Combined mode supervisory program-panel controller method and apparatus for a process control system

• US 4,443,861 A
• Filed: 04/13/1981
• Issued: 04/17/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HF Controls LP
• Original Assignee: Fornex Engineering Company
• Inventors: Slater, Billy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zache, Raulfe B.
• Application Number:
  US06/253,964
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 364/138, 364/188, 364/189, 364/492, 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File
• US Class Current: 710/8
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33117 Define function by user programmable basic operations
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33119 Servo parameters in memory, configuration of control parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36022 Switch between machining language for execution and high level for editing

Abstract

A combined mode program-panel controller method for a distributed industrial process control system permits a system operator to configure the overall system architecture to control the sequential operation of the entire system or a sub-portion thereof. The program-panel controller includes a first user accessible graphic program by which the system architecture can be symbolically reconfigured and a second user accessible instruction set program by which the operating parameters of the so-configured system or a sub-portion thereof may be altered.

Claims

1. A control system for effecting control over an industrial process, said control system comprising:

a plurality of remotely located process controllers interconnected to one another through a common communications link, some of said controllers each connected to at least one controlled device for effecting control thereover, some of said controllers each connected to at least one sensor for receiving sensed information therefrom;

a control system supervisory unit connected to said communications link, said system supervisory unit transmitting and receiving information in coded form to and from said remotely located controllers to effect control over the industrial process;

said system supervisory unit including means for interacting with a system operator including information entry means and information display means;

said system supervisory unit including data processing means containing instruction sets to define a plurality of functional blocks, each block capable of receiving one or more input values, operable to perform a different function on the input values, and produce an output value determined by the input values and the function performed thereon, said data processing means containing instruction sets to define a plurality of process controlling program steps of an assembly language program, said data entry means operable to apply information signals of a first set to said data processing means specifying selected ones of said functional blocks and specifying the source of the input values to the selected functional blocks to thereby determine a first control system architecture for said remotely located controllers, said data entry means being operable to apply information signals of a second set to said data processing means to select a sequence of said program steps and parameters for said program steps to define a second control system architecture for said remotely located controllers, said data processing means being operable to cause said display means to display information indicating what selections with respect to said functional blocks are to be made and have been made by the information signals of said first set and to display information indicating the selections with respect to said program steps to be made and that have been made by the information signals of said second set,

said control system including means to effect control over said industrial process in accordance with said first and second control system architecture determined by the information signals generated by said data entry means.

2. The control system claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said information entry means includes operator accessible keyboard.

3. The control system claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said information display means includes CRT display means for displaying the graphic symbolic and alphanumeric functional operators.

4. A method for effecting control over an industrial process, the control system of the type having a plurality of remotely located controllers interconnected through a common inter-communications link, some of said controllers each connected to at least one controlled device for effecting control thereover and some of said controllers each connected to at least one sensor for receiving sensed information therefrom and a system supervisor unit connected to said communications link for transmitting information to and receiving information in coded form from said controllers, said system supervisor including means for displaying information to a system operator and means for inputting information into said system and memory means containing process control function information, said method comprising the steps of:

providing process control information in said memory means to define functional blocks each designed to receive one or more input values, performing a different function on the input values, and producing an output value determined by the input value and the function performed thereon;

providing process control information in said memory means to define a plurality of process controlling program steps of an assembly language program;

specifying selected ones of said functional blocks and the source of the input values for the selected blocks from said input means to configure a first control system architecture;

selecting a sequence of said program steps and the parameters therefor from said information input means to define a second control system architecture;

displaying said first and second control system architecture on said display means; and

implementing said first and second control system architecture through said system supervisor unit to effect coordinated control over the remotely located controllers in accordance with said control system architecture.

5. The method claimed in claim 4 wherein said first and second manipulating steps are effected through a system user assessible keyboard.