Control system and method
AssigneeVSI Energy Systems International, Inc.
InventorR. Gerald Hundley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A console with a keyboard and visual display means is employed for setting or adjusting various controller circuit parameters such as control mode adjustments of the gain, integral and derivative times, set point, dead zone, high and low limit control and alarms, and the like, depending upon which such circuits are included in the controller. The parameters so set may be displayed by use of the display means under control of the keyboard. In addition, other circuit operating conditions such as the values of the process signal, error or deviation signal, manipulated variable or output signal, and the like, may be displayed by the display means under keyboard control. Furthermore manual controller operation under keyboard control also is provided.
Claims31
In a digital process controller having feedback means for producing a process signal representative of a process variable to be controlled, a reference signal, means responsive to said process and reference signals for deriving an error signal in response to the difference therebetween, controlling circuit means including multiplier means and having an output signal responsive to said error signal for control of the process variable, the improvement comprising:
- a console
- fixed circuit parameter multiple-bit erasable storage means at the console for storing controlling circuit parameters including a proportional gain signal to establish the amount by which said error signal is multiplied by said multiplier means,
- a keyboard with key members actuatable by an operator,
- multiple-bit temporary storage means at the console responsive to actuation of key members for temporarily storing signals for establishing the fixed circuit parameters including the proportional gain signal,
- means under control of said keyboard for transferring information which includes said proportional gain signal from said temporary storage means to said fixed circuit parameter storage means,
- visual display means at the console for viewing by the operator,
- means for simultaneously displaying at said visual display means the identity and measure of signals stored in said temporary storage means, including said proportional gain signal, for checking by the operator prior to transferring information from said temporary storage means to said fixed circuit parameter storage means.
In a digital process controller having feedback means for producing a process signal representative of a process variable to be controlled, a reference signal, means responsive to said process and reference signals for deriving an error signal in response to the difference therebetween, controlling circuit means having an output signal responsive to said error signal for control of the process variable, the improvement comprising:
- a console
- fixed circuit parameter multiple-bit erasable storage means at the console for storing controlling circuit parameters,
- a keyboard with key members actuatable by an operator,
- multiple-bit temporary storage means at the console responsive to actuation of key members for temporarily storing signals for establishing the fixed circuit parameters,
- means under control of said keyboard for transferring information from said temporary storage means to said fixed circuit parameter storage means,
- visual display means at the console for viewing by the operator,
- means for simultaneously displaying at said visual display means the identity and measure of signals stored in said temporary storage means for checking by the operator prior to transferring information from said temporary storage means to said fixed circuit parameter storage means,
- a differentiating circuit responsive to said process signal and having an output which is added to said process signal, said differentiating circuit including means for storing in said fixed parameter storage means a signal representative of the derivative rate time of the differentiating circuit,
- said derivative rate time signal being entered into said fixed parameter storage means through transfer from said temporary storage means under control of said keyboard.
In a digital process controller having feedback means for producing a process signal representative of a process variable to be controlled, a reference signal, means responsive to said process and reference signals for deriving an error signal in response to the difference therebetween, controlling circuit means having an output signal responsive to said error signal for control of the process variable, the improvement comprising:
- a console
- fixed circuit parameter multiple-bit erasable storage means at the console for storing controlling circuit parameters,
- a keyboard with key members actuatable by an operator,
- multiple-bit temporary storage means at the console responsive to actuation of key members for temporarily storing signals for establishing the fixed circuit parameters,
- means under control of said keyboard for transferring information from said temporary storage means to said fixed circuit parameter storage means,
- visual display means at the console for viewing by the operator,
- means for simultaneously displaying at said visual display means the identity and measure of signals stored in said temporary storage means for checking by the operator prior to transferring information from said temporary storage means to said fixed circuit parameter storage means,
- said controlling circuit means including dead band comparator means having as an input the error signal,
- said fixed circuit parameter storage means being associated with said dead band comparator for storing a signal establishing the band of error signals over which no change is produced in the output from said dead band comparator.
In a digital process controller having feedback means for producing a process signal representative of a process variable to be controlled, a reference signal, means responsive to said process and reference signals for deriving an error signal in response to the difference therebetween, controlling circuit means having an output signal responsive to said error signal for control of the process variable, the improvement comprising:
- a console
- fixed circuit parameter multiple-bit erasable storage means at the console for storing controlling circuit parameters,
- a keyboard with key members actuatable by an operator,
- multiple-bit temporary storage means at the console responsive to actuation of key members for temporarily storing signals for establishing the fixed circuit parameters,
- means under control of said keyboard for transferring information from said temporary storage means to said fixed circuit parameter storage means,
- visual display means at the console for viewing by the operator,
- means for simultaneously displaying at said visual display means the identity and measure of signals stored in said temporary storage means for checking by the operator prior to transferring information from said temporary storage means to said fixed circuit parameter storage means,
- said controlling circuit means including a multiplier to which said error signal is supplied,
- said fixed circuit parameter storage means being asociated with said multiplier for storing a signal establishing the amount by which said error signal is multiplied by said multiplier.
In a digital process controller having feedback means for producing a process signal representative of a process variable to be controlled, a reference signal, means responsive to said process and reference signals for deriving an error signal in response to the difference therebetween, controlling circuit means having an output signal responsive to said error signal for control of the process variable, the improvement comprising:
- a console
- fixed circuit parameter multiple-bit erasable storage means at the console for storing controlling circuit parameters,
- a keyboard with key members actuatable by an operator,
- multiple-bit temporary storage means at the console responsive to actuation of key members for temporarily storing signals for establishing the fixed circuit parameters,
- means under control of said keyboard for transferring information from said temporary storage means to said fixed circuit parameter storage means,
- visual display means at the console for viewing by the operator,
- means for simultaneously displaying at said visual display means the identity and measure of signals stored in said temporary storage means for checking by the operator prior to transferring information from said temporary storage means to said fixed circuit parameter storage means,
- said controlling circuit means including an integrating circuit responsive to the error signal,
- said fixed circuit parameter storage means being associated with said integrating circuit for storing a signal which establishes the integral rate constant of the integrating circuit.
In a digital process controller having feedback means for producing a process signal representative of a process variable to be controlled, a reference signal, means responsive to said process and reference signals for deriving an error signal in response to the difference therebetween, controlling circuit means having an output signal responsive to said error signal for control of the process variable, the improvement comprising:
- a console
- fixed circuit parameter multiple-bit erasable storage means at the console for storing controlling circuit parameters,
- a keyboard with key members actuatable by an operator,
- multiple-bit temporary storage means at the console responsive to actuation of key members for temporarily storing signals for establishing the fixed circuit parameters,
- means under control of said keyboard for transferring information from said temporary storage means to said fixed circuit parameter storage means,
- visual display means at the console for viewing by the operator,
- means for simultaneously displaying at said visual display means the identity and measure of signals stored in said temporary storage means for checking by the operator prior to transferring information from said temporary storage means to said fixed circuit parameter storage means,
- a .+-. jog generator,
- means under control of said keyboard for disconnecting the output signal from the controlling circuit means from the controlled process variable and for connecting the output from the .+-. jog generator to said controlled process variable for control thereof by the generator output, and
- means for simultaneously displaying at said visual display means the output from said .+-. jog generator and identity thereof during control of the process variable by said .+-. jog generator output.
A method of programming a controller of the type having feedback means for producing a process signal related to a measure of the process, fixed circuit parameter storage means for storing a set point signal, difference means responsive to said process and set point signals and providing an error signal in response to the difference therebetween, proportional and time integral controller action means responsive to said error signal and having an output used for control of a process variable, said method comprising:
- generating a digital set point signal by means of an operator controlled keyboard,
- storing said setpoint signal in a temporary storage means,
- simultaneously visually displaying at visual display means under keyboard control both the identity and magnitude of the set point signal held in said temporary storage means for visual examination thereof by the operator before entry into said fixed circuit parameter storage means,
- transferring the set point signal from the temporary storage means to said fixed parameter storage means, and
- repeating the above recited generating, storing, displaying and transferring steps for entering proportional and integral time constant signals into said fixed parameter storage means for controlling the gain and time integral of said proportional and time integral controller action means.
A three-mode process controller comprising:
- feedback means for producing a process signal representative of a process variable to be controlled,
- a reference signal source,
- means responsive to said process aand reference signals for providing an error signal in response to differences therebetween,
- controlling circuit means having an output signal responsive to said error signal for control of the process variable, said controlling circuit including a plurality of storage means for storing different fixed controlling circuit parameters, including gain, integral and derivative time constant signals,
- a manually operated keyboard,
- means under control of said keyboard for selecting a storage means to which information may be transferred,
- temporary storage under control of said keyboard for temporarily storing signals including gain, integral and derivative time constant signals for subsequent transfer to one of said storage means,
- first visual display means connected to said temporary storage for display of the contents thereof,
- second visual display means under control of said keyboard for identifying a keyboard selected storage means,
- means under control of said keyboard for transferring information from said temporary storage to the keyboard selected storage means.
In a process controller having feedback means for producing a process signal representative of a process variable to be controlled, a reference signal, means responsive to said reference and process signals for deriving an error signal in response to the difference therebetween, controlling circuit means having an output signal responsive to said error signal for control of the process variable, the improvement comprising:
- a console,
- operator actuatable switching means,
- signal energized visual alphabetical and numerical display means at the console for the simultaneous display of the identity and measure of process controller signals, and
- means under control of said switching means for changing the source of signals supplied to said visual display means for the display of any one of a plurality of process controller parameters,
- said operator actuatable switching means including at least one key of an operator controlled keyboard by means of which inputs to the visual display means are cycled upon repeated actuation thereof for operator selection of the parameters to be displayed.
In a process controller having proportional controller circuit means for at least proportional controller circuit action,
- digital storage means for storing process control parameters including a gain control signal for controlling the gain for the proportional controller circuit action,
- an operator actuable keyboard having a plurality of alphabetic and numeric keys for entering process control parameters, including a gain control signal, into said digital storage means,
- signal energized alphabetic and numeric visual display means,
- means under control of said keyboard for selective display at said visual display means of the identity and value of keyboard selected process control parameters including said gain control signal entered into said digital storage means.
In a three-mode process controller having proportional, integral, and derivative controller circuit means for proportional, integral and derivative controller circuit actions,
- digital storage means for storing process control parameters including gain, integral and derivative time constant signals for controlling the gain, time integral and time derivative for the controller circuit actions,
- an operator actuable keyboard having a plurality of alphabetic and numeric keys for entering selected gain, integral and derivative time constant signals into said digital storage means,
- signal energized alphabetical and numerical visual display means under control of said keyboard for selective display of the identity and value respectively of keyboard selected process control parameters including said gain, integral and derivative time constant signals entered into said digital storage means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.