Modular shared-memory resource stage driver system for flexible resource linking in an energy conversion system

• US 7,738,972 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Pouchak, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Ramesh B
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBERTSON, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US11/770,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20080009956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 700/11, 700/18, 700/23, 700/276, 717/109, 703/22, 219/486
• US Class Current: 700/11
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23258 GUI graphical user interface, icon, function bloc editor, labview
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23266 Compiler
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23306 Load program from host, remote load, non volatile card to volatile, ram
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23452 Simulate sequence on display to control program, test functions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control

Abstract

A system for optimizing usage of energy converting stages. It may have a stage driver, and stage driver adds as needed. The system may control the on-times of the stages according to a pattern that optimizes energy usage, processing and memory. The pattern may control the stages according to lead lag, rotating or runtime. The pattern may incorporate modulating. The system may be scalable and have a small memory footprint. The system may be implemented with function blocks of a function block engine. Network variables may be incorporated for input and output connections of the system.

Claims

1. A system for modular and flexible configuration of a shared-memory resource stage driver control system for optimizing energy usage in an energy conversion system, comprising:

a Stage Driver for controlling one or more stages of an energy conversion system,

one or more Stage Driver Add(s) for controlling one or more additional stages of an energy conversion system;

a shared-memory resource for maintaining status and runtime of the one or more stages of the Stage Driver and Stage Driver Add(s);

a function block engine for execution of stored instructions by a processor for performing the configuration, allocation, activation, and status maintenance functions of the Stage Driver and Stage Driver Add(s); and

a configurator for automatically configuring a Stage Driver, one or more Stage Driver Add(s), a shared-memory resource, and function block engine based on a number of stages and a configuration strategy for implementation of a stage driver control system to optimize energy usage in an energy conversion system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the configuration strategy includes one of:

lead-lag, rotating, runtime, and modulating.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the activation pattern includes one of:

first-on-last-off, first-on-first off, or amount of runtime.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the Stage Driver comprises:

a configuration memory for providing a maximum number of stages, a configuration strategy, and one or more shared-memory resource offsets;

an allocator for allocating stages of the Stage Driver according to a number of active stages and the configuration strategy;

an activator for turning on and off the one or more stages according to an activation pattern; and

a status memory for maintaining status of the one or more stages.

5. The system of claim 1, each Stage Driver Add comprising:

a configuration memory for providing a starting stage number and an offset to an area of a shared-memory resource;

an activator for activating the one or more additional stages according to an activation pattern; and

an accessor for providing access to the stage activator.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared-memory resource comprises:

shared status memory for maintaining status of the one or more stages of the one or more Stage Driver Add(s); and

shared runtime memory for maintaining runtimes of the one or more stages of the Stage Driver and Stage Driver Add(s).

7. A method for modular and flexible configuration of a shared-memory resource stage driver control system for optimizing energy usage in an energy conversion system, comprising:

controlling one or more stages of an energy conversion system with a Stage Driver;

controlling one or more additional stages of an energy conversion system with one or more Stage Driver Add(s);

maintaining status and runtime of the one or more stages of the Stage Driver and Stage Driver Add(s) with a shared-memory resource;

executing of stored instructions by a processor for performing the configuration, allocation, activation, and status maintenance functions of the Stage Driver and Stage Driver Add(s) with a function block engine; and

automatically configuring a Stage Driver, one or more Stage Driver Add(s), a shared-memory resource, and function block engine based on a number of stages and a configuration strategy for implementation of a stage driver control system to optimize energy usage in an energy conversion system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the configuration strategy includes one of:

lead-lag, rotating, runtime, and modulating.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the activation pattern includes one of:

first-on-last-off, first-on-first-off, or amount of runtime.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the Stage Driver comprises:

a configuration memory for providing a maximum number of stages, a configuration strategy, and one or more shared-memory resource offsets;

an allocator for allocating stages of the Stage Driver according to a number of active stages and the configuration strategy;

an activator for turning on and off the one or more stages according to an activation pattern; and

a status memory for maintaining status of the one or more stages.

11. The method of claim 7, each Stage Driver Add comprising:

a configuration memory for providing a starting stage number and an offset to an area of a shared-memory resource;

an activator for activating the one or more additional stages according to an activation pattern; and

an accessor for providing access to the stage activator.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the shared-memory resource comprises:

shared status memory for maintaining status of the one or more stages of the one or more Stage Driver Add(s); and

shared runtime memory for maintaining runtimes of the one or more stages of the Stage Driver and Stage Driver Add(s).