Remote control arrangement

Abstract

A remote control arrangement includes a portable computer, in which a computer program product for generating and transmitting control signals by transmitter provided on the computer is stored, and a remotely controlled object, on which a receiver for receiving the control signals and a controller for controlling the object in accordance with the received signals are provided. The remote control arrangement has a security device having an operating element that can be mechanically actuated. A security control connection can be established between the security device and the portable computer, and control of the object can be allowed only when the security control connection is established. The security control connection includes an electronic signal connection between the security device and the computer. The control signals for moving the object cannot be transmitted until the electronic signal connection exists. The security device has a security transmitter, by which a termination signal preventing the movement of the object can be transmitted.

Claims

1. A remote control arrangement comprising: a portable computer, on which a computer program for generating and transmitting control signals with a transmitter provided on the computer is stored; a remote-controlled object, on which a receiver configured to receive the control signals and a controller configured to control the object in accordance with the received signals are provided; and a safety device having an operating element that can be mechanically actuated, wherein a safety control connection can be established between the safety device and the portable computer, control of the object can be allowed only when the safety control connection is established, wherein the safety control connection comprises an electronic signal connection between the safety device and the computer, wherein the control signals for moving the object cannot be transmitted until the electronic signal connection exists, wherein the safety device has a safety transmitter by which a termination signal preventing the movement of the object can be transmitted, and wherein the termination signal includes an active termination signal transmitted directly from the safety device to the remote-controlled object upon activation of the operating element.

2. The remote control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a blocking control signal preventing the movement of the object can be transmitted from the portable computer and can be deactivated when the safety control connection is established and can be activated by actuation of the operating element.

3. The remote control arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the existence of the safety control connection of the computer with the safety device can be signalled on the computer.

4. The remote control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the existence of the safety control connection of the computer with the safety device can be signalled on the computer.

5. The remote control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a working area of the remote-controlled object can be shown on a display of the computer.

6. The remote control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the safety control connection can be established via a physical plug connection.

7. The remote control arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the physical plug connection can be established on a receptacle into which the portable computer can be inserted and on which the safety device is provided.

8. The remote control arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the physical plug connection between the safety device and the computer can be established via a connecting cable.

9. The remote control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the safety control connection can be established via a contactless/wireless connection.

10. The remote control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the safety control connection can be established via an optical signal transmitter or via a radio connection.

11. A remote control arrangement comprising: a portable computer, on which a computer program for generating and transmitting control signals with a transmitter provided on the computer is stored; a remote-controlled object, on which a receiver configured to receive the control signals and a controller configured to control the object in accordance with the received signals are provided; and a safety device having an operating element that can be mechanically actuated, wherein a safety control connection can be established between the safety device and the portable computer, and control of the object can be allowed only when the safety control connection is established, wherein the safety control connection comprises an electronic signal connection between the safety device and the computer, wherein the control signals for moving the object cannot be transmitted until the electronic signal connection exists, and wherein the safety device has a safety transmitter by which a termination signal preventing the movement of the object can be transmitted, wherein the safety transmitter can be deactivated when the safety control connection is established.

12. The remote control arrangement according to claim 11, wherein a blocking control signal preventing the movement of the object can be transmitted from the portable computer and can be deactivated when the safety control connection is established and can be activated by actuation of the operating element.

13. The remote control arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the existence of the safety control connection of the computer with the safety device can be signalled on the computer.

14. The remote control arrangement according to claim 11, wherein a working area of the remote-controlled object can also be shown on a display of the computer.

15. A remote control arrangement comprising: a portable computer, on which a computer program for generating and transmitting control signals with a transmitter provided on the computer is stored; a remote-controlled object, on which a receiver configured to receive the control signals and a controller configured to control the object in accordance with the received signals are provided; and a safety device having an operating element that can be mechanically actuated, wherein a safety control connection can be established between the safety device and the portable computer, and control of the object can be allowed only when the safety control connection is established, wherein the safety control connection comprises an electronic signal connection between the safety device and the computer, wherein the control signals for moving the object cannot be transmitted until the electronic signal connection exists, wherein the safety device has a safety transmitter by which a termination signal preventing the movement of the object can be transmitted, wherein the safety device has a signal converter by which the control signals issued by the computer can be changed and transmitted from the safety device, and wherein the signal converter has an amplifier by which the control signals generated by the computer can be transmitted by the safety device at a higher transmission power.

16. The remote control arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the signal converter device has converter by which the control signals received by the computer in a first format can be converted into a second format in which the control signals can be transmitted from the safety device.

17. A method for operating the remote control arrangement according to claim 1, comprising activating the computer program, wherein, after activation of the computer program on the portable computer, the method comprises the steps of: in a first step, preventing the movement of the remote-controlled object; in a subsequent second step, checking an existence of the safety control connection; if the safety control connection exists, in a subsequent third step, activating the transmission of control signals in accordance with control commands input on the computer; and in a subsequent fourth step, preventing the movement of the remote-controlled object again, if the safety control connection is interrupted or if a termination signal is received from the safety device.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the movement of the remote-controlled object is prevented by the transmission of termination signals from the safety device.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the movement of the remote-controlled object is prevented by the transmission of termination signals from the portable computer.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein in the third step in addition an indication is activated on the display, by which the existence of the safety control connection and thus the possible transmission of control signals is indicated.

Description

(1) An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the Figures, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a view of a remote control arrangement according to the invention comprising a portable computer, a safety device and a remote-controlled object,

(3) FIG. 2 is a view of the remote control arrangement with an alternative embodiment of the safety device,

(4) FIG. 3 is a view of the remote control arrangement with a further alternative embodiment of the safety device and

(5) FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a computer program product which is stored and can be executed on the portable computer of the remote control arrangement.

(6) FIG. 1 shows a remote control arrangement 2 comprising a portable computer 4 in the form of a tablet computer or a smartphone, a remote-controlled object 6 in the form of a lifting device and a safety device 8. The safety device 8, which is designed in the manner of an emergency stop device, has an operating element 10 in the form of a commercially available emergency stop button that can be mechanically actuated to generate a termination signal. For this purpose, the operating element 10 is formed, for example, by a push button or switch that can be moved by the application of force.

(7) The computer 4 has an electronics system 12, in which a computer program product 14 is stored and can be executed. The computer program product 14 serves to generate control signals S and/or blocking control signals BS and to transmit them to the remote-controlled object 6. For this purpose, the computer 4 has an arrangement 15 of virtual and/or physical input elements for the input of control commands as well as transmission means 16, which, for example, comprise a computer-side transceiver 18.

(8) The remote-controlled object 6 in turn has receiving means 20 for receiving the control signals S and/or the blocking control signals BS, which receiving means 20 comprise, for example, a transceiver 22 on the object side. The signals received via this transceiver 22 and the control commands resulting therefrom are transferred to control means 24 of the object 6, via which the remote-controlled object 6 can be appropriately controlled or set in motion.

(9) As can also be seen from FIG. 1, a safety control connection 26 can be established between the portable computer 4 and the safety device 8. This comprises an electronic signal connection, which is established, for example, via a connecting cable 28 or a wireless connection 30. The wireless connection 30 can in this case be configured in particular as a radio, WLAN, infrared and/or Bluetooth connection. Moreover, the safety device 8 can have safety transmission means 31, by means of which termination signals NAS can be transmitted directly to the object 6 when the operating element 10 is actuated or when the safety control connection 26 is disrupted, in order to stop or block the movement of said object.

(10) In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, an indication 34 is provided on a display 32 of the computer 4, on which can be signalled whether the safety control connection 26 exists or not. The display 32 of the computer 4 can also be used to display images of a working area of the remote-controlled object 6 within a monitoring display 36. The images can be continuously captured, for example by means of a camera 38 provided on the object 6, and transmitted to the computer 4.

(11) FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the remote control arrangement 2, in which the computer 4 is accommodated in a receptacle 40 of an additional housing 42. Here, the safety device 8 is integrated into the additional housing 42 or is held thereon. To establish the safety control connection 26 between this safety device 8 and the computer 4, the additional housing 42 has a contact plug 44, which is positioned in such a way that, when the computer 4 is inserted into the receptacle 40, it comes into contact with a plug socket 46 of the computer 4, such as, in particular, a USB socket. This contact plug 44 is then connected with the safety device 8, as can be seen in FIG. 2, so that when the contact is established between the contact plug 44 and the plug socket 46, the safety control connection 26 is also established at the same time.

(12) A further embodiment of the remote control arrangement 2 is shown in FIG. 3. This has a safety device 8 that is separated from the computer 4 and has an additional signal converter device 48. A transceiver 50, for example, is provided on this signal converter device 48, by means of which transceiver the control signals S transmitted by the computer 4 can be both received and transmitted further. In order to achieve a greater range in the transmission of the control signals S, the signal converter device 48 has conversion means 52, by means of which the control signals S transmitted by the computer 4 in a first format F1 can be converted into a second format F2. For example, the control signals S can be converted from a WLAN or Bluetooth format used by the computer 4 into a radio format with a different frequency, which ensures a greater range or a more stable radio connection with the remote-controlled object.

(13) As an alternative or in addition to this, the signal converter device 48 can have amplification means 54, by means of which the control signals S received by the computer 4 are amplified during the forwarding from the safety device 8, in order to thereby increase the range.

(14) It is pointed out that all the elements and features of the various embodiments of the subject matter according to the invention described above are interchangeable or combinable, provided that an exchange or a combination thereof is not ruled out for technical reasons.

(15) The mode of operation of the remote control arrangement 2 is described below using the sequence according to FIG. 4:

(16) In a first step S1, remote control of the object 6 is started by switching on the computer 4. Immediately thereafter, in a second step S2, the computer program product 14 puts the computer 4 into a default setting, in which a movement control is prevented in order to avoid inadvertent movement of the remote-controlled object 6. The movement control is prevented either by a lack of transmission of the control signals S, by the active blocking control signals BS, which are transmitted by the computer 4 to the object 6, or by the active termination signals NAS, which are transmitted by safety transmission means 31 of the safety device 8 to the object 6.

(17) In a third step S3, it is then examined whether the safety control connection 26 with the safety device 8 is established. If not, the computer program product 14 leaves the computer 4 in the default setting.

(18) If, on the other hand, a stable safety control connection 26 is determined according to specified criteria, then in a fourth step S4 the computer program product 14 enables the remote control operation of the computer 4, so that when control commands are input on the computer 4, corresponding control signals S are now generated and transmitted. Where appropriate, the transmission of the blocking control signals by the computer 4 or the termination signals by the safety device 8 are terminated at the same time.

(19) During this remote control operation, it is repeatedly checked in a fifth step S5 whether the safety control connection 26 is disrupted or whether a termination signal has been generated on the safety device 8. As long as these two conditions are not met, the remote control operation continues.

(20) If, on the other hand, it is determined that the safety control connection 26 between the computer 4 and the safety device 8 is disrupted or if by actuation of the operating element 10 a termination signal is generated by the safety device 8, then the computer program product 14 puts the computer 4 back into the default setting as in the second step S2. As a result, the transmission of the control signals S is terminated or the transmission of the blocking control signals or the termination signals is reactivated, thereby preventing a further movement or displacement of the remote-controlled object 6, in order in particular to prevent danger to persons or damage to property.