Method and system for setting parameters of a field station in a communication network.

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DESCRIPTION

Procedure and parameterization system of a ground station provided with an antenna.

The present invention has as its object a method of parameterizing a ground station provided with an antenna to exchange data without contact by means of inductive RFID technology with electronic tags, a signaling device and electronic circuits in which a memory contains such a parameter such as a network address. The invention also relates to a ground station parameterization system.

In certain manufacturing or treatment processes, there is a need to identify the products or mobile elements in order to follow the management of information associated with said products or mobile elements. A known method consists in associating data with each product or mobile element with the help of an electronic tag, and in exchanging this information with distributed ground stations.

An RFID identification system (in French, Radio Frequency Identification), is commonly used to identify, with the help of a ground station, each of the objects that carry an electronic identification tag. Within the reach of the reading / writing station, the electronic tag exchanges various information with the station, such as, for example, identification information or information associated with the manufacturing process in progress.

Ground stations dialogue with a piece of automation equipment (data server present in the network), generally within a ground network such as MODBUS, FIPIO, etc. In an RFID-type identification system, each station includes an antenna that manages a magnetic field that allows it to feed each electronic tag that passes within reach, and to dialogue with it according to a predefined communication protocol. The tag is powered by the "carrier" emitted from the station antenna. The energy captured by the tag's antenna is transformed into electrical energy and feeds the internal circuits (memory, command circuit ...) of the tag so that it executes the programs for which it has been conceived. This electronic tag stores the data, executes the commands from the station, and transmits the requested data to the station. The exchange procedure includes several phases, in particular: sending energy once the tag is within reach of the ground station, sending an identification order by the ground station, sending a read / write, write data or read data.

Contactless data exchange is carried out by means of inductive technology based on the use of a medium frequency electromagnetic (carrier) signal for the contactless transmission of information between stations and electronic tags.

The different ground stations are identified within a network of automatisms by means of individualized addresses. Currently, the parameterization of the addresses of each ground station is carried out by means of a button or an encoder wheel implemented within each station (document EP-1324494) or with the help of a terminal that the operator connects to each one of the network stations.

Document DE-19601511-C1 describes a procedure for setting the parameters of a reading station. This procedure is carried out without contact between the reading station and a board connected to a personal computer by means of a serial connection. When the board is close to the station, the station's magnetic field feeds the board's circuits that can send the parameterized data retrieved from the personal computer to the station. In this procedure, the parameterization requires a complicated and expensive infrastructure.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple solution for parameterizing ground stations, within the framework of small applications. It allows parameterizing, for example, the network address of the ground stations without having to use a regulation component (button or encoder wheel) in the stations, or without having to connect a terminal to the station or to an external panel.

This object has been achieved by means of a parameterization procedure of a ground station provided with an antenna to exchange contactless data by inductive technology with electronic tags, and electronic circuits in which a memory contains at least one parameter, the cited procedure characterized in that the ground station carries out the steps of:

- recognition of an electronic parameter tag when said electronic parameter tag passes within range of the antenna,

- initialization of the station parameter at the moment the ground station recognizes the electronic parameter tag,

- determination of the ground station parameter as a function of the time the tag remains within range of the antenna, and

- emission of a signal with the aid of a signaling device during a modification of the parameter of the ground station.

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According to the invention, the determination of the parameter consists in increasing the parameter according to a predefined frequency while the electronic parameter tag is kept within reach of the antenna. For this, the signaling member includes an electroluminescent diode that emits a luminous flash with each increment of the parameter.

According to the invention, the method also consists of emitting, with the help of the signaling device, a number of signals corresponding to the parameter of the ground station memorized in the memory, once the electronic parameterization label is not within reach of the ground station antenna. The signaling device includes, for example, an light-emitting diode that emits at regular intervals a number of light flashes equal to the parameter of the ground station stored in memory.

According to the invention, the stage of recognizing the electronic parameterization tag is carried out after the ground station is energized, when an electronic parameterization tag is presented within reach of its antenna.

The object has also been achieved by means of a parameterization system of a ground station equipped with an antenna and electronic circuits, in which a memory is intended to contain at least one parameter, and can exchange data without contact by means of inductive technology with electronic tags. The system is characterized in that it includes an electronic parameterization label, and because the ground station includes means of recognition of the electronic parameterization label, means of determining the parameter as a function of the time during which the electronic parameterization label is kept within reach. of the antenna, and a signaling device capable of emitting a signal during a modification of the parameter of the ground station.

According to the invention, the determining means initialize the parameter of the ground station when the electronic parameterization tag reaches the antenna range.

According to the invention, after initialization, the determining means increase the parameter of the ground station according to a predefined frequency as long as the electronic parameter tag is within range of the antenna. The signaling member also includes an electroluminescent diode that emits a luminous flash with each increase in the parameter of the ground station.

According to the invention, the signaling device is capable of emitting a number of signals corresponding to the parameter of the ground station stored in memory, once the electronic parameter setting tag is no longer within reach of the antenna.

The signaling device includes an electroluminescent diode that emits at regular intervals a number of light flashes equal to the parameter of the memorized ground station.

According to the invention, the recognition means are used at each energizing of the ground station.

According to the invention, the parameter to be updated is, for example, an identifying address of the ground station within a communication network, such as, for example, an automation network.

Other characteristics and advantages will become apparent in the detailed description that follows, with reference to a preferred embodiment, given by way of example and represented by the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of a tag identification system associated with an automation equipment;

Figure 2 is a functional diagram of a parameterization system of a ground station of the identification system of Figure 1.

The system illustrated in figure 1 includes ground stations St1, St2, each provided with an external antenna An1, An2, and capable of exchanging, without contact using inductive RFID technology, data with the electronic tags Et1, Et2 equipped with memories that store data.

The electronic labels Et1, Et2 are RFID type, and are fixed on the products or mobile elements of the process that have to be managed or controlled, and that are successively paraded within reach of ground stations such as St1, St2.

Each St ground station dialogues with the PLC automation (data server existing in the network), generally within a ground network such as MODBUS, FIPIO, etc.

The antenna Ant1, Ant2 of station St1, St2, generates a magnetic field that allows feeding each electronic tag Et1, Et2 that passes within reach, and allows station St1, St2 to dialogue with it. Each ground station St1, St2 includes connectors 2, 3, 4 (figure 2) that allow the connection of the power supply, the connection to the network, and the connection to a desk or a computer station such as a PC. Another connector allows the connection of the antenna An1, An2, which can be separated from the station as shown in the drawings, or integrated into the station. The

ES 2 301 136 T3 station St1, St2 contains a memory M (figure 2) and electronic interface circuits with the input / output connectors 2, 3, 4 and with the antenna.

Contactless data exchange is carried out by means of inductive technology based on the use of a medium frequency electromagnetic (carrier) signal for the contactless transmission of information between stations and electronic tags.

The different ground stations St1, St2 are identified by means of parameters, and in particular, for example, by means of individual addresses within the ground network.

With reference to figure 2, the address of a ground station St within a network can be parameterized with the help of a specific label constituted by an electronic parameterization label EP (hereinafter, parameterization label) , which has a constitution similar to that of a conventional Et1, Et2 electronic identification tag. If the ground station St must be addressed within a network, the parameter setting label EP is the first label presented to the ground station St after it has been powered up.

As with an electronic identification tag, the data exchange between the ground station St and the parameter setting EP tag is carried out without contact, by means of an inductive technology based on the use of an electromagnetic signal (carrier) of medium frequency. This type of technology is known in the state of the art, and does not constitute the object of the present invention.

The parameter setting label EP includes an antenna 5 incorporating an oscillating circuit LC and an electronic circuit 6 comprising in particular a memory 60 and data processing means 61 for interpreting the requests sent by the ground station St, and for sending the requests. requested information. The parameter setting label EP is fed by means of the "carrier" emitted from the antenna An of a ground station St after it reaches the limits of the range of said ground station St. The energy captured by the antenna 5 of the parameterization EP label is transformed into electrical energy, and feeds the internal electronic circuits 6 of the parameterization EP label. The parameter setting EP tag stores the data, executes the commands from the ground station St, and transmits the requested data to the ground station St.

The memory 60 contained in the parameter setting label EP is, by way of indication, a RAM, EEPROM or FERAM technology memory, and stores, for example in encrypted form, a unique identifier, communication parameters, a code that identifies it as a label. EP of parameterization, and possibly parameters of use or service instructions of the ground station St.

The exchange procedure between the ground station St and the parameter setting EP tag includes several phases, namely:

- sending power after a tag has reached the range of a ground station St,

- sending by the ground station St, of an identification order and response of the parameterization EP label with the sending of a unique identifier,

- request from the ground station St to retrieve the communication parameters to be established between the ground station St and the parameter setting label EP.

Furthermore, to parameterize the network address of a ground station St, the parameter setting tag EP must be the first tag presented within reach of the antenna An of the ground station St after it has been powered up. At each power-up, the ground station St therefore checks whether the first label presented to it is a conventional Et1, Et2 electronic label, or an address parameter EP label. The ground station St sends a request to retrieve the identification code of the presented tag, and puts into use recognition means to identify that tag.

On power-up, if a ground station St identifies the first tag as an address setting EP tag, it initializes its address to 0 and loads a setting program of its network address.

According to this parameterization program, the ground station St determines the address using a counter and a clock. The ground station St thus increases the counter as a function of the time the parameterization label EP remains within reach of its antenna An. The counter is increased, for example, by 1 after every second pass through the parameterization label EP within reach of the antenna An. With each increment, the ground station St emits a signal from a signaling device. The signaling member includes, for example, a light indicator 1 per light emitting diode (or "led") that lights up with each increment, or a buzzer that emits a beep for each increment, or for example an LCD-type display. The address set at ground station St therefore corresponds, for example, to the final number of flashes emitted by the light indicator 1 while the setting label EP remains ahead of the antenna An at station St.

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By removing the parameter setting label EP from the antenna range An from the ground station St, the user stops the direction increment. The last value acquired by the counter is then stored in its memory M and constitutes the network address configured for the ground station St.

The operator can verify the parameterized address thanks to the emission in the form of an echo, by means of the light indicator 1 of the light emitting diode or by means of another light indicator, of a number of rapid flashes equal to this memorized address. These echo-like flashes are, for example, of a different color than those emitted during the increase phase.

According to the invention, different parameters can be updated in the ground station St using several different parameterization EP tags, each of the tags being associated with the update of a particular parameter of the ground station St. In that case, each tag Parameterization EP has a different identification code recognized by the ground station St which, based on this code, loads a particular parameterization program. The different parameterization programs work as a function of the time that the EP parameterization label is kept within reach of the antenna An of the St.

According to the invention, these different parameterization labels that make it possible to update different parameters of the station St, can also be physically regrouped in the same parameterization label. This parameter label also includes several zones, each zone being associated with the update of a parameter at the St. Presenting an area of ​​the parameterization label within reach of the antenna An of the ground station St entails the loading of a corresponding update program at the station. Each zone is provided, for example, with an oscillating circuit LC and an associated electronic circuit 6 or, according to a variant, the parameter label can include a common oscillating circuit and a common electronic circuit. In this case, the parameterization label also has means that allow the user to choose the parameter that he wishes to update in the ground station St, to send to the ground station St the identification code that corresponds to the parameterization program that has been set. to load.

The invention therefore constitutes a simple, fast, practical and low-cost means to parameterize a ground station St in an automation network.

The parameterization system according to the invention can be used to configure parameters other than the network address of a ground station St, and in particular the network protocol to be used or the operation codes.