System and Method for Controlling and Managing an Automated Vehicle Parking Garage
First Claim
1. An automated system for a three-dimensional warehousing facility for receiving an item at a delivery bay, storing the item in a storage space, and retrieving the item from the storage space, the automated system comprising:
- a. mechanical elements for transporting the item between the delivery bay and the storage space; and
b. a distributed control system including;
i. controllers, each with a controller program and each associated with one of the mechanical elements; and
ii. a network interconnecting the controllers for communications among the controllers,iii. wherein the controller, running the controller program, controls the operation of its associated mechanical element.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated parking system and method for controlling a parking garage employ a distributed control system to control the transport of a vehicle between an entry/exit station and a parking space. The distributed control system employs an independent controller (PLC) for each mechanical element, such as elevators and shuttle cars. The PLCs are interconnected by a network and coordinate with each other to control the operation of the automated parking system. An operator panel including a touchscreen display may be used by an operator to control directly the operation of a particular PLC and its associated mechanical element. A central management computer is used to coordinate the overall operation and management of the distributed control system and to provide enhanced features including redundant safety checks.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An automated system for a three-dimensional warehousing facility for receiving an item at a delivery bay, storing the item in a storage space, and retrieving the item from the storage space, the automated system comprising:
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a. mechanical elements for transporting the item between the delivery bay and the storage space; and b. a distributed control system including; i. controllers, each with a controller program and each associated with one of the mechanical elements; and ii. a network interconnecting the controllers for communications among the controllers, iii. wherein the controller, running the controller program, controls the operation of its associated mechanical element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An automated method for controlling the operation of a three-dimensional warehousing facility for receiving an item at a delivery bay, storing the item in a storage space, and retrieving the item from the storage space, the automated method comprising the steps of:
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a. transporting the item between the delivery bay and the storage space by means of mechanical elements; and b. controlling the mechanical elements by means of a distributed control system including; i. controllers, each with a controller program and each associated with one of the mechanical elements; and ii. a network interconnecting the controllers for communications among the controllers, wherein the controller, running the controller program, controls the operation of its associated mechanical element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification