# US 11,030,148 B2 · Massively parallel hierarchical control system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,030,148 B2 - Document ID: US11030148B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/945,477 - Filed: 2018-04-04 - Published: 2019-10-10 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-04 - Assignees: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC - Applicants: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC - Inventors: Robert Panas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11030148B2 ## CPC - G06F 13/126: {and has means for transferring I/O instructions and statuses between control unit and main processor} - G02B 26/0833: {the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD (G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B)} - G05B 13/021: {in which a variable is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance} - G06F 13/37: using a physical-position-dependent priority, e.g. daisy chain, round robin or token passing - G06F 15/825: {Dataflow computers} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## Abstract An electronic control system is disclosed for controlling individually controllable elements of an external component. In one embodiment the system may include a state translator subsystem for receiving a state command from an external subsystem. The state translator subsystem may have at least one module for processing the state command and generating operational commands for controlling the elements to achieve a desired state or condition. A programmable calibration command translation layer (PCCTL) subsystem may be included which receives and uses the operational commands to generate granular level commands for controlling the elements. A feedback control layer subsystem may be included which applies the granular level commands to the elements, and further modifies the granular level commands as needed to control the elements in closed loop fashion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic control system for controlling individually controllable electromagnetic signal directing elements of an external component, the system comprising: a state translator subsystem comprising one or more processors for receiving a state command from an external subsystem, the state translator subsystem processing the state command and generating operational commands for controlling the elements of the external component to achieve a desired state or condition; a programmable calibration command translation layer (PCCTL) subsystem configured to receive the operational commands and using the operational commands to generate granular level commands for controlling the elements; a feedback layer subsystem configured to receive the granular level commands to generate final output commands to the elements, wherein the final output commands are modified as needed to control the elements in closed loop fashion; a first plurality of parallel communication channels independently communicating with granular level commands from the feedback layer subsystem to each one of the elements in parallel fashion and receiving feedback signals back from the elements over the first plurality of parallel communication channels; a second plurality of parallel communication channels coupling the PCCTL subsystem with the feedback layer subsystem supplying the granular level commands from the PCCTL subsystem to the feedback layer subsystem and receiving back the feedback signals from the feedback layer subsystem; and a calibration subsystem in communication with the PCCTL subsystem supplying calibration information to the PCCTL to modify the granular level commands when needed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the PCCTL subsystem is configured to receive the calibration information from the calibration subsystem, and to use the calibration information, together with the operational commands, to generate the granular level commands. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the state translator subsystem applies the operational commands in parallel form to the PCCTL subsystem. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the state translator subsystem generates one operational command for each element, and applies all the generated operational commands in parallel to the PCCTL subsystem. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the PCCTL subsystem generates one granular level command for each element, and transmits the granular level commands in parallel format to the feedback layer subsystem via the second plurality of parallel communications channels. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the feedback layer subsystem monitors the elements in real time and generates needed corrections or modifications, in real time, to the granular level commands, to form the final output commands required to carry out the state command. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the feedback layer subsystem comprises an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the ASIC comprises a plurality of analog closed loop control circuits, each one of the plurality of analog closed loop control circuits being associated independently with a respective one of the elements. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein each said analog closed loop control circuit comprises: reference command input circuitry configured to read in commanded parameter values from the PCCTL subsystem, including the granular level commands; sensing circuitry configured to read a resulting performance from its associated element back into the analog closed loop control circuit; and control circuitry configured to generate the final output commands applied to the elements in closed loop fashion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the feedback layer subsystem is secured to a portion of the external component. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the PCCTL subsystem includes a field programmable gate array (FPGA) configured via programming to provide a plurality of subprocessors, the subprocessors operable to process the calibration information and the operational commands. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the FPGA is configured to provide a separate said subprocessor for each one of the elements. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein each said subprocessor includes a processor and a non-volatile memory, the memory operating to store the calibration information. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the state translator subsystem includes a plurality of independent programming mode modules for implementing at least one of: a plurality of different program modes; and a plurality of different program schemes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein each said programming mode module includes a processor and a memory. ### Claim 16 A control method for controlling individually controllable electromagnetic signal directing elements of an external component, the method comprising: receiving, by a state translator subsystem comprising one or more processors, a state command from an external subsystem, the state translator subsystem for processing the state command and generating operational commands for controlling the elements of the external component to achieve a desired state or condition; receiving, by a programmable calibration command translation layer (PCCTL) subsystem, the operational commands and using the operational commands to generate granular level commands for controlling the elements; receiving, by a feedback layer subsystem, the granular level commands to generate final output commands which are applied to the elements, wherein the final output commands are modified as needed to control the elements in closed loop fashion; a first plurality of parallel communication channels independently communicating with the granular level commands from the feedback layer subsystem to each one of the elements in parallel fashion and receiving feedback signals back from the elements over the first plurality of parallel communication channels; and a second plurality of parallel communication channels coupling the PCCTL subsystem with the feedback layer subsystem supplying the granular level commands from the PCCTL subsystem to the feedback layer subsystem and receiving back the feedback signals from the feedback layer subsystem; and supplying, by a calibration subsystem in communication with the PCCTL subsystem, calibration information to the PCCTL subsystem to modify the granular level commands when needed.