Distributed life cycle development tool for controls

A method of designing control software for a device, the method comprising:

• storing software representations of pre-existing control processes on a computer;
• using the computer to develop control software for the device by selecting software representations of pre-existing control processes and associating the selected control processes with each other;
• downloading the control software from the computer to control hardware to be included in the device;
• and
• testing the device using the control software running on the control hardware;
• generating a virtual control panel for the device at the computer;
• permitting a user to manipulate the virtual control panel to generate virtual control inputs;
• transmitting the virtual control inputs to the control hardware to control the control hardware.

A method of designing a control panel for a device, the method comprising:

• storing software representations of pre-existing control panel components on a computer;
• using the computer to develop a control panel for the device by selecting and placing software representations of pre-existing control panel objects in a software representation of the control panel;
• testing the device by running the control hardware under the control of the control panel on the computer;
• generating a virtual control panel at the computer, the virtual control panel embodying the control panel designed for the device;
• permitting a user to manipulate the virtual control panel to generate virtual control inputs;
• and
• transmitting the virtual control inputs to the control hardware to control the control hardware.

A method of designing a control system for a device, the method comprising:

• providing a collection of standard hardware control modules, each control module being capable of running standard software and having difficult performance characteristics;
• using a computer to develop a control panel and control software for the device;
• selecting one or more of the standard hardware control modules to be included in the device based on performance characteristics required by the control panel and control software;
• wherein selecting
• one or more of the standard hardware control modules comprises having the computer automatically select the one or more of the standard hardware control modules based on performance characteristics required by the control panel and the control software.

A system for designing a control system for a device, the system comprising:

• a computer having an input unit, an output unit, a processor, a storage device, and a display;
• software representations of pre-existing control panel components stored on the storage device;
• and
• control hardware connectable to active components of the device and operable to receive data from the output unit of the computer;
• wherein the processor is programmed to:
• present a representation of a control panel on the display, permit a user to develop the control panel and control software for the device by using the input device to select and place representations of pre-existing control panel components on the displayed representation of the control panel,
• download the control software from the computer to the control hardware through the output unit;
• test the device using the control software running on the control hardware and under the control of the computer through the output unit;
• display a virtual control panel on the display, the virtual control panel embodying the control panel designated for the device;
• permit the user to use the input unit to manipulate the virtual control panel to generate virtual control inputs;
• and
• transmit the virtual control inputs to the control hardware through the output unit to control.