Distributed input/output control systems and methods
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G05B-019/18
G06F-011/00
G06F-015/16
출원번호
UP-0728675
(2007-03-26)
등록번호
US-7774074
(2010-08-30)
발명자
/ 주소
Davlin, Karl A.
Tannous, Adel George
Loudermiliy, Alan R.
출원인 / 주소
EI Electronics LLC
대리인 / 주소
Hespos, Gerald E.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
23인용 특허 :
35
초록▼
Apparatus and methods for controlling a system that operates responsive to a plurality of input control signals are disclosed. During operation the system generates a plurality of output status/control signals. A master controller has at least first and second controllers. The first controller outpu
Apparatus and methods for controlling a system that operates responsive to a plurality of input control signals are disclosed. During operation the system generates a plurality of output status/control signals. A master controller has at least first and second controllers. The first controller outputs and inputs signals over a first communication path, and the second controller outputs and inputs signals over a second communication path. The first and second controllers output signals based on input signals received over the first and second communication paths, respectively, and also based on stored control data. A plurality of input/output modules are provided. Each of the input/output modules has first and second slave controllers. The first slave controller of each of the input/output modules inputs and outputs signals over the first communication path to the first controller, and the second slave controller outputs and inputs signals over the second communication path. Each of the first slave controllers outputs and inputs signals to and from a first input/output circuit, and each of the second slave controllers outputs and inputs signals to and from a second input/output circuit. Each of the input/output modules also includes a combiner circuit. At least some of the input control signals for controlling the system are generated by the combiner circuit of each input/output module based on signals output from both the first and second input/output circuits. The output control signals for controlling the system are generated based on output status/control signals from the system that are coupled to each of the first and second input/output circuits of the input/output modules.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A distributed control system having redundant control, wherein the system operates responsive to a plurality of input control signals, wherein during operation the system generates a plurality of output status/control signals, comprising: a master controller having a first co
What is claimed is: 1. A distributed control system having redundant control, wherein the system operates responsive to a plurality of input control signals, wherein during operation the system generates a plurality of output status/control signals, comprising: a master controller having a first controller and a redundant, second controller, wherein the first controller outputs and inputs a first plurality of signals over a first communication path, wherein the redundant, second controller outputs and inputs the first plurality of signals over a second communication path, wherein the first and redundant, second controllers output signals based on input signals received over the first and second communication paths, respectively, and also based on stored control data; a plurality of input/output modules, wherein each of the input/output modules comprises a first slave controller and a redundant, second slave controller, wherein the first slave controller of each of the input/output modules inputs and outputs a second plurality of signals over the first communication path to the first controller, wherein the redundant, second slave controller outputs and inputs the second plurality of signals over the second communication path to the redundant, second controller, wherein each of the first slave controllers outputs and inputs a third plurality of signals to and from a first input/output circuit, wherein each of the second slave controllers outputs and inputs the third plurality of signals to and from a second input/output circuit, wherein each of the input/output modules further comprises a combiner circuit for outputting input control signals for controlling the system, wherein the combiner circuit generates the input control signals based on redundant signals output from both the first and second input/output circuits; wherein the output control signals for controlling the system are generated based on output status/control signals from the system that are coupled to each of the first and second input/output circuits of the input/output modules. 2. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the master controller further comprises an interface for communicating to an external computer in accordance with a communication protocol. 3. The distributed control system of claim 2, wherein the communication protocol comprises TCP/IP. 4. The distributed control system of claim 2, wherein the communication protocol comprises USB. 5. The distributed control system of claim 2, wherein the communication protocol comprises Firewire. 6. The distributed control system of claim 2, wherein the communication protocol comprises RS232. 7. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the master controller comprises a plurality of interfaces for communication with an external computer in accordance with a plurality of communication protocols. 8. The distributed control system of claim 7, wherein the communication protocols comprise two or more communication protocols selected from TCP/IP, USB, Firewire and RS232. 9. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein each of the input/output circuits comprises a predetermined number of input/output nodes, wherein the input/output nodes are programmed to be either inputs or outputs. 10. The distributed control system of claim 9, wherein the input/output nodes are programmed to be either analog or digital inputs or outputs. 11. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the signals from the input/output circuits are logically ORed to determined if the certain input control signals should be generated. 12. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the signals from the input/output circuits are generated at least in part based on a majority vote logic operation to determine if certain input control signals should be generated. 13. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the communication paths are coupled to the plurality of input/output modules at a plurality of different locations. 14. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the controllers are coupled together through an inter-controller communication path. 15. The distributed control system of claim 14, wherein the controllers perform redundancy checking based on signals exchanged over the inter-controller communication path. 16. A distributed redundant control system utilizing inputs and outputs for controlling at least one piece of equipment, the system comprising: a main controller module including a communications interface for communicating with a host computer for controlling the at least one piece of equipment and at least first and second controllers, the first and second controllers communicate to a plurality of input/output (I/O) modules that are distributed in appropriate and desired locations in the system; each I/O module includes at least first and second slave controllers that communicate, respectively, with the first and second controllers of the main controller, over first and second communication paths, each of the first and second slave controllers are coupled to a set of I/O drivers, the inputs/outputs from each of the I/O drivers are logically combined to provide a single I/O signal from the redundant signals of the I/O drivers; wherein each of the input/output drivers comprises a predetermined number of input/output nodes, wherein the input/output nodes are programmed to be either inputs or outputs. 17. The distributed redundant control system of claim 16, wherein the input/output nodes are programmed to be either analog or digital inputs or outputs. 18. The distributed redundant control system of claim 16, wherein the first and second controllers communicate to the plurality of input/output (I/O) modules over a dual serial-type communication cable. 19. The distributed redundant control system of claim 16, wherein the first and second controllers communicate to the plurality of input/output (I/O) modules over a single communication channel, wherein each of the plurality of input/output (I/O) modules has an individual address. 20. The distributed redundant control system of claim 16, wherein the master controller comprises a plurality of communications interfaces for communication with the host computer in accordance with a plurality of communication protocols. 21. The distributed redundant control system of claim 20, wherein the communication protocols comprise two or more communication protocols selected from TCP/IP, USB, Firewire and RS232. 22. The distributed redundant control system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of input/output (I/O) modules are defined in the main controller and the main controller is adapted to poll the defined plurality of input/output (I/O) modules to determine if each input/output (I/O) are found. 23. The distributed redundant control system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of input/output (I/O) modules are defined in the main controller and the main controller is adapted to poll the defined plurality of input/output (I/O) modules to determine if each input/output (I/O) has at least one error. 24. The distributed redundant control system of claim 16, wherein the first and second controllers are coupled together through a third communication path. 25. The distributed redundant control system of claim 24, wherein the first and second controllers perform redundancy checking based on signals exchanged over the third communication path. 26. The distributed redundant control system of claim 16, wherein the first and second slave controllers are coupled together through a fourth communication path. 27. The distributed redundant control system of claim 26, wherein the first and second slave controllers perform redundancy checking based on signals exchanged over the fourth communication path.
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