SYSTEM OF AUTOMATION COMPONENTS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME

Abstract

A system of automation components, having a control unit, having a memory area which includes a parameter data record, and a key memory, which is able to be connected to the control unit via an unambiguously allocatable, electrically conductive connection. The key memory is location-bound, in particular able to be spatially fixedly allocatable to a specific point in a system as a whole, the key memory having at least one non-volatile memory area, including an unambiguous item of identifying information. The control unit is able to read out the identifying information. The system also includes an external data memory, which is able to be directly accessed, and data is able to be exchanged between the control unit and the external data memory.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A system of automation components, comprising: a control unit including a memory area adapted to store a parameter data record required for operation of the control unit; a key memory connectable to the control unit via an unambiguously allocatable, electrically conductive connection, the key memory being location-bound and/or spatially fixedly allocatable to a specific point in a system as a whole, the key memory including at least one non-volatile memory area adapted to store an unambiguous item of identification information, the control unit adapted to read out the identification information; and an external data memory directly accessible, directly accessible via a plug-in connection, and/or accessible via a system and/or a field-bus system, the external data memory including at least one non-volatile memory area adapted to store at least one parameter data record, each being unambiguously linked to an item of identification information; wherein the control unit and the external data memory are adapted to exchange information therebetween.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the system is adapted to operate at least one electric motor.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the control unit includes a second non-volatile memory area adapted to store a device-identification feature, the system further comprising a second control unit including a third non-volatile memory area adapted to store a device-identification feature of the second control unit, the control unit and the second control unit being of different device types, the device-identification features being unambiguously allocated to each of these device types, the device-identification feature of the control unit and the device-identification feature of the second control unit being different, the key memory connectable to the control unit and the second control unit via the unambiguously allocatable, electrically conductive connection, the control unit and the second control unit adapted to read identifying information stored in the key memory, each parameter data record available in the external data memory being linked to a device-identification feature and to the identifying information.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein the control unit includes a second non-volatile memory area adapted to store a device-identification feature of the control unit, the system further comprising a second control unit including a non-volatile memory area adapted to store a device-identification feature of the second control unit, the control unit and the second control unit being of different device types, a device-identification feature being unambiguously allocated to each of the device types and being different, the control unit being directly connected to the second control unit in a conductive manner, the control unit adapted to read identifying information stored in the key memory, the control unit being adapted to make the identifying information available to the directly connected second control unit, each parameter data record that is available in the external data memory being linked to an individual device-identification feature and to the identifying information.

20. The system according to claim 16, wherein the key memory is integrated into a separate housing and/or into a dongle housing, having only one plug-connector element directly connectable to the control unit in an electrically conductive manner.

21. The system according to claim 16, wherein the key memory is integrated into a connector plug of a connection cable, the connector plug adapted to directly connect to the control unit via a plug-connection element, the connector plug including a device adapted to accommodate a connection cable for connection to a further automation component and/or a drive unit, the connection cable adapted for transmission of further control and/or power signals.

22. The system according to claim 16, wherein the key memory is integrated within a drive unit including further sensors and/or actuators, a motor, a rotary encoder, a distance encoder, a brake, and/or a temperature sensor, the drive unit including a plug-connection element, the key memory being directly connectable to the control unit via the plug-connection element and/or via a connection line, the connection cable adapted for transmission of further control and/or power signals.

23. The system according to claim 16, wherein the control unit is adapted to read the key memory via an electrically conductive connection that includes two lines, a one-wire bus, and/or a coaxial cable having only a single inner conductor.

24. The system according to claim 16, wherein the key memory is fixedly connectable, via a connection chain, to a location at which the control unit is also installed in the system as a whole; the external data memory is directly connectable to a higher-level control via a plug-connector element, the higher-level control being connectable to the control unit via a field-bus system; and/or the device-identification feature includes an EAN (European Article Number) and/or a GTIN (Global Trade Item Number).

25. A method for operating a system including a control unit in an error state following a restart and/or a first start-up, comprising: reading, by the control unit, identifying information from a directly connected key memory; using, by the control unit, the identifying information to search an external data memory for a matching parameter data record that is linked to the identifying information; copying an available matching parameter data record is copied from the external data memory to a memory area of the control unit; switching the control unit from the error state to an operating state with the aid of the copied parameter data record; and maintaining the control unit in the error state if no matching parameter data record is available in the external data memory.

26. A method for operating a system including a control unit in an error state following a restart and/or a first start-up, comprising: reading, by the control unit, identifying information from a key memory; using, by the control unit, both the identifying information and a device-identification feature to search an external data memory for a matching parameter data record that is linked to the identifying information and the device-identification feature; copying an available matching parameter data record from the external data memory to a memory area of the control unit; switching the control unit from the error state to an operating state with the aid of the copied parameter data record; and maintaining the control unit in the error state if no matching parameter data record is available in the external data memory.

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising: removing a defective control unit from the system; and removing the key memory from the defective control unit and connecting the key memory to a new exchanged control unit, the new exchanged control unit assuming a same function at precisely a same location in the system as assumed by the defective control unit.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein after each restart, the control unit searches the external data memory for a matching parameter data record, and an available matching parameter data record is copied from the external data memory to the memory area of the control unit.

29. The method according to claim 26, wherein the memory area of the control unit includes a non-volatile memory, an EEPROM, and/or a flash memory, and during a restart, an available matching parameter data record is fetched from the external data memory only if the memory area does not include a parameter data record and/or the parameter data record included in the memory area is defective, a defective parameter data record being detected by a comparison with the identifying information and/or by a check-sum comparison of the parameter data record with the identifying information.

30. The method according to claim 26, wherein the memory area of the control unit includes a non-volatile memory, an EEPROM, and/or a flash memory, and during a restart, an available matching parameter data record is fetched from the external data memory only if the memory area does not include a parameter data record and/or the parameter data record included in the memory area is defective, a defective parameter data record being detected by a comparison both with the identifying information and the device-identification feature and/or by a check-sum comparison of the parameter data record both with the identifying information and the device-identification feature.

31. The method according to claim 26, wherein a parameter data record is linkable to a key memory and to the identifying information included therein and stored in the external data memory, and a parameter data record is linkable to a key memory and to the identifying information included therein and also stored in the external data memory, a selection of the key memory directly electrically connected to the control unit, during a restart of the control unit, resulting in loading a corresponding adapted parameter data record from the external data memory into the control unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a system of automation components according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates another system of automation components according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 schematically illustrate configurations of the directly allocatable, electrically conductive connection between a control unit and a key memory.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] In FIG. 1, a system of automation components according to an example embodiment of the present invention is schematically illustrated. The control unit (1a) is linked to the key memory (3a) via a directly allocatable, electrically conductive connection (2a). As a result, the control unit (1a) is able to access only the identifying information (7a) of the key memory (3a) that is located in the non-volatile memory area (6a).

[0041] Moreover, the control unit (1a) is connected, either directly or via a system (4), to an external data memory (5). This data memory (5) makes room in its non-volatile memory area (8) for parameter data records (9) that are linked to identifying information (7), in particular. For example, during the first start-up and/or in each further modification of the parameter data record (9a), this parameter data record (9a) has been transmitted via a device, in particular a parameterization device, both to the memory area (10a) of the control unit (1a) and, as a shadow copy, to the non-volatile memory area (8) of the external data memory (5). Using the identifying information (7a) of the key memory (3a), the control unit (1a) is able to search the external data memory (5) for the matching parameter data record (9a) and to load it into the internal memory area (10a) if the search was successful.

[0042] In FIG. 2, another system of automation components according to an example embodiment of the present invention is schematically illustrated. In this instance, the key memory (3a) is connected to the control units (1a) and (1b) via a directly allocatable, electrically conductive connection (2a). As a result, the control units (1a) and (1b) have access only to the identifying information (7a) of precisely one key memory (3a).

[0043] In addition, each control unit (1a, 1b) has a device-identification feature (18a, 18b), these device-identification features (18) being linked to the parameter data records (9) and being used together with the identifying information (7a) for the selection of the matching parameter data record (9a, 9b) in the external data memory (5).

[0044] In another exemplary embodiment, the control unit (1a) is linked to the key memory (3a) via a directly allocatable electrically conductive connection (2a) and the identifying information (7a) included therein is made available via the control unit (1a) to a further control unit (1b) by way of a directly allocatable, electrically conductive connection between control unit (1a) and control unit (1b).

[0045] FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 exemplarily show mechanical developments of the directly allocatable, electrically conductive connection (2) between control unit (1) and key memory (3).

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a separately realized key memory (3), in particular in the form of a circuit that has been integrated into a dongle housing (15). In this application, the location-bound reference of the key memory (3) must be ensured by organizational measures.

[0047] FIG. 4 shows the key memory (3) as a circuit which is integrated into a connector plug (13) of a connection line (16). The location-bound reference of the key memory (3) is thereby implicitly ensured by the installation of the connection cable (16) in a system.

[0048] In FIG. 5, the key memory (3) is illustrated as a circuit that is integrated into a drive unit (14). Thus, the location-bound reference of the key memory (3) is implicitly ensured by the installation of the drive unit (14) in a system. At the same time, it is ensured in this application that only the parameter data record (9) that is intended for this drive unity (14) is loaded into the connected control unit (1).

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0049] (1) control unit [0050] (2) directly allocatable, electrically conductive connection between control unit (1) and key memory (3) [0051] (3) location-bound key memory [0052] (4) connection between external data memory (5) and control unit (1) [0053] (5) external data memory [0054] (6) non-volatile memory area of the location-bound key memory (3) [0055] (7) identifying information [0056] (8) non-volatile memory area of the external data memory (5) [0057] (9) parameter data record of the control unit (1) [0058] (10) memory area of the control unit (1) [0059] (11) plug connector between control unit (1) and key memory (3) [0060] (12) plug connection for connecting a location-bound connection cable [0061] (13) connector plug of a connection cable [0062] (14) drive unit having integrated sensors and actuators [0063] (15) housing, in particular a dongle housing [0064] (16) connection line, in particular for the transmission of further control and/or power signals [0065] (17) further non-volatile memory area of the control unit (1) [0066] (18) device-identification feature [0067] (M) motor