Distributed process control
First Claim
1. A distributed process control system for the programmable control of process devices to operate in cooperation to perform a predetermined process wherein each process device is capable of independent operation and of performing one or more related operations and wherein a process is a sequence of process steps wherein each step is defined by one or more operations of one or more of the process devices, comprising:
- in association with each process device;
a device controller for controlling operation of the associated process device, each device controller including a process step memory for a storing a corresponding device process, wherein each device process includes one or more device steps wherein each device step corresponds to a process step and controls one or more corresponding operations of the associated process device; and
a master controller for generating step execute identifiers to the device controllers, wherein the device controllers are responsive to the step execute identifiers for cooperatively performing corresponding device steps of the device processes.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for the distributed programmable control of multiple devices, each capable of independent operation and of performing a set of related functions or operations, to operate concurrently or sequentially and in cooperation to perform a predetermined task or operation. A device controller is associated with each process device wherein each device controller controls the operations of the associated process device and includes a process step memory for a storing a device process. Each device process includes one or more device steps wherein each device step corresponds to a process step and controls one or more corresponding operations of the associated process device. A master controller generates step execute identifiers to the device controllers and the device controllers are responsive to the step execute identifiers for cooperatively performing the corresponding device steps of the device processes, generating control outputs corresponding to the device steps to the associated process devices to direct the associated process devices to perform the device steps. The process steps may be generated in the master controller and distributed to the device controllers, or in devices controllers with the master controller coordinating the designation and identification of the device steps in process steps.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A distributed process control system for the programmable control of process devices to operate in cooperation to perform a predetermined process wherein each process device is capable of independent operation and of performing one or more related operations and wherein a process is a sequence of process steps wherein each step is defined by one or more operations of one or more of the process devices, comprising:
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in association with each process device;
a device controller for controlling operation of the associated process device, each device controller including a process step memory for a storing a corresponding device process, wherein each device process includes one or more device steps wherein each device step corresponds to a process step and controls one or more corresponding operations of the associated process device; and
a master controller for generating step execute identifiers to the device controllers, wherein the device controllers are responsive to the step execute identifiers for cooperatively performing corresponding device steps of the device processes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for distributed programmable control of process devices to operate in cooperation to perform a predetermined process wherein each process device is capable of independent operation and of performing one or more related operations and wherein a process is a sequence of process steps wherein each step is defined by one or more operations of one or more of the process devices, comprising the steps of:
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storing a device process in each process device, wherein each device process controls the operations of the associated process device and includes one or more device steps wherein each device step corresponds to a process step and controls one or more corresponding operations of the associated process device; and
in a master controller, generating step execute identifiers to the device controllers, wherein the device controllers are responsive to the step execute identifiers for cooperatively performing corresponding device steps of the device processes. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification