Patents by Inventor Hans Beckhoff

Hans Beckhoff has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20210203720
    Abstract: At least one distribution node with a plurality of input/output interfaces is provided in an automation communication network. Data is exchanged via telegrams with priority levels. The distribution node interrupts transmission of a telegram having a first priority level if a telegram with a second, higher priority level is received. The distribution node terminates the interrupted telegram, which forms a first fragment defined by sending first fragmentation information at the end of the first fragment. A part that has not been sent forms a second fragment. The distribution node stores the second fragment together with second fragmentation information. After sending the telegram having the second, higher priority level, the distribution node sends the second fragment together with the second fragmentation information. A node, for which the telegram having the first priority level is intended, assembles the first and second fragments on the basis of the first and second fragmentation information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Hans Beckhoff, Holger Büttner, Dirk Janssen
  • Patent number: 11050585
    Abstract: A communications network having a master subscriber M and at least one slave subscriber. At least one distribution node CU1, CU2, CU3, CU4 is provided which has a plurality of input/output interfaces, each of which is connected to a network segment, the master subscriber M arranged in a first network segment M1 and the slave subscriber arranged in a second network segment S1, S2, S3, S4, S5. Data is exchanged between the master subscriber M and the slave subscriber in the form of telegrams initiated by the master subscriber. The telegrams to be sent from the slave subscriber to the master subscriber are each assigned control data containing a forwarding time information when the corresponding telegram is to be output from the distribution node via the input/output interface in the direction of the first network segment comprising the master subscriber, the forwarding time information determined by the master subscriber M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation Gmbh
    Inventors: Thorsten Bunte, Holger Büttner, Dirk Janssen, Thomas Rettig, Hans Beckhoff, Erik Vonnahme
  • Patent number: 11012256
    Abstract: A connecting unit to transmit process data of an automation process of an automation system to an external data infrastructure, configured as a field device for arrangement on a field level of the automation system. The connecting unit comprises a field bus module, network module and interface module. The field bus module is configured to interchange the process data via the field bus with a signal unit connected to the automation process via a field connection. The network module is configured to interchange the process data with the external data infrastructure, use the data network to transmit input process data to the external data infrastructure, and retrieve output process data from the external data infrastructure. The interface module is configured to interchange the process data between the field bus module and the network module. The interface module prompts interchange of the process data autonomously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Pascal Dresselhaus, Sven Goldstein, Hans Beckhoff, Ralf Vienken
  • Publication number: 20210135900
    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: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Florian Essler, Guido Beckmann, Hans Beckhoff, Holger Büttner, Martin Rostan, Thomas Rettig
  • Patent number: 10873536
    Abstract: A distribution node for an automation network comprises at least two input/output interfaces for transmitting and receiving real-time-relevant and non-real-time-relevant data packets, and a switching device connected to the input/output interfaces. The switching device forwards data packets received via an input/output interface via a further input/output interface using a switching table, where the switching table contains at least a data packet identifier and a transmission time in a data transfer cycle for each real-time-relevant data packet. Inter alia, the switching device can detect a data packet identifier on reception of a real-time-relevant data packet, and output the real-time-relevant data packet at the transmission time allocated to the detected data packet identifier in the switching table via an input/output interface as a transmission interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Bunte, Holger Büttner, Erik Vonnahme, Dirk Janssen, Thomas Rettig, Hans Beckhoff
  • Patent number: 10848419
    Abstract: Data transmission in a communication network is performed via a transmission path with which a master participant and at least one slave participant communicate. The master participant outputs messages on the data transmission path with which the slave participants exchange data on the fly. The messages output by the master participant contain datagrams which comprise a control data field and a payload field, where the control data field has a command field and an address field. In the case that at least one message has at least one datagram which is a write datagram in which the command field defines the data transmission procedure to be performed by a slave participant with the payload field as a write procedure, at least the control data field of a further datagram is arranged between the control data field of the write datagram and the payload field of the write datagram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Bunte, Holger Büttner, Erik Vonnahme, Dirk Janssen, Thomas Rettig, Hans Beckhoff
  • Patent number: 10790622
    Abstract: A technique is provided for detecting decoupling of a first connector part, connected to a first device, of an electrical plug connector from a second connector part, connected to a second device, of the electrical plug connector. A corresponding method, a corresponding apparatus, a corresponding electrical plug connector as well as the first connector part and the second connector part of the plug connector, a corresponding device and a computer program product are stated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Christopher Pohl, Thomas Rettig, Hans Beckhoff, Dirk Bechtel
  • Publication number: 20200280177
    Abstract: A control system and a method for mounting a control system, the control system comprising a signal-distribution board, a top-hat rail, at least a first contact device and at least a second contact device. The first contact device and the second contact device are arranged at the signal-distribution board with an offset relative to each other with the signal-distribution board electrically connecting the first contact device to the second contact device for at least transmitting data. The top-hat rail is mechanically fastened to the signal-distribution board and a first coupling module may be mechanically fastened to the top-hat rail, where the second contact device is embodied to electrically contact a signal-processing module or a second coupling module. The first contact device may be electrically connected to a field device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Torsten Budde, Lars Sommer, Michael Jost, Hans Beckhoff
  • Patent number: 10735218
    Abstract: In an automation-communication network, at least one distribution node comprises input/output interfaces each connected to at least one network segment. In a first network segment a first subscriber and in a second network segment a second subscriber are arranged. Data are exchanged between the first and the second subscriber by telegrams realized as scheduled telegrams and unscheduled telegrams. The distribution node receives an unscheduled telegram on an input/output interface and sends an unscheduled telegram on a further input/output interface. The distribution node determines a transmission duration for transmission of the unscheduled telegram. The distribution node transmits the unscheduled telegram. Prior to transmission, the distribution node deposits a first telegram information in a data field. The distribution node fragments the unscheduled telegram if the telegram cannot be transmitted within a time slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Beckhofff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Bunte, Holger Büttner, Dirk Janssen, Thomas Rettig, Hans Beckhoff, Erik Vonnahme
  • Patent number: 10735219
    Abstract: A communications network comprises a plurality of participants. A first participant transmits a message repeating sequence of N?2 successive messages to a second participant. An action which can be performed by the second participant is assigned to each message in the sequence. The first participant begins to transmit one of the N messages at N successive transmission times T_I (I=O, . . . , N?1). Each of the N messages contains a field defining a waiting time. The second participant selects one message from among the messages in the sequence which are successfully received by the second participant as a useful message, measures a time elapsed since reception of the useful message, and performs the action assigned to the useful message when the elapsed time has reached the assigned waiting time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Bunte, Holger Büttner, Erik Vonnahme, Dirk Janssen, Thomas Rettig, Hans Beckhoff
  • Publication number: 20200244480
    Abstract: A communications network having a master subscriber M and at least one slave subscriber. At least one distribution node CU1, CU2, CU3, CU4 is provided which has a plurality of input/output interfaces, each of which is connected to a network segment, the master subscriber M arranged in a first network segment M1 and the slave subscriber arranged in a second network segment S1, S2, S3, S4, S5. Data is exchanged between the master subscriber M and the slave subscriber in the form of telegrams initiated by the master subscriber. The telegrams to be sent from the slave subscriber to the master subscriber are each assigned control data containing a forwarding time information when the corresponding telegram is to be output from the distribution node via the input/output interface in the direction of the first network segment comprising the master subscriber, the forwarding time information determined by the master subscriber M.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Thorsten Bunte, Holger Büttner, Dirk Janssen, Thomas Rettig, Hans Beckhoff, Erik Vonnahme
  • Patent number: 10614013
    Abstract: An input/output module is provided for a bus system having a socket, the five contact cups of which each may comprise an electrical contact, and a measuring device for detecting a connector of a four-wire data cable. The measuring device can be configured to detect, when a connector is inserted into the socket, whether the connector comprises four or five electrical contact pins which are each plugged into one of the contact cups and are electrically connected to the respective electrical contact of the contact cups. The measuring device may be configured to close a first and a second switching device only when five electrical contact pins are detected in order to apply a respective supply voltage from two DC voltage supplies to the corresponding plugged contact pins of the connector plugged into the socket via the respective electrical contacts of the contact cups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Büttner, Thomas Rettig, Dirk Bechtel, Michael Jost, Christopher Pohl, Hans Beckhoff
  • Publication number: 20200070976
    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: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventor: Hans Beckhoff
  • Publication number: 20190363906
    Abstract: In an automation-communication network, at least one distribution node comprises input/output interfaces each connected to at least one network segment. In a first network segment a first subscriber and in a second network segment a second subscriber are arranged. Data are exchanged between the first and the second subscriber by telegrams realized as scheduled telegrams and unscheduled telegrams. The distribution node receives an unscheduled telegram on an input/output interface and sends an unscheduled telegram on a further input/output interface. The distribution node determines a transmission duration for transmission of the unscheduled telegram. The distribution node transmits the unscheduled telegram. Prior to transmission, the distribution node deposits a first telegram information in a data field. The distribution node fragments the unscheduled telegram if the telegram cannot be transmitted within a time slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Thorsten Bunte, Holger Büttner, Dirk Janssen, Thomas Rettig, Hans Beckhoff, Erik Vonnahme
  • Patent number: 10483664
    Abstract: An electronic terminal block for a data bus has control electronics comprising first and second data-bus-contacting units connected via an internal data-bus line, and a connecting unit for connecting bus subscribers. The metal housing comprises a first face having a receptacle in a carrier rail, a second face having a recess for the connecting unit, a first side face, an opening for the first data-bus-contacting unit, and a second side face opposite the first side face with an opening for the second data-bus-contacting unit. A first non-metallic coupling plate for mounting onto the first housing side face comprises a first recess having an engagement feature in the region of the opening of the first side face, and a second non-metallic coupling plate for mounting onto the second side face comprises a first recess having an engagement feature in the region of the opening of the second side face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Beckhoff, Michael Jost, Martin Podrouschek
  • Patent number: 10484520
    Abstract: A first participant transmits a clocked data sequence to a second participant of a communication network, wherein one data unit of the data sequence is transmitted per clock cycle by the first participant and wherein the data sequence contains a datagram as a write datagram which contains a header, an intermediate field following the header and a data field following the intermediate header, wherein the header, the intermediate field and the data field in each case have one or more data units. The second participant reads the header of the datagram, defines input data depending on the content of the header within a response time, and records the input data in the datagram while the data sequence passes through the second participant. The length of the intermediate field of the datagram is matched to the clock frequency of the data sequence and the response time of the second participant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Bunte, Holger Büttner, Erik Vonnahme, Dirk Janssen, Thomas Rettig, Hans Beckhoff
  • Patent number: 10271249
    Abstract: A network includes a first network participant connected via a first connection to a further network participant. The first network participant receives a data message containing information that a parameter must be set to a first value, via the first connection. The first network participant checks whether it is connected via a second connection to a still further network, and whether the parameter is not set to the first value in the second connection. In this case, the first network participant forwards the data message via the second connection, clearing down the second connection, and re-establishes the second connection, where the parameter for the second connection is set to the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: BECKHOFF AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Thorsten Bunte, Holger Büttner, Erik Vonnahme, Dirk Janssen, Thomas Rettig, Hans Beckhoff
  • Publication number: 20190067842
    Abstract: An electronic terminal block for a data bus has control electronics comprising first and second data-bus-contacting units connected via an internal data-bus line, and a connecting unit for connecting bus subscribers. The metal housing comprises a first face having a receptacle in a carrier rail, a second face having a recess for the connecting unit, a first side face, an opening for the first data-bus-contacting unit, and a second side face opposite the first side face with an opening for the second data-bus-contacting unit. A first non-metallic coupling plate for mounting onto the first housing side face comprises a first recess having an engagement feature in the region of the opening of the first side face, and a second non-metallic coupling plate for mounting onto the second side face comprises a first recess having an engagement feature in the region of the opening of the second side face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Hans Beckhoff, Michael Jost, Martin Podrouschek
  • Publication number: 20190036730
    Abstract: A connecting unit to transmit process data of an automation process of an automation system to an external data infrastructure, configured as a field device for arrangement on a field level of the automation system. The connecting unit comprises a field bus module, network module and interface module. The field bus module is configured to interchange the process data via the field bus with a signal unit connected to the automation process via a field connection. The network module is configured to interchange the process data with the external data infrastructure, use the data network to transmit input process data to the external data infrastructure, and retrieve output process data from the external data infrastructure. The interface module is configured to interchange the process data between the field bus module and the network module. The interface module prompts interchange of the process data autonomously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Pascal Dresselhaus, Sven Goldstein, Hans Beckhoff, Ralf Vienken
  • Patent number: 10193705
    Abstract: In order to transmit data on a transmission path to which a control unit and several nodes are connected, the control unit cyclically outputs data in a continuous manner onto the transmission path during the entire transmission cycle time in the form of telegrams by taking into account the transmission standard, the nodes exchanging data with the telegrams during the cycle. The control unit subdivides the transmission cycle into a number of subcycles that have the same length. At least one communication telegram into which a first node can write data for a second node located downstream on the transmission path during the cycle, is sent in each subcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: BECKHOFF AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Dirk Janssen, Hans Beckhoff