to control operation of the machine;
• and
• a safety stop device including:
• a wireless communication interface for wireless communication with the machine safety device;
• and
• an emergency stop switch configured to, when activated, transmit an emergency stop signal to the machine safety device to trigger an emergency stop of the machine;
• wherein the mobile device controller is configured to link with the safety stop device via short-range wireless communication, whereby the mobile device controller is operable for controlling operation of the machine with security for emergency stop functionality;
• and
• wherein the mobile device controller is configured to identify the safety stop device by cross referencing machine identity with an associated safety stop device.

A wireless emergency stop system comprising:

• a machine safety device connectable to a machine stop circuit for stopping operation of a machine when the machine stop circuit is activated, the machine safety device including a wireless communication interface;
• a mobile device controller configured to control operation of the machine;
• and
• a safety stop device including:
• a wireless communication interface for wireless communication with the machine safety device;
• and
• an emergency stop switch configured to, when activated, transmit an emergency stop signal to the machine safety device to trigger an emergency stop of the machine;
• wherein the mobile device controller is configured to link with the safety stop device via short-range wireless communication, whereby the mobile device controller is operable for controlling operation of the machine with security for emergency stop functionality;
• and
• wherein:
• the mobile device controller is configured to identify the safety stop device based on at least one of a media access control (MAC) address of the safety stop device, a unique identifier assigned to the safety stop device, and an identity table that cross references machine identity with an associated safety stop device;
• and
• the mobile device controller is configured to link with the safety stop device in response to identifying that the safety stop device is connected with the machine that is controllable by the mobile device controller.

A method of operating a wireless emergency stop system including a machine safety device connected to a machine stop circuit for stopping operation of a machine when the machine stop circuit is activated, a mobile device controller configured to control operation of the machine, and a safety stop device, the method comprising:

• establishing, by the mobile device controller, a short-range wireless communication link with the safety stop device, such that the mobile device controller is operable for controlling operation of the machine with security for emergency stop functionality;
• wirelessly transmitting, by the mobile device controller, one or more instructions to control operation of the machine;
• detecting activation of an emergency stop switch of the safety stop device;
• in response to the detected activation, wirelessly transmitting an emergency stop signal to a wireless communication interface of the machine safety device to trigger an emergency stop of the machine;
• and
• in response to disconnection of the short-range wireless communication link with the mobile device controller, transmitting the emergency stop signal to the machine safety device to trigger an emergency stop of the machine.

A method of operating a wireless emergency stop system including a machine safety device connected to a machine stop circuit for stopping operation of a machine when the machine stop circuit is activated, a mobile device controller configured to control operation of the machine, and a safety stop device, the method comprising:

• establishing, by the mobile device controller, a short-range wireless communication link with the safety stop device, such that the mobile device controller is operable for controlling operation of the machine with security for emergency stop functionality;
• wirelessly transmitting, by the mobile device controller, one or more instructions to control operation of the machine;
• detecting activation of an emergency stop switch of the safety stop device;
• and
• in response to the detected activation, wirelessly transmitting an emergency stop signal to a wireless communication interface of the machine safety device to trigger an emergency stop of the machine;
• wherein the mobile device controller comprises a tablet computer configured to be wirelessly tethered with the safety stop device via a short-range wireless communication protocol, such that the tablet computer is operable for controlling operation of the machine with a specified level of safety without using a hardwired cable that links the tablet computer to machine power as the safety stop device is operable for guaranteeing the ability to stop the machine at a threshold safety rating.

A method of operating a wireless emergency stop system including a machine safety device connected to a machine stop circuit for stopping operation of a machine when the machine stop circuit is activated, a mobile device controller configured to control operation of the machine, and a safety stop device, the method comprising:

• establishing, by the mobile device controller, a short-range wireless communication link with the safety stop device, such that the mobile device controller is operable for controlling operation of the machine with security for emergency stop functionality;
• wirelessly transmitting, by the mobile device controller, one or more instructions to control operation of the machine;
• detecting activation of an emergency stop switch of the safety stop device;
• and
• in response to the detected activation, wirelessly transmitting an emergency stop signal to a wireless communication interface of the machine safety device to trigger an emergency stop of the machine;
• wherein establishing the short-range wireless communication link includes establishing the short-range wireless communication link with the safety stop device in response to identifying that the safety stop device is connected with the machine that the mobile device controller is controlling.

A wireless emergency stop system for a machine, the system comprising:

• a machine safety device connectable to a machine stop circuit for stopping operation of the machine when the machine stop circuit is activated, the machine safety device including a wireless communication interface;
• a safety stop device including:
• a wireless communication interface for wireless communication with the machine safety device;
• and
• an emergency stop switch configured to, when activated, transmit an emergency stop signal to the machine safety device to trigger an emergency stop of the machine;
• wherein the safety stop device is configured to link with a mobile device controller via short-range wireless communication, thereby allowing the mobile device controller to control operation of the machine with security for reliable emergency stop;
• wherein the safety stop device and the mobile device controller are configured to be linked in response to identifying that the safety stop device is connected with the machine that is controllable by the mobile device controller;
• and
• the safety stop device is identifiable by cross referencing machine identity(ies) with associated safety stop device(s).