ADAPTIVE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20140336827A1
• Filed: 03/11/2014
• Published: 11/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Terydon, Inc. (Mh Sub I LLC)
• Original Assignee: Terydon, Inc. (Mh Sub I LLC)
• Inventors: Gromes, Terry D. Sr., Gromes, Terry D. Jr., Shockey, Jon M. Jr., Jackson, William C.
• Granted Patent: US 10,265,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/282
• CPC Class Codes: B24C 7/0015 with control of feed parameters, e.g. feed rate of abrasive material or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/00 Arrangements for operating and controlling machines or devices for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/22 Safety devices specially adapted for cutting machines safety devices in general F16P
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 3/004 by means of a fluid jet methods for use of abrasive blasting for cutting B24C1/045; guns for abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet B26F1/26
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/406 characterised by monitoring or safety G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39447 Dead man switch
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45036 Waterjet cutting
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0617 specially adapted for fluid materials
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0676 by action on flow sources G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for wirelessly controlling an operating device by way of a wireless connection between the operating device and a computing device. The computing device provides an interface for controlling the operating device via a control unit which is removably connected to the operating device. The control unit and the computing device communicate wirelessly allowing a user to move about freely while still controlling operating device. Control unit may include at least one valve for use in controlling the operating device.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

connecting a computing device to a control unit wirelessly;

connecting a control unit to an operating device via a connector;

providing a plurality of control valves in the control unit, wherein the connector connects the plurality of control valves to the operating device; and

using the computing device to operate the operating device via the connector and the plurality of control valves of the control unit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

sending a first signal from the computing device to the control unit;

translating the first signal into a second signal;

sending the second signal from the control unit to the operating device via the connector; and

actuating an operation of the operating device when the operating device receives the second signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of selectable options on an interface of the computing device, wherein each option corresponds to an operation of the operating device;

selecting an option corresponding to a desired operation of the operating device;

encapsulating information about the selected option into a first signal;

sending the first signal from the computing device to the control unit;

translating the first signal into a second signal;

sending the second signal from the control unit to the operating device via the connector; and

actuating the desired operation of the operating device when the operating device receives the second signal.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

correlating the second signal with a particular combination of the plurality of control valves; and

actuating each valve in the particular combination to send the second signal from the control unit to the operating device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of generating a pressure through each valve in the particular combination to send the signal from the control unit to the operating device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

disconnecting the control unit from the operating device;

moving the control unit to a different physical location;

connecting the control unit to a second operating device; and

using the computing device to operate the second operating device via the control unit.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

disconnecting the computing device from the control unit;

connecting a second computing device to the control unit wirelessly; and

using the second computing device to operate the operating device via the control unit.

8. A system adapted to activate and deactivate an operation of an operating device, the system comprising:

a control unit having a first wireless module, wherein the control unit is removably connected to the operating device;

a valve control body disposed in the control unit, wherein the valve control body is operable in an open position and a closed position;

a connector having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the valve control body, and wherein the second end is removably connected to the operating device;

a computing device having a second wireless module;

a wireless communication link between the first wireless module and the second wireless module;

wherein the computing device is operable to move the valve body between the open position and closed position via the wireless communications link;

wherein the operation is activated when the valve control body is in one of the open position and the closed position; and

wherein the operation is deactivated when the valve control body is in the other one of the open position and the closed position.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a first signal, wherein the first signal is sent from the first wireless module to the second wireless module via the communication link, and wherein the valve control body moves to the open position when the second wireless module receives the first signal; and

a second signal sent from the first wireless module to the second wireless module via the communication link, and wherein the valve control body moves to the closed position when the second wireless module receives the second signal.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising an interface of the computing device, wherein the first signal and the second signal is generated by manual manipulation of the interface.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the interface is a touchscreen.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a fluid disposed in valve body and the connector;

wherein the operation is activated via the fluid when the valve body is in one of the open position and the closed position; and

wherein the operation is deactivated via the fluid when the valve body is in the other of the open position and the closed position.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the wireless communication link is a Bluetooth wireless communication;

the first wireless module is a Bluetooth wireless module; and

the second wireless module is a Bluetooth wireless module.

14. A method comprising:

connecting a computing device to a control unit wirelessly to form a wireless communication link therebetween;

connecting the control unit to an operating device by way of a connector;

enabling a control signal between the control unit and the operating device via the connector, wherein the control signal activates an operation of the operating device;

disabling the control signal between the control unit and the operating device via the connector to deactivate the operation of the operating device;

wherein the enabling step is actuated by the computing device; and

wherein the disabling step is actuated by the computing device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

opening a valve in the control unit to enable the control signal between the control unit and the operating device; and

closing the valve to disable the control signal between the control unit and the operating device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a graphical user interface on the computing device;

manipulating the graphical user interface to open the valve in the control unit; and

manipulating the graphical user interface to close the valve in the control unit.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

sending a first signal from the computing device to the control unit via the wireless communication link;

opening the valve in the control unit upon receiving the first signal;

sending a second signal from the computing device to the control unit via the wireless communication link; and

closing the valve in the control unit upon receiving the second signal.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of creating the wireless communication link using Bluetooth technology.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the control signal is embodied in an amount of liquid pressure in a hydraulic system.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the control signal is embodied in an amount of air pressure in a pneumatic system.