Abstract: An industrial automation controller includes a housing with a forced convection chamber. First and second fans are releasably connected to the housing and are adapted to induce airflow through the forced convection chamber. The first and second fans are each connected to the housing by respective first and second latch systems that each include a primary latch and a secondary latch. The secondary latch imposes a time delay during removal and replacement of a fan to facilitate hot swapping of the fan with a replacement fan. A make-last/break-first contact system is provided for each fan such that the fan is shutdown in a controlled manner prior to removal of the fan from the housing. The controller monitors internal temperature and fan speed. The controller initiates, logs, and reports fault conditions based upon the monitored temperature and/or fan speed. The controller is shut down if the monitored temperature exceeds a select temperature level.

Abstract: A human machine interface for an industrial automation control system includes at least one touchless input device that is adapted to be in a first state in which said human machine interface provides a first input to said industrial automation control system or a second state in which said human machine interface provides a second input to said industrial automation control system. The at least one touchless input device includes first and second touchless input sensors each configured to detect hand gestures of an operator's hand to provide input to said human machine interface based upon said gestures. The first and second touchless input sensors can be identical with respect to each other or different. In one example, one or both of the sensors are both time-of-flight sensors and one of the sensors can be an electric field proximity sensor. A method of providing a human machine interface with at least one touchless input device is provided.

Abstract: An electronic safety function lock-unlock system includes a human-machine interface (HMI) device. The HMI device includes a touchscreen display for touch input and one or more cameras for capturing gesture input data and operator facial image data. The HMI device is operatively connected to a power switch unit or similar device for selectively interrupting conduction of electrical power to industrial equipment for safety. An operator initiates a lock operation with respect to the equipment using first touchscreen or first gesture input to perform a lock operation to disconnect the industrial equipment from electrical power. An operator initiates an unlock operation or condition (to remove a lock condition) with respect to the equipment using second touchscreen input or second gesture input. The HMI optionally require vocal confirmation from an operator of a requested lock or unlock operation.

Abstract: A human machine interface for an industrial automation control system includes at least one touchless input device that is adapted to be in a first state in which said human machine interface provides a first input to said industrial automation control system or a second state in which said human machine interface provides a second input to said industrial automation control system. The at least one touchless input device includes first and second touchless input sensors each configured to detect hand gestures of an operator's hand to provide input to said human machine interface based upon said gestures. The first and second touchless input sensors can be identical with respect to each other or different. In one example, one or both of the sensors are both time-of-flight sensors and one of the sensors can be an electric field proximity sensor. A method of providing a human machine interface with at least one touchless input device is provided.

Abstract: A non-transitory, computer-readable medium, comprising instructions that when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations that include receiving a request to connect to the wireless access point from a computing device. The request includes a private key. The operations may also include comparing the private key to an index of public keys associated with respective users authorized to connect to the wireless access point, determining that the computing device is authorized to connect to the wireless access point based on the comparison, authorizing the computing device to connect to the wireless access point, encrypting maintenance data associated with one or more industrial automation devices, and transmitting the encrypted maintenance data to the computing device via the wireless access point.

Abstract: An industrial automation controller includes a housing with a forced convection chamber. First and second fans are releasably connected to the housing and are adapted to induce airflow through the forced convection chamber. The first and second fans are each connected to the housing by respective first and second latch systems that each include a primary latch and a secondary latch. The secondary latch imposes a time delay during removal and replacement of a fan to facilitate hot swapping of the fan with a replacement fan. A make-last/break-first contact system is provided for each fan such that the fan is shutdown in a controlled manner prior to removal of the fan from the housing. The controller monitors internal temperature and fan speed. The controller initiates, logs, and reports fault conditions based upon the monitored temperature and/or fan speed. The controller is shut down if the monitored temperature exceeds a select temperature level.

Abstract: A non-transitory, computer-readable medium, comprising instructions that when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations that include receiving a request to connect to the wireless access point from a computing device. The request includes a private key. The operations may also include comparing the private key to an index of public keys associated with respective users authorized to connect to the wireless access point, determining that the computing device is authorized to connect to the wireless access point based on the comparison, authorizing the computing device to connect to the wireless access point, encrypting maintenance data associated with one or more industrial automation devices, and transmitting the encrypted maintenance data to the computing device via the wireless access point.

Abstract: An industrial automation controller includes a housing with a forced convection chamber. First and second fans are releasably connected to the housing and are adapted to induce airflow through the forced convection chamber. The first and second fans are each connected to the housing by respective first and second latch systems that each include a primary latch and a secondary latch. The secondary latch imposes a time delay during removal and replacement of a fan to facilitate hot swapping of the fan with a replacement fan. A make-last/break-first contact system is provided for each fan such that the fan is shutdown in a controlled manner prior to removal of the fan from the housing. The controller monitors internal temperature and fan speed. The controller initiates, logs, and reports fault conditions based upon the monitored temperature and/or fan speed. The controller is shut down if the monitored temperature exceeds a select temperature level.

Abstract: There is provided a powered device configured to switch between a power over Ethernet (PoE) source and an auxiliary power source without restarting the device. A PoE circuit within the device includes a minimum load circuit which enables detection of the device by PoE power sourcing equipment (PSE) even when the device is powered by the auxiliary power source. The minimum load circuit may maintain a load of around 10 mA to simulate powered components, thereby enabling the PSE to reinitiate PoE even though the powered components of the device are at that time powered by the auxiliary power source. When the power supplied to the powered components by the PSE overcomes that of the auxiliary power source, the power scheme may automatically revert to PoE.

Abstract: An industrial automation controller includes a housing with a forced convection chamber. First and second fans are releasably connected to the housing and are adapted to induce airflow through the forced convection chamber. The first and second fans are each connected to the housing by respective first and second latch systems that each include a primary latch and a secondary latch. The secondary latch imposes a time delay during removal and replacement of a fan to facilitate hot swapping of the fan with a replacement fan. A make-last/break-first contact system is provided for each fan such that the fan is shutdown in a controlled manner prior to removal of the fan from the housing. The controller monitors internal temperature and fan speed. The controller initiates, logs, and reports fault conditions based upon the monitored temperature and/or fan speed. The controller is shut down if the monitored temperature exceeds a select temperature level.

Abstract: An industrial automation controller includes a housing with a forced convection chamber. First and second fans are releasably connected to the housing and are adapted to induce airflow through the forced convection chamber. The first and second fans are each connected to the housing by respective first and second latch systems that each include a primary latch and a secondary latch. The secondary latch imposes a time delay during removal and replacement of a fan to facilitate hot swapping of the fan with a replacement fan. A make-last/break-first contact system is provided for each fan such that the fan is shutdown in a controlled manner prior to removal of the fan from the housing. The controller monitors internal temperature and fan speed. The controller initiates, logs, and reports fault conditions based upon the monitored temperature and/or fan speed. The controller is shut down if the monitored temperature exceeds a select temperature level.

Abstract: A system includes a safety controller that, in operation, interrupts power to industrial automation devices or puts the system into a safe state upon command of a human operator. The system also includes an emergency stop switch circuit actuatable by a human operator and a human machine interface in data communication with the safety controller and the emergency stop switch circuit. The human machine interface includes integrated safety circuitry that, in operation, detects a change of state of the emergency stop switch circuit and provides a signal to the safety controller to interrupt power to the industrial automation devices or put the system into a safe state.

Abstract: A system includes a safety controller that, in operation, interrupts power to industrial automation devices or puts the system into a safe state upon command of a human operator. The system also includes an emergency stop switch circuit actuatable by a human operator and a human machine interface in data communication with the safety controller and the emergency stop switch circuit. The human machine interface includes integrated safety circuitry that, in operation, detects a change of state of the emergency stop switch circuit and provides a signal to the safety controller to interrupt power to the industrial automation devices or put the system into a safe state.

Abstract: There is provided a powered device configured to switch between a power over Ethernet (PoE) source and an auxiliary power source without restarting the device. A PoE circuit within the device includes a minimum load circuit which enables detection of the device by PoE power sourcing equipment (PSE) even when the device is powered by the auxiliary power source. The minimum load circuit may maintain a load of around 10 mA to simulate powered components, thereby enabling the PSE to reinitiate PoE even though the powered components of the device are at that time powered by the auxiliary power source. When the power supplied to the powered components by the PSE overcomes that of the auxiliary power source, the power scheme may automatically revert to PoE.

Abstract: An industrial automation controller includes a housing with a forced convection chamber. First and second fans are releasably connected to the housing and are adapted to induce airflow through the forced convection chamber. The first and second fans are each connected to the housing by respective first and second latch systems that each include a primary latch and a secondary latch. The secondary latch imposes a time delay during removal and replacement of a fan to facilitate hot swapping of the fan with a replacement fan. A make-last/break-first contact system is provided for each fan such that the fan is shutdown in a controlled manner prior to removal of the fan from the housing. The controller monitors internal temperature and fan speed. The controller initiates, logs, and reports fault conditions based upon the monitored temperature and/or fan speed. The controller is shut down if the monitored temperature exceeds a select temperature level.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method for performing industrial automation control in an industrial automation system may include detecting, via a sensor system, positions and/or motions of one or more humans and/or one or more objects in an industrial automation system and distinguishing, via a programmed computer system, between one or more humans and one or more objects based upon the detected positions and/or motions. The method may then include implementing a control and/or notification action based upon the distinction.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method for performing industrial automation control in an industrial automation system may include detecting, via a sensor system, positions and/or motions of one or more humans and/or one or more objects in an industrial automation system and distinguishing, via a programmed computer system, between one or more humans and one or more objects based upon the detected positions and/or motions. The method may then include implementing a control and/or notification action based upon the distinction.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method for performing industrial automation control in an industrial automation system may include detecting, via a sensor system, positions and/or motions of one or more humans and/or one or more objects in an industrial automation system and distinguishing, via a programmed computer system, between one or more humans and one or more objects based upon the detected positions and/or motions. The method may then include implementing a control and/or notification action based upon the distinction.

Abstract: A device is configured to be operable in a plurality of network environments. A number of different configurations are available to be set on the device, where a first configuration enables operation on a first network, and a second configuration enables operation on a second, disparate, network. A plurality of external ports in conjunction with a multiplexer switch, network switch, internal CPU, external CPU, routing links, etc., can be combined to facilitate multiple configurations for the device. The device is suitable for incorporation into a human machine interface, for application in an industrial processing operation. Receive port information can be incorporated into a data frame to facilitate identification of an external port associated with the reception of the data frame. Applicable networks include linear topology, ring topology, star topology, Ethernet, ROCKWELL NEO, EtherNet/IP, one or more LANs, etc. Configuration can be via a USB device or an interface.

Abstract: A device is configured to be operable in a plurality of network environments. A number of different configurations are available to be set on the device, where a first configuration enables operation on a first network, and a second configuration enables operation on a second, disparate, network. A plurality of external ports in conjunction with a multiplexer switch, network switch, internal CPU, external CPU, routing links, etc., can be combined to facilitate multiple configurations for the device. The device is suitable for incorporation into a human machine interface, for application in an industrial processing operation. Receive port information can be incorporated into a data frame to facilitate identification of an external port associated with the reception of the data frame. Applicable networks include linear topology, ring topology, star topology, Ethernet, ROCKWELL NEO, EtherNet/IP, one or more LANs, etc. Configuration can be via a USB device or an interface.