Method and apparatus for sequential control of analogue signals
First Claim
1. A method of process control wherein a continuous process is controlled by a digital control receiving sets of digital input signals and producing sets of digital output signals, the process being monitored and controlled by a plurality of analog process signals including analog input signals representing values of process parameters and analog output signals representing values of controllable process variables, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) repetitively producing, asynchronously with activity of the digital control, clock signal at a predetermined repetition rate;
(b) translating the plurality of analog process signals between the continuous process and the digital control in response to the clock signal by executing the steps of;
(i) periodically storing samples of a plurality of analog input signals;
(ii) periodically producing a set of digital input signals in response to a selected stored analog input signal sample; and
(iii) periodically storing an analog output signal in response to a set of digital output signals.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for managing a plurality of analogue signals for digital control. Analogue input signals received from a process are periodically sampled and converted to digital input signals for access by a digital control. Digital output signals produced by the digital control are converted to analogue output signals and stored for continuous availability to a controlled process. The sampling and conversion of analogue input signals as well as the conversion and storage of analogue output signals is conducted asynchronously relative to the activity of the digital control by a predetermined program of control signals repetitively produced in response to a clock signal.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of process control wherein a continuous process is controlled by a digital control receiving sets of digital input signals and producing sets of digital output signals, the process being monitored and controlled by a plurality of analog process signals including analog input signals representing values of process parameters and analog output signals representing values of controllable process variables, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) repetitively producing, asynchronously with activity of the digital control, clock signal at a predetermined repetition rate; (b) translating the plurality of analog process signals between the continuous process and the digital control in response to the clock signal by executing the steps of; (i) periodically storing samples of a plurality of analog input signals; (ii) periodically producing a set of digital input signals in response to a selected stored analog input signal sample; and (iii) periodically storing an analog output signal in response to a set of digital output signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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7. An apparatus for process control wherein a continuous process is controlled by a digital control receiving sets of digital input signals and producing sets of digital output signals, the process being monitored and controlled by a plurality of analog process signals including analog input signals representing values of process parameters and analog output signals representing values of controllable process variables, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for repetitively producing, asynchronously with activity of the digital control, a clock signal at a predetermined repetition rate; (b) means responsive to the clock signal for translating the plurality of analog process signals between the continuous process and the digital control including; (i) means for periodically storing samples of a plurality of analog input signals; (ii) mean for periodically producing a set of digital input signals in response to a selected stored analog input signal sample; and (iii) means for periodically storing an analog output signal in response to a set of digital output signals.
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Specification