Patent ID: 7551084

Claim:
An identification system for determining identities among a plurality of automation components connected in a manufacturing system, the components including production and manufacturing units in an automation system, the identification system comprising: an identification unit assigned to each in the plurality of automation components while connected for operation in the manufacturing system; an identification code stored in the identification unit for identifying the respective automation component; a read unit for reading the identification code from each identification unit and thereby (i) determine the identity of the automation component to which the identification unit is assigned and (ii) verify and monitor whether correct ones of the automation components are installed to prevent or eliminate problems resulting from connection of wrong components; and an activating unit for activating the identification units, the activating unit configured to address a pre-definable component class so that such identification unit corresponding to the pre-definable component class is caused to output its respective identification code, wherein at least one component class is selected from the group consisting of a class for sensors, a class for actuators, a class for thermal cables, a class for accessories, a class for thermal elements and a class for thermal resistance.