US4588880A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Non-contacting code recognition system for code carriers on production line workpieces
Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
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Filing: 1983-09-06
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Granted: 1986-05-13
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Expires: 2003-09-06
Abstract
Abstract To permit ready change of information on information carriers applied to workpieces which travel along a production line, for example to control further operating, machining or assembly steps, non-contacting sensors, typically inductive elements generating an electromagnetic field, transfer to a pick-up coil on the information carrier binary data. The information carrier includes a non-volatile permanent memory (ROM 25, 41) containing data characterizing the particular workpiece carrier or workpiece thereon, and a re-programmable, preferably non-volatile memory (RAM 27, 42) which contains added at the various operating stations to characterize operations, dimensions and the like of the respective workpiece and/or subsequent operations to be performed. The non-contacting transformer formed by the write/read stations and the pick-up coil (33, 47, 50) may, simultaneously, function as an energy transfer element to transfer operating energy for the memory units (23, 24, 40) on the workpiece carriers (11, 12) or the workpieces themselves (14, 15).
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Hesser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 07:53
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/34; B23; B23Q; B23Q41/00; G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/12; G05B19/128; G06; G06K; G06K17/00; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/067; G06K19/07; G06K19/0723; G06K7/00; G06K7/0008; G11; G11C; G11C7/00; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/20; G05B2219/25; G05B2219/25359; G05B2219/25462; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P90/00; Y02P90/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
301 words
Non-contacting code recognition system, to sense information data, characterizing conditions, status, parameters, orientation, designation, and the like, of workpieces (14, 15) on a transport line, and providing said information data to a stationary data processing and control stage (22), having a code information carrier (23; 24, 40) including storage means for storing said information data form of bit patterns, associated with said workpieces; read-out means indicating the status of the stored bit pattern; and at least one stationary transducer station (19, 20) having non-contacting sensing means, located in sensing relation with respect to said read-out means and sensing the bit pattern of information data indicated thereby, wherein, in accordance with the invention, the information carrier (23) comprises an electronic memory unit (24, 40) and a control logic (37); one transducer station includes induction coil means (33, 47; 191, 192, 193, 194) for transmitting energy and data to the memory unit (24, 40) and command signals to said control logic; the information carrier (23) further comprises input means (23, 33; 46-50) located in non-contacting data transfer relation to said at least one transducer station (19, 20) for recording information and storing said information in the memory unit (24, 40), an electronic memory section (25, 27; 41, 42) to store and receive information in the form of said bit pattern; and output means (30; 44, 45, 50) located in non-contacting data transfer relation to said at least one transducer station to permit scanning of data supplied to the output means by the transducer station for transmission to said control stage; and said at least one transducer station (19) transmits energy by means of an alternating magnetic field having a basic frequency and transmits said command signals by superimposing a modulation, having a frequency different from said basic frequency, on said alternating magnetic field.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
301 words
Non-contacting code recognition system, to sense information data, characterizing conditions, status, parameters, orientation, designation, and the like, of workpieces (14, 15) on a transport line, and providing said information data to a stationary data processing and control stage (22), having a code information carrier (23; 24, 40) including storage means for storing said information data form of bit patterns, associated with said workpieces; read-out means indicating the status of the stored bit pattern; and at least one stationary transducer station (19, 20) having non-contacting sensing means, located in sensing relation with respect to said read-out means and sensing the bit pattern of information data indicated thereby, wherein, in accordance with the invention, the information carrier (23) comprises an electronic memory unit (24, 40) and a control logic (37); one transducer station includes induction coil means (33, 47; 191, 192, 193, 194) for transmitting energy and data to the memory unit (24, 40) and command signals to said control logic; the information carrier (23) further comprises input means (23, 33; 46-50) located in non-contacting data transfer relation to said at least one transducer station (19, 20) for recording information and storing said information in the memory unit (24, 40), an electronic memory section (25, 27; 41, 42) to store and receive information in the form of said bit pattern; and output means (30; 44, 45, 50) located in non-contacting data transfer relation to said at least one transducer station to permit scanning of data supplied to the output means by the transducer station for transmission to said control stage; and said at least one transducer station (19) transmits energy by means of an alternating magnetic field having a basic frequency and transmits said command signals by superimposing a modulation, having a frequency different from said basic frequency, on said alternating magnetic field.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
System according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transducer station (19, 20) includes means for supplying operating energy to the input means of the electronic memory unit (24, 40); and the input means of the electronic memory unit includes means (32, 33-36; 47, 48) for accepting and storing operating energy supplied by the transducer station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
System according to claim 2, wherein the means for accepting and storing operating energy supplied by the transducer station comprises an electromagnetic non-contacting coupling element located on the information carrier, and means (32) for storing electrical energy supplied to the electromagnetic coupling element when a memory unit is positioned opposite a stationary transducer station, as said line moves, and transports the respective memory unit past the stationary transducer station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
System according to claim 2, wherein the data transfer between the at least one stationary transducer station (19, 20) and the memory unit (24, 40) of the information carrier (23), and energy transfer from the stationary transducer station (19, 20) to the information carrier (23) are carried out essentially simultaneously.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
System according to claim 1, wherein the electronic memory section comprises a non-volatile, programmable semiconductor memory element (ROM) (25, 41).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
System according to claim 1, wherein the electronic memory section comprises a non-volatile, programmable semiconductor memory (ROM) (25, 41) and a re-programmable semiconductor memory (RAM) (27, 42).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
System according to claim 5, wherein said programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory includes a re-programmable, non-volatile semiconductor memory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
System according to claim 1, wherein the output means (30) comprises a plurality of light emitting semiconductor elements (30a).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
System according to claim 1, wherein the output means (30) comprises an optical output indicator; and the stationary transducer station includes means for reading and responsive to the optical indication furnished by said output means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
System according to claim 1, wherein the input means (28) comprises a plurality of semiconductor elements responsive to a physical quantity represented by at least one of: a magnetic field; light emission; pressure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
System according to claim 6, wherein the information carrier (23) additionally comprises a control logic (44) and an inductive non-contacting transformer (50), the electronic memory section (41, 42) being coupled (43, 44, 45) to said transformer for exchange of data with the stationary data processing and control station (22); and said control logic (46) is connected (46a) to the electronic memory section to control respective transfer and exchange of data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
System according to claim 11, further including multiplex means (M1, 44) controlling transfer of information from the electronic memory section (41, 42) to the stationary transducer station (19, 20).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
System according to claim 11, including two multiplexers (M1, 44; M2, 45) connected to said electronic memory and to said transformer (50); and wherein one of the multiplexers (M1, 44) is controlled by the control logic (46) for transfer of data from the transducer station (19, 20) to the electronic memory section (41, 42), and the other multiplexer (M2, 45) controls transfer of data from the electronic memory section (41, 42) to the stationary transducer station (19, 20), said multiplexers and transfer of data being controlled by the control logic (46).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
68 words
System according to claim 11, wherein the non-contacting transformer comprises a coil (47) coupled to the control logic (46); and command data for the control logic (46) commanding operation thereof to control the electronic memory section, the input means (M1, 44, 50) and the output means (M2, 45, 50) for respective writing of data in the electronic memory section and read-out of data from the electronic memory section.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
System according to claim 14, wherein the input means comprises an input multiplexer (M1, 44); the output means comprises an output multiplexer (M2, 45), said multiplexers being connected to the electronic memory section (PROM, 41; RAM, 42) and controlled for respective writing or reading-out of information into and from the electronic memory section by said control logic.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
75 words
System according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transducer station (19, 20) includes means for supplying operating energy to the memory unit (24, 40) including an induction or transformer coil (33, 47) coupled to receive electromagnetic energy from a high-frequency magnetic field generated by the at least one stationary transducer stage; and an energy supply state including rectifier means (34, 35, 48) supplying rectified output energy to the electronic memory unit (24, 40).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
System according to claim 16, wherein the information carrier further comprises a storage battery (32) receiving charging energy from said rectifier means, and supplying the input means, the electronic memory section and the output means of the memory unit (24, 40) with electrical energy.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
73 words
System according to claim 16, wherein the electro-magnetic field generated by the at least one stationary transducer stage (19, 20) comprises a modulated high frequency of a predetermined carrier or base frequency, and modulation thereon, in which the modulation includes at least one of: command data; information data; and decoding means (48) are provided, separating energy supply and data contents being transferred to the information carrier by the non-contacting transformer coil (33, 47).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
67 words
System according to claim 18, wherein the information carrier (23) includes a control logic (37, 46) responsive to temporally sequential command signals transmitted thereto in the form of modulation of the high-frequency field applied to the non-contacting transformer, and further responsive to data transfer signals, said data transfer signals being represented by modulation of a frequency different from the base or carrier frequency of the high-frequency field.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
60 words
System according to claim 19, wherein the information data are transferred between the memory unit (40) and the at least one stationary transducer station (20) in serial form, and the modulation frequency characterizing information data differs from the modulation frequency characterizing command data applied to the logic unit and controlling, respectively, transfer of data into and from the memory unit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-05-12 | 1989-11-11 | 1990-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-05-12 | 1993-11-11 | 1994-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-05-12 | 1997-11-11 | 1998-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |