Patents Assigned to Beckhoff Automation GmbH
  • Patent number: 11540413
    Abstract: A base module for a switch-cabinet system, having a plurality of communication units and connection elements for a plurality of functional modules. The connection elements are configured to engage in module-connection elements of functional modules. Each connection element has at least one data connection. Each communication unit is in each case connected to at least one data connection of a connection element. The communication units are connected to one another by a data bus. The base module has a first field-bus connection. The data bus is connected to the first field-bus connection to connect the communication units to a field-bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Siegenbrink, Hans Beckhoff, Holger Büttner
  • Patent number: 11533820
    Abstract: A base module for a control-cabinet system includes a housing with a first housing face and further housing faces, the first housing face having a grid of openings. The housing has connection elements for functional modules, the connection elements each being arranged in the region of the openings of the first housing face, the connection elements comprising data connections, extra-low voltage connections and low-voltage connections. The data connections are interconnected by a data line of the base module and a field-bus connection is provided for the data line, where the data line is arranged within the housing. An extra-low voltage line and a low voltage line are arranged within the housing, where the extra-low voltage line is connected to the extra-low voltage connections and the low voltage line is connected to the low voltage connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Beckhoff
  • Patent number: 11528164
    Abstract: A method of operating a network subscriber comprises receiving an input-data stream containing an input-transmission frame according to a field-bus protocol, where the input-data stream is received in chronologically successive data units having a defined processing width, decoding fields of the input-transmission frame by a plurality of field-processing units arranged in series, each field-processing unit decoding a predetermined field of the input-transmission frame, and generating an output-data stream comprising an output transmission frame according to the field-bus protocol from the input-data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Erik Vonnahme, Thorsten Bunte, Benjamin Koch
  • Patent number: 11522433
    Abstract: A stator module for two-dimensionally driving a rotor having first and second magnet units includes a stator assembly with first and second stator segments configured for interacting with drive magnets of the first and second magnet units. The individual stator segments can each be energized independently from the remaining stator segments. The stator assembly includes first, second, third and fourth stator sectors. The first stator segments of the individual stator sectors each extend in a second direction over all second stator segments of the relevant stator sector, arranged side by side, and the second stator segments of the individual stator sectors each extend in a first direction over all first stator segments of the relevant stator sector arranged side by side. Extensions of the stator sectors in the first and second directions are respectively smaller than extensions of a magnet arrangement including the first and second magnet units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brinkmann, Lukas Bentfeld, Uwe Pruessmeier
  • Patent number: 11496078
    Abstract: A method for determining a rotor position of a BLDC motor with a magnetic rotor and stator having at least one exciter coil to which an exciter voltage is applied in accordance with a commutation process, comprises: interrupting the exciter voltage applied to the exciter coil, wherein the exciter voltage has a profile with at least one first section in which the profile of the exciter voltage has a non-vanishing finite gradient, wherein the exciter voltage in the first section is interrupted, and wherein at the time of interruption the exciter voltage has a value different from zero; capturing a voltage induced in the exciter coil by the magnetic rotor; restoring the exciter voltage to a value different from zero; and determining a rotor position of the rotor with respect to the exciter coil on the basis of the captured induced voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Patrick Jebramcik
  • Patent number: 11490538
    Abstract: A control-cabinet system includes a base module and a plurality of functional modules. The base module housing has a face with openings, first connection elements and second connection elements. The first connection elements provide data and extra-low voltage connections, and the second connection elements provide low voltage connections. The first connection elements are arranged within the housing, in the area of the openings. The data connections are connected to a data line, the extra-low voltage connections are connected to an extra-low voltage line, and the low voltage connections are connected to a low voltage line. The functional modules each have a housing, an electronic circuit, and a module connection element connected to the electronic circuit. The module housing has a face with an opening. The module connection element comprises a first plug-in element extending through the opening, and adapted to engage the first connection elements of the base module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Beckhoff
  • Patent number: 11489428
    Abstract: A stator module for electromagnetically driving a rotor of a planar drive system comprises a connection module to provide drive energy. A power module has a current-generating unit to generate a drive current, which drives the rotor, from the drive energy. A stator unit has a coil conductor, to which the drive current can be applied, for generating a magnetic field which drives the rotor. A sensor module comprises a position-detecting unit to detect a position of the rotor over the sensor unit. The sensor module is arranged in a module housing. The stator unit and power module are arranged on a top side of the module housing and the connection module is arranged on a bottom side. The current-generating unit and the connection module are connected via a drive energy line. The drive energy line passes through the module housing in a manner electrically insulated from the sensor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brinkmann, Lukas Bentfeld, Uwe Pruessmeier, Joerg Neufeld
  • Patent number: 11437893
    Abstract: A planar-drive system includes a rotor and stator module with a housing, a stator assembly for driving the rotor, and a sensor module for detecting the rotor position. The sensor module has a 2D arrangement of magnetic-field sensors arranged on a carrier in first and second periodic grids, extending in first and second directions. Adjacent magnetic-field sensors are arranged at first and second distances in the first and second directions. The grids are shifted by a vector having first and second components smaller than the respective first and a second distances. The rotor has first and second magnet units, each with an arrangement of magnets with first and second periodic lengths aligned in the first and second directions. The first and second components of the vector, and a difference between the first and second distances and the respective components, are each smaller than the respective first and second periodic lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brinkmann, Lukas Bentfeld, Uwe Pruessmeier
  • Patent number: 11437902
    Abstract: A stator module for two-dimensionally driving a rotor having first and second magnet units comprises a stator assembly including first and second stator segments for interacting with drive magnets of the first and second magnet units. The individual stator segments may each be energized independently from the remaining stator segments. The stator assembly comprises first, second, third and fourth stator sectors. The first stator segments of the individual stator sectors each extend in a second direction over all second stator segments of the relevant stator sector arranged side by side, and the second stator segments of the individual stator sectors each extend in a first direction over all first stator segments of the relevant stator sector arranged side by side. Extensions of the stator sectors in the first and second directions are respectively smaller than extensions of a magnet arrangement comprising the magnet units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brinkmann, Lukas Bentfeld, Uwe Pruessmeier
  • Patent number: 11411769
    Abstract: A method for routing telegrams in an automation network with network subscribers interconnected via a data line network. At least network subscriber is a master subscriber, which sends telegrams to the network subscribers via the data line network. At least one network subscriber is a network distributor having a plurality of input/output ports, where input/output ports to which segments with further network subscribers are connected are designated as end ports. The master subscriber assigns a port address to each end port, and assigns the port address as an identifier to a telegram intended for processing for a segment with further network subscribers. If the network distributor receives a telegram with a port address of an end port of the network distributor as an identifier, the network distributor outputs the telegram directly via the input/output port of the network distributor corresponding to the end port of the port address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Florian Essler, Guido Beckmann, Hans Beckhoff, Holger Büttner, Martin Rostan, Thomas Rettig
  • Patent number: 11398919
    Abstract: A method for detecting network subscribers in an automation network by query telegrams provides that a protocol-network subscriber enters network-subscriber information into a query telegram and sends the query telegram to a subsequent network subscriber. If no subsequent network subscriber is connected to a data line, other than the receiving data line, it sends the query telegram back to the configuration subscriber. A network distributor enters port information on the further input/output ports of the network distributor, to which further data lines are connected into the query telegram, and returns it to the configuration subscriber. The configuration subscriber subsequently generates further query telegrams, each with routing information on the basis of the port information, and sends them to the network distributor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Florian Essler, Guido Beckmann, Hans Beckhoff, Holger Büttner, Martin Rostan, Thomas Rettig
  • Patent number: 11352223
    Abstract: A transport system and transport device guided via a plurality of rollers in a running direction along a running rail. The transport system has a curved running rail with first and second running surfaces at a first running rail side flank. First and second rollers form a first roller unit for the first running surface, and third and fourth rollers form a second roller unit for the second running surface. The first and/or second roller unit has a rocker unit with a rigid connection of the rotation axles of the first and second rollers of the first roller unit, and/or the rotation axles of the third and fourth rollers of the second roller unit, and a rocker axle. The rigid connection is pivotably supported about the rocker axle, arranged transversely to the running direction of the first and/or second roller unit, which has the rocker unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Borchardt, Jörg Neufeld
  • Patent number: 11344900
    Abstract: A linear transport system comprising a linear motor with at least a motor module and at least a conveyor driven by the linear motor along a path of motion is described. The motor module thereby comprises a stator magnetically interacting with a magnet device of the conveyor and having a plurality of stator teeth arranged side by side along the path of motion and a plurality of electric coils each wound around a stator tooth. The linear transport system further comprises a fluid system comprising at least a fluid channel passing through a stator tooth of the stator of the motor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Neufeld, Andreas Sinzenich, Friedrich Bömer-Schulte
  • Patent number: 11325707
    Abstract: An automation system, comprising a control device for controlling at least one machine, and at least one unmanned aircraft. The control device is designed to control the unmanned aircraft to support an operation of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Beckhoff
  • Patent number: 11327800
    Abstract: To control a technical process comprising a control task for independently controllable modules, modules are each assigned to a computing core on a controller with a plurality of computing cores. The technical process is connected to the controller via at least one communication connection. In a first time segment, the controller provides read-in input data of the modules for the respectively associated computing core. Subsequently, synchronization of the computing cores to which modules are assigned is carried out by the controller. In a second time segment, the computing cores process the input data of the modules to generate output data for the modules, wherein each computing core signals the end of processing. As soon as all computing cores have signaled the end of processing, the output data are provided in a third time segment by the controller in order to be provided to the modules on the communication connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Richard Kümmel, Manuel Bettenworth, Henning Zabel, Jan Achterberg, Dirk Janssen
  • Patent number: 11309763
    Abstract: A stator assembly for driving a rotor of an electrical planar motor includes a first arrangement of longitudinal stator layers and a second arrangement of oblique stator layers. The longitudinal stator layers comprise first coil conductors and the oblique stator layers comprise second coil conductors. The second coil conductors interact with second drive magnets to drive the rotor in a first direction, and the first coil conductors interact with first drive magnets to drive the rotor in a second direction, different from the first direction. The longitudinal and oblique stator layers are arranged on top of one another in a third direction, perpendicular to the first and second directions, where the first arrangement of longitudinal stator layers and the second arrangement of oblique stator layers have a shared central plane, each being symmetrically arranged with regard to the shared central plane, in the third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brinkmann, Lukas Bentfeld, Uwe Prüssmeier
  • Patent number: 11308020
    Abstract: A method for data communication between fieldbus devices and a control desk of an automation system by way of a data communication unit includes a first transmission step of the control desk transmitting data communication objects on the basis of the OPC UA protocol to first and/or second fieldbus device, and a first reception step of receiving the data communication objects on the basis of the OPC UA protocol. The data communication unit maps the data communication objects on the basis of the OPC UA protocol on first data communication objects on the basis of the fieldbus protocol. In a second transmission step, the data communication unit transmits the data communication objects on the basis of the fieldbus protocol to the first and/or second fieldbus device. In a second reception step, the first and/or the second fieldbus device receives the data communication objects on the basis of the fieldbus protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Büttner, Andreas Rasche, Alexander Barth
  • Patent number: 11296571
    Abstract: A stator assembly for driving a rotor of a planar electrical motor includes longitudinal stator layers with first coil conductors and inclined stator layers with second coil conductors. The first coil conductors extend in an elongated manner in a first direction, and the second coil conductors extend in an elongated manner in a second direction, different from the first direction. The longitudinal and inclined stator layers are arranged on top of one another in a third direction, oriented perpendicularly to the first and second direction. An uppermost and lowermost stator layer of the stator assembly are each formed as a longitudinal stator layer with first coil conductors. The longitudinal stator layers are arranged in the third direction at most on one side next to an inclined stator layer, and the inclined stator layers are arranged in the third direction at most on one side next to a longitudinal stator layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brinkmann, Lukas Bentfeld, Uwe Prüssmeier
  • Patent number: 11280819
    Abstract: In a circuit arrangement for determining a resistance change, a measuring resistor can be connected by first and second supply leads and first and second sensor leads in a four-wire arrangement, such that the first supply lead and the measuring resistor form a first resistor of a first voltage divider, and the second supply lead and a supplementary resistor form a second resistor of the first voltage divider. The circuit arrangement has a second voltage divider with third and fourth resistors. The first and second voltage dividers form a Wheatstone bridge. The circuit arrangement is configured to apply a supply voltage across the Wheatstone bridge, to determine first and second supply voltage drops across the first and second supply leads, and to determine an ascertainment voltage in proportion to a reference voltage. The ascertainment voltage depends on a bridge voltage applied between the first and second voltage dividers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Balzer, Mikko Saukoski
  • Patent number: 11190117
    Abstract: An apparatus for storing energy comprises a two-quadrant chopper connectable to a converter DC link, at least one energy store, connected to the two-quadrant chopper for storing energy, so that the two-quadrant chopper can be used to transport energy from the converter DC link to the at least one energy store or vice versa. The apparatus further comprises a control device for controlling a current flowing in accordance with the transport of the energy, wherein the control device is configured to control the current flowing in accordance with the transport on the basis of a thermal load on the at least one energy store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Jens Onno Krah