Mini-automation controller

• US 10,379,501 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2017
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Emerson, David R
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ramesh B
• Application Number:
  US15/484,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20170212480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/012 details of the transmission means
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/26 in which the output signal is a pulse-train
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/1214 Real-time communication between plc, Ethernet for configuration, monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31233 Map network and server in node and server controlled ethernet with machine nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling lab equipment such as transmitters are provided that includes a mini automation controller (MAC). The system provides a control system, user interface, and interfaces, including network interfaces usable for interfacing equipment, MAC, and user interfaces over a network, which provide a variety of functions including automation and monitoring of transmission sequences and receiver events. An exemplary MAC may include an Ethernet controller capable of converting an Ethernet signal to a serial signal. The MAC may also include a receiver monitor section comprising a fiber optic receiver input, a copper cable receiver input, and a monostable multivibrator. In addition to the receiver monitor section, the MAC may have a transmitter control section including a transmitter control pulse and a power output. An exemplary MAC may have a microcontroller coupled to the Ethernet controller, the receiver monitor section, and the transmitter control section.

Claims

1. A mini automation controller, comprising:

a first controller adapted to convert a plurality of first signals to a plurality of second signals, wherein said first signals are defined by a first communication protocol and said second signals are defined by a second communication protocol;

a microcontroller operable to automate and monitor at least one event of a group of events comprising a transmission sequence event and a receiver event, said microcontroller being electronically coupled to the first controller;

a receiver monitor section adapted to couple with the microcontroller and at least one receiver comprising a monostable multivibrator integrated circuit coupled between the first controller and at least one interface to said at least one receiver; and

a transmitter control section adapted to couple with the microcontroller and at least one transmitter, said transmitter control section comprising a transmitter control pulse section and a transmitter power output section, said transmitter control pulse section and transmitter power output section are coupled to said at least one transmitter;

wherein the microcontroller can receive a transmitter or receiver event control signal from a control system external to the mini automation controller via the first controller and activates the transmitter control section to send a transmission signal from the transmitter control pulse section and power output section, the microcontroller is configured to receive a receiver activation signal from the monostable multivibrator integrated circuit that the receiver monitor section has received the transmission signal;

wherein the microcontroller sends the plurality of first signals to the first controller regarding a status of the transmitter control section and the receiver monitor section wherein the plurality of first signals are converted to the plurality of second signals by the first controller and at least one of the plurality of second signals is sent to the control system external to the mini automation controller.

2. The mini automation controller of claim 1, wherein said first communication protocol includes an Ethernet protocol format.

3. The mini automation controller of claim 1, wherein said second communication protocol includes a serial interface protocol format.

4. The mini automation controller of claim 1, wherein said receiver monitor section comprises a fiber optic receiver inlet and a copper wire receiver inlet, and said fiber optic receiver inlet and said copper wire receiver inlet are adapted to couple said monostable multivibrator integrated circuit with said at least one receiver.

5. The mini automation controller of claim 4, wherein said transmission signal is sent to said at least one receiver from said monostable multivibrator integrated circuit through either said fiber optic receiver inlet or the copper wire receiver inlet.

6. A transmission and receive event control system, comprising:

at least one receiver;

at least one transmitter;

a test control system comprising a display, a non-transitory storage medium adapted to store a plurality of non-transitory machine readable instructions, an input/output system, and a plurality of test control system machine readable instructions stored on said non-transitory machine readable media including instructions operable to generate one or more graphical user interface on said display adapted to facilitate user control of said transmission and receive event control system, wherein said one or more graphical user interfaces comprises a menu of a plurality of operations associated with one or more transmission sequence events and receiver events; and

a mini automation controller comprising;

a first controller adapted to convert a plurality of first signals to a plurality of second signals, wherein said first signals are defined by a first communication protocol and said second signals are defined by a second communication protocol;

a microcontroller operable to automate and monitor at least one event of a group of events comprising said transmission sequence events and receiver events, said microcontroller being electronically coupled to the first controller;

a receiver monitor section adapted to couple with the microcontroller and at least one receiver comprising a monostable multivibrator integrated circuit coupled between the first controller and at least one interface to said at least one receiver;

a transmitter control section adapted to couple with the microcontroller and at least one transmitter, said transmitter control section comprising a transmitter control pulse section and a transmitter power output section, said transmitter control pulse section and transmitter power output section are coupled to said at least one transmitter;

wherein the microcontroller can receive a transmitter or receiver event control signal from said control system external to the mini automation controller via the first controller and activates the transmitter control section to send a transmission signal from the transmitter control pulse section and power output section, the microcontroller is configured to receive a receiver activation signal from the monostable multivibrator integrated circuit that the receiver monitor section has received the transmission signal; and

wherein the microcontroller sends the plurality of first signals to the first controller regarding a status of the transmitter control section and the receiver monitor section wherein the plurality of first signals are converted to the plurality of second signals by the first controller and at least one of the plurality of second signals is sent to the control system external to the mini automation controller.

7. The transmission and receive event control system of claim 6, wherein said first communication protocol includes an Ethernet protocol format.

8. The transmission and receive event control system of claim 6, wherein said second communication protocol includes a serial interface protocol format.

9. The transmission and receive event control system of claim 6, wherein said receiver monitor section comprises a fiber optic receiver inlet and a copper wire receiver inlet, wherein said fiber optic receiver inlet and said copper wire receiver inlet are adapted to couple said monostable multivibrator integrated circuit with said at least one receiver.

10. The transmission and receive event control system of claim 9, wherein said transmission signal is sent to said at least one receiver from said monostable multivibrator integrated circuit through either said fiber optic receiver inlet or the copper wire receiver inlet.

11. A method of automating and monitoring one or more transmission event sequences and receiver event sequences comprising:

providing at least one receiver;

providing at least one transmitter;

providing a mini automation controller;

providing a test control system comprising a display, an input/output system, a plurality of test control system machine readable instructions stored on a non-transitory machine readable media including instructions operable to generate one or more graphical user interfaces on said display adapted to facilitate user control of said transmission and receive event sequences, said one or more graphical user interfaces comprise a first graphical user interface including a first user input box that allows a user to input a desired transmission interval, a second user input box that allows the user to input a desired transmission length, and a third user input box operable to allow the user to set a network address associated with said mini automation controller, wherein said first graphical user interface includes a graphical representation of transmit and receive data associated with the operation of elements of said one or more transmission event sequences and receiver event sequences;

said mini automation controller comprising;

a network interface controller coupled to said test control system adapted to convert a plurality of first signals to a plurality of second signals, wherein said first signals are defined by a first communication protocol and said second signals are defined by a second communication protocol;

a microcontroller comprising a non-transitory memory and a plurality of machine readable instructions stored in said non-transitory memory, said machine readable instructions are operable to automate and monitor at least one event of a group of events comprising said one or more transmission event sequences and said one or more receiver event sequences, said microcontroller being electronically coupled to the network interface controller;

a receiver monitor section adapted to couple with the microcontroller and at least one receiver comprising a monostable multivibrator integrated circuit coupled between the network interface controller and said at least one interface to said at least one receiver;

a transmitter control section adapted to couple with the microcontroller and said at least one transmitter, said transmitter control section comprising a transmitter control pulse section and a transmitter power output section, said transmitter control pulse section and transmitter power output section are coupled to said at least one transmitter;

wherein the microcontroller can receive a transmitter or receiver event control signal from said test control system via the network interface controller and transmitter event control signal activates the transmitter control section to send a transmission signal from the transmitter control pulse section and power output section, wherein the microcontroller is configured to receive a receiver activation signal from the monostable multivibrator integrated circuit that the receiver monitor section has received the transmission signal, where said control system is external to the mini automation controller and comprises a test control system adapted to receive user inputs;

wherein the microcontroller sends the plurality of first signals to the network interface controller regarding a status of the transmitter control section and the receiver monitor section wherein the plurality of first signals are converted to the plurality of second signals by the network interface controller and sent to the control system external to the mini automation controller;

providing said at least one transmitter and said at least one receiver and coupling said at least one transmitter and said at least one receiver respectively to said transmitter control section and said receive monitor section;

setting one or more microcontroller settings, said microcontroller settings comprising one or more user modifiable configuration settings, assigning functions to the microcontroller pins including transmission event and receive event related functions associated respectively with said at least one transmitter and said at least one receiver, setting one or more communications parameters associated with the network interface controller, and setting one or more default settings for timing of at least one of said transmission sequence event, wherein said one or more user modifiable configuration settings comprise timing of said transmission sequence event;

monitoring for a first message from said test control system using said microcontroller, wherein a first command is received through said network interface controller;

operating at least one of said one or more graphical user interfaces to generate said first message to said mini automation controller;

performing a look-up of said first message in said non-transitory memory comprising identifying and selecting one or more of said plurality of machine readable instructions associated with said first message, said one or more of said plurality of machine readable instructions associated with said first message comprising a plurality of instructions operable to control said mini automation controller, said at least one receiver, and said at least one transmitter, said one or more of said plurality of machine readable instructions associated with said first message including instructions operable for controlling execution of said one or more transmission event sequences and receiver event sequences in response to said first message comprises changing said configuration settings; and

executing said one or more of said plurality of machine readable instructions associated with said first message.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said network interface controller includes an Ethernet protocol format.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said second communication protocol includes a serial interface protocol format.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said receiver monitor section comprises a fiber optic receiver inlet and a copper wire receiver inlet, wherein said fiber optic receiver inlet and said copper wire receiver inlet are adapted to couple said monostable multivibrator integrated circuit with said at least one receiver.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said transmission signal is sent to said at least one receiver from said monostable multivibrator integrated circuit through either said fiber optic receiver inlet or the copper wire receiver inlet.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising at least one of storing and logging results of said step of executing said one or more of said plurality of machine readable instructions associated with said first message.