Patent ID: 6256544
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: G05B

Abstract:
A self-contained functional unit for a manufacturing system in which a plurality of such funcational units cooperate in a decentralized manner to process an article according to a manufacturing sequence, said functional unit comprising:at least one actuator and at least one sensor for controlling and/or monitoring a function to be performed; andat least one intelligent control unit (ICU) having a function control program to operate the functional unit independently of any central computer, said ICU also having a dedicated power module, a dedicated sensor module, and a dedicated basic module which together control at least one actuator and/or evaluate signals of the at least one sensor of the functional unit; wherein:the basic module receives power from a power supply network external to the functional unit;the power module receives power from said basic module;the ICU controls said at least one actuator by applying power thereto from said power module;there sensor module receives low voltage from said basic module; andthe ICU (i) powers the at least one sensor by applying said low voltage thereto from the sensor module, and (ii) evaluates signals of the at least one sensor by receiving said signals via the at least one sensor module.