CONTROL FOR DISPENSING SYSTEM

• US 20090276101A1
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nova Controls
• Inventors: Christa, Scott, Yankee, Wayne, Howland, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,956,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/283
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4418 in the form of liquids A47L15/4409, A47L15/4436, A47L15/4445 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence

Abstract

A chemical dispensing system is provided having a micro-controller and at least one expansion module. The expansion module includes an expansion module interface. The expansion module is in communication with the micro-controller via the expansion module interface. The at least one expansion module expands capabilities of the chemical dispensing system beyond a base operation of the device.

Claims

1. A chemical dispensing system comprising:

a micro-controller; and

at least one expansion module having an expansion module interface, the expansion module in communication with the micro-controller via the expansion module interface,

wherein the at least one expansion module expands capabilities of the chemical dispensing system beyond a base operation of the chemical dispensing system.

2. The chemical dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the expansion module interface includes a uni-directional communication link.

3. The chemical dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the expansion module interface includes a bi-directional communication link.

4. The chemical dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the micro-controller comprises:

at least one USB port,

wherein the at least one USB port is used for the communication between the at least one expansion module and the micro-controller.

5. The chemical dispensing system of claim 4, wherein the expansion module interface is a data storage device.

6. The chemical dispensing system of claim 4, wherein the USB port is used to read and write chemical dispensing program files.

7. The chemical dispensing system of claim 6, wherein the chemical dispensing program files are used to automatically configure the chemical dispensing system.

8. The chemical dispensing system of claim 4, wherein the USB port is used to write chemical dispensing activity reports.

9. The chemical dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a computer in communication with the micro-controller,

wherein data is transferred between the computer and the micro-controller.

10. The chemical dispensing system of claim 9, wherein the data is selected from a group consisting of:

a chemical dispensing program, a single program parameter, activity reports, a single activity report, or combinations thereof.

11. The chemical dispensing system of claim 9, wherein the computer includes:

application software executing on the computer,

wherein the application software is designed to generate data for automatically configuring the chemical dispensing system.

12. The chemical dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a computer in communication with the micro-controller,

wherein the micro controller is reprogrammed using a local connection with the computer.

13. The chemical dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a computer in communication with the micro-controller,

wherein the micro controller is reprogrammed using a remote connection with the computer.

14. The chemical dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the expansion module provides wireless communication to a machine interface, a pump interface, a machine, additional expansion modules, a computer, or a computer network.

15. A method for controlling a chemical dispensing system, the method comprising:

establishing communication between a micro-controller and an expansion module having an expansion module interface; and

expanding the capabilities of the chemical dispensing system beyond a base operation using the at least one expansion module.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

establishing communication between the micro-controller and the expansion module using at least one USB port.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

reading chemical dispensing program files using the USB.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

writing chemical dispensing program files using the USB.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

automatically configuring the chemical dispensing files using the chemical dispensing program files.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing wireless communication using the expansion module to a machine interface, a pump interface, a machine, additional expansion modules, a computer, or a computer network