MULTI-LEVEL CONTROLLER SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20080140224A1
• Filed: 12/04/2007
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IRIS International Inc. (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: IRIS International Inc. (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Kasdan, Harvey, Fridge, David Alan, Tindel, Jon Frank, Gold, Kenneth S., Atterholt, Ken A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,447,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1433 using image recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1456 without spatial resolution of the texture or inner structure of the particle, e.g. processing of pulse signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1459 the analysis being performed on a sample stream
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1009 Characterised by arrangements for controlling the aspiration or dispense of liquids
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/045 using logic state machines, consisting only of a memory or a programmable logic device containing the logic for the controlled machine and in which the state of its outputs is dependent on the state of its inputs or part of its own output states, e.g. binary decision controllers, finite state controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2207 Microcontroller combined with state sequencer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2231 Master slave
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2233 Each slave can control several other slaves
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23256 Hybrid programming, part sequence, part continuous
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23289 State logic control, finite state, tasks, machine, fsm
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23428 Select program from look up tables as function of detector states, pointer, index to program
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25484 Synchronize microprocessor and connected, controlled state machine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2657 Blood, urine analyzer

Abstract

The invention is a state machine having a host controller that controls a level-1 controller, wherein the level-1 controller controls the level-2 controller. The level-2 controller controls system component controllers, which in turn control system components to execute a process segment. For example, the machine includes a host controller that selects a set of states to be executed, a level-1 controller that activates the set of states in a predetermined order, wherein each state includes commands, and a level-2 controller that controls system components according to the commands. A method of executing a process includes identifying a set of states to be executed, issuing state commands that need to be issued to execute the current state in the set of states, and activating a next state only after all expected status reports have been received for the current state.

Claims

1. A method of executing a process, the method comprising:

identifying a sequence of first level states to move through each of which is associated with a unique first state index number;

issuing a first level command to a level-2 controller, wherein the first level command is associated with one of the first level states; and

receiving a status report from the level-2 controller, wherein the status report indicates a status of the level-2 controller in response to the first level command.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

completing the one state and proceeding to another one of the first level states in response to the status report.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the sequence of first level states comprises accessing a sequence table for indicating which of the first level states are included in the sequence.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

converting the first level command to a plurality of second level commands; and

forwarding the second level commands to a level-3 controller.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the level-2 controller accesses a second level table to identify a relevant second level state and a second level command to be issued in the second level state, wherein the second level command is used to selectively control system components.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first level command directly or indirectly controls system components.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining a sensor measurement to determine a parameter value;

comparing the parameter value to a reference value; and

moving from one of the first level states to another one of the first level states based on a relationship between the parameter value and the reference value.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising moving from the one of the first level states to another one of the first level states after a predetermined time period in the one of the first level states.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising issuing an error signal if the status report is not received within a predefined time period.

10. A method of controlling a system having controllers and system components, the method comprising:

receiving input parameters in a first language not readable by the controllers, wherein the input parameters are instructions for controlling the system components;

converting the input parameters into translated parameters that are in a second language, wherein the second language that is readable by the controllers; and

creating a table containing the input parameters and corresponding translated parameters, wherein the input parameters are editable in the table.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the input parameters are inserted into the table through a user interface.

12. A system comprising:

a controller;

system components; and

a processor for generating a table for controlling the controller and the system components, the table comprising;

a first set of columns containing instructions in a first language that is not readable by the controller; and

a second set of columns containing instructions in a second language that is readable by the controller, wherein the instructions in the second set of columns are translated versions of the instructions in the first set of columns generated according to a program.

13. A system comprising:

a level-1 controller that divides a level-1 task into a first level-2 task and a second level-2 task and issues a first level command to a first level-2 controller and a second level-2 controller, respectively, wherein the first level-2 controller executes the first level-2 task and the second level-2 controller executes the second level-2 task in response to the first level command, so that once the first and the second level-2 controllers complete their level-2 tasks, the level-1 task is completed.

14. A multi-layered control system comprising:

a plurality of controllers in different control levels, each controller behaving according to a controller table containing a unique set of values, wherein each controller table is indexed by states and includes;

a first column of commands to issue to a lower level controller;

a second column of status reports to send to a higher level controller;

a third column of tests for checking whether a predefined condition is fulfilled; and

a fourth column defining a course of action if the predefined condition is fulfilled; and

an interface control level that receives commands from the plurality of controllers and controls system components in response to the commands.