Automation control system and a method in an automation control system

• US 9,874,858 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2015
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Emerson, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ramesh
• Application Number:
  US14/644,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20150268649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/012 details of the transmission means
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/26 in which the output signal is a pulse-train
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/1214 Real-time communication between plc, Ethernet for configuration, monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31233 Map network and server in node and server controlled ethernet with machine nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling lab equipment such as transmitters are provided that includes a mini automation controller (MAC). The system provides a control system, user interface, and interfaces, including network interfaces usable for interfacing equipment, MAC, and user interfaces over a network, which provide a variety of functions including automation and monitoring of transmission sequences and receiver events. An exemplary MAC may include an Ethernet controller capable of converting an Ethernet signal to a serial signal. The MAC may also include a receiver monitor section comprising a fiber optic receiver input, a copper cable receiver input, and a monostable multivibrator. In addition to the receiver monitor section, the MAC may have a transmitter control section including a transmitter control pulse and a power output. An exemplary MAC may have a microcontroller coupled to the Ethernet controller, the receiver monitor section, and the transmitter control section.

Claims

1. An automated control system comprising:

a display;

a storage medium storing a plurality of machine readable instructions that generate a graphical user interface (GUI) operative to display data corresponding to one or more characteristics of the automated control system on the display;

an electronic controller having one or more circuits configured to;

generate a reoccurring transmitter control pulse configured for receipt by a test device and receive an indicator signal indicating the test device received at least one occurrence of the reoccurring transmitter control pulse; and

a computing device comprising a processor that reads the plurality of machine readable instructions to generate GUI outputs that is communicably coupled to the GUI and communicably coupled to the electronic controller, the computing device configured to provide one or more operational inputs to the electronic controller and to display, via the GUI, at least one of;

a signal waveform corresponding to the actual number of transmitter control pulses generated by the electronic controller and a signal waveform corresponding to the actual number of indicator signals received by the electronic controller.

2. The automated control system of claim 1, wherein the one or more operational inputs include at least one of:

a transmission interval indicative of a first duration for generating the reoccurring transmitter control pulse, a transmission length indicative of a first length of the transmitter control pulse, and a check value indicative of a number of transmitter control pulses to be generated by the electronic controller.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the test device includes a transmit circuit and a receive circuit and in response to the test device receiving at least one of the reoccurring transmitter control pulses, the transmit circuit transmits a signal to the receive circuit.

4. The control system of claim 3, wherein the signal transmitted to the receive circuit from the transmit circuit causes the receive circuit to transmit at least one indicator signal thereby indicating that the test device received at least one of the reoccurring transmitter control pulses.

5. The automated control system of claim 1, wherein the electronic controller includes a first circuit configured to generate a supply voltage of a predetermined voltage value and the supply voltage is configured for receipt by the test device.

6. The automated control system of claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics of the automated control system include at least one of:

an internet protocol address assigned to the electronic controller and a serial number assigned to the electronic controller.

7. A method in an automated control system comprising:

providing a storage medium storing a plurality of machine readable instructions that generate a graphical user interface (GUI) and a computing device comprising a processor that reads the plurality of machine readable instructions to generate GUI outputs, wherein a user can use the GUI to create one or more operational inputs;

providing, by the GUI, the one or more operational inputs to an electronic controller;

sending, by the computing device, a first data signal to a converter component wherein the data signal includes a first data protocol format;

converting, by the converter component, the first data signal to a second data signal including a second data protocol format;

generating, by the electronic controller, one or more control signals corresponding to at least one of;

a transmitter control pulse and a supply voltage of a predetermined voltage value;

providing, by the electronic controller, one or more control signals to a test device wherein at least one control signal is a reoccurring transmitter control pulse that causes a transmitter of the test device to transmit a first signal to a receiver of the test device;

receiving, by the electronic controller, one or more indicator signals from the receiver of the test device wherein the indicator signals indicate whether the receiver received the first signal; and

receiving, by the computing device, one or more data signals corresponding to the number of indicator signals received by the electronic controller and the number of reoccurring transmitter control pulses provided to the test device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the converter component receives the first data signal from the computing device and in response to receiving the first data signal, converts the first data signal to a second data signal including a second data protocol format.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the control signal corresponding to the reoccurring transmitter control pulse is generated based on the second data signal including the second data protocol format.

10. The method of claim 7, further including converting, from a first data protocol format to a second data protocol format, data signals corresponding to the number of indicator signals received by the electronic controller component, wherein the first data protocol format includes a serial interface format and the second data protocol format includes a Ethernet protocol format.

11. The method of claim 7, further including displaying, by the GUI, a signal waveform corresponding to the actual number of transmitter control pulses generated by the electronic controller and a signal waveform corresponding to the number of indicator signals received by the electronic controller.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the operational inputs include at least one of:

a transmission interval indicative of a first duration for generating the reoccurring transmitter control pulse, a transmission length indicative of a first length of the transmitter control pulse, and a check value indicative of number of transmitter control pulses to be generated by the electronic controller.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the indicator signals include a high state and a low state and the method further includes holding, by a signal hold circuit, the high state of the indicator signal for a first time period.

14. A method of interfacing with a controller of an automated control system comprising:

providing a command to the controller from a computing device comprising a processor that reads a plurality of machine readable instructions to verify a connection between the computing device and the controller;

providing a command to the controller from a computing device to obtain a first signal transmit interval wherein the controller responds by providing an integer corresponding to the first signal transmit interval;

providing a command to the controller from a computing device, the command indicating a desire to provide a second signal transmit interval;

providing an integer to the controller from a computing device in response to the controller requesting a user input, wherein the integer indicates the second signal transmit interval;

providing a command to the controller from a computing device to obtain a firmware revision number wherein the controller responds by providing the firmware revision number;

providing a command to the controller from a computing device to obtain a serial number corresponding to the controller wherein the controller responds by providing the serial number;

providing a command to the controller from a computing device to obtain a first transmit signal length wherein the controller responds by providing an integer corresponding to the first transmit signal length;

providing a command to the controller from a computing device, the command indicating a desire to provide a second transmit signal length;

providing an integer to the controller from a computing device in response to the controller requesting a user input, wherein the integer indicates the second transmit signal length; and

providing a command to the controller from a computing device to begin a signal transmit and signal receive sequence wherein the controller responds by providing an integer indicating that;

no transmit signal was detected and no receive signal was detected;

only a transmit signal was detected;

only a receive signal was detected;

a transmit signal was detected and a receive signal was detected.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the controller includes a microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller includes firmware and the firmware revision number indicates the current revision of the firmware.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the integer corresponding to the first signal transmit interval and the integer corresponding to the second signal transmit interval indicates one or more 10 ms intervals.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the integer corresponding to the first transmit signal length and the integer corresponding to the second transmit signal length indicates one or more 10 ms intervals.