PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLER-BASED CONTROL CENTER AND USER INTERFACE FOR AIR SAMPLING IN CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS

• US 20140132415A1
• Filed: 11/09/2012
• Published: 05/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veltek Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Veltek Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: CHURCHVARA, Jeffrey, Phillips, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,285,792 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/606
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2815 using pressure measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2273 Atmospheric sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0063 using a threshold to release an alarm or displaying means alarm arrangements G08B, e.g. fire alarm actuated by the presence of smoke or gases G08B17/10, for other abnormal conditions G08B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0073 Control unit therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/058 Safety, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/13031 Use of touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for sampling air at multiple locations in a controlled environment. The system includes one or more air sampling devices configured to monitor and test a volume of air within a controlled environment. A control center including a programmable logic controller (PLC) is configured to monitor and control the one or more air sampling devices. One or more touch panel displays are connected to the control center and provide a human-computer interface between the control center and users.

Claims

1. A system for sampling air at multiple locations in a controlled environment comprising:

one or more air sampling devices configured to monitor and test a volume of air within a controlled environment;

a control center including a programmable logic controller (PLC) and configured to monitor and control the one or more air sampling devices; and

one or more touch panel displays connected to the control center for providing a human-computer interface between the control center and users.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more touch panel displays are co-located with the one or more air sampling devices.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more touch panel displays are located inside a clean room environment.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more touch panel displays includes a touch panel display configured to control at least one of the one or more air sampling devices and the control center.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more touch panel displays includes a touch panel display configured to receive information and alarms associated with at least one of the one or more air sampling devices and the control center.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more touch panel displays includes a first touch panel display configured to communicate with a second touch panel display.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control center is configured to activate an alarm when a predetermined alarm condition has been satisfied.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the predetermined alarm condition includes when the actual rate of air flow at the one or more air sampling devices deviates a predetermined amount from a desired rate of air flow.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the control center is configured to activate a visual alarm.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the visual alarm includes one of strobe lights and colored lights.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein activating the alarm includes activating an escalation protocol whereby a predefined sequence of steps are taken in response to the failure of a user to acknowledge the alarm within one or more predefined time periods.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein activating the alarm includes providing a visual map of the location of the alarm condition.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein activating the alarm includes sending an email to one or more designated users.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein activating the alarm includes sending a simple message service (SMS) text message.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein activating the alarm includes automatically placing a phone call to one or more users and playing a designated pre-recorded sound file.

16. The system of claim 7, wherein activating the alarm includes sending a message to one or more users located remotely from the facility associated with the alarm.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the control center is configured to wirelessly communicate with the touch panel display.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein a first touch panel display is located within the controlled environment and a second touch panel display is located outside the controlled environment.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more air sampling devices includes a sterilizable microbial atrium (SMA).

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the control center is in electrical communication with a vacuum source and is configured to control the vacuum source.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the touch panel is in electrical communication with the control center, and wherein the touch panel is configured to communicate with the control center for controlling the vacuum source so that the vacuum source pulls a predetermined volume of air through at least one of the one or more air sampling devices at a desired rate of air flow.

22. A method for sampling air at multiple locations in a controlled environment, comprising the steps of:

providing two or more air sampling devices at different locations within the controlled environment;

providing a control center at a location outside of the controlled environment and in separate air flow communication with each of the two or more air sampling devices;

providing a touch panel for each of the two or more air sampling devices at a location between a corresponding air sampling device and the control center, each of the touch panels being connected to the control center and configured to separately monitor and control the one or more air sampling devices via information exchanged with the control center; and

automatically activating an alarm at one or more of the touch panels when the rate of air flow measured at one or more of the air sampling devices deviates from a desired value by a predetermined amount.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of

automatically activating an alarm at a first touch panel of the one or more touch panels when the rate of air flow measured at a second of the one or more air sampling devices deviates from the desired value by the predetermined amount.

24. A method for sampling air at multiple locations in a controlled environment, comprising the steps of:

providing two or more air sampling devices at different locations within the controlled environment;

providing a control center at a location outside of the controlled environment and in separate air flow communication with each of the two or more air sampling devices;

providing a touch panel for each of the two or more air sampling devices at a location between a corresponding air sampling device and the control center, each of the touch panels being connected to the control center and configured to separately monitor and control the one or more air sampling devices via information exchanged with the control center;

detecting an interaction between the one or more touch panels and a user; and

exchanging information between the one or more touch panels, the control center, and the one or more air sampling devices in response to the detected interaction.

25. A system for sampling air at multiple locations in a controlled environment comprising:

first and second air sampling devices, each configured to monitor and test a volume of air within a controlled environment;

first and second user interfaces, said first user interface associated with said first air sampling device and said second user interface associated with said second air sampling device; and

,

a controller in communication with said first and second user interfaces, wherein said controller is configured to monitor the first and second air sampling devices and generate an alarm signal at the first or second user interfaces.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said controller is configured to detect an alarm condition with said first air sampling device and generate an alarm signal at the second user interface.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said first user interface is located remote from said second air sampling device, and said second user interface is located remote from said first air sampling device.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said first user interface is located proximal to said first air sampling device and said second user interface is located proximal to said second air sampling device.