System for determining the location of a sensor or actuator within an industrial plant

Abstract

The system according to the invention determines the location of a sensor or actuator in an industrial plant by having a mobile device without its own positioning system detect its location and transmit it to a higher-level system. The mobile device wirelessly transmits the location data to the sensor or actuator, which stores it and forwards it to the higher-level system. This enables cost-effective and energy-efficient location determination.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for determining the location of a sensor or actuator, in particular for use in an industrial plant.

[0002] Modern industry increasingly uses networked sensors and actuators to monitor and control production processes. These devices provide valuable data that contributes to optimizing the efficiency and safety of plants. Particularly in large industrial facilities, these sensors and actuators are often widely distributed, making the management and localization of individual devices difficult.

[0003] One obvious solution for locating devices is to equip each device with its own GPS module. However, this solution has several disadvantages. Firstly, GPS modules increase the cost and energy consumption of the devices. Secondly, GPS signals are often difficult or impossible to receive indoors or in densely built-up industrial areas, which impairs the accuracy of the location tracking. Another disadvantage is that GPS modules increase the size of the device.

[0004] Another obvious solution is to manually locate the devices and record their locations in a central system. However, this solution is time-consuming, error-prone, and requires significant personnel resources.

[0005] From DE 10 2023 108 466 A1 a sensor network is known in which position data, such as the GPS position, are also transmitted.

[0006] One disadvantage of these solutions is that the devices themselves must possess complex functionality to determine and transmit their position. This increases the complexity of the devices and thus also the likelihood of malfunctions.

[0007] The patent specification DE 10 2024 118 005 B3, which has been published to date, describes the interaction of a sensor with a mobile communication device, in which as many tasks and computational processes as possible for the configuration for mobile communication are outsourced to a mobile communication device, e.g. a smartphone, and subsequently a finished, locally optimized configuration of the mobile connection is transferred to the sensor in a very energy-efficient manner, preferably via an NFC or Bluetooth data connection.

[0008] The task is to provide an improved system for determining the location of sensors and actuators in industrial plants, which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages and enables simple, cost-effective and reliable localization of the devices.

[0009] The problem is solved according to the invention by a system having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0010] According to the invention, a system for determining the location of a sensor or actuator within an industrial plant comprises: a mobile device with a positioning system and a first wireless communication interface; the sensor or actuator, wherein the sensor or actuator lacks an integrated positioning system; and a second wireless communication interface on the sensor or actuator, configured to: receive location data from the mobile device, wherein the location data is acquired by the mobile device's positioning system when the mobile device is near the sensor or actuator; store the location data; and transmit the location data to a higher-level system. This enables cost-effective and energy-efficient location tracking of devices within an industrial plant without requiring each device to have its own positioning system.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wireless communication interface is based on the Bluetooth, NFC, or WiFi standard. This offers flexible and widely used options for wireless short-range communication between the mobile device and the sensor or actuator.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mobile device is a smartphone. This utilizes the widespread availability and computing power of smartphones for simple and convenient collection of location data.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the higher-level system is a PLC. This enables seamless integration into existing industrial control systems for real-time monitoring and control.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the positioning system of the mobile device comprises a GPS module. This utilizes a generally available and accurate positioning technology for reliable location data.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the location data includes geographic longitude and latitude coordinates. This provides precise and standardized location information for accurate mapping and tracking.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wireless communication interface of the sensor or actuator automatically transmits the location data to the higher-level system as soon as the location data has been received and stored from the mobile device. This enables real-time location updates for improved monitoring and response capabilities.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sensor is a device for detecting pressure, temperature, flow, and fill levels; an optical, capacitive, or inductive proximity switch or sensor; or a vibration monitor. This enables the tracking of the location of various sensors used to monitor critical parameters in industrial processes.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the actuator is a valve, a servo motor, a switch, a relay, or a pump. This enables the location tracking of various actuators used to control industrial processes.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sensor or actuator is connected to the higher-level system via a fieldbus. This ensures reliable and standardized data transmission between the sensor / actuator and the control system.

[0020] The invention will now be explained in more detail using exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings.

[0021] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a system for determining the location of a sensor 1 or actuator within an industrial plant. The system comprises the sensor 1 or actuator, a mobile device 2, a higher-level system 5 in the form of a PLC, and a wireless communication link 3c.

[0022] A sensor or actuator is a device used in an industrial plant to detect or influence specific physical or chemical quantities. Examples of sensors include pressure sensors, temperature sensors, flow sensors, level sensors, optical proximity switches, capacitive proximity sensors, inductive proximity sensors, and vibration monitors. Examples of actuators include valves, servo motors, switches, relays, and pumps.

[0023] Sensor 1 or actuator lacks an integrated positioning system, such as a GPS module, in order to save costs and energy. Instead, the location of sensor 1 or actuator is determined via mobile device 2.

[0024] The mobile device 2 is preferably a smartphone or tablet computer equipped with a positioning system 4, such as a GPS module, and a wireless communication interface 3a. The mobile device 2 is configured to collect its current location data and transmit it wirelessly to the sensor 1 or actuator.

[0025] Mobile device 2 approaches sensor 1 or actuator so that its location data matches the location of sensor 1 or actuator. After approaching, mobile device 2 wirelessly transmits its location data to sensor 1 or actuator. Sensor 1 or actuator 2 also has a wireless communication interface 3b for this purpose.

[0026] The wireless communication link 3c between sensor 1 or actuator and mobile device 2 is preferably based on a standard such as Bluetooth, NFC, or WiFi. These standards enable simple and cost-effective data transmission over short distances.

[0027] Sensor 1 or actuator stores the received location data in a memory unit. The location data preferably includes geographic latitude and longitude coordinates.

[0028] The wireless communication interface 3b of the sensor 1 or actuator automatically transmits the location data to the higher-level system 5 as soon as the location data has been received and stored by the mobile device 2.

[0029] The higher-level system 5 is preferably a programmable logic controller (PLC) that manages the location data of sensors 1 and actuators and uses it to control the plant.

[0030] Sensor 1 or actuator is connected to the higher-level system 5 via a fieldbus 6. The fieldbus 6 enables reliable and standardized data transmission between sensor 1 or actuator and the higher-level system 5.

[0031] The location symbol is shown in the drawing to illustrate that the mobile device 2 detects the location of sensor 1 when the mobile device 2 is in close proximity to sensor 1.

[0032] The system according to the invention enables simple, cost-effective, and reliable localization of sensors 1 and actuators in industrial plants. Since the sensors 1 and actuators themselves do not need to have their own positioning system, costs and energy can be saved. By using a mobile device 2 for location determination, locations indoors or in densely built-up industrial plants, where GPS signals are difficult to receive, can also be recorded. Reference symbol list 1 sensor or actuator 2 mobile devices, smartphones 3a wireless communication interface 3b wireless communication interface 3c wireless communication connection 4 Positioning system 5 higher-level systems, PLC 6 Fieldbus

Claims

A system for determining the location of a sensor (1) or actuator (1) within an industrial plant, comprising: ◯ a mobile device (2) with a positioning system (4) and a first wireless communication interface (3a); ◯ the sensor (1) or actuator (1), wherein the sensor (1) or actuator (1) lacks an integrated positioning system; and ◯ a second wireless communication interface (3b) on the sensor (1) or actuator (1), configured to: ▪ receive location data from the mobile device (2), wherein the location data is acquired from the positioning system (4) of the mobile device (2) when the mobile device (2) is in close proximity to the sensor (1) or actuator (1); ▪ store the location data; and ▪ transmit the location data to a higher-level system (5). System according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication interface (3b) is based on the Bluetooth, NFC or WiFi standard. System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mobile device (2) is a smartphone. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the superior system (5) is a PLC. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the positioning system (4) of the mobile device (2) comprises a GPS module. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the location data includes geographic longitude and latitude coordinates. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the wireless communication interface (3b) of the sensor (1) or actuator (1) automatically transmits the location data to the higher-level system (5) as soon as the location data has been received and stored by the mobile device (2). System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor (1) is a device for detecting pressure, temperature, flow, flux, fill levels, an optical, capacitive or inductive proximity switch or sensor or a vibration monitoring system. System according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the actuator (1) is a valve, a servo motor, a switch, a relay or a pump. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor (1) or actuator (1) is connected to the higher-level system (5) via a fieldbus (6).

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