An industrial process control system in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of device controllers connected together through a common buss with each device controller connected to an associated controlled device(s) that effect process control. A computer-aided system interface for controlling the overall system includes a visual display device in the form of a multi-color CRT and a graphic input device in the form of a transparent touch-responsive panel that overlies the CRT display screen. Computer generated symbols representing the controlled devices are displayed on the CRT screen to define touch-responsive target areas. When an appropriate target area is touched by a human operator, a signal, such as a command signal, is generated to cause the controlled device whose symbol is displayed in the designated target area to respond, with this response being then indicated by a change in the device symbol being displayed on the screen. Other features include generation of a "hit" display to indicate the last coordinates on the display screen touched by the operator, a two-step execute command sequence for entering high priority commands into the system, and the changing of analog set point values as a function of the time that a selected target area is touched. The system advantageously eliminates some, if not all, input through a conventional keyboard so that the system operator interfaces with the system through easily comprehended and non-ambiguous visual symbols.

Industrial process control system

An irrigation control system and a related method for controlling a large number of valves in accordance with a plurality of schedules of instructions provided by the user of the system. Schedules of instructions may be created or modified during normal operation of the system by utilizing a variety of command sequences on a keyboard and display device, and schedules may also be reviewed or monitored during operation. The control system includes apparatus for processing a plurality of digital inputs by means of which the conditions of sensing devices located in the field are monitored and can be used to condition execution of the schedules of instructions. The control system is disclosed for use with a two-wire irrigation system in which on/off control signals are encoded into a power signal for transmission along a pair of wires to which decoding units are connected. The control system includes an input/output service module which transmits on/off control signals to the decoding units repeatedly, as rapidly as the two-wire system will permit, to ensure that the valves remain switched in the manner intended.

Interactive irrigation control system

Apparatus and methods for controlling a system that operates responsive to a plurality of input control signals are disclosed. During operation the system generates a plurality of output status/control signals. A master controller has at least first and second controllers. The first controller outputs and inputs signals over a first communication path, and the second controller outputs and inputs signals over a second communication path. The first and second controllers output signals based on input signals received over the first and second communication paths, respectively, and also based on stored control data. A plurality of input/output modules are provided. Each of the input/output modules has first and second slave controllers. The first slave controller of each of the input/output modules inputs and outputs signals over the first communication path to the first controller, and the second slave controller outputs and inputs signals over the second communication path. Each of the first slave controllers outputs and inputs signals to and from a first input/output circuit, and each of the second slave controllers outputs and inputs signals to and from a second input/output circuit. Each of the input/output modules also includes a combiner circuit. At least some of the input control signals for controlling the system are generated by the combiner circuit of each input/output module based on signals output from both the first and second input/output circuits. The output control signals for controlling the system are generated based on output status/control signals from the system that are coupled to each of the first and second input/output circuits of the input/output modules.

Distributed input/output control systems and methods

A screen-oriented process is used for configuring devices in an open computer system. The computer system includes an operating system having device drivers, and the operating system can be run as a virtual machine on a virtual resource manager wherein a procedure is used to bind the device drivers of the operating system and the virtual resource manager and an attached device on a particular port of an adapter using device dependent information. The configuring process initially requires the creation of device dependent information files for a plurality of devices and device types, and these files are installed in the computer system. Each file includes adpater specific information and device specific information consolidated in a single file. The user may invoke a configuration command, and the system responds by displaying a plurality of commands such as add, change, delete and show and prompts the user to choose a command. If the add command is chosen, the system displays a list of predefined devices and adapters of the device type specified by the user and prompts the user to choose from among the predefined devices and adapters in the list. When the user makes a choice, the system then asks the user whether the device dependent information for the chosen device and adapter should be displayed so that the user has the option of changing either or both the adapter specific information and the device specific information in one step. Similarly, if the change command is chosen, the information for the previously installed device specified by the user is displayed so that the user has the option of changing either or both the adapter specific information and the device specific information in one step.

Configuration capability for devices in an open system having the capability of adding or changing devices by user commands

A modular digital signal processor based on a master-slave architecture has the capability of expanding its processing power by aggregating additional modules in a tree type structure. In such a processor the control functions are subdivided into groups, each for performance in a distinct control unit. One or more of the control units can perform a master function with respect to one or several slaved control units and can itself be a slave to a higher level control unit. The arithmetic data functions of the processor are performed in pipe line multiplier-accumulator units (PMAU), each of which is controlled by, instructions from an associated control unit.

Modular signal processor having a hierarchical structure

A control system for use with processing equipment includes a controller and a plurality of addressable terminal devices including means for transferring data between the processing equipment and the controller over a common bus.

System for controlling processing equipment

A programmable data processor or controller serving as the main control in a control system contains an executive program for controlling the transfer of information between the processor and system equipment, updating that information during on-line control of the equipment and modifying the executive program to change operating parameters of the system while the data processor is controlling the system equipment. Modification of the executive program and displaying of system parameters related to the executive program and the system equipment is accomplished through the use of an operator's console which communicates with the data processor and system equipment as a result of operator intervention.

Arthur P. Given

Papers

System for controlling processing equipment

Method and apparatus for operator interrogation of simulated control circuits

Method and apparatus for controlling a plurality of like equipments

System zur regelung von verfahrensausruestungen