Synchronization of execution of sequential function charts using transition groups
AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
InventorRobert C. Kline, JR.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided that are capable of synchronizing an industrial process. The industrial process may include a plurality of process levels. A visualization group may be displayed, showing the various levels of a process. A transition group may be graphically defined that allows for the linking of the transitions between the various process levels. In certain embodiments, sequential function charts (SFC) may include expanded capabilities that allow for the visual definition, editing, and review of the transition groups. Such SFC embodiments may be capable of process flow synchronization across any levels of the modeled process.
Claims19
A system for synchronizing an industrial process comprising:
- an automation controller configured to control a plurality of sequential processes separated by transitions;
- and
- a graphical transition group defined by code executed by the automation controller in operation, and graphically linking a plurality of the transitions to synchronize execution of processes, wherein the graphical transition group comprises a graphical transition link configured to link a first transition in the plurality of transitions to a second transition in the plurality of transitions, wherein the graphical transition link is configured to monitor a first sequential process upstream of the first transition and a second sequential process upstream of the second transition to synchronize the execution of the first and the second transitions, and wherein the first sequential process comprises a first graphical bar representative of a first execution time of the first sequential process, and wherein the second sequential process comprises a second graphical bar representative of a second execution time of the second sequential process.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code adapted to:
- control plurality of sequential processes;
- define a graphical transition group comprising linked transitions between the plurality of sequential processes;
- and
- synchronize the linked transitions of the graphical transition group to synchronize the processes, wherein the graphical transition group comprises a graphical transition link configured to graphically link a first transition in the linked transitions to a second transition in the linked transitions, and wherein the transition link is configured to monitor a first sequential process and a second sequential process, wherein the first sequential process is visually displayed at a first length representative of a first execution time and the second sequential process is visually displayed at a second length representative of a second execution time.
A method of synchronizing industrial processes executed by an automation controller comprising:
- defining, in association with a controller that executes control programming for controlling a plurality of sequential processes, a visual transition group comprising a first transition separating a first set of the sequential processes, wherein each of the first set of the sequential processes is visually displayed at a first length representative of a first execution time for each of the first set of the sequential processes, and a second transition separating a second set of the sequential processes, wherein each of the second set of the sequential processes is visually displayed at a second length representative of a second execution time for each of the second set of the sequential processes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.