DE102016014634A1 - Computer assisted method for supporting maintenance of industrial machinery - Google Patents

Abstract

The application relates to a computer-aided method for detecting an overall state of a device comprising the steps of (a) displaying at least one individual state of the device by means of at least one optical display of the device; (b) detecting the at least one optical display for a predetermined display interval by means of a digital optical detection device of a test apparatus; (c) storing the digital data acquired during the display interval in a memory; (d) evaluating the stored digital data and determining a sequence of the completed optical displays of the device; (E) determining an overall state of the device based on the determined sequence of the optical displays.

Description

The invention relates to a computer-assisted method for supporting maintenance of industrial machines, such as robots and other equipment, as well as a corresponding test device and an arrangement.

Aspects of the invention

• Anzeigen zumindest eines Einzelzustandes der Vorrichtung mittels zumindest einer optischen Anzeige der Vorrichtung;
• Erfassen der zumindest einen optischen Anzeige über ein vorbestimmtes Anzeigeintervall mittels einer digitalen optischen Erfassungseinrichtung einer Prüfvorrichtung;
• Speichern der während des Anzeigeintervalls erfassten digitalen Daten in einem Speicher;
• Auswerten der gespeicherten digitalen Daten und Ermitteln einer Abfolge der erfolgten optischen Anzeigen der Vorrichtung;
• Bestimmen eines Gesamtzustandes der Vorrichtung auf Grundlage der ermittelten Abfolge der erfolgten optischen Anzeigen.

One aspect of the invention relates to a computer-aided method for detecting an overall state of a device comprising the steps:

• Displaying at least one individual state of the device by means of at least one optical display of the device;
• Detecting the at least one optical display for a predetermined display interval by means of a digital optical detection device of a test apparatus;
• Storing the digital data acquired during the display interval in a memory;
• Evaluating the stored digital data and determining a sequence of the optical displays of the device;
• Determining a total state of the device based on the determined sequence of the optical displays.

Advantageously, the overall state of the device can be objectively determined by a computerized method in which a plurality of individual states that are optically displayed are taken into account. In the process, even confusing or unusual displays can quickly and reliably lead to an interpretation of the overall state without the need to involve a user. Further advantageously, the detection and thus the evaluation and determination can take place permanently and thus monitoring of a device can be performed.

The device to be monitored may in particular be a control device of an industrial plant, for example an (industrial) robot, a machine tool or a goods distribution system.

The visual display may include simple light sources such as LEDs, multi-color LEDs or neon lamps, but also displays such as LCDs, 7-segment displays, screens or the like. One of the plurality of displays may also transmit a synchronization signal that marks a particular time of the display interval. The display interval may comprise a period of about 1 s to about 60 s, preferably from about 2 s to about 30 s, in particular from about 2 s to about 10 s.

The optical display may preferably be part of a device of the device to be detected or monitored or to be tested. More preferably, the device may comprise at least two, three, four or more devices each having at least one, two, three or more optical displays. Thus, the method can not only determine the state of a device, but also simultaneously the state of two or more devices of the device and, in particular, the overall state of the device from the combination of the states of the devices, especially if the overall state depends on the combination of states of the devices because they interact with each other within the device.

The stored data may be stored in a volatile or nonvolatile memory of the test apparatus. Alternatively or additionally, the storage of the acquired data may also take place outside the test apparatus, for example with a remote and, in particular, wireless, connected storage medium or within a cloud.

In particular, the evaluation may include recognizing the position and activity of an advertisement and its time. A display pattern derived therefrom, for example a flashing pattern of a plurality of LEDs, can be assigned an overall state. The determination of this overall state can therefore include the comparison of predefined overall states or their associated display patterns, which are stored together in a database, with the evaluated ones. This database can also be in a volatile or nonvolatile memory of the test device. Alternatively or additionally, the database may also be stored outside the test apparatus, for example with a remote and, in particular, wireless, connected storage medium or within a cloud.

The method is computer-aided and therefore at least some method steps, in particular one, several or all of the steps of detecting, storing, evaluating and determining, are performed by means of a computer, a microprocessor or other electronic data processing device.

Preferably, the acquired digital data is a, in particular continuous, image sequence. This continuous image sequence may, for example, be a film recorded by the tester.

Preferably, the entirety of optical displays of the device periodically repeats the emitted optical signals, in particular with a period corresponding to the display interval. Preferably, however, the period may be less than the display interval to ensure that a full period is within the display interval.

In addition, it is preferable to send or display a status report based on the overall condition. For example, a report of the overall status for documentation purposes can be archived regularly. Also, a problematic overall condition can be sent to service personnel to perform appropriate actions such as repair, reset, cleaning, etc.

In addition, it is preferable to request additional data from a database based on the overall state. For example, documentation can be provided depending on the overall state determined.

• Erfassen zumindest einer optischen Anzeige über ein vorbestimmtes Anzeigeintervall mittels einer digitalen optischen Erfassungseinrichtung der Prüfvorrichtung
• Speichern der während des Anzeigeintervalls erfassten digitalen Daten in einem Speicher;
• Auswerten der gespeicherten digitalen Daten und Ermitteln einer Abfolge der erfolgten optischen Anzeigen;
• Bestimmen eines Gesamtzustandes auf Grundlage der ermittelten Abfolge der erfolgten optischen Anzeigen.

One aspect of the invention relates to a test apparatus having at least one digital optical detection device and a microprocessor, which is designed to carry out a computer-aided method comprising the steps:

• Detecting at least one optical display over a predetermined display interval by means of a digital optical detection device of the test apparatus
• Storing the digital data acquired during the display interval in a memory;
• Evaluating the stored digital data and determining a sequence of the completed visual displays;
• Determining an overall condition based on the determined sequence of the visual indications made.

Preferably, the test device is a mobile device, in particular a smart device. A smart device according to the invention is a portable device having a microprocessor and at least one optical detection device, such as a smartphone, a tablet computer, a notebook, a laptop or the like.

One aspect of the invention relates to an arrangement having a device, in particular a control device of a robot, having optical displays, each indicating a single state of the control device, and a test device according to the invention, which are designed to carry out jointly the inventive computer-assisted method.

list of figures

• 1 Eine bevorzugte Prüfvorrichtung und
• 2 Ein bevorzugtes Ablaufschema des Verfahrens.

Preferred embodiments will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. It shows:

• 1 A preferred test device and
• 2 A preferred flowchart of the method.

The 1 shows a tester 1 For example, a smartphone or a tablet computer, with a camera (not shown in the figure) as a preferred detection device and a microprocessor (also not shown in the figure). The tester 1 has input means 3 on, such as buttons that may be configured as a physical button or as a virtual button on a touch-sensitive display. The tester 1 also has an indicator 5 on, for example, a (touch-sensitive) display, which preferably displays the detected by the detection device optical data.

In the in 1 In the state shown, a partial area of a control device is optically detected by the detection device and the detected image in the display 5 shown. The picture shows a first device 7 with four optical displays 11 . 13 . 15 and 17 and a second device 9 with six optical displays 21 . 23 . 25 . 27 . 29 and 31 ,

The visual indicators of the first device 7 can have the following meaning: Bz. LED description 11 sensor Status of the protective field status 13 Start / Active Status of start and activation input 15 EDM Status of the contactor control (feedback loop) Monitoring whether the contacts of the following contactors and relays are in order. 17 OFF / ON Status of the safety circuit (open or closed)

The optical displays of the second device 9 can have the following meaning: Pos. LED status importance 21 Red "OVERFL" Blinking Overflow of the Receive Queue At Status OK 23 Green "RUN" Blinking Configuration wrong At Status OK 25 Green "BUS At Bus coupler is assigned to the master OFF " Data exchange takes place Red "BUS OFF" Blinking I / O connection in timeout CAN errors, Subscriber with the same node address 27 Green "CONNECT" Blinking Bus coupler is ready for communication, but not yet assigned to the master 29 Green "I / O RUN" At The Bus Terminals work flawlessly 31 Red "I / O ERR" At I / O error, a bus terminal or the internal bus with error Blinking The Bus Terminals are configured

The tester 1 is designed to perform a computerized method, which in 2 is explained in more detail. The start of the method can, for example, by pressing one of the input means 3 be initiated. The result of the procedure can then be displayed 5 are presented, preferably with associated additional documents such as manuals, Ersatzteilllisten, and the like.

The 2 shows an exemplary flowchart of the method. In step S10, the initialization of the method, which, for example, by the operation of an input means 3 can be triggered. Whether there is an operation is queried in decision E10. Thereafter, in a further step S20, the detection of the optical displays takes place 11 . 13 . 15 . 17 . 21 . 23 . 25 . 27 . 29 and 31 over a predetermined display interval, for example over 5 seconds, by means of the digital camera as the preferred optical detection means of the test apparatus 1 , The acquired data may preferably be stored as a digital film in the memory of the test apparatus 1 are stored (step S30). Alternatively or additionally, the acquired data can also be transmitted via a wireless or wired data connection to an external server and stored there.

By means of the method, the stored digital data can be evaluated and locally within the test device 1 by means of the microprocessor or on the external server, the result being the test device 1 is transmitted.

The evaluation in step S40 comprises determining a sequence of the optical displays that have taken place. From the derivable individual states of the advertisements 11 . 13 15, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, and 31 can determine the overall state of the detected device based on, for example, an expert system, correlation analyzes, learned capabilities (eg, neural networks) from previous known data and overall states the determined sequence of the optical displays are determined.

The result of the determination becomes in the final step S50 on the display 5 the tester 1 output. Alternatively or additionally, the result can also be stored and archived on the external server and, if appropriate, made available to third parties.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Tester

3

input means

5

Display of the test device 1

7

first device

9

second device

11

optical display

13

optical display

15

optical display

17

optical display

21

optical display

23

optical display

25

optical display

27

optical display

29

optical display

31

optical display

Claims (8)

A computerized method for detecting an overall condition of a device comprising the steps of: Displaying at least one individual state of the device by means of at least one optical display (11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31) of the device; Detecting the at least one optical display (11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31) for a predetermined display interval by means of a digital optical detection device of a test apparatus (1); Storing the digital data acquired during the display interval in a memory; Evaluating the stored digital data and determining a sequence of the optical displays (11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31) of the device; Determining a total state of the device based on the determined sequence of the optical displays (11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31). Method according to Claim 1 , wherein the acquired digital data is a, in particular continuous, image sequence. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the entirety of the optical displays (11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31) of the device periodically repeat the emitted optical signals, in particular with a period which corresponds to the display interval equivalent. Method according to one of the preceding claims, with the additional step of: sending or displaying a status report on the basis of the overall status. Method according to one of the preceding claims, with the additional step: Request additional data from a database based on the overall health. Test apparatus (1) with at least one digital optical detection device and a microprocessor, wherein the test device (1) is designed to carry out a computer-aided method comprising the steps: Detecting at least one optical display (11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31) for a predetermined display interval by means of a digital optical detection device of the test apparatus (1); Storing the digital data acquired during the display interval in a memory; Evaluating the stored digital data and determining a sequence of the optical displays (11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31); Determining an overall condition based on the determined sequence of the optical displays (11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31). Test device (1) after Claim 6 , wherein the test device (1) is a mobile test device (1), in particular a smart device. Arrangement with a device, in particular a control device of a robot, comprising optical displays (11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31), each indicating a single state of the control device, and a test device (1) according to Claim 6 , which are designed to jointly use the computerized method according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 perform.

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