Wireless industrial control user interface with configurable software capabilities
AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
InventorsScott D. Braun, Christine E. Weingarth, Elena N. Pokatayev
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A user interface operable to connect to a device within an industrial control system includes a memory and a processing unit. The memory is operable to store a plurality of software applications for interfacing with the device and a configuration mask including access rights for at least a subset of the software applications. The processing unit is operable to establish a first connection with the device and disable selected software applications based on the configuration mask.
Claims18
An industrial control system, comprising:
- a motor drive having at least a first port;
- a wireless interface module coupled to the first port of the motor drive;
- and
- a wireless user interface comprising a display;
- wherein the wireless user interface is configured to communicate with the wireless interface module and establish a first connection through the wireless interface module to access the motor drive, the wireless user interface being further configured to store a plurality of software applications for interfacing with the motor drive, store a configuration mask including access rights for at least a subset of the software applications, disable selected software applications based on the configuration mask, and display a host frame and a device frame, the host frame configured to display host data and the device frame configured to display device data, the device frame also configured to display an image of the motor drive on the display responsive to establishing the first connection;
- wherein one of the plurality of software applications comprises a status monitor.
A user interface configured to communicate with a device within an industrial control system, comprising:
- a display;
- a memory configured to store a plurality of software applications for interfacing with the device and a configuration mask including access rights for at least a subset of the software applications;
- and
- a processing unit configured to establish a first connection with the device and disable selected software applications based on the configuration mask, the processing unit further configured to display a host frame and a device frame, the host frame configured to display host data and the device frame configured to display device data, the device frame also configured to display an image of the device on the display responsive to establishing the first connection;
- wherein one of the plurality of software applications comprises a status monitor.
An industrial control system, comprising:
- a motor drive having at least a first and second port;
- a wireless interface module coupled to the first port of the motor drive;
- a communication module coupled to the second port of the motor drive;
- and
- a wireless user interface;
- wherein the wireless user interface is configured to communicate with the wireless interface module and establish a first connection through the wireless interface module to access the motor drive, the wireless user interface being further configured to route messages through the wireless interface module and through the communication module to access a remote device on a communication network, the wireless user interface being further configured to store a plurality of software applications for interfacing with the motor drive and the remote device, store a configuration mask including access rights for at least a subset of the software applications, and disable selected software applications based on the configuration mask;
- wherein one of the plurality of software applications comprises a status monitor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.