System and method for networking a computer numerical control with a workstation
First Claim
1. A system that combines a workstation having a central processing unit and an open control interface with a computer numerical control designed to control machine motion, comprising:
- an open control interface using a process-to-process communication protocol;
a computer numerical control having at least one processor;
a machine coupled to the computer numerical control, the motion of the machine being controlled by the computer numerical control;
a network coupled between the open control interface and the computer numerical control to carry communication between the open control interface and the computer numerical control, the network being available to carry communications between additional networked devices and the open control interface being configured to convert data entered via the open control interface into a computer numerical control format such that an operator can read and write data and execute commands on the computer numerical control through the open control interfacewherein the at least one processor is configured to maintain a watchlist of data related to control of the machine and to transmit data over the network to the open control interface only when an item on the watchlist changes, thereby conserving network and personal computer central processing unit bandwidth.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system combines an open control interface workstation, e.g., a properly configured personal computer, with a networked computer numerical control. The personal computer and CNC are preferably linked to a local area network such as an Ethernet network. The open control interface is configured to utilize Windows DDE, or other protocol, to accomplish process-to-process communications with other DDE-compliant Windows applications. Additionally, the open control interface is designed to allow DDE-compliant Windows applications to communicate with one or more networked computer numerical controls while minimizing data flow over the network.
59 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system that combines a workstation having a central processing unit and an open control interface with a computer numerical control designed to control machine motion, comprising:
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an open control interface using a process-to-process communication protocol; a computer numerical control having at least one processor; a machine coupled to the computer numerical control, the motion of the machine being controlled by the computer numerical control; a network coupled between the open control interface and the computer numerical control to carry communication between the open control interface and the computer numerical control, the network being available to carry communications between additional networked devices and the open control interface being configured to convert data entered via the open control interface into a computer numerical control format such that an operator can read and write data and execute commands on the computer numerical control through the open control interface wherein the at least one processor is configured to maintain a watchlist of data related to control of the machine and to transmit data over the network to the open control interface only when an item on the watchlist changes, thereby conserving network and personal computer central processing unit bandwidth. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system that combines a workstation having a central processing unit and an open control interface with a computer numerical control designed to control machine motion, comprising:
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an open control interface using a process-to-process communication protocol; a computer numerical control having at least one processor; a machine coupled to the computer numerical control the motion of the machine being controlled by the computer numerical control; a network coupled between the open control interface and the computer numerical control to carry communication between the open control interface and the computer numerical control, the network being available to carry communications between additional networked devices and the open control interface being configured to convert data entered via the open control interface into a computer numerical control format such that an operator can read and write data and execute commands on the computer numerical control through the open control interface, wherein the at least one processor is configured to maintain a watchlist of data related to control of the machine and to transmit data over the network to the open control interface only when an item on the watchlist changes, thereby conserving network and personal computer central processing unit bandwidth, wherein the data on the watchlist is polled internally by the computer numerical control via the at least one processor rather than from the open control interface. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. An open control interface utilizing a personal computer to facilitate accessing large varieties of CNC data resident on a CNC and providing commands to the CNC, comprising:
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a personal computer having an operating system that is Windows based and on which a Windows-compliant application may be run; a protocol conversion module; an application program interface configured to establish a link for data transfer between the Windows-compliant application and the protocol conversion module; and a network interface cooperating with the protocol conversion module to send data through a network to which the CNC is linked, wherein the protocol conversion module interacts with the Windows-compliant application to convert data received from the Windows-compliant application into a format suitable for use by a CNC and to convert data received from the CNC into a format appropriate for the Windows-compliant application resident on the personal computer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for facilitating communication between a CNC and a personal computer having a Windows-based operating system, comprising:
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placing a CNC in communication with a network capable of carrying data between a plurality of devices; placing a personal computer, having a Windows-based operating system, in communication with the network; entering machine control related data via the personal computer; converting the machine control related data to a format recognizable and useable by the CNC; and transmitting the converted machine control related data over the network to the CNC. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for facilitating communication between a CNC and a personal computer having a Windows-based operating system, comprising;
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placing a CNC in communication with a network capable of carrying data between a plurality of devices; placing a personal computer having a Windows-based operating system, in communication with the network; entering machine control related data via the personal computer; converting the machine control related data to a format recognizable and useable by the CNC; and transmitting the converted machine control related data over the network to the CNC, further comprising; maintaining a watchlist of data items at the CNC; polling the watchlist internally by the CNC; and transmitting data over the network to the personal computer when one of the data items changes.
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Specification