Patents Assigned to Beckhoff Automation GmbH
  • Patent number: 11880175
    Abstract: A method for controlling an automation process in real time based on a change profile of at least one process variable, comprises determining a first change profile by a real-time-capable recognition method based on a non-linear optimization process taking into consideration at least one boundary condition of the process variable, determining a second change profile by a numerical algorithm based on the first change profile, including adapting a selected profile function to the first change profile by a numerical adaptation process and identifying the adapted profile function as a second change profile, checking whether the second change profile satisfies at least one secondary condition of the process variable, controlling the automation process based on the second change profile if the second change profile satisfies the secondary condition, and controlling the automation process based on a predetermined fallback profile if the second change profile does not satisfy the secondary condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Neumann
  • Patent number: 11855557
    Abstract: A method for preventing collisions when driving at least two movers on a drive surface, each mover comprising at least one magnetic field generator, with a device comprising a plurality of plate-shaped sectors, the sectors each comprising at least one electric magnetic field generator. The sectors form the drive surface, generating magnetic fields via control of a power supply of the electric magnetic field generators such that the movers are movable over the drive surface in at least one direction. A first path planning for the first mover is carried out, an estimated second travel path of the second mover is determined or received, and the estimated second travel path of the second mover is taken into account in the first path planning of the first mover to determine a first travel path for the first mover such that collision of the first mover with the second mover is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Luthe, Hubertus Pennekamp, Eva Wiedner, Tobias Weber, Klaus Neumann, Alexander Weddemann
  • Patent number: 11775351
    Abstract: A method for processing data on a programmable logic controller includes a priority with a predetermined priority level assigned to at least one parallel processing section of a program of a master-processor core of a control task. Respective priority levels are inserted into a data structure as the respective master-processor core arrives at the parallel processing section. A parallel-processor core examines whether entries are present in the data structure and processes partial tasks from a work package of the master-processor core the priority level of which ranks first among the entries. A real-time condition of the control task is met by setting executing times of the programs for the master-processor core so that the master-processor core is capable of processing the partial tasks from the work packages without being supported by the parallel-processor core. The master-processor core further processes partial tasks not processed by the at least one parallel-processor core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Robin Vogt
  • Patent number: 11778073
    Abstract: In an automation system, a protocol converter is provided between a first network and a second network for converting safety-related messages between the first and second networks that use different network protocols for message exchange. In the protocol converter, a single-channel filter connected to a single-channel interface determines messages having a first safety communication protocol from messages received from the interface over the first network and messages having a second safety communication protocol received over the second network. An at least dual-channel safety module connected to the single-channel filter then converts the messages with the first safety communication protocol determined by the single-channel filter into messages with the second safety communication protocol, or converts the messages with the second safety communication protocol determined by the single-channel filter into messages with the first safety communication protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Büttner, Jens Sachs, Robert Zutz, Daniel Schlotthauer
  • Patent number: 11774471
    Abstract: A method for distributed electrical power determination of at least one consumer connected to a voltage source via a voltage path, where a voltage measurement device determines a supply voltage of the voltage source at a voltage measurement point and at least one current measurement device determines a consumer current of the consumer at a current measurement point. The method comprises recording measured values of the supply voltage to determine a voltage curve of the supply voltage, recording measured values of the consumer current to determine a current curve of the consumer current, analyzing the measured values of the supply voltage and/or the measured values of the consumer current with an analysis function to determine voltage characteristics of the voltage curve and/or current characteristics of the current curve, and determining at least one power value taking into account the voltage and/or current characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Fabian Assion, Christian Lienen, Jakob Ens
  • Patent number: 11765124
    Abstract: A receiving logic of a network subscriber can be configured in a first filter setting to forward telegrams having first and second addressing techniques to first and second processing units, with a transmitting logic configured to forward the telegrams to a transmitting port. In a second filter setting, the receiving logic can be configured to duplicate the telegrams and forward to the first and second processing units, with the first processing unit configured to discard telegrams using the second addressing technique and the second processing unit configured to discard telegrams using the first addressing technique. The receiving logic of a third filter setting can be configured to duplicate telegrams and forward to the first and second processing units, with the transmitting logic configured to forward only telegrams using the first addressing technique from the first processing unit, and only telegrams using the second addressing technique from the second processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Florian Essler, Guido Beckmann, Hans Beckhoff, Holger Büttner, Martin Rostan, Thomas Rettig
  • Patent number: 11758024
    Abstract: In an automation network comprising a plurality of network segments, fragmenting subscribers that support a fragmentation method as well as standard subscribers that do not support the fragmentation method can be provided for in the network. A distribution node in the automation network has at least one input/output interface that is in communication with a network segment. The switching unit in the distribution node checks whether a subscriber in a network segment to which a telegram is to be sent supports the fragmentation method, and whether the telegram to be sent is fragmented. If the subscriber does not support the fragmentation procedure and the telegram to be sent is fragmented, the switching unit in the distribution node assembles the telegram fragments to form the telegram and then sends the assembled telegram on to the subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Beckhoff, Holger Büttner, Dirk Janssen
  • Patent number: 11700145
    Abstract: An automation network with network subscribers is provided, in which the network subscribers are interconnected via a data line network. At least one network subscriber is configured as a master subscriber, which is adapted to send telegrams via the data line network. At least one network subscriber is configured as a network distributor, which is adapted to route telegrams. The network distributor has a plurality of input/output ports, and is connected to the master subscriber via a first input/output and data line network. The master subscriber is configured to use a telegram element to indicate that the telegram is enabled for processing by the network subscribers. In addition, the network distributor is configured to process a telegram received via the first input/output port when the telegram element indicates enablement of processing of the telegram by the network subscribers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Florian Essler, Guido Beckmann, Hans Beckhoff, Holger Büttner, Martin Rostan, Thomas Rettig
  • Patent number: 11695833
    Abstract: A method for real-time data communication between subscribers in an automation network is provided. The automation network includes an active subscriber, a plurality of passive subscribers and at least a connecting unit. The method includes the active subscriber arranging n data packets to be transmitted in a transmission order with a total occupancy time duration of the transmission order, performing an optimizing procedure for determining an optimized transmission order with minimum total occupancy time, and transmitting the n data packets in the optimized transmission order to the passive subscribers. An active subscriber for carrying out the method and an automation network comprising an active subscriber are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Weber
  • Patent number: 11640293
    Abstract: A method for data migration of a pointer element in the course of data migration of a program state of a control program of an automation system comprises identifying the first pointer element and the second pointer element as pointer elements associated with each other via a first relation in a pointer-identifying step, and mapping the first pointer element to the second pointer element in a pointer migration step. The pointer migration step comprises identifying the first pointer object referenced by the first pointer element, identifying an object associated with the first pointer object as the second pointer object, determining an absolute memory address of the second pointer object, and writing the determined memory address of the second pointer object as a value of the second pointer element into the second pointer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Dreesen
  • Patent number: 11552524
    Abstract: A stator module for driving a rotor of an electrical planar-drive system comprises a power module, a stator assembly arranged on a top surface of the power module, and a connector. The power module is embodied to provide drive currents for driving the rotor. The stator assembly comprises coil conductors electrically connected to the power module via the connector for charging with the drive currents. The power module and the stator assembly each have a plate-shaped embodiment. The power module is mechanically fastened to the stator assembly by the connector. The stator assembly comprises a contact structure with contact holes arranged side by side, and the power module comprises a connecting arrangement with further contact holes arranged side by side. The connector comprises contact pins arranged side by side to engage in the further contact holes of the connecting arrangement, and in the contact holes of the contact structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brinkmann, Lukas Bentfeld, Uwe Pruessmeier
  • Patent number: 11552587
    Abstract: A method for moving a rotor in a planar drive system having a first and second stator modules and a rotor. The stator modules are arranged at a distance, forming a gap. First and second magnetic fields are generated by the first and stator modules. The first and second magnetic fields hold the rotor in a vertical position, at a distance from a surface of the first and/or second stator module. The first and/or second magnetic fields have a first magnetic field strength to maintain the rotor in the vertical position, and may be used to change a horizontal position of the rotor. The first stator module has a first close range adjacent the gap, where the first magnetic field has a second field strength when the rotor is moved across the gap, greater than the first magnetic field strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: BECKHOFF AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventor: Uwe Prüssmeier
  • 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: 11539549
    Abstract: A method for transmitting data in an automation network by telegrams, where the automation network comprises a master subscriber, slave subscribers and at least one unlocker, connected to each other via a data-line network. The slave subscribers are divided into segments. The master subscriber sends locked telegrams for processing by the slave subscribers, each having a telegram identifier used to assign a locked telegram to a segment. At least one segment is assigned to at least one unlocker. If the unlocker receives a locked telegram, the unlocker checks, by the telegram identifier in the locked telegram, whether the locked telegram for the assigned segment is intended to release the locked telegram, as an unlocked telegram for processing by the slave subscribers, provided that the locked telegram is intended for the segment assigned to the unlocker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Florian Essler, Guido Beckmann, Hans Beckhoff, Holger Büttner, Martin Rostan, Thomas Rettig
  • 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: 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: D981346
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Greiser, Hans Beckhoff