An integrated control system comprises one or more controllers each equipped to perform a control function and to gather data (ordinarily from sensors) relevant to the control function. Each controller contains computer storage means, such as computer memory, for storing the relevant data and instructions, associated with the data, for causing a remote computer to generate a visual display incorporating the data in a predetermined format; and a communication module for establishing contact and facilitating data interchange with the remote computer. The remote computer, in turn, also includes a communication module compatible with the controller-borne module, and which enables the remote computer to download the data and associated instructions from one or more controllers. The remote computer also includes a facility for processing the instructions to create a user interface encoded by the instructions, and which incorporates the data. In this way, controller data is coupled to instructions for displaying that data, and this totality of information is continuously accessible, on a freely selective basis, to the remote computer.

Distributed interface architecture for programmable industrial control systems

An embedded graphical user interface employs a World-Wide-Web communications and display paradigm. The development environment includes an HTML compiler which recognizes and processes a number of unique extensions to HTML. The HTML compiler produces an output which is in the source code language of an application to which the graphical user interface applies. A corresponding run-time environment includes a server which serves the compiled HTML documents to a browser.

Embedded web server

A control system includes an Internet web interface to a network of at least one programmable logic control system running an application program for controlling output devices in response to status of input devices. The Web interface runs Web pages from an Ethernet board coupled directly to the PLC back plane and includes an HTTP protocol interpreter, a PLC back plane driver, a TCP/IP stack, and an Ethernet board kernel. The Web interface provides access to the PLC back plane by a user at a remote location through the Internet. The interface translates the industry standard Ethernet, TCP/IP and HTTP protocols used on the Internet into data recognizable to the PLC. Using this interface, the user can retrieve all pertinent data regarding the operation of the programmable logic controller system.

Web interface to a programmable controller

A system and method is disclosed for executing at least one of an alarm or an alert escalation process within a healthcare environment.

System and method for notification and escalation of medical data

A system and method is disclosed for executing a comparison of a medical device operational parameter to an order.

System and method for verifying medical device operational parameters

A function-distributed control apparatus comprises a first bus, a second bus, and at least one base processor element which includes a first main processing unit connected to at least the first bus, a second main processing unit connected to at least the second bus, and a dual-port memory with a mutual interrupt circuit connected to both these main processing units for communications between them. The first bus and the first main processing unit are chiefly for intelligent processing required for controlling a machine, while the second bus and the second main processing unit are chiefly for motion control of the machine. Those buses are also connected to various intelligent subsystems each including a processing unit and a dual-port memory with a mutual interrupt circuit for communications with the base processor element.

Function-distributed control apparatus

A container crane system comprises a storage area on a crane for storing containers temporarily, a main spreader adapted for conveyance of the containers between the storage area and a ship so constructed that the containers are guided by a cell guide and stowed into a hatch of the ship, and an auxiliary spreader adapted for conveyance of the containers between the storage area and a transport system prepared on the land to the rear of the crane. The main spreader is operated automatically according to operation schedules which are previously stored in a memory by a teaching operation and whose variable components are corrected during the automatic operation through a corrective (or modified) playback operation, while the auxiliary spreader is automatically operated through a programmed operation schedule.

Method and apparatus for automatic operation of container crane

A control apparatus for controlling a controlled object including controlled elements comprises a host processor, a plurality of slave modules and a communication network for providing communication between the host processor and the slave modules. The host processor interprets a control program to generate commands for the controlled elements in response to demands send from the slave modules. These commands are sent via the communication network to the respective slave modules. Each slave module is allotted to a controlled element and has a processor which interprets and executes the commands for its allotted controlled element and generates a demand upon finishing the execution of a command. This demand is sent via the communication network to the host processor and causes the next command to be generated.

Decentralized master-slave control apparatus

An apparatus with sensor mounted on a spreader for handling articles of a rectangular parallelepiped shape for detecting elements in plate form attached to both sides of such handling articles and both sides of the handling article loading and unloading bed of freight cars and trucks for conveying such handling articles, in order to position the spreader by detecting the detecting plate by the sensor. The sensor detects the deflections of the spreader with respect to the detecting plate, and the spreader is slightly moved for correcting the deflections so as to accurately position the spreader with respect to the article or the bed of a freight car or a truck.

Spreader positioning apparatus for automatically grasping a handling article

A work setting system associated with a group of machine tools arranged in a production line for setting workpieces on pallets. The system includes a setting table section providing a location for setting a workpiece on a pallet, a work centering and clamping unit arranged around the setting table section for driving positioning jigs and clamping members to be attached on the pallet, a measuring unit measuring the dimensions of the workpiece on the pallet and supplying signals to the work centering and clamping unit which represents the measurements of the workpiece as positioning signals, a handling unit for handling the pallets, the workpieces and the jigs, and a control unit for controlling the work setting table section, the centering and clamping unit, the measuring unit and the handling unit in a conversational mode and also supplying and receiving information exchanged between control unit for the group of machine tools and a central processing unit superposing the control units.

Kengo Sugiyama

Papers

Function-distributed control apparatus

Method and apparatus for automatic operation of container crane

Decentralized master-slave control apparatus

Spreader positioning apparatus for automatically grasping a handling article

Work setting system for manufacturing process