Computer-directed process control system with interactive display functions

• US 3,971,000 A
• Filed: 08/13/1975
• Issued: 07/20/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Foxboro Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: The Foxboro Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Cromwell, Nicholas O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Springborn, Harvey E.
• Application Number:
  US05/604,092
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 340/172.5, 340/324 A, 340/324 AD, 445/1
• US Class Current: 700/84
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting

Abstract

An industrial process control system including a digital computer arranged in a time-share configuration to perform calculations respecting a plurality of process conditions, and to produce corresponding command signals for respective process operators such as valves and the like. The system includes an operator'"'"'s console unit having a CRT display controlled by a local memory controllable by a keyboard, and by the computer in response to action from the keyboard. Special process-oriented displays can be presented on the CRT, such as fill-in-the-blanks forms into which the operator can insert new values, or other information. The keyboard includes a number of distinctive function keys which serve, in cooperation with the special CRT displays, to present information to the computer for processing, to aid in controlling the process.

Claims

1. In an industrial process instrumentation system for use with complex processes having a number of variable process conditions such as temperature, flow rate, and the like, said system comprising:

data processor means arranged to receive signals representing the values of various process conditions, said processor means having data storage means with processor control data stored therein comprising programs and operational base data such as set-point values for performing sequential computations respecting said process conditions so as to produce corresponding output signals for use in controlling the process;

an operating console;

signal transmission means coupling said console to said data processor means to transmit signals thereto and receive signals therefrom;

display means forming part of said console for producing visual images in the form of symbols for inspection by an operator;

memory means storing data signals for controlling said display means, said memory means having a plurality of separate storage locations each adapted to store data signals for establishing the symbolic image in a corresponding position of said display means;

said storage means of said data processor means having data stored therein representing a plurality of sets of display data words to be transmitted over said signal transmission means to said memory means for storage therein to control said display means with each of said sets of display data words defining a respective display presentation symbolically presenting the present status of selected portions of said processor control data respecting at least one corresponding process condition for which computations are being performed by said data processor means and including as part of said presentation preselected symbols identifying display positions where characters may selectively be entered;

memory write in means responsive to said sets of display words received over said transmission means from said data processor means to store in said memory means data signals identifying the selected symbols to be displayed on said display means and stored in memory means storage locations corresponding to display positions where the symbols are to be displayed, thereby to present on said display means for operator inspection the display presentation corresponding to the selected set of display data words transmitted to said console;

manually-operable data entry means coupled to said memory means for inserting therein data signals representing symbols desired to be displayed on said display means;

said data entry means including means operable while any one of said display presentations is presented on said display means to enter into at least one predetermined location in said memory means as identified by at least one of said preselected symbols signals representing changed data for at least a part of said processor control data respecting a particular condition of said process about which information is then presented on said display means responsive to the set of display words received by said memory means from said data processor means, said entered data signal serving to develop a corresponding symbol on said display in a position corresponding to said predetermined location; and

manually-controllable read out means coupled to said memory means to direct said changed data signals entered by said data entry means into said predetermined location of said memory means to said transmission means for transmittal on to said data processor means to alter correspondingly said processor control data for said particular process condition thereby to alter correspondingly the subsequent computations respecting said particular condition, whereby the processing carried out by said processor means is readily controllable by data inserted by an operator into selected locations of said memory means as determined by symbolic information presented on said display means by signals from said central data processor.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selected processor control data presented by said display presentation includes characters representing the set-point value for said particular process condition;

and

said data entry means includes means to enter into said one predetermined location of said memory means a signal representing a changed set-point value for said particular process condition for transmittal on to said data processor means to correspondingly alter the set-point value previously forming part of said processor control data for that particular process condition, whereby the subsequent computations for that particular process condition are carried out using the new set-point value.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display presentation includes blank spaces for the entry of new data signals to be transmitted on to said data processor means;

said preselected symbols being located positionally adjacent said blank spaces to indicate to the operator where the new data signals are to be entered.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said preselected symbols are horizontal lines appearing as underlines beneath the blank spaces into which new symbols are to be entered by said data entry means.

5. In an industrial process instrumentation system for use with complex processes having a number of variable process conditions such as temperature, flow rate, and the like, wherein the system comprises data processor means arranged to receive signals representing the values of various process conditions, said processor means having storage means with processor control data stored therein comprising program sequences and operational base data such as condition set-point values required for carrying out on a time-sharing basis sequential computations respecting said process conditions to produce corresponding output signals for use in controlling the process;

said storage means also having stored therein a plurality of sets of display data words with each set defining the symbols of a visual display to be presented to an operator comprising symbols representing the present status of selected portions of said processor control data respecting at least one of said process conditions for which computations are performed by said processor means, the system further including operating means and signal transmission means coupling said operating means to said data processor means to transmit signals thereto and receive signals therefrom;

display means forming part of said operating means for producing visual images in the form of symbols for inspection by an operator;

memory means for storing data signals for controlling said display means, said memory means having a plurality of storage locations each adapted to store data signals for establishing the symbol in a corresponding position of said display means;

the operating means further having manually-operable data entry means for inserting into said memory means locations data signals representing symbols for presentation on said display means;

the method of operating said instrumentation system comprising the steps of;

transmitting from said processor means through said transmission means to said operating means one of said sets of display data words specifying symbols to be presented in predetermined respective positions on said display means to form a corresponding one of said display presentations and including information symbols representing the present status of selected portions of the processor control data for at least one particular process condition respecting which computations are performed by said processor in accordance with the corresponding processor control data;

storing said display data words in corresponding locations of said memory means;

inserting at least one data signal from said data entry means into a location of said memory means corresponding to a predetermined display position on said display means forming part of said display presentation developed by the set of display words transmitted thereto by said data processor means, said one data signal producing a corresponding symbol on said display means and representing an instruction for the change of data respecting part of the processor control data for said particular process condition;

transmitting from said memory means to said data processor means said one data signal entered by said data entry means in said location of said memory corresponding to said predetermined display position; and

altering the processor control data stored in said processor storage means for said particular process condition in accordance with said one data signal transmitted from said memory means to said central data processor, whereby to alter correspondingly the computational processing respecting said particular process condition in accordance with the instruction represented by said data signal entered in said memory means.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said data signal entered into said memory means defines a change to be made to the set-point value of said particular process condition;

said processor control data being altered in response to said data signal to identify a new set-point value for said particular process condition.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said sets of display words transmitted from said data processor means to said operating means include signals producing horizontal lines on said display means to indicate blank spaces where the operator is to insert data signals for transmittal on to said data processor means to alter the processor control data to provide changed computations respecting a process condition.

8. In an industrial process instrumentation system for use with complex processes having a number of variable process conditions such as temperature, flow rate, and the like, said system comprising:

signal processing means arranged to receive signals representing the values of different variable process conditions to be controlled, said signal processing means including data storage means with processing control data stored therein including operational base data such as set-point values for use in carrying out required signal processing respecting said variable process conditions so as to produce corresponding output signals for use in controlling the process condition;

an operating console;

signal transmission means coupling said console to said signal processing means to transmit signals thereto and receive signals therefrom;

display means forming part of said console for producing visual images in the form of symbols for inspection by an operator;

memory means at said console including means storing data signals for controlling said display means, said memory means including a plurality of separate storage locations each adapted to store data signals for establishing the symbolic image in a corresponding position of said display means;

display signal storage means having data stored therein representing a plurality of display data words to be transmitted to said memory means for storage therein to control said display means with sets of said display data words defining respective display presentations symbolically presenting the present status of selected portions of said processing control data respecting corresponding variable process conditions for which signal processing operations are being performed by said signal processing means and including as part of said presentation a preselected location characterizer identifying at least one display position where characters may selectively be entered;

memory write-in means responsive to said sets of display words received from said display signal storage means to store in said memory means data signals identifying the selected symbols to be displayed on said display means and stored in memory means storage locations corresponding to display positions where the symbols are to displayed, thereby to present on said display means for operator inspection the display presentation correponding to a selected set of display data words transmitted to said memory means;

manually-controllable means for operating said display means including data entry means for inserting into said memory means data signals representing symbols desired to be displayed on said display means;

said data entry means including means operable while any one of said display presentations is presented on said display means to enter changed data signals into said memory means for storing in at least one predetermined location in said memory means as identified by said preselected location characterizer symbol signals representing changed data for at least a part of said processing control data respecting a particular condition of said process about which information is then presented on said display means responsive to the set of display words received by said memory means from said display signal storage means, thereby to develop a corresponding symbol on said display in a position corresponding to said one predetermined location; and

means coupled to said transmission means for directing therethrough to said signal processing means signals corresponding to said changed data signals to alter correspondingly said processing control data for said particular process condition thereby to alter correspondingly the subsequent signal processing respecting said particular condition, whereby the processing carried out by said signal processing means is readily controllable by data inserted by an operator into selected locations of said memory means as represented by symbolic information presented on said display means by signals from said memory means.

9. In an industrial process instrumentation system for use with complex processes having a number of variable process conditions such as temperature, flow rate, and the like, wherein the system comprises signal processing means arranged to receive signals representing the values of different variable process conditions to be controlled, said processing means having data storage means with processing control data stored therein comprising operational base data such as process condition set-point values for use in carrying out predetermined signal processing operations respecting said variable process conditions so as to produce corresponding output signals for use in controlling the process conditions;

the system further including display signal storage means having stored therein a plurality of display data words with sets thereof defining the symbols of visual display presentations to be presented to an operator including graphic symbols representing the present status of selected portions of said processing control data respecting at least one of said variable process conditions for which signal processing operations are being performed by said signal processing means;

the system still further including operating means and signal transmission means coupling said operating means to said signal processing means to transmit signals thereto and receive signals therefrom;

display means forming part of said operating means for producing visual images in the form of symbols for inspecting by an operator;

memory means including means for storing data signals for controlling said display means, said memory means having a plurality of storage locations each adapted to store data signals for establishing the symbol in a corresponding position of said display means;

the operating means further having manually-operable data entry means for inserting into said memory means data signals representing symbols for presentation on said display means at positions corresponding to the storage locations in said memory means;

the method of operating said industrial process instrumentation system comprising the steps of;

transmitting from said display signal storage means a set of display data words specifying symbols to be presented in predetermined respective positions on said display means to form a corresponding one of said display presentations and including information symbols representing the present status of selected portions of the signal processing control data for at least one particular process condition respecting which signal processing operations are performed by said signal processing means making use of the corresponding processing control data;

storing said transmitted display data words in corresponding locations of said memory means;

developing at least one data signal through operation of said data entry means;

entering said one data signal in said memory means for storage therein in a location of said memory means corresponding to a predetermined display position on said display means forming part of said display presentation developed by the set of display words transmitted thereto from said display signal storage means, said one data signal representing information defining a corresponding symbol to be displayed on said display means and identifying a change of data respecting part of the processing control data for said particular process condition;

transmitting to said signal processing means a signal corresponding to said one data signal entered by said data entry means; and

altering the processing control data stored in said data storage means for said particular process condition by substituting a signal corresponding to said one data signal, whereby to alter correspondingly the signal processing operations carried out respecting said particular process condition in accordance with the instruction represented by said data signal developed by said data entry means, the changed data signal stored in said memory means serving to permit the operator to view the changed display presentation on said display means to check it for accuracy.

10. An industrial process instrumentation system for use with complex processes having a number of variable process conditions such as temperature, flow rate, and the like, comprising:

signal processing means arranged to receive signals representing the values of different variable process conditions to be controlled, said signal processing means including data storage means with processing control data stored therein including operational base data such as set-point values for use in carrying out required signal processing respecting said variable process conditions so as to produce corresponding output signals for use in controlling the process condition;

an operating console;

signal transmission means coupling said console to said signal processing means to transmit signals thereto and receive signals therefrom;

display means forming part of said console for producing visual images in the form of symbols for inspection by an operator;

memory means including means storing data signals for controlling said display means and incorporating a plurality of separate storage locations each adapted to store data signals for establishing the symbolic image in a corresponding position of said display means so as to provide for controlling said display means with any of a plurality of sets of display data works defining respective display presentations symbolically presenting a plurality of items of information including the present status of selected portions of said processing control data;

manually-controllable means for operating said display means including data entry means for inserting into said memory means data signals representing information desired to be displayed symbolically on said display means to represent changed data for at least a part of said processing control data respecting a particular condition of said process about which information is then presented on said display means reponsive to a particular set of display words; and

means coupled to said transmission means for directing therethrough to said signal processing means signals corresponding to said changed data to alter correspondingly said processing control data for said particular process condition thereby to alter correspondingly the subsequent signal processing respecting said particular condition, whereby the processing carried out by said signal processing means is readily controllable by data inserted by an operator and stored in selected locations of said memory means as identified by symbolic information presented on said display means.

11. In an industrial process instrumentation system for use with complex processes having a number of variable process conditions such as temperature, flow rate, and the like, wherein the system comprises signal processing means arranged to receive signals representing the values of different variable process conditions to be controlled, said processing means having data storage means with processing control data stored therein comprising operational base data such as process condition set-point values for use in carrying out predetermined signal processing operations respecting said variable process conditions so as to produce corresponding output signals for use in controlling the process conditions;

the system further including display signal storage means having stored therein a plurality of display data words with sets thereof defining the symbols of visual display presentations to be presented to an operator including graphic symbols representing the present status of selected portions of said processing control data respecting at least one of said variable process conditions for which signal processing operations are being performed by said signal processing means;

the system still further including operating means and signal transmission means coupling said operating means to said processing means to transmit signals thereto and receive signals therefrom;

display means forming part of said operating means for producing visual images in the form of symbols for inspection by an operator;

memory means including display memory locations adapted to store data signals for establishing the symbols in corresponding positions of said display means;

the operating means further having manually-operable data entry means for inserting into said memory means data signals representing information for symbolic presentation by said display means;

the method of operating said industrial process instrumentation system comprising the steps of;

storing in predetermined respective display memory locations a set of display data words to form on said display means a corresponding display presentation and including information symbols representing the present status of selected portions of the signal processing control data for at least one particular process condition respecting which signal processing operations are performed by said signal processing means;

developing through operation of said data entry means at least one data signal representing a change of data respecting part of the processing control data for said particular process condition;

transmitting to said signal processing means a signal corresponding to said one data signal entered by said data entry means to alter the processing control data stored in said data storage means for said particular process condition in accordance with said one data signal, whereby to alter correspondingly the signal processing operations carried out respecting said particular process condition in accordance with the instruction represented by said data signal developed by said data entry means; and

storing in one of said display memory locations a new data signal corresponding to the altered control data to provide the operator with a graphic display of such control data to permit checking for accuracy.