Reuse of manufacturing process design models as part of a diagnostic system
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- acquiring output from a process model, the process model having elements reused from a design process, the elements providing a known good state, the process model corresponding to an actual process of an actual system, the actual process regulated by a managing controller;
obtaining output information generated from the actual process;
determining a difference between the process model and the actual process, using the output information and the output from the process model; and
applying the determined difference arranged to diagnose the actual system including diagnosing a problem in the actual process from determining the difference, wherein initial input states to the actual process are used providing initial input states to the process model, the initial input states to the process model representing essentially the same initial input states as the initial input states to the actual process with the process model operating as the actual process operates.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus that includes determining differences between a process model and an actual process are used as a diagnostic system for the actual process. The process model includes elements from a design process to provide a “known good” condition for evaluating the differences. Initial input states to the process model are the initial input states to the actual process. Output information correlated to states in the actual process is provided by controls, such as programmable logic controllers, that manage the actual process.
27 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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acquiring output from a process model, the process model having elements reused from a design process, the elements providing a known good state, the process model corresponding to an actual process of an actual system, the actual process regulated by a managing controller; obtaining output information generated from the actual process; determining a difference between the process model and the actual process, using the output information and the output from the process model; and applying the determined difference arranged to diagnose the actual system including diagnosing a problem in the actual process from determining the difference, wherein initial input states to the actual process are used providing initial input states to the process model, the initial input states to the process model representing essentially the same initial input states as the initial input states to the actual process with the process model operating as the actual process operates. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:
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acquiring output from a process model, the process model having elements reused from a design process, the elements providing a known good state, the process model corresponding to an actual process of an actual system, the actual process regulated by a managing controller; obtaining output information of the actual process; determining a difference between the process model and the actual process, using the output information and the output from the process model; and applying the determined difference arranged to diagnose the actual system including diagnosing a problem in the actual process from determining the difference, wherein initial input states to the actual process are used providing initial input states to the process model, the initial input states to the process model representing essentially the same initial input states as the initial input states to the actual process with the process model operating as the actual process operates. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An apparatus comprising:
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a process model adapted to virtually perform logical tasks based on elements reused from a design process and to provide outputs, the elements structured to provide a known good state, the process model corresponding to an actual process of an actual system; a difference engine to compare the outputs from the process model with output information correlated to the actual process; and an evaluation unit configured to diagnose the actual process from the comparison of the outputs from the process model with the output information correlated to an actual process such that a difference determined from the comparison is applied to diagnose a problem in the actual system, wherein initial input states to the actual process are used providing initial input states to the process model, the initial input states to the process model representing essentially the same initial input states as the initial input states to the actual process with the process model operating as the actual process operates. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A system comprising:
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a process model adapted to virtually perform logical tasks based on elements reused from a design process and to provide outputs, the elements structured to provide a known good state, the process model corresponding to an actual process of an actual system; a controller adapted to regulate tasks of the actual process, the controller configured to provide output information correlated to the actual process; a difference engine to compare the outputs from the process model with output information from the controller to determine a difference between the process model and an actual process; and an evaluation unit configured to diagnose the actual process from the determined difference between the process model and an actual process such that the determined difference is applied to diagnose a problem in the actual system, wherein the controller is configured to provide initial input states to the actual process and corresponding initial input states to the process model, the initial input states to the process model representing essentially the same initial input states as the initial input states to the actual process with the process model operating as the actual process operates. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification