A safety network controller is comprised in an electronic safety system. The safety network controller comprises a first serial port and a second serial port, each of which is configured to communicatively connect to a redundant safety network controller via a respective daisy chain network. Each daisy chain network comprises at least one safety device controller that is controlling a corresponding safety device. The safety network controller further comprises network circuitry configured to communicatively connect to the redundant safety network controller via a packet-switched network. The safety network controller further comprises processing circuitry configured to exchange, with the redundant safety network controller: serial communication via each of the daisy chain networks; packets via the packet-switched network; and responsibility for control over one or more of the safety device controllers in response to detecting a failure.

A robot includes a motor drive power source for converting a voltage supplied from a power source to a motor drive unit-grade voltage and outputting it, a motor drive unit for converting a motor drive unit-grade voltage output from the motor drive power source to a motor drive voltage and outputting it, a motor driven to be rotated by a motor drive voltage output by the motor drive unit, a robot arm on which the motor drive unit and the motor are arranged, and a robot controller which is provided independently of the robot arm and on which the motor drive power source is arranged.

A motor control apparatus (2) according to the present disclosure is configured to control motors (#1-#3), automatically acquire identification information of a plurality of encoders (#1-#5), the encoders (#1-#5) being configured to be connected in series under a control of the motor control apparatus (2) and to detect position information of the motors (#1-#3) or position information of a mechanical apparatus configured to be driven by the motors (#1-#3), and store the identification information and the motor control unit in a non-volatile memory (11) in association with each other.

A safety network controller is comprised in an electronic safety system. The safety network controller comprises a first serial port and a second serial port, each of which is configured to communicatively connect to a redundant safety network controller via a respective daisy chain network. Each daisy chain network comprises at least one safety device controller that is controlling a corresponding safety device. The safety network controller further comprises network circuitry configured to communicatively connect to the redundant safety network controller via a packet-switched network. The safety network controller further comprises processing circuitry configured to exchange, with the redundant safety network controller: serial communication via each of the daisy chain networks; packets via the packet-switched network; and responsibility for control over one or more of the safety device controllers in response to detecting a failure.

A substrate conveying robot includes an arm, a substrate holding hand, a sensor board to which a sensor is electrically connected, and a control board on which a controller is mounted, the control board including a universal connector connectable to different types of the sensor boards.

A data processing and transmission system (1) for a numerical control unit (2) adapted to control a machine tool (3), comprises at least one input channel (4) adapted to a transit of operational signals from or to devices present in the machine tool, electronic circuits configured to process the operational signals to make available on an output interface (5) control signals for the numerical control unit, a multipolar cable (8) having a first and a second end, each provided with a multipolar connector (9), a master unit having the output interface, a main processor, a memory and at least one socket (7A) configured to be coupled to one of the multipolar connectors, one or more slave units (6), each provided with at least one external port (6A) defining the input channel, a memory, a secondary processor, and provided also with a first socket (6B) and a second socket (6C), configured to be coupled at least to a first or a second connector of the multipolar connectors in order to interconnect the slave unit at least with the master unit. The master unit has a clock and each slave unit has its own clock. The main processor of the master unit generates a synchronization signal and transmits it through the multipolar cable in order to synchronize all the clocks of the slave units with the clock of the master unit.

The present invention relates to multi-limb actuated kinematics (1) having a plurality of drive units (11-16) connected to one another as a serial kinematic chain, the drive units (11-16) respectively having a control unit (11b, 12b, 16b), which are designed to operate at least one drive (11c, 12c, 16c) of the drive unit (11-16) to carry out the movement of the drive unit (11-16), the control units (11b, 12b, 16b) of the drive units (11-16) being connected to one another by a first data line (A.sub.10, A.sub.11, A.sub.12, A.sub.13, A.sub.16, A.sub.17) such that they transmit signals and being designed to receive at least data for operating the drive (11c, 12c, 16c) via the first data line (A.sub.10, A.sub.11, A.sub.12, A.sub.13, A.sub.16, A.sub.17). The multi-limb actuated kinematics (1) are characterised in that the control units (11b, 12b, 16b) of the drive units (11-16) are further connected to one another by a second data line (B.sub.10, B.sub.11, B.sub.12, B.sub.13, B.sub.16, B.sub.17, B.sub.19) such that they transmit signals and are designed to forward the data of the second data line (B.sub.10, B.sub.11, B.sub.12, B.sub.13, B.sub.16, B.sub.17, B.sub.19).

Provided is a numerical controller in which a plurality of devices is allowed to be connected to a serial bus by a daisy chain, acquiring, from each of the devices, a connection number on the daisy chain and a device ID as connection information, determining presence or absence of a problem by comparing the connection information with a connection setting parameter obtained by associating the connection number with a logic axis number of the numerical controller, storing the connection information acquired by the connection information acquisition unit when there is no problem in the determination, and identifying a removed device by comparing the connection information acquired by the connection information acquisition unit with the connection information stored in the connection information storage unit when there is a problem in the determination, and excluding the removed device from the connection setting parameter, thereby creating connection setting data.

The invention relates to a system for vehicle body construction, comprising a central control unit (1) and at least two electrically operated actuation devices (2), which each have their own control unit (2.1) for controlling the movement of said actuation devices. According to the invention, the control unit (2.1) of one of the two actuation devices (2) is connected to the central control unit (1) via the control unit (2.1) of the other of the two actuation devices (2).

A bus system has a daisy-chain configuration. The bus system includes a master unit and a plurality of slave units that are serially connected to the master unit downstream thereof via a line system. A first one of the slave units first connected downstream of the master unit is configured to invert a request signal, which is provided by the master unit and received via a first line section of the line system, and to output the inverted request signal on a second line section of the line system leading to an adjacent, second one of the slave units.