Industrial Machine Reconfiguration via Inferred Device Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
In industrial machines comprising multiple devices, configuring and reconfiguring individual devices is time-consuming due to interdependent device configurations, often requiring manual entry and ensuring consistency across devices, especially when project files are unavailable during service or support.
Innovation Solution
An electronic configuration system infers the configuration of potential devices from a connected 'real' device, allowing for simplified reconfiguration by reading out only the configuration of a part or one device, and using inferences to create a new configuration, which is then transmitted to the machine, reducing the need for laborious configuration reading and ensuring compatibility checks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If configuration information is copied from existing devices to new devices, then configuration time is reduced, but configuration consistency and accuracy deteriorate due to manual intervention requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by reading configuration data from existing devices and storing it in a database, then automatically retrieving and applying this data during reconfiguration. This eliminates manual copying while maintaining consistency, as the system automatically manages the copied configuration data across multiple devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a configuration database as an intermediary between devices. This database stores configuration data centrally and automatically provides it during reconfiguration, eliminating the need for direct manual copying between devices while ensuring consistency through centralized management.
2Adaptability or versatility
If individual device configuration files are used, then device independence is improved, but configuration complexity increases due to manual entry and consistency management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal configuration database that serves multiple devices simultaneously. This single database structure can store and manage configurations for multiple devices, eliminating the need for separate manual configuration files for each device while maintaining device-specific independence through structured data organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration database acts as an intermediary layer between individual devices and the configuration management system. This allows devices to maintain their independence while the database handles the complexity of configuration management, automatic retrieval, and consistency maintenance across all devices.
3Measurement precision
If configuration of multiple devices is read during service situations, then configuration accuracy is improved, but time consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by reading and storing configuration data from all devices in advance during initial setup or normal operation. This configuration data is stored in a database, so during service or reconfiguration situations, the system can automatically retrieve the needed data without time-consuming on-site reading, while maintaining accuracy through the pre-stored configuration information.
4Ease of operation
If project files are used for configuration, then configuration management is simplified, but availability deteriorates during service or support situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the project file intermediary with a configuration database intermediary that is always available. The database is designed to provide configuration data independently of project files, ensuring availability during service situations. The database can be accessed directly by the configuration system without requiring project files, maintaining ease of operation while improving reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for configuring at least one device of an industrial machine, wherein the machine comprises several separate devices, for example field devices, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and/or fieldbuses, wherein, by means of an electronic configuration system, - a configuration of at least one first device is read out, - at least part of a configuration of a potential device, whose configuration was not read out, is inferred from the configuration of the first device, - a reconfiguration of the machine and, in particular, of the first device is carried out, taking the configuration of the potential device into account during the reconfiguration, - the reconfiguration is transferred to the machine.