US 4,868,412 A · Distributed control system

Abstract

A control system is provided in which a plurality of independent control elements are each capable of generating a random value and determining a time delay as a function of that random value. Each of the control elements accesses the magnitude of a sensed parameter and responds to that magnitude. When correction of the sensed parameter is required, each independent control element senses the need for a correction and delays by an amount of time determined randomly and independent from all other control elements. After the randomly determined time delay has elapsed for each control element, that control element again accesses the magnitude of the sensed parameter and, if correction is still required, changes the connection status of an associated switch. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control element interrogates the status of its associated switch to determine if actuation would benefit the correction of the magnitude of the sensed parameter.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A control system, comprising:

means for generating a random value;
means for measuring elapsed time;
means for accessing a magnitude of a sensed parameter;
means for determining a time delay as a function of said random value, said generating means and said determining means being associated in signal communication with each other;
and
means for changing a connection status between a corrective component and an electrical circuit in response to said magnitude of said sensed parameter following a period of elapsed time after said magnitude is sensed, said period of elapsed time being a function of said time delay, said changing means being associated in signal communication with said determining means, said measuring means and said accessing means.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Distributed control system

Life of this patent

Distributed control system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22