US 12,140,918 B2
Automation device, system module and method for local control of process hardware
Thomas Holm, Rinteln (DE)
Assigned to Wago Verwaltungsgesellschaft MBH, Minden (DE)
Filed by WAGO Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Minden (DE)
Filed on Jun. 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/353,255.
Application 17/353,255 is a continuation of application No. PCT/EP2019/086657, filed on Dec. 20, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2018 133 557.1 (DE), filed on Dec. 21, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0311449 A1, Oct. 7, 2021
Int. Cl. G05B 19/04 (2006.01); G05B 19/00 (2006.01); G05B 19/042 (2006.01)
CPC G05B 19/042 (2013.01) [G05B 19/00 (2013.01); G05B 2219/2642 (2013.01)] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
26. A process control system, comprising:
a process control system; and
a plurality of system modules each individually connected to the process control system, each of the plurality of system modules comprising:
a technical hardware for carrying out a technical sub-process, the technical hardware comprising a plurality of hardware components; and
an automation device for local control of a technical hardware of a system module, wherein the technical hardware of the system module is provided for carrying out a technical sub-process, the automation device comprising:
an electronic control unit for local control of the technical hardware of the system module, wherein the electronic control unit is arranged to control the technical hardware of the system module; and
an electronic interface unit connected or connectable to the electronic control unit,
wherein the electronic interface unit comprises a server,
wherein the server of the electronic interface unit has a specified information structure with static and dynamic information, the static information of the information structure describing the technical hardware of the system module and the electronic control unit writing the dynamic information into the information structure as time-variable values dependent on the technical hardware,
wherein the automation device detects a structural change of the technical hardware of the system module based on a signal of a component of the technical hardware,
wherein the electronic control unit is arranged to automatically change the information structure with at least the static information for describing the technical hardware based on the detected structural change, and
wherein the information structure contains a plurality of nodes and links between the nodes, with a separate node being defined for each hardware component of the technical hardware connected to the automation device.