COMPONENT CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20110153031A1
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue-White Industries Ltd
• Original Assignee: Blue-White Industries Ltd
• Inventors: Nguyen, John, Gledhill, Robert III, McDowell, William M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,639,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/8
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

A system and method are provided for managing a plurality of components. The system can comprise a first component having a first operational parameter and a second component having a second operational parameter. The operational parameters of the first and second components can be modified in response to signals regarding the other one of the first and second components. Further, a component of the system can operate with a delay period during which an operational parameter of the component does not change in response to an operational parameter of the other component, but after which the operational parameter of the other component can cause a change in the operational parameter of the component.

Claims

1. A system for managing a plurality of components, the system comprising:

a first component having a first operational parameter; and

a second component having a second operational parameter, the second component receiving a signal representative of the first operational parameter of the first component;

wherein a change in the first operational parameter causes a change in the second operational parameter; and

wherein the first component operates with a delay period during which the second operational parameter is not operative to cause a change in the first operational parameter and after which the second operational parameter is operative to cause a change in the first operational parameter.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the first operational parameter comprises at least one of a functioning state and a nonfunctioning state.

3. A system as in claim 2, wherein the second operational parameter comprises at least one of a functioning state and a nonfunctioning state.

4. A system as in claim 3, wherein the nonfunctioning state of the first and second components comprises improper functioning of the respective first and second components.

5. A system as end claim 1, further comprising a third component having a third operational parameter, wherein a change in one of the first operational parameter and the second operational parameter causes a change in the third operational parameter.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein the system is configured with the first component operating with the delay period during which a change in the third operational parameter does not cause a change in the first operational parameter and after which a change in the third operational parameter causes a change in the first operational parameter.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein the delay period corresponds to an amount of time.

8. A system as in claim 7, wherein the delay period further corresponds to an amount of time necessary to complete an operational task.

9. A system as end claim 1, wherein the delay period is available only upon initialization of the operational state of the first component while the second component is in the nonfunctioning state.

10. A system for managing a plurality of components, the system comprising:

a master component having an operational state comprising at least an on state and an off state; and

a slave component having an operational state comprising at least an on state and an off state, the slave component receiving a master signal being representative of an operational state of the master component;

wherein the slave component operates in the off state in response to a master signal indicating that the master component is operating in the off state; and

wherein the master component comprises a delay feature that allows the master component to operate in the on state for a given period even if the slave component is in the off state, and wherein after the given period, the master component operates in the off state if the second component operates in the off state.

11. A system as in claim 10, wherein the system is configured such that the master component sends the master signal to the slave component.

12. A system as in claim 10, wherein the off state of the first and second components comprises improper functioning of the respective first and second components.

13. A method for managing a plurality of components, the method comprising:

providing a first output signal from a first component during a feedback period, wherein the first output signal is representative of at least one operating parameter of the first component;

providing a second output signal from a second component during the feedback period, wherein the second output signal is representative of at least one operating parameter of the second component;

conveying the first output signal such that at least one operational parameter of the second component is managed in response to the first output signal during the feedback period; and

conveying the second output signal after a delay period for managing at least one operational parameter of the first component in response to the second output signal during the feedback period.

14. A method as in claim 13, wherein the delay period is shorter than the feedback period.

15. A method as in claim 13, wherein the operational parameter of the first component comprises at least one of a functioning state and a nonfunctioning state.

16. A method as in claim 15, wherein the operational parameter of the second component comprises at least one of a functioning state and a nonfunctioning state.

17. A method as in claim 13, wherein the step of continuously providing a first output signal comprises sending the first output signal to the second component.

18. A method as in claim 17, wherein the step of continuously providing a second output signal comprises sending the second output signal to the first component.

19. A method as in claim 13, further comprising:

continuously providing a third output signal from a third component during the feedback period;

immediately conveying the third output signal such that at least one operational parameter of the second component is managed in response to the third output signal during the feedback period; and

during the feedback period, managing at least one operational parameter of the third component in response to one of the first output signal and the second output signal.

20. A method as in claim 19, wherein the step of managing at least one operational parameter of the third component comprises managing at least one operational parameter of the third component in response to the first output signal.

21. A method as in claim 19, further comprising:

conveying the third output signal after a delay period for managing at least one operational parameter of the first component in response to the third output signal during the feedback period.

22. A method as in claim 13, wherein the step of providing a first output signal is performed continuously, the step of providing a second output signal is performed continuously.

23. A method as in claim 22, wherein the step of conveying the first output signal is performed immediately upon generation of the first output signal.