US 12,061,455 B2Granted

Methods, apparatus, and systems for monitoring and/or controlling dynamic environments

AssigneeOpteon Corporation

InventorsMark J. Frazer, T. Eric Hopkins, Timothy N. Schaeffer

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A dynamic environment (e.g., an automated industrial process) has multiple conditions in response to which corresponding actions are required, and comprises various equipment, control device(s) to control the equipment, and one or more sensors to generate input signal(s) representing a monitored condition of the environment. A control system for the environment comprises a master processor and one or more co-processors, wherein the master processor configures a given co-processor to evaluate only a first subset of conditions expected to occur in the environment within a specified time period (e.g., less than a response time of the master processor), and to provide first control information representing an action to be taken if a particular condition of the first subset is satisfied. The co-processor receives the input signal(s) representing the monitored condition, processes the input signal(s) so as to determine if the particular condition of the first subset is satisfied, and provides the first control information to the control devices so as to control the equipment. Exemplary applications include dynamic environments in which machine vision techniques and/or equipment are employed.

Claims28

Dependent claims

An action engine to control a plurality of output devices in a dynamic environment, wherein the dynamic environment further includes a plurality of input devices communicatively coupled to the action engine and configured to sense parameters in the dynamic environment, the action engine comprising:

memory configured to store an event table with at least one condition/action entry in the event table wherein, when the action engine operates to control at least one output device of the plurality of output devices:
a first condition/action entry of said at least one condition action entry comprises a plurality of condition bits and a plurality of action bits forming a condition/action pair;
a first bit of the plurality of condition bits identifies a first input condition detected by a first input device of the plurality of input devices;
a second bit of the plurality of condition bits identifies a second input condition detected by a second input device of the plurality of input devices;
the first bit and the second bit identify, at least in part, a first state of the dynamic environment from among a plurality of states in which the dynamic environment can exist;
and
the plurality of action bits of the first condition/action entry identify, at least in part, no action to be taken or at least one action from among a plurality of actions to be taken in the dynamic environment when a first parameter sensed by the first input device indicates the first input condition and a second parameter sensed by the second input device indicates the second input condition.

4 more elements

A method of controlling control devices in a dynamic environment that also includes a master processor, input devices, and an action engine that is in communication with the master processor, the input devices, and the control devices, the method comprising:

reading from an event table in memory, by the action engine, a first condition/action entry comprising a first plurality of condition bits and a first plurality of action bits forming a first condition/action pair;
determining, by the action engine, from a first received signal and a first bit of the first plurality of condition bits in the first condition/action entry that a first input device of the plurality of input devices detects a first input condition;
determining, by the action engine, from a second received signal and a second bit of the first plurality of condition bits in the first condition/action entry that a second input device of the plurality of input devices detects a second input condition;
in response to at least determining that the first input device detects the first input condition and the second input detects the second input condition, identifying from the first plurality of action bits of the first condition/action entry no action or at least one action to be taken in the dynamic environment;
and
taking no action or executing the at least one action in the dynamic environment based, at least in part, on the first plurality of action bits.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/228,912Filed 13 Apr 2021 · continuation
Priority: 5 Oct 2011
Published: US 2021/0373520 A12 Dec 2021
Granted: 13 Aug 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

G05B 19/0421
Using digital processors: multiprocessor system
G05B 13/021
Not using a model or a simulator of the controlled system: in which a variable is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance
G05B 15/02
Systems controlled by a computer: electric
G05B 19/0423
Using digital processors: input/output

Family

Application61/543,680Us provisional application · filed 5 Oct 2011
Application13/646,326Parent of this continuation · filed 5 Oct 2012
Application15/283,980Parent of this continuation · filed 3 Oct 2016
US 9,459,607 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 4 Oct 2016
Application16/148,192Parent of this continuation · filed 1 Oct 2018
Application16/454,257Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Jun 2019
US 2021/0373520 A1Pre-grant publication · published 2 Dec 2021
US 10,983,493 B2Parent of this continuation
US 10,101,720 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2013/0096697 A1Published application
US 2017/0023918 A1Published application
US 2019/0041819 A1Published application
US 2020/0150612 A1Published application
US 12,061,455 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.