Controlling and operating technical processes

• US 7,620,459 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter Renner
• Original Assignee: Peter Renner
• Inventors: Renner, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Ramesh B
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, SUNRAY
• Application Number:
  US11/071,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20050197719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,720 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700/18, 700/19, 700/20, 700/83, 700/86, 700/87, 700/88, 700/11, 702/188, 702/189, 702/190, 702/183, 702/119, 345/810
• US Class Current: 700/11
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31156 Network structure, internet
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31392 Lims laboratory information and management system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32128 Gui graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32404 Scada supervisory control and data acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A system for operating and controlling technical processes having at least one component fashioned as a measuring instrument and a control device, which is connected by electrical lines to sensor and actuators of processes, and having a control program, a measurement and control unit, an operating and observation component, optionally a database, optionally a process printer and further components of a process automation, as appropriate, which are connected to one another via data channels and a control program.

Claims

1. A control system for a technical process comprising:

a measurement and control unit,

sensors and actuators controlling said technical process connected by lines to said measurement and control unit,

a program unit comprising control modules and instructions;

an operating and observation unit having a screen and a keyboard for data input and being linked via a data channel to said program unit whereby data is exchanged between said program unit and said operating and observation unit, and wherein control of said technical process is effected by an operator inputting control instructions into said program unit via said measurement and control unit,

wherein said control modules are called in a run time mode and said control comprises elements selected from sequence elements, event elements and function elements;

wherein said sequence elements provides process guidance and functions in sequence and said sequence element comprises start module, sequence module and end module;

wherein said event elements run independent of said sequence elements and said event elements comprise event modules and security modules;

wherein said function elements run parallel to said sequence elements and can be addressed by at least one of said sequence element or said event element;

wherein said technical process can be controlled by said operator in a configuration mode wherein an order of operation of said control module elements can be altered graphically and said technical process alters function in response to said order of operation;

wherein during operation said control system can access a program unit which can, in turn, initiate said start module and at least one element of said control module;

wherein said start module initiates said sequence module wherein each sequence module is processed sequentially and each sequence module can activate a second sequence module of said sequence modules;

said function element or said end module,

wherein said function element can be initiated by a process incident and can initiate a sequence module, function module or end module; and

said end module activatable by one of said start module, said sequence module and said event module.

2. The control system of claim 1 including a transmission system effecting data exchange between components via data channels.

3. The control system of claim 1 wherein said control program is structured with control modules assigned to the categories sequences, events and functions, and said control modules are containers for program code.

4. The control system of claim 1 wherein said sequence modules take over process guidance, wherein they are responsible for a control program of chronological sequence of predetermined activities.

5. The control system of claim 1 wherein there are at least two sequence modules working in parallel, only one of said sequence modules being invocable at any one time.

6. The control system of claim 1 wherein the event modules are initiated by defined events that take place in said technical process sequence and momentarily interrupt said process and take over process guidance during the interruption.

7. The control system of claim 1 wherein the event modules are initiated by defined events that take place in a process sequence and are executed in parallel with said process sequence.

8. The control system of claim 1 wherein said function modules perform tasks executed in parallel with process sequences.

9. The control system of claim 1 wherein the event category modules include event modules and security modules and wherein event modules initiated by process events perform assigned tasks and security modules terminate processes in controlled fashion upon occurrence of an extraordinary event.

10. A system for controlling, operating and observing a technical process comprising:

a measurement and control unit;

sensors and actuators linked to said measurement and control unit wherein said technical process is controlled by said sensors and said actuators;

a unit comprising a control program linked to said measurement and control unit;

an operating and observing component linked to said unit;

a configuration mode capable of developing an application;

a runtime mode capable of controlling, operating and observing said technical process;

wherein said unit communicates by means of control commands from said system or an operator with said measurement and control unit and said operating and observing component in order to control said technical process and to enable the operation and observation of processes;

said control program being structured in control modules, the control modules being divided into the categories selected from sequence modules, event modules and function modules and said control modules each contain program code;

said sequence modules being linked sequentially wherein said sequence modules control a temporal sequence and thus take over process guidance,

said event modules controlling occurrences that can occur at various points in said process and initiate specific activities that influence further sequence of said process and wherein said event categories can contain said event modules and security modules wherein said event modules are initiated by events that perform associated tasks and wherein said security modules can halt processes in controlled fashion in case of extraordinary events; and

said function modules control occurrences that can be processed in parallel with said sequence modules and wherein said function modules are capable of being invoked by any sequence module, said start module, said end module or said event module.

11. The system for controlling, operating and observing a technical process of claim 10 wherein said sequence modules comprise at least one of a sequence module type, a start module and an end module.

12. The system for controlling, operating and observing a technical process of claim 10 wherein said event modules comprise at least one of an event module type and a security module.

13. The system for controlling, operating and observing a technical process of claim 10 wherein said function modules comprise a function module type.

14. The system for controlling, operating and observing a technical process of claim 10 wherein:

said control modules are invoked and invoke other control modules according to predetermined rules;

a start module being staffed by said control modules and being capable of invoking at least one of a second sequence module;

second function module and said end module;

said second sequence module invoked by said start module being capable of invoking a second start module, a third sequence module, a second event module and being capable of invoking a further sequence module a further function module or an end module;

an event module invoked by an event that takes place in a process and being capable of invoking an additional sequence module, an additional function module or an additional end module;

said end module being capable of being invoked by said start module, any sequence module or any event module.

15. The system for controlling, operating and observing a technical process of claim 10 wherein distinct graphical symbols are associated with each of said function module, said event module, an end module, said sequence module, a function module, a start module, and said control module.

16. The system for controlling, operating and observing a technical process of claim 10 further comprising module diagrams capable of interface by a user for development of a configuration mode of a process sequence structure;

wherein said control modules are capable of being positioned as graphical symbols and linked with lines in said module diagram wherein said lines illustrate graphically how control modules can be invoked by other control modules and can themselves invoke other control modules and wherein the disposition of symbols and said linking lines are subjected to predetermined rules supported by a computer program.

17. The system for controlling, operating and observing a technical process of claim 10 further comprising a module diagram wherein said sequence modules can be disposed in parallel fashion in said module diagram with only one sequence module being capable of being invoked in one pass.

18. The system for controlling, operating and observing a technical process of claim 10 further comprising module diagrams wherein said sequential modules are disposed predominantly vertically and said function modules predominantly horizontally in said module diagrams.

19. The system for controlling, operating and observing a technical process of claim 10 wherein data exchange takes place between said components via data channels under standard transmission protocols.

20. The system for controlling, operating and observing a technical process of claim 10 wherein further comprising module diagram comprising a line wherein clicking below said line inserts a new line, a selective list appears, an uncompleted program instruction comprising at least one keyword appears upon a choice of a list item.

21. The system for controlling, operating and observing a technical process of claim 10 further comprising program instructions wherein said program instructions are completed in that keywords in complete instructions are replaced with further keywords or finished program text with aid of selective lists, said keywords serving as placeholders for further keywords and finished elements of said program code.

22. The system for controlling, operating and observing a technical process of claim 21 wherein said keywords are tied to associated menus.

23. The system for controlling, operating and observing a technical process of claim 21 wherein contents of individual items of a menu are formulated such that when they replace a keyword error-free codes are presented.

24. The system for controlling, operating and observing a technical process of claim 21 wherein selected keywords and elements of program code replace said keyword and wherein replacing said keyword is continued until all keywords have been replaced with finished program text.

25. The system for controlling, operating and observing a technical process of claim 10 further comprising program instructions wherein said program instructions are so formulated that they are associated with a test or action categories.

26. The system for controlling, operating and observing a technical process of claim 25 wherein by means of said test category it is possible to query states that belong to categories process states, operator actions and input parameters, wherein by means of said action categories process control, information for operating personnel, saving of data, mathematical operations, programming operation and output reports.