Computer-Based Design System for an Electric Drive System

Abstract

A computer-based design system for an electric drive system includes: a cam editor having a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface sets values of parameters of a motion profile of the electric drive system on the basis of user inputs, a limit value memory, which stores limit values of the motion profile, and a limit value monitoring device, which monitors whether a value of a parameter inputted by a user input causes one or more of the stored limit values to be violated by the resulting motion profile and, in the case that one or more of the stored limit values are violated by the resulting motion profile, to adjust the inputted value of the parameter to such a value of the parameter that none of the stored limit values are violated by the resulting motion profile.

Claims

1-6. (canceled)

7. A computer-based design system for an electric drive system, comprising: a. a cam editor having a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface sets values of parameters of a motion profile of the electric drive system on the basis of user inputs; b. a limit value memory, which stores limit values of the motion profile; and c. a limit value monitoring device, which monitors whether a value of a parameter inputted by a user input causes one or more of the stored limit values to be violated by the resulting motion profile and, in the case that one or more of the stored limit values are violated by the resulting motion profile, to adjust the inputted value of the parameter to such a value of the parameter that none of the stored limit values are violated by the resulting motion profile.

8. The design system according to claim 7, wherein a. the parameters of the motion profile comprise one of more of: support points of the motion profile, coordinates of the support points of the motion profile, a slope of the motion profile, a curve shape of the motion profile, a travel range of the motion profile, segments of the motion profile, segment borders of the motion profile, speeds at segment limits of the motion profile, segment margin values of the motion profile, an acceleration of the motion profile, a jolt of the motion profile, and types of segments of the motion profile.

9. The design system according to claim 7, wherein a. the limit values define one or more of: a maximum speed, a maximum acceleration, a maximum jolt, a maximum travel range, and segment borders of the motion profile.

10. The design system according to claim 7, wherein a. the cam editor provides user inputs by which parameters that have been selected previously are displaced vertically or horizontally, wherein the cam editor has a first adjustment mode during which previously-selected parameters can only be displaced horizontally, and wherein the cam editor has a second adjustment mode during which the previously-selected parameters can only be displaced vertically.

11. The design system according to claim 7, wherein a. the design system visualizes a motion profile executed by the drive system.

12. The design system according to claim 7, wherein the visualization is in real time.

13. The design system according to claim 7, wherein a. the design system visualizes deviations of a motion profile projected by the design system from a motion profile executed by the drive system on the basis of the projected motion profile.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The present invention shall be described in greater detail below, with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, which are schematic,

[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a computer-based design system;

[0040] FIG. 2 illustrates a graphical user interface of the design system illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0041] FIG. 3 illustrates the graphical user interface of the design system illustrated in FIG. 1, in a vertical displacement operation of a segment group;

[0042] FIG. 4 illustrates the graphical user interface of the design system illustrated in FIG. 1, in a horizontal displacement operation of the segment group;

[0043] FIG. 5 illustrates the graphical user interface of the design system illustrated in FIG. 1 when the horizontal displacement operation is locked; and

[0044] FIG. 6 illustrates the graphical user interface of the design system illustrated in FIG. 1, in an online mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] FIG. 1 is a highly schematic illustration of a block diagram of a computer-based design system 100 for an electric drive system 200. The design system 100 comprises a screen 5, a non-volatile limit value memory 3, a limit value monitoring device 4, a keyboard 6, and a mouse 7. The limit value memory 3 and the limit value monitoring device 4 may be realized by means of a conventional personal computer, in the hardware and/or software.

[0046] FIG. 2 illustrates a graphical user interface 1 of the design system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, which is represented on the screen 5.

[0047] The user interface 1 is part of a cam editor according to the present invention. The graphical user interface 1 is designed to set values of parameters of a motion profile 2 of the electric drive system 200 on the basis of user inputs in the form of mouse operation actions and keyboard inputs.

[0048] The x-axis of the motion profile 2 stands for a so-called master axis, and the y-axis stands for a so-called slave axis with the travel range thereof.

[0049] The motion profile 2 depicted in FIG. 2 has two adjacent segments 2a and 2b. An adjustable parameter of the motion profile 2 is, for example, a speed at a limit or margin value 2c at the segment border between the segments. Reference is furthermore also made to the relevant literature regarding motion profiles.

[0050] When a user increases the speed at the margin value 2c, the curve shape of the motion profile 2 changes as a consequence, wherein a maximum (maximum position value in the y-direction) of the motion profile 2 increases in the segment 2a.

[0051] Because, however, a travel range in the y-direction is limited by a limit value in the form of a physically possible travel range 8 of the drive system 200, the speed desired by the user at the margin value 2c, inter alia, is automatically monitored by means of the limit value monitoring device 4 with respect to whether the maximum of the motion profile 2 arising with the change exceeds the limit value in the form of the physically possible travel range 8. Should this be the case, the parameter value specified by the user is not applied. Instead, the maximum value for the speed at the margin value 2c that only just allows for a shape of the motion profile 2 that is within the defined travel range 8 is automatically determined and set (see FIG. 2). In other words, the maximum of the motion profile 2 is positioned exactly at the maximum of the allowed travel range 8, and the speed is correspondingly corrected by the system.

[0052] The limit value memory 3 stores a plurality of limit values of the motion profile 2, e.g., the physically possible travel range 8. Other limit values may define or represent a maximum speed, a maximum acceleration, a maximum jolt, and/or segment borders of the motion profile.

[0053] FIG. 3 illustrates the graphical user interface 1 of the design system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, during a vertical displacement process for a segment group composed of the segments 2a and 2b, which in FIG. 3 have different courses from those in FIG. 2. The displacement of the segment group shall be described hereinbelow. An individual segment is displaced in a corresponding manner.

[0054] The segment group is first marked, for example, by clicking on the individual segments 2a and 2b or a range selection thereover. A plurality of segments can be selected by means of a rectangular area that can be extended with the mouse 7 in such a manner that all of the segments of which both horizontal endpoints lie in the area of the rectangle are added to the segment group.

[0055] The segment group may be displaced vertically as long as it displaced between the desired endpoints with the mouse with the mouse button pressed, wherein only the y-component of the mouse movement is used (see FIG. 3).

[0056] In the displacement process, the mouse pointer indicates, through a given symbol (here, vertical arrows), that the vertical displacement can be carried out when the mouse button provided therefor is pressed.

[0057] The segment group may be displaced horizontally when the mouse button provided therefor is pressed, the mouse pointer is located in the horizontal capture range of a segment end point, and the mouse pointer is not in the capture range of at least one vertical segment separator (see FIG. 4). The segments are represented such that the horizontal endpoints thereof are illustrated by vertical lines—the so-called segment separators. If these are “touched” outside of a curve endpoint by means of the mouse 7, the marked segment 2a may therewith be displaced horizontally.

[0058] In this horizontal displacement process, the mouse pointer shows, through a given symbol (here, horizontal arrows), that this action can be carried out when the given mouse button is pressed.

[0059] In order to avoid unwanted horizontal displacements of the endpoints, these may additionally be locked against horizontal displacement. This may be done globally, for example, by a switch with a lock symbol, but individual locking is also conceivable. The locked state of a segment is indicated to the user by superimposing a lock symbol in the mouse pointer in the situation where the mouse pointer in the unlocked state shows the ability to displace, i.e., for example, when passing over a segment separator with the mouse (see FIG. 5).

[0060] Thus, if necessary, the definition of the motion profile can be divided into two phases: in phase 1, first, segments are defined and horizontal ranges are set. In phase 2, the segments can still be changed: a law of motion is selected, the curve shape within a segment is optimized, etc. Then, however, the defined horizontal ranges (=segments) of the motion profile or the curve track should not be accidentally displaced.

[0061] This allows for intuitive operation with protection against wrong operation. A keyboard is not necessarily required for the described functions.

[0062] FIG. 6 shows the graphical user interface 1 of the design system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 in a so-called online mode during which the design system 100 has a data link to the drive system 200. The position as a function of the master axis position is depicted above, and the speed as a function of the master axis position is depicted below.

[0063] The online mode makes it possible to track the motion profile currently being executed in the drive system 200, by means of a marking 9 that, in the online mode, automatically follows the master axis position (x-axis). The ruler function contained in the editor represents the marking 9. The marking or the ruler 9 follows the master position in the automatic mode, and it is indicated whether the curve being represented in the design system 100 or the represented motion profile also corresponds exactly to the curve/motion profile that is in execution in the drive system.

[0064] The online mode is typically useful during deployment with slow movement of the master axis or master signal. It deals with calibration and testing of a machine. The question of which curve data is currently in execution can be verified visually.

[0065] The online mode is activated in a manner that is easy for the user to understand and use: the existing ruler function is expanded by an additional mode. The ruler may be active, inactive, or in the automatic mode. In the automatic mode, the ruler follows the master position. There is always only one ruler that will be shown at the same time. This yields clarity and comprehensibility for the user. The on/off switch for the ruler in the toolbar of the editor (upper area of the screen, see 6. Control button from the left with the blue icon in the bottom image) receives an additional 3. Switching state that corresponds to the active automatic mode. This is only selectable if the editor is in the online mode, i.e., if the programming environment is connected to the device.