Patents Assigned to Beckhoff Automation GmbH
  • Patent number: 9130773
    Abstract: A method retrieves subscriber identifications in a communication network having multiple sub-scribers which are connected to a ring-shaped transmission path. A first telegram is outputted onto the ring-shaped transmission path which comprises a sequence of telegram fields, wherein each subscriber is allocated a telegram field for entering its subscriber identification and each subscriber checks during the passing-through of the first telegram if the subscriber identification field allocated to the subscriber is vacant, and upon detecting a vacant subscriber identification field enters its subscriber identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Büttner, Jens Sachs
  • Patent number: 9128475
    Abstract: A processor comprises a plurality of processing units operating in parallel. Each processing unit is associated with a time signal generator upon the expiry of which the corresponding processing unit is capable to set expired time signal generator to a predefined duration of time. In case an end of the predefined duration of time deviates less than a predefined duration of time from a scheduled expiry of a time signal generator assigned to a different processing unit; predefined duration of time is modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Ramon Barth
  • Patent number: 8984131
    Abstract: A real-time run-time system comprises a plurality of functional modules and an administration module. The plurality of functional modules is configured to log on to the administration module using an assigned module identification during a transitional state between initialization and pre-operation and to log off during a transitional state between pre-operation and initialization. At least one of the plurality of functional modules is configured to establish communication connections with further functional modules via the administration module during the transitional state between pre-operation and trial operation, to break down the communication connections during the transitional state between trial operation and pre-operation, to log on to the further functional modules during the transitional state between trial operation and real-time operation and to log off during the transitional state between real-time operation and trial operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Gerd Hoppe, Jan Lümkemann
  • Patent number: 8892785
    Abstract: A programming device for a network of control nodes includes a recording module for determining the control nodes connected to the network and a system object module connected to the recording module. The system object module includes a system object model representing the control-node configuration of the network, the system object module being configured to define the communication relations between the determined control nodes on the basis of the system object model. The programming device further includes a configuration output module connected to the system object module for transmitting the communication relations between the control nodes in the network to the control nodes, the communication relations being determined by the system object module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Papenfort, Ralf Heitmann, Gerd Hoppe
  • Patent number: 8824283
    Abstract: A control node for a network of control nodes includes a transmitter module configured to manage the data to be sent in an output process image, to convert the output process image into a data packet and to output the data packet onto the network at a predetermined point in time. The control node further includes a receiver module configured to log on to the data packets of one or of a plurality of transmitter modules of further control nodes and to convert a received data packet into an input process image. The data transmission between the control nodes in the network takes place in the form of data packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Papenfort, Ralf Heitmann, Gerd Hoppe
  • Patent number: 8758061
    Abstract: A supply module for supplying electric current to a drive module includes a first connecting contact and a second connecting contact. The first connecting contact is configured to connect the supply module to the drive module. The second connecting contact is configured to provide a connection to a power supply. At least one fuse element is arranged between the first connecting contact and the second connecting contact, the fuse element being connected to the two connecting contacts and being configured to limit a current flow between the first connecting contact and the second connecting contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation, GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Mische, Markus Eickhoff-Gotza, Frank Sieweke
  • Patent number: 8732507
    Abstract: A circuit for uninterruptible power supply, wherein the circuit can be connected to an energy supply and a load and includes a capacitive energy store, a changeover switch, a charging device, a charging control device, a voltage monitoring device, and a discharge device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Beckhoff, Andreas Thome
  • Patent number: 8660117
    Abstract: A packet switching device comprises a network interface configured to send and receive data packets via a communication network, a plurality of string interfaces configured to transmit and receive data packets to/from a plurality of participants and a switching unit connected to the network interface and to the plurality of string interfaces. The a switching unit comprises a control unit configured to control a data throughput. The control unit comprises an interface association table which determines that data packets received via the network interface are mandatorily outputted via the string interfaces and the data packets received via the string interfaces are mandatorily outputted via the network interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation, GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Holger Buettner, Hans Beckhoff
  • Publication number: 20130328516
    Abstract: A method for detecting a position of a movable element of a drive apparatus by means of a position detection apparatus comprising at least one field coil and at least one secondary coil associated with the field coil, wherein an electrical excitation pulse is applied to the field coil in order to induce an electrical voltage in the secondary coil, a secondary coil voltage is measured and the position of the movable element is determined on the basis of the measured secondary coil voltage. The invention also relates to a position detection apparatus and/or a drive apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Prüssmeier, Jan Achterberg, Tim Kaulmann, Manuel Bettenworth, Jan-Hendrik Bade
  • Patent number: 8531942
    Abstract: A communication system comprises a first and a second master unit and at least one slave unit, wherein the second master unit is switched into a data transmission chain reaching from the first master unit to the slave unit in order to continue data transmission if a link fault occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Büttner, Karl Weber
  • Publication number: 20130164107
    Abstract: A robot module including a robot drive and a robot body, the robot body having a spacer rod, a robot head and at least one control arm, wherein a drive platform of the robot drive and an attachment group of the robot head are connected to each other via the spacer rod and the control arm, wherein the robot drive is configured to swivel the robot head by means of the spacer rod and the control arm, wherein an attachment surface of the attachment group comprises a first gravity center and an attachment surface of the drive platform comprises a second gravity center, and wherein the spacer rod is arranged in the first and the second gravity center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Pehlivan, Michael Jaeger, Thomas Rettig
  • Publication number: 20130040494
    Abstract: A supply module for supplying electric current to a drive module includes a first connecting contact and a second connecting contact. The first connecting contact is configured to connect the supply module to the drive module. The second connecting contact is configured to provide a connection to a power supply. At least one fuse element is arranged between the first connecting contact and the second connecting contact, the fuse element being connected to the two connecting contacts and being configured to limit a current flow between the first connecting contact and the second connecting contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
  • Patent number: 8373369
    Abstract: A method for operating a synchronous motor wherein a magnetic field is generated by a first motor component in a predetermined orientation, the method including generating a relative movement between the first and a second motor component limited to a predetermined value, and determining a direction of the relative movement, wherein the generating and determining are repeated until a change in the direction of the relative movement occurs, wherein a magnetic field having a changed orientation with regard to a previously generated magnetic field is generated by the first motor component, and wherein the orientation of the magnetic field with the changed orientation is changed by a predetermined orientation section and depending on the determined direction of the relative movement. The invention encompasses an amplifier for operating a synchronous motor and a system including an amplifier and a synchronous motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Sieweke
  • Patent number: 8335575
    Abstract: A control node has a sequence table and subscribers, with the sequence table having data records each having an identification for an action of a manufacturing sequence associated with the control node, an identification for a subscriber carrying out the action and an identification of a parameter set associated with the action, and wherein each subscriber has a sequence interpreter which is designed to read and to interpret the sequence table, and to initiate the actions associated with the subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation, GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Papenfort, Ralf Heitmann, Gerd Hoppe, Itzko Christow
  • Patent number: 8335573
    Abstract: For the purpose of controlling safety functions as part of a system controller which is not oriented to safety functions in an automation system, the invention provides safety modules having a sound functionality and provides a safety protocol which transmits data in the form of safety messages, wherein input and output parameters from each safety module are encapsulated by the safety protocol, and the individual safety modules are logically combined with one another in terms of data and flow by means of a data transmission link in line with the system's safety functions which are to be controlled, the data interchange taking place between the safety modules on the basis of the safety protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Buettner, Jens Sachs
  • Patent number: 8321040
    Abstract: In order to operate a safety control in an automation network having a master subscriber which implements the safety control, the safety control is assigned an identifier. When loading the safety control, the master subscriber checks whether the stored identifier in the safety master subscriber matches the identifier calculated form the safety control, and the automation network changes to a safe state if it is determined that the identifier differs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Sachs, Holger Buttner, Dirk Janssen, Guido Beckmann
  • Patent number: 8234427
    Abstract: A communication system comprising a master unit and a plurality of slave units. In error mode, e.g. when a path error or a complete failure of a subscriber occurs, data transmission is carried out in a loop, starting from the master unit, via a first communication path and a second communication path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Büttner, Karl Weber
  • Patent number: 8203300
    Abstract: A method of closed-loop controlling determines a first feedback variable by sampling a control variable and a second feedback variable by averaging the control variable, compares the first and second feedback variables with a command variable, and sets the control variable on the basis of the comparing result so that the control variable follows a command variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Jens Onno Krah
  • Patent number: 8060677
    Abstract: A real-time industrial Ethernet EtherCAT system including a communication master and a plurality of slave nodes, wherein one slave node acts as a logic control master and the further slave nodes act as logic control slaves, and wherein a communication flow is as follows: the communication master sends a data fetching frame, when the data fetching frame passes through the logic control master, the logic control master inputs control data for the logic control slaves into the data fetching frame, when the data fetching frame passes through the logic control slaves, each logic control slave inputs status data into the data fetching frame, after return of the data fetching frame to the communication master, the communication master sends a data sending frame with output data, said output data being reorganized according to the control relationship between the logic control master and the logic control slaves by the communication master, when the data sending frame passes through the logic control master, the logi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation, GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Rostan, YanQiang Liu, Ji Huan, Wenlei Xiao
  • Patent number: 8055826
    Abstract: A communication system comprises a multiplicity of slave units and a master unit. The slave units are coupled to one another via a first communication path and a second communication path, the first communication path and the second communication path operating in opposite directions to one another, and a master unit, the master unit being coupled to the multiplicity of slave units via the first communication path and the second communication path. The master unit comprises a transmit control unit, the transmit control unit separately transmitting an information signal with a data field which has for each slave unit an associated data area, on the first communication path as a first information signal and on the second communication path as a second information signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Franz-Josef Kucharski