# US 6,823,280 B2 · Control system simulation, testing, and operator training

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- Number: US 6,823,280 B2
- Document ID: US6823280B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/129,464
- Filed: 2003-03-04
- Published: 2004-04-01
- Granted: 2004-11-23
- Earliest claimed: 2000-01-24
- Assignees: Fluor Corporation
- Inventors: D. Dwight Brayton; Paul G. Scharold; Shane R. Addleman; Christopher S. Ghormley; Mark Dallas; Eric D. Johnson; Stephen G. Romero
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6823280B2

## CPC

- G06F 11/261: {by simulating additional hardware, e.g. fault simulation}
- G05B 19/05: Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts
- G09B 25/02: of industrial processes; of machinery
- G05B 2219/13174: Pc, computer connected to plc to simulate machine
- G05B 2219/24058: Remote testing, monitoring independent from normal control by pc
- G05B 2219/24061: Simulator, generates input signals, shows output signals of logic
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B)

## Abstract

A requirements database and test generator generates tests for functional and field testing and generates requirements documentation, user manuals, operational procedures, instrument data sheets, instrument indices, instrument loop diagrams, validation reports, and test reports, including exception and passing reports. A portable process control simulator (120) system which provides control system (900) users with scenarios that mirror field operation as defined.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A test system for testing a control system comprising:
a configurator having a set of tags, each tag being a label which corresponds to a component of the control system to be tested;
the configurator having a set of requirements wherein each requirement comprises at least one tag and at least one Boolean operator;
an I/O simulator; and
a mechanism for automatically generating at least one set of instructions for the I/O simulator from each requirement, and a mechanism for transmitting the at least one set of instructions for the I/O simulator to the I/O simulator.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The test system of claim 1 wherein each tag has a corresponding component type, and the configurator includes a set of parameter values wherein each parameter value corresponds to a component type and at least some of the parameter values are used in generating the at least one set of instructions for the 110 simulator.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The test system of claim 2 further comprising a set of questions with the test system prompting an operator for responses to the questions and recording any operator response to the questions.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The test system of claim 3 further comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) providing a mechanism for an authorized operator to maintain the set of tags, the set of requirements, the set of subsets of parameter values, and/or the set of questions.