Method for monitoring an operating state of a device and corresponding device and system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9629007-B2
Application number	US-201214342623-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2012
Priority date	Sep 7, 2011
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for monitoring the operating state of a device, including a communication circuit and antenna for wireless transmission of signals to and from a base device arranged on the device, including the steps of: transitioning between first and second operating states, wherein the first operating state corresponds to a position of an interfering object in spaced relation to the antenna and the second operating state corresponds to a position of the interfering object closer in relation to the antenna; interference of the signal transmission between the antenna and the base device by the interfering object when in its closer position, wherein the interfering object does not interfere with the signal transmission when in its spaced position; detection of at least one of the occurrence or lack of interference with the signal transmission for determination of a transition between the operating states.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for monitoring the operating state of a handling device for a work piece, wherein the handling device can be brought into contact with a work piece so as to apply mechanical pressure to the work piece, wherein a transponder being arranged on the handling device including a communication circuit and an antenna for wireless signal transmission from and to a base device,
wherein an interfering object is provided separate from the transponder, and
wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
transitioning the handling device between a first operating state and a second operating state, wherein the first operating state corresponds to a position of an interfering object in spaced relation to the antenna and the second operating state corresponds to a position of the interfering object closer in relation to the antenna;
interfering with the signal transmission between the antenna and the base device by the interfering object when it is in its closer position, wherein the antenna always remains electrically connected to the communication circuit;
wherein the interfering object does not interfere with the signal transmission when the interfering object is in its spaced position;
detecting at least one of the occurrence or lack of interference with the signal transmission for determination of a transition between the operating states.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the signal transmission includes a request signal from the base device to the transponder and a reply signal that can be triggered as a result from the transponder to the base device, wherein the interference with the signal transmission relates to the request signal.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the signal transmission includes a request signal from the base device to the transponder and a reply signal that can be triggered as a result from the transponder to the base device, wherein the interference with the signal transmission relates to the reply signal.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the interference includes at least one of signal attenuation, signal suppression, a decrease in the signal range, or a detuning or modulation of the signal frequency.

5. A handling device for a work piece, wherein the handling device can be brought into contact with a work piece so as to apply mechanical pressure to the work piece, wherein the handling device can occupy at least a first and a second operating state, wherein the handling device includes a transponder with a communication circuit and an antenna for wireless signal transmission from and to a base device, and the first operating state corresponds to a position of an interfering object in spaced relation to the antenna and the second operating state corresponds to a position of the interfering object closer in relation to the antenna,
wherein the transponder is arranged on the handling device and the signal transmission between the antenna and the base device can be interfered with when the interfering object is closer to the antenna, wherein the antenna always remains electrically connected to the communication circuit; and
wherein the interfering object does not interfere with the signal transmission when said interfering object is spaced away from the antenna.

6. The handling device as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the handling device has a component that can be moved relative to the transponder which includes the interfering object.

7. The device as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the handling device has a component that can be moved relative to the transponder which constitutes said interfering object.

8. The handling device as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the handling device can be brought from the first operating state to the second operating state by pneumatic pressure.

9. The handling device as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the handling device can be brought from the first operating state to the second operating state by negative pressure.

10. A system for monitoring the operating state of a handling device for a work piece, including:
a handling device for a work piece, wherein the handling device can occupy at least a first and a second operating state and can be brought into contact with a work piece by applying mechanical pressure to the work piece;
at least one transponder arranged on the device with a communication circuit and an antenna for wireless signal transmission from and to a base device;
an interfering object which can occupy a position spaced from and a position closer to the antenna of the transponder;
wherein the position of the interfering object in spaced relation to the antenna corresponds to the first operating state and the position of the interfering object closer in relation to the antenna corresponds to the second operating state; and
wherein there is interference with the signal transmission between the antenna and the base device when the interfering object is in its closer position, wherein the always remains electrically connected to the communication circuit;
and the interfering object does not interfere with the signal transmission when the interfering object is in its spaced position.

11. The system as set forth in claim 10 , further including a base device for wireless signal transmission from and to the transponder.

12. The system as set forth in claim 11 , wherein transponder is a passive RFID tag with an RFID chip and an antenna connected to said transponder.

Assignees

• Kuolt Harald
• Schmalz J Gmbh

Inventors

• Kuolt Harald

Classifications

• B66C1/0218 Primary

  Safety measures, e.g. sensors, duplicate functions · CPC title

• H04W24/04 Primary

  Arrangements for maintaining operational condition · CPC title