Application-based control of pneumatic valve assemblies

A method for open-loop control and closed-loop control of a pneumatic valve assembly configured to execute a pneumatic movement task, the method comprising:

• reading-in the pneumatic movement task, the pneumatic movement task being accessible from a library of application objects;
• automatically generating an executable computer-readable program code for the open-loop control and the closed-loop control of the pneumatic valve assembly based on the pneumatic movement task;
• loading the executable computer-readable program code as an application in real time on an electronic valve controller of the pneumatic valve assembly,
• executing the application on the electronic valve controller,
• wherein the application comprises a first segment and a second segment,
• wherein the first segment defines a main part,
• wherein the second segment defines a desired specification-dependent part, and
• wherein the main part remains unchanged during parametrization;
• separating the pneumatic movement task into a series of tasks;
• accessing a memory to select, for each task, application objects necessary for a respective task from a total set of all provided application objects to generate the executable computer-readable program code therefrom;
• distributing the executable computer-readable program code;
• loading the executable computer-readable program code;
• executing the generated executable computer-readable program code;
• recording internal measurement signals as closed-loop control variables and to return the record internal measurement signals generating a modified executable computer-readable program code;
• accessing an external memory storing a library of application objects requiring a license;
• and
• optimizing the generation of the executable computer-readable program code in terms of pre-definable optimization criteria by:
• analyzing whether application objects requiring a license exist in the external memory, which is required to execute the pneumatic movement task taking into consideration internal and external closed-loop control variables, and
• requiring a license to be downloaded and utilized by a compositor when a license key for the application objects requiring the license is checked in the license memory to access the application objects of the external memory.

A pneumatic movement control system for the open-loop control and closed-loop control of a pneumatic valve assembly for executing a pneumatic movement task, the pneumatic movement control system comprising:

• a user interface configured to record the pneumatic movement task;
• a first processor provided at a first location and configured to generate, based on the recorded pneumatic movement task, an executable computer-readable program code that is provided as an application, wherein the application comprises a first segment and a second segment, wherein the first segment defines a main part, wherein the second segment defines a desired specification-dependent part, and wherein the main part remains unchanged during parametrization;
• and
• a valve assembly provided at a second location and including a second processor, the second processor being configured to read-in and execute the application to control the valve assembly in at least one of:
• an open-loop manner according to the movement task, or
• a closed-loop manner on the basis of internal closed-loop control variables and external process signals;
• a memory comprising stored application objects;
• wherein the first processor is further configured to:
• separate the recorded movement task into a series of tasks,
• access the memory to select, for each task, the application objects necessary for a respective task from a total set of all provided application objects to generate the executable computer-readable program code therefrom,
• distribute the executable computer-readable program code to the second processor, and
• load the executable computer-readable program code at the second location, and
• wherein the second processor is configured to execute the generated executable computer-readable program code, and optionally configured to record internal measurement signals as closed-loop control variables and to return the record internal measurement signals to the first processor to generate a modified executable computer-readable program code;
• wherein the first processor is further configured to:
• access an external memory storing a library of application objects requiring a license,
• optimize the generation of the executable computer-readable program code in terms of pre-definable optimization criteria by:
• analyzing whether application objects requiring a license exist in the external memory, which is required to execute the recorded movement task taking into consideration internal and external closed-loop control variables, and
• requiring a license to be downloaded and utilized by a compositor when a license key for the application objects requiring the license is checked in the license memory to access the application objects of the external memory.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with software comprising computer executable instructions and when the software is executed operable to:

• read-in a pneumatic movement task, the pneumatic movement task being accessible from a library of application objects;
• automatically generate an executable computer-readable program code for an open-loop control and a closed-loop control of a pneumatic valve assembly based on the pneumatic movement task;
• load the executable computer-readable program code as an application in real time on an electronic valve controller of the pneumatic valve assembly;
• execute the application on the electronic valve controller,
• wherein the application comprises a first segment and a second segment,
• wherein the first segment defines a main part,
• wherein the second segment defines a desired specification-dependent part, and
• wherein the main part remains unchanged during parametrization;
• separate the pneumatic movement task into a series of tasks;
• access a memory to select, for each task, application objects necessary for a respective task from a total set of all provided application objects to generate the executable computer-readable program code therefrom;
• distribute the executable computer-readable program code;
• load the executable computer-readable program code;
• execute the generated executable computer-readable program code;
• record internal measurement signals as closed-loop control variables and to return the record internal measurement signals generate a modified executable computer-readable program code;
• access an external memory storing a library of application objects requiring a license;
• and
• optimize the generation of the executable computer-readable program code in terms of pre-definable optimization criteria by:
• analyzing whether application objects requiring a license exist in the external memory, which is required to execute the pneumatic movement task taking into consideration internal and external closed-loop control variables, and
• requiring a license to be downloaded and utilized by a compositor when a license key for the application objects requiring the license is checked in the license memory to access the application objects of the external memory.