Shared operating unit for a network of programmable equipment
AssigneeTrellis Software & Controls, Inc.
InventorsKenneth A. Stoddard, R. William Kneifel, II, Jason A. Sattler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device on a network having multiple units of programmable industrial equipment includes a control handle connected to a controller for a unit of the programmable equipment and a shared operating unit selectively connected to the control handle for controlling the unit of programmable industrial equipment through the controller. Further, the shared operating unit is adapted to connect to the network for communicating with each unit of programmable equipment on the network.
Claims60
A device on a network having multiple units of programmable equipment, comprising:
- a control handle connected to a programmable controller for a unit of said programmable equipment;
- and
- a shared operating unit selectively connected to said control handle for controlling said unit of said programmable equipment through said controller and adapted to connect to the network for communicating with each unit of programmable equipments;
- wherein said control handle indicates to said shared operating unit a unique association with said controller connected to said control handle.
An apparatus comprising:
- a control handle connected to a programmable controller for a unit of programmable equipment;
- and
- a shared operating unit controlling said unit of programmable equipment through a unique association with said controller by selective connection to said control handle, said shared operating unit being adapted to connect to a communication network.
A robot-control system, comprising:
- multiple units of programmable industrial equipment, each unit of programmable industrial equipment including a programmable controller;
- a control handle connected to each controller, wherein said control handle indicates to said shared operating unit a unique association with said controller connected to said control handle;
- and
- a shared operating unit selectively connected to one of said control handles, said shared operating unit controlling said programmable industrial equipment through said controller connected to said control handle and adapted to communicate each controller of the network.
A method for operating a network of programmable industrial equipment comprising:
- sharing an operating unit among said programmable industrial equipment;
- providing a control handle for each unit of industrial equipment, said control handle adapted to connect to said operating unit;
- controlling one unit of said programmable industrial equipment by connecting said operating unit to said control handle associated with said one unit of said programmable industrial equipment;
- and
- uniquely associating said shared operating unit with said unit of programmable equipment.
A method for operating a network of programmable industrial equipment, comprising:
- organizing said network into network cells having groups of said programmable industrial equipment;
- providing a control handle for each unit of said programmable industrial equipment;
- providing an operating unit to each said network cell;
- sharing said operating unit among said programmable industrial equipment in each of said network cells;
- connecting said operating unit to one unit of said programmable industrial equipment through said control handle;
- controlling said one unit of said programmable industrial equipment through said connection;
- and
- communicating with said network of programmable Industrial equipment through said connection.
A method for operating a network of programmable industrial equipment comprising:
- providing a control handle for each unit of said programmable industrial equipment;
- sharing an operating unit among said programmable industrial equipment, said shared operating unit adapted to connect to a network;
- and
- controlling one unit of said programmable industrial equipment through said operating unit by connecting said operating unit to said control handle associated with said unit of said programmable industrial equipment and indicating a unique association to said shared operating unit.
A robot-control system, comprising:
- multiple units of programmable industrial equipment, each unit of programmable industrial equipment including a programmable controller;
- a control handle connected to each controller;
- and
- a shared operating unit for controlling said unit of programmable industrial equipment through a unique association with said controller by selective connection to said control handle for said unit of programmable industrial equipment, said shared operating unit adapted to communicate with said each controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.