WO2022207816A1

WO2022207816A1 - System and method for identification and marking of electric cables in industrial cabinets

Info

Publication number: WO2022207816A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/058620
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maurizio Cucchi
Original assignee: M-Pix Srl
Current assignee: M-Pix Srl
Priority date: 2021-04-02
Filing date: 2022-03-31
Publication date: 2022-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 2023-10-02
Also published as: IT202100008357A1; EP4315158A1

Abstract

The invention is directed to a system for identification and marking of electrical cables and apparatuses in an industrial and/or civil cabinet, which system comprises: a set of devices for identification and marking of electrical cables and apparatuses in an electrical cabinet, which devices comprise a small plate on which it is present a bidimensional code, wherein the code presents a possible number of combination equal to at least 106; an augmented reality device capable of reading the bidimensional codes of the devices of a. and of visualizing information relating to the same; optionally, a reading apparatus capable of reading the bidimensional codes; and a processor capable of exchanging data with the augmented reality device, and with the optional reading apparatus, wherein an electrical scheme of the industrial cabinet is uploaded, wherein the system does not comprise any printer. The invention is also directed to a process for identification and marking of electrical cables and apparatuses in an industrial cabinet comprising the following steps: installing a device on a cable or apparatus to be connected, which device comprises a small plate on which it is present a pre-printed bidimensional code, wherein the code presents a possible number of combination equal to at least 106; reading the bidimensional code present on the device by using the augmented reality device; associating the bidimensional code to an alpha-numeric code defined in the electrical scheme, wherein the process dos not comprise any printing step.

Description

System and method for identification and marking of electric cables in industrial cabinets

Technical field of the invention

[0001]. The present invention is directed to a method for identification and marking of electrical cables used to connect various electrical and electronic apparatuses to industrial cabinets by using electric cables for industrial purposes.

[0002]. The invention is also directed to system comprising a set of devices (e.g. tubes, collars, tags) to be applied to electric cables and to the apparatuses to be connected by the electric cables, wherein each device is provided with a bidimensional code, wherein the system further comprises an augmented reality device, a processor, and optionally a reading device, wherein the processor is capable of receiving and transmitting data to and from augmented reality device and the optional reading device.

Background of the invention

[0003]. Traditionally, wiring of electric apparatuses to electric cabinets is performed by applying to each cable terminal a tag reporting the identification code present in the electric scheme of the plant. In Italy, following the “Normativa di Identificazione dei Conduttori e Designazione delle Connessioni” (Conductor Identification and Connection Designation Regulations), many cabinet’s producers have developed a system of tags and supports which have to be written with various system, such as a simple pen, a plotter, thermal transfer, ink-jet, laser mark.

[0004]. Normally, a transparent tube is installed on each cable terminal and, following the electric scheme, a plastic tag previously printed with the name of the specific terminal is inserted into a special pocket.

[0005]. Always within this consolidated assembly philosophy, which remains unchanged for decades, the operator takes care of personalizing all tags and supports he or she needs for identification and marking of one or more electric cabinet(s); the operator then takes care of positioning the personalized tags in the correct position; this operation requires a lot of care and might give rise to possible errors; furthermore, it requires a lot of time and affects the overall cost of the final product. On the side of the electrician, he or she has to cover not only the costs of the consumable, but also technological assets such as, for example, the personalization system (plotter, Ink-jet, laser Marker, etc) and the relative software. Another cost associated with this approach is training for correct use of these devices. [0006]. EP 3 007 110 discloses a cable connection verification system comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit an inspection signal to a first terminal of a cable, the cable being configured to connect a first contact on a first terminal block with the first terminal and to connect a second contact on a second terminal block with a second terminal; a receiver configured to receive the inspection signal from the second terminal of the cable ; and a tag generator configured to generate a tag containing ID information upon reception of the inspection signal of the receiver.

Brief description of the invention

[0007]. In a first embodiment, the present invention is directed to system comprising a set of devices to be applied to electric connections to be identified, which devices are characterized by the presence of a plate which contains a unique bidimensional code, which code presents a very high number of possible combination such that it is very unlikely the presence in the set of two identical codes. The system further comprises an augmented reality device (e.g. smart glasses) adapted to read the bidimensional codes and display the information connected to the codes, optionally a reading device, a processor wherein an electrical scheme of the industrial/civil cabinet is charged, which processor is adapted to receive and send information to and from the augmented reality device and the optional reading device.

[0008]. In a further embodiment, the invention is directed to a method for identification and marking of electrical cables and apparatuses in an industrial or civil cabinet, which method comprises the following steps: installing a device as previously defined on a cable to be connected or on an electric or electronic component; reading the bidimensional code present on the device by using an augmented reality device; associating the bidimensional code to an alpha-numeric code defined in an electrical scheme.

Brief description of the drawings

[0009]. Fig. 1 illustrates various preferred embodiments of a device according to the invention comprising a tube and a plate comprising a bidimensional code.

[0010]. Fig. 2 illustrates a smart pen as the optional reading device.

[0011]. Fig. 3 illustrates a bidimensional code according to the invention in various sizes.

[0012]. Fig. 4 illustrates a two-dimensional code obtained from a plot of intersecting lines.

[0013]. Fig. 5 illustrates a two-dimensional code obtained with differently oriented segments of different lengths.

[0014]. Fig. 6 illustrates the traditional method of identifying and marking electrical wiring in industrial cabinets. [0015]. Fig. 7 illustrates a method according to the invention of identifying and marking electrical wiring in industrial cabinets.

[0016]. Fig. 8 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a smart glass as an augmented reality device.

Detailed description of the invention

[0017]. In a first embodiment, the present invention is directed to system comprising a set of devices to be appended to electrical connections which need identification. The devices are characterized by the presence of a plate on which a unique bidimensional code is present. The code presents a very high number of possible combinations such that the probability of having two identical codes in the set is extremely low. The number of possible combinations is preferably equal to or higher than 10⁶, more preferably equal to or higher than 10⁸, most preferably equal to or higher than a 10¹⁰. The system further comprises an augmented reality device (e.g. smart glasses) adapted to read the bidimensional codes and display the information connected to the codes, optionally a reading device, a processor wherein an electrical scheme of the industrial/civil cabinet is charged, which processor is adapted to receive and send information to and from the augmented reality device and the optional reading device.

[0018]. When comparing the present invention to EP 3 007 110, it is important to note that the prior art method requires printing of a tag after verification of each cable connections. It means that each tag on each terminal contains information which allow identification of the terminal. In the present invention, tags are installed on each terminal before identification of the position of the terminal in the electric scheme. When the system verifies the position of each terminal, then the system associates the unique bidimensional code with the position in the scheme. Thus, the information in the tag is not direct information, but it is a unique code associated by a software to information present in the electric scheme.

[0019]. The bidimensional code can be, for example, a binary code. An example of binary code is represented by a matrix of black or white dots. Black points can be obtained by printing using well known printing methods, e.g. laser printer, ink-jet printer thermal transfer, print with a laser head. Because of its characteristics of durability, precision and absence of consumable generated by the printing process, laser head printing is a preferred printing method.

[0020]. It is also possible to use two-dimensional codes that are not binary. Figure 4 shows an example of such a unique code, obtained by intersecting a defined number of lines within the code rectangle. By varying the position, inclination and thickness of each line, a very large number of unique codes can be obtained. [0021]. The plate can be made of any suitable material, preferably with a material printable by a laser head printer. An example of materials suitable for the manufacture of plates are polymeric and metallic materials.

[0022]. In a preferred embodiment, the binary code is a bidimensional matrix of i lines and j columns having a number of positions n=i x j comprised between 20 and 100. Of these positions, an amount comprised between 20% and 80% will be printed, preferably in black or grey, while the remaining 80% to 20% will be left blank. Preferably, the number of printed dots will be comprised between 30% and 70%. As an example, the number of possible combinations C of a matrix composed of 8 lines and 8 columns (n=64 dots) wherein 42 dots are printed (k=42) and 22 are blank is given by the formula: C= n!/k!x(n-k)! = 641/42 !x22 ! = 8,3xl0¹⁶. By making use of conventional software for creating random codes, it is possible to print a set of devices (e.g. a set of 1000 devices) having a chance higher than 99% that the set of devices does not contain two identical codes. The set of devices can be sold to the users (e.g. electricians) and the electrician can identify and mark cables and apparatuses of industrial cabinets by using the set of devices.

[0023]. In any case, n and k are selected in such a way that the possible number of combinations is equal to or higher than 10⁶, preferably equal to or higher than 10⁸, more preferably equal to or higher than 10¹⁰. In fact, when using the method according to the invention, a user will buy a number of plates at least equal to the number of connections to be identified and marked. Thus, it is important that a set of around a thousand plates has a very low probability of containing two identical codes. In any case, in the unlikely event that a set of plates contained two identical codes, the problem would be detected by the processor and the plate containing a code already associated by the processor to a position of the electric scheme, would be discarded.

[0024]. Thus, by using a bidimensional code having a number of dots comprised between 20 and 100, it is possible to mark with a random code each electric connection to be identified with a very high probability, preferably higher than 99%, that the set of devices does not contain two identical codes. In a preferred embodiment, the number of lines i is comprised between 6 and 12 and the number of columns j is comprised between 5 and 10.

[0025]. Figure 1 discloses a preferred embodiment of a device according to the invention, comprising a tube and a plate comprising a bidimensional code. The bidimensional code is preferably of limited size, since space in electric cabinets is rather limited, especially when using reduced-pitch terminal blocks.

[0026]. Figure 3 shows that the bidimensional code can be printed in different formats. The figure shows various sizes starting from 15 mm x 7 mm till the smallest 3 mm x 2.5 mm. Even in the smallest size, the code maintains a good readability with an optical instrument. Bidimensional codes identifying cable connections are preferably positioned on a plate having a planar face whose size is preferably comprised between 2.5 and 5.0 mm, more preferably about 5.0 mm. Bidimensional codes identifying apparatuses are preferably positioned on a plate having a planar face whose size is preferably comprised between 3.0 and 7.0 mm, more preferably about 5.0 mm.

[0027]. The device used for identification and marking of electric/electronic apparatuses preferably consists of a plate comprising the bidimensional code, which plate is inserted in a special niche prepared by the manufacturer of the apparatus. Examples of apparatuses to be identified and marked are contactors, fuse holders, power supplies, transformers, etc.

[0028]. The device can be affixed in various manner to an electric cable or to an electric/electronic apparatus. In case of an electric cable, the device preferably comprises a tube into which the cable is inserted, and a plate on which the bidimensional code is present. The plate can be connected to the tube either in a fixed manner, or it can be removable. In the latter case, the connection between tube and plate can be performed in various manners, e.g. by a clip. The tube can have a cylindrical shape or a different one, provided it allows insertion of the cable into the tube and fixing thereof.

[0029]. The system of the present invention also includes an augmented reality device. In a preferred embodiment, the augmented reality device is a pair of augmented reality glasses, also called smart glasses, such as Google Glass, as shown in figure 7. These glasses are a wearable device able to communicate via bluetooth and wifi, equipped with a processor with operating system, a camera for capturing images and video, an image overlay display at the margin of the field of view and a touch interface for interaction with the operator. The device is capable of running one or more dedicated software applications, developed with the same development tools used for mobile applications.

[0030]. If the operator needs to access a code in a location that is not accessible to the augmented reality device, a reading instrument can be used. As an optional reading instrument, it is possible to use an instrument which is not specifically designed for the purpose but can be adapted to it, e.g. a smartphone; however, it is preferred the use of an instrument specifically designed for this application The reading instrument comprises a optical reader capable of reading the bidimensional code and a screen.

[0031]. Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the optional reading instrument: a reading pen (smart-pen) 200 comprising a tip 201 provided of an optical reader capable of reading the bidimensional code of the devices, and a small screen 202. Preferably, the instrument also comprises a battery, optionally a rechargeable battery, providing electric power supply to the instrument. Preferably the battery is capable of providing power supply for at least 8 hours of use, more preferably at least 12 hours of use. To reduce consumption, and consequently increase duration of the battery, the screen is preferably a low consumption screen making use of e-ink technology as disclosed for example by US 6,120,588 (E-ink Corporation USA)

[0032]. The augmented reality device and the optional reading instrument (e.g. the smart-pen) are connected to a processor, for example a PC, a notebook or a tablet, and between them. The connection between augmented reality device, reading instrument and PC can be performed in any manner known in the art, e.g. by wire, or wireless. Preferably, the connection is made through the Bluetooth protocol. [0033]. The above defined system is used in the process according to the invention for wiring industrial and/or civil electric cabinet(s).

[0034]. Figure 6 shows the elements used in the process of the prior art. On the left side, it is shown a detail of the electric scheme of the project, wherein each position is identified by an alphanumeric code. The operator has to print all codes present in the scheme and then insert the printed code into the specific identification tubes.

[0035]. Instead, figure 7 shows the essential steps of the process of the present invention. On the left, a number of devices pre-printed with a bidimensional code is shown. In the second picture the installed devices are shown. The third figure shows the connection of the bidimensional code with the project code by the reading pen.

[0036]. Consequently, the method comprises the following steps: 1) installing a device according to the invention on a cable to be wired or or on an electric or electronic component; 2) reading the bidimensional code present on the device by using an augmented reality device, e.g. a smart glasses; 3) associating the bidimensional code of the device to the alphanumeric code present in the electric scheme. In step 1) the bidimensional code is randomly selected, e.g. by picking up a device from a set of devices, and the bidimensional code is pre-printed, i.e. it does not contain any information of the position wherein the device is installed. In this way, step 1 is much quicker, when compared to the first step of a conventional process, wherein the code to be installed has to be printed since it contains information of the cable or apparatus to which it is associated.

[0037]. In a preferred embodiment, step 2) consists of the following sub-steps: after installing the device, the operator selects on the screen of the processor, e.g. by a mouse or a touch screen, a position of the electric scheme corresponding to the position where the cable is wired or to the apparatus to be identified, and t which, in the project, or electric scheme, a code is associated. Then, the operator reads the bidimensional code by using the augmented reality device. After reading the code, on the augmented reality device the project code is visualized. The operator verifies the correctness of the code and validates the association of the bidimensional code with the project code. As a consequence, any future reading of the bidimensional code by the reading instrument, will result in the project code to be visualized by the reading instrument. This fact allows the performance of maintenance operations of the plant (electric cabinet(s) and apparatuses) easily and unequivocally by using the augmented reality device, optionally the reading device and the processor used in the wiring phase.

Claims

1. A system for identification and marking of electrical cables and apparatuses in an industrial and/or civil cabinet, which system comprises: a. a set of devices for identification and marking of electrical cables and apparatuses in an electrical cabinet, which devices comprise a small plate on which it is present a bidimensional code, wherein the code presents a possible number of combination equal to at least 10⁶; b. an augmented reality device capable of reading the bidimensional codes of the devices of a. and of visualizing information relating to the same; c. optionally, a reading apparatus capable of reading the bidimensional codes; and d. a processor capable of exchanging data with the augmented reality device, and with the optional reading apparatus, wherein an electrical scheme of the industrial cabinet is uploaded; wherein the system does not contain any printer.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the bidimensional code is a bidimensional matrix comprising i lines and j columns, wherein the product n= i x j is comprised between 20 and 100, and wherein, when defining k the number of marked positions, the ratio k/n is comprised between 0.20 and 0.80, preferably between 0.30 and 0.70.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein i is comprised between 6 and 12 and j is comprised between 5 and 10.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the bidimensional code is a vectorial code comprising variously oriented segments having different length such that they can encode at least 10⁶ combinations.

5. The system according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the augmented reality device are smart glasses comprising a camera, a system for sending and receiving data and a display.

6. The system according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the reading apparatus is a smart pen having an optical device at one end, and a screen.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the screen makes use of the e-ink technology.

8. The system according to any claims 5-7, wherein the processor is selected from a PC, a notebook and a tablet.

9. A process for identification and marking of electrical cables and apparatuses in an industrial cabinet comprising the following steps: a. installing a device on a cable or apparatus to be connected, which device comprises a small plate on which it is present a pre-printed bidimensional code, wherein the code presents a possible number of combination equal to at least 10⁶; b. reading the bidimensional code present on the device by using the augmented reality device; c. associating the bidimensional code to an alpha-numeric code defined in the electrical scheme; wherein the process does not comprise any printing step.

10. The process according to claim 9, wherein step b) comprises the following sub-steps: i. selecting on the screen of the processor a point of the electrical cabinet corresponding to the cable that is going to be connected to the cabinet, and to which, in the scheme, corresponds an alphanumeric code; ii. reading the bidimensional code of the device by the augmented reality device.