Sequence controller with microprocessor
First Claim
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1. A sequence controller for producing a plurality of signals at programmable times, comprising, in combination:
- first and second storage means,said first storage means being non-alterable and storing representations of a plurality of programmed operations to be preformed in sequence,said second storage means being alterable and storing representatives of a plurality of programmable start and stop times, at which selected ones of plural operations are to be started or stopped,timing means for timing a cycle of operation of said sequence controller, and for producing signals corresponding to time intervals within such cycle of operation,coincidence determining means responsive to signals from said first storage means for comparing signals of said timing means with all of the signals of said second storage means and for determining a coincidence between said timing signals and each of said programmable times,and output means responsive to said coincidence determining means for producing a plurality of output signals and for changing the levels of said output signals at times corresponding to said programmable start and stop times, said coincidence determing means performing said comparing independently of said output signals.
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Abstract
A microprocessor based sequence controller is disclosed in connection with a soup and beverage vending machine, in which sequences of functions required in the operation of the vending machine are under the control of the microprocessor unit. The microprocessor unit has two separate storage sections, one of which is not alterable and contains the basic program for the vending machine. The other section is alterable and contains adjustable modifications of the basic program. The alterable storage section is modifiable through the use of a separate service module, which is not normally connected with the sequence controller during normal vending operations. The start and stop times of each function of the sequence of functions are independently modifiable, and an interlock is provided to assure against unintentional modification of the start and stop times. The integrity of the stored modifications is automatically checked periodically, and the stored modifications are ignored if the integrity check fails.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A sequence controller for producing a plurality of signals at programmable times, comprising, in combination:
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first and second storage means, said first storage means being non-alterable and storing representations of a plurality of programmed operations to be preformed in sequence, said second storage means being alterable and storing representatives of a plurality of programmable start and stop times, at which selected ones of plural operations are to be started or stopped, timing means for timing a cycle of operation of said sequence controller, and for producing signals corresponding to time intervals within such cycle of operation, coincidence determining means responsive to signals from said first storage means for comparing signals of said timing means with all of the signals of said second storage means and for determining a coincidence between said timing signals and each of said programmable times, and output means responsive to said coincidence determining means for producing a plurality of output signals and for changing the levels of said output signals at times corresponding to said programmable start and stop times, said coincidence determing means performing said comparing independently of said output signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16)
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3. A sequence controller for producing a plurality of signals at programmable times, comprising, in combination:
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first and second storage means, said first storage means being non-alterable and storing representations of a plurality of programmed operations to be performed in sequence, said second storage means being alterable and storing representations of a plurality of programmable times, timing means for timing a cycle of operation of said sequence controller, and for producing signals corresponding to time intervals within such cycle of operation, coincidence determining means responsive to signals from said first storage means for comparing signals of said timing means with all of the signals of said second storage means for determining a coincidence between said timing signals and each of said programmable times, output means responsive to said coincidence determining means for producing a plurality of output signals at times corresponding to said programmable times, a portion of said storage means storing representations of a plurality of basic times and said second storage means storing a plurality of modifying parameters for modifying said basic times, and calculating means connected with said first and second storage means for producing signals corresponding to said programmable times in response to data stored in both said first and second storage means. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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10. A sequence controller for producing a plurality of signals at programmable times, comprising, in combination:
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first and second storage means, said first storage means being non-alterable and storing representations of a plurlality of programmed operations to be performed in sequence, said second storage means being alterable and storing representations of a plurality of programmable times, timing means for timing a cycle of operation of said sequence controller, and for producing signals corresponding to time intervals within such cycle of operation, coincidence determining means responsive to signals from said first storage means for comparing signals of said timing means with all of the signals of said second storage means for determining a coincidence between said timing signals and each of said programmable times, output means responsive to said coincidence determining means for producing a plurality of output signals at times corresponding to said programmable times, a service module selectively detachable from said second storage means, said service module having a display for displaying the data stored in said second storage means, and manually operable means for altering said parameters, said manually operable means comprising a mode control switch for selecting a modifying mode, and a modifying control for selectively incrementally modifying the content of a storage location in said storage means, calculating means connected with said modifying control and responsive to operation thereof for incrementally modifying data stored in said second storage means while said modifying control is operated, and means for causing said incremental modification to be repeated at an increasing rate while said modifying control remains operated.
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11. A sequence controller for producing a plurality of signals at programmable times, comprising, in combination:
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first and second storage means, said first storage means being non-alterable and storing representations of a plurlality of programmed operations to be performed in sequence, said second storage means being alterable and storing representations of a plurality of programmable times, timing means for timing a cycle of operation of said sequence controller, and for producing signals corresponding to time intervals within such cycle of operation, coincidence determining means responsive to signals from said first storage means for comparing signals of said timing means with all of the signals of said second storage means for determining a coincidence between said timing signals and each of said programmable times, output means responsive to said coincidence determining means for producing a plurality of output signals at times corresponding to said programmable times, a service moducle selectively detachable from said second storage means, said service module having a display for displaying the data stored in said second storage means, and manually operable means for altering said parameters, said manually operable means comprising a mode control switch for selecting a modifying mode, and a modifying control for selectively incrementally modifying the content of a storage location in said storage means, said second storage means storing data relating to a start time when one of siad output signals is produced and data relating to a stop time when said one output signals is terminated, and including interlock menas, and means responsive to said interlock means for inhibiting the modification of said start time relevant data by said modifying control unless said interlock means is operated. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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17. A sequence controller for producing a plurality of signals at programmable times, comprising, in combination:
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first and second storage means, said first storage means being non-alterable and storing representations of a plurlality of programmed operations to be performed in sequence, said second storage means being alterable and storing representations of a plurality of programmable times, timing means for timing a cycle of operation of said sequence controller, and for producing signals corresponding to time intervals within such cycle of operation, coincidence determining means responsive to signals from said first storage means for comparing signals of said timing means with all of the signals of said second storage means for determining a coincidence between said timing signals and each of said programmable times, output means responsive to said coincidence determining means for producing a plurality of output signals at times corresponding to said programmable times, said second storage means storing data relating to a start time when one of said output signals is produced and data relating to a stop time when said one output signal is terminated, and including modifying means for selectively altering the data in said second storage means, said last-named means including means for preventing the alteration of said data so as to make a stop time occur sooner than its corresponding start time.
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18. A sequence controller for producing a plurality of signals at programmable times, comprising, in combination;
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first and second storage means, said first storage means being non-alterable and storing representations of a plurality of basic times differing from said programmable times, said second storage means being alterable and storing a plurality of modifying parameters, each of said programmable times corresponding to one of said basic times arithmetically modified by one of said parameters, timing means for timing a cycle of operation of said sequence controller, and for producing signals corresponding thereto, calculating means connected with said first and second storage sections for producing signals corresponding to said programmable times, coincidence determining means responsive to signals from said calculating means and from said timing means for determining a coincidence between said signals, and output means responsive to said coincidence determining means for producing a plurality of output signals at times corresponding to said programmable times.
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Specification
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Current AssigneePotter & Brumfield Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
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Original AssigneeAMFM Incorporated
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InventorsHeeger, Stephen E.
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Primary Examiner(s)Ruggiero, Joseph F.
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Application NumberUS06/101,698Time in Patent Office876 DaysField of Search364/104, 364/107, 364/479, 364/510, 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 307/141, 307/141.4, 307/141.8, 307/41, 222/70, 222/129.4, 340/309.1, 340/309.4US Class Current700/15CPC Class CodesG05B 19/0426 Programming the control seq...G05B 19/104 characterised by physical l...G05B 2219/23016 Accelerate input, exponent ...G05B 2219/23029 Up down, increment decremen...G05B 2219/23051 Remote control, enter progr...G05B 2219/23082 Enter parameters with two h...G05B 2219/23215 Check data validity in ram,...G05B 2219/23329 Modification, correction en...G05B 2219/23371 Fixed and variable memory f...G05B 2219/23406 Programmer device, portable...G05B 2219/23466 Block, latch entry keys onc...G05B 2219/24032 Power on reset, powering upG05B 2219/24138 Battery backupG05B 2219/25289 Energy saving, brown out, s...G05B 2219/25458 Opto isolation, optical sep...G05B 2219/25462 Galvanic separation, galvan...G05B 2219/2645 Vending, distribute drinksG06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock manageme...G07F 13/065 for drink preparationG07F 9/00 Details other than those pe...
