Title of Invention

A SINGLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING ON EQUIPMENT

Abstract

A single electronic device for controlling an equipment or apparatus by performing predetermined or configurable control functions characterized in that it incorporates distributed processor means for providing improved efficiency of operation, comprising: multiple, simultaneously operating control means (1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2...) each of which is optimized for performing a subset of said control functions and facilitating means (1.3, 2.4....) for enabling reduced delay in operation of said control means (1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2...).

Full Text

Form 2 THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION SECTION 10 "A single electronic device for controlling an equipment & method thereof Rajiv BHATNAGAR, 11, Golf Links, Pali Hill, Khar, Mumbai - 400 052, Maharashtra, India, an Indian national The following specification particularly describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed: 1 5 JUL 2005 The present invention relates to a controller designed for a wide range of applications from simple controls for appliances to complex controls for industrial applications. The controller utilizes distributed processing techniques to provide powerful capabilities at low cost. Background Art Electronic controllers are used to perform a variety of functions in various applications. Implementations range from "embedded" controllers in different types of equipment to "programmable logic controllers " used in sophisticated industrial control functions. The vast majority of these implementations are based on the use of microcontrollers. The microcontroller selected may be of any desired word-size, such as 4-bit, 8-bit, 16-bit or 32-bit depending on the requirements of the target application, but the basic structure remains the same. This microcontroller architecture defines a single processing unit that performs all the required functions - a "central processing unit (CPU) ". This CPU must therefore possess the capability to meet all the requirements of the application. This very often results in the use of a powerful CPU merely because one requirement out of the several that are needed demands significantly greater power. In these cases, the CPU remains underutilized for the bulk of the requirements while the solution is burdened with the additional cost of the powerful CPU. Some complex industrial applications use Distributed Control Systems (DCS) which distribute the control function over multiple controllers that are located physically apart. In these applications the intention is to provide the required control directly at the point of use. However, even in such systems, each controller in the system is implemented as CPU architecture and suffers from the drawbacks mentioned in the previous paragraph. As a result these systems 2 are expensive and are therefore used in large industrial applications that can justify the cost. Programmable Logic Controllers similarly provide flexibility in sizing central processing units, but remain single CPU implementations suffering from the same drawbacks. US Patent 6067612 describes a distributed processing type control system. The system involves a relaying system connected with sub-controllers located at physically separate locations through a communication channel. Each of the said controllers is a single processor system with memory. This invention does not address the issue of distributed processing within a single controller. As a result this solution also requires the use of an expensive processing unit at each location. US Patent 6035240 talks of a flexible, distributed processing system for sensor data acquisition. This invention also relates to a single central computer connected to multiple sensors at various physical locations through a communication channel. While this solution does address the problem of processing of the input signals by performing some processing at each sensor it does not cover similar requirements for other aspects of the system, such as driving of the loads. Furthermore, there is no concept of distributed processing within any single controller. The single central computer has to possess the capability of managing the control processing requirements of the entire system and is therefore expensive. US Patent 5975737 relates to multiple controllers located at physically separate locations and interconnected to form a distributed control system. Each controller comprises a single processing element and is connected to a remote 3 computer, which provides a user interface. The aspect relating to multiple processing within each controller is not addressed at all. As a consequence, each controller has to possess a central processing unit with the ability to handle the entire load of its function. US Patent 5909368 defines a process control system comprising multiple field devices such as Fieldbus and non-Fieldbus devices interconnected through a process control network. Each device implements a portion of the control strategy independently of and in parallel with the other devices. However, even in this case the invention relates to multiple physically separated controllers and not to a single controller. As a result this solution also requires the use of an expensive processing unit at each location. The object of the invention The object of this invention is to overcome the above drawbacks and provides a solution that is simple and cost-effective. The Summary of the Invention To achieve the said objective this invention provides a single electronic device for controlling an equipment or apparatus by performing predetermined or configurable control functions characterized in that it incorporates distributed processor means for providing improved efficiency of operation, comprising: multiple, simultaneously operating control means each of which is optimized for performing a subset of said control functions and facilitating means for enabling reduced delay in operation of said control means. 4 The said facilitating means is an optimal connection of signals for interconnecting said control means to each other and enabling the exchange of information between them. Each of said control means is an electronic circuit for optimally performing said subset of predefined or configurable control functions. At least one of said control means includes a mechanism for receiving signals from one or more external devices connected to its input. At least one of said control means includes a mechanism for communicating with one or more external devices for exchange of information relating to said subset of control functions. At least one of said control means includes a voltage measurement mechanism for monitoring power supply conditions. At least one of said control means includes a input / output mechanism for directly receiving inputs from the user of said device or equipment and/or directly providing outputs to said user. At least one of said control means is an embedded microcontroller or digital signal processor or configurable logic circuit. The instant invention further provides a method for efficiently controlling an equipment or apparatus using a single controller for performing predetermined or configurable control functions characterized in that it incorporates distributed processing for providing improved efficiency of operation, comprising the steps of: 5 partitioning the set of control functions into multiple subsets, providing individually optimized and simultaneously operating control elements for implementing each subset, implementing a facilitating mechanism for enabling the synergistic operation of all the control elements. The said facilitating mechanism is implemented by providing an optimal connections for interconnecting the control elements to each other and enabling the exchange of information between them. Each of said control elements operates to provide optimal performance of said predefined or configurable control functions. At least one of said control elements includes the capability of receiving signals from one or more external devices connected to its input. At least one of said control elements includes the capability of communicating with one or more external devices for exchange of information relating to said control functions. At least one of said control elements includes the capability of measuring voltage for monitoring power supply conditions. At least one of said control elements includes the capability of directly receiving inputs from the user of said device or equipment and/or directly providing outputs to said user. At least one of said control elements is implemented using an embedded microcontroller or digital signal processor or configurable logic circuit. 6 Brief Description of the drawings The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples: Fig - 1 shows a block diagram of a simple electronic device using distributed processing, according to this invention, Fig - 2 shows a block diagram of the distributed processing controller, which includes an Input Interface, Fig - 3 shows a block diagram of the distributed processing controller, which includes a User Interface, Fig - 4 shows a block diagram of the distributed processing controller, which includes an Input Interface and a User Interface, Fig - 5 shows a block diagram of the distributed processing controller, which includes Power Supply Interface. Fig - 6 shows a block diagram of the distributed processing controller, which includes an Input Interface and a Power Supply Interface. Fig - 7 shows a block diagram of the distributed processing controller, which includes an Input Interface, a User Interface, and a Power Supply Interface. Fig - 8 shows a block diagram of the distributed processing controller, which includes an Input Interface, a User Interface, a Power Supply Interface, and a Network Interface. Fig - 9 shows the application of the distributed processing Controller in an Industrial controller. Fig-10 shows the flowchart of the method in accordance with the invention. Detailed Description Of The Drawings Referring to Fig.- 1, Central Control Means (1.1) determines defined control functions based on the occurrence of events that may be triggered by internal timer sequences and provides control signals to Output Control Means (1.2) 7 which generates the signals required to drive external devices, such as relays, solenoids and the like, to implement the desired functions. Central Control Means (1.1) and Output Control Means (1.2) are interconnected through a facilitating means (1.3) comprising an optimal connection of interconnecting signals that enable efficient information exchange. Referring to Fig.- 2, Input Control Means (2.3) receives signals from external devices such as sensors, switches and the like, and feeds these signals to Central Control Means (2.1) after performing required signal conditioning. Central Control Means (2.1), determines the required control functions based on the values of the signals received from the said Input Control Means (2.3) as well as the values of internal signals, if any, and provides the necessary signals to Output Control Means (2.2). Output Control Means (2.2) then generates the drive signals required to operate the appropriate external devices in accordance with the values of the signals received from the Central Control Means (2.1). Input Control Means (2.3) and Central Control Means (2.1) as well as Central Control Means (2.1) and Output Control Means (2.2) are interconnected through a facilitating means (2.4) comprising an optimal connection of interconnecting signals that enable efficient information exchange. Fig. - 3 shows an electronic controller incorporating a User Interface Means (3.3) which receives inputs from a user and produces signals that communicate the requirements of the user to the Central Control Means (3.1) in an appropriate form. Central Control Means (3.1) determines the actions to be performed in accordance with the requirements of the user, based on the values of internal variables, and provides suitable signals for the Output Control Means (3.2). Output Control Means (3.2) generates the signals necessary for driving the external devices connected at the output of the controller so as to produce the effect desired by the Central Control Means (3.1). Central Control Means 8 (3.1) also produces signals for providing feedback to the user through User Interface Means (3.3) which includes the ability to generate signals for producing the output for the user in a defined form, such as a display or in audio form. User Interface Means (3.3) and Central Control Means (3.1) as well as Central Control Means (3.1) and Output Control Means (3.2) are interconnected through a facilitating means (3.4) comprising an optimal connection of interconnecting signals that enable efficient information exchange. Fig. - 4 shows an electronic controller incorporating a User Interface Means (4.4) as well as an Input Control Means (4.3). Central Control Means (4.1) receives user requirements from the User Interface Means (4.4) and signals from external devices, such as sensors, through Input Control Means (4.3). It then determines the required control action based on these inputs as well as the values of internal variables, and produces appropriate signals for Output Control Means (4.2). Output Control Means (4.2) then generates the corresponding signals for driving the external devices to produce the desired actions. The Input Control Means (4.3), Central Control Means (4.1), Output Control Means (4.2) and User Interface Means (4.4) are interconnected to each other through a facilitating means (4.5) comprising an optimal connection of interconnecting signals that enable efficient information exchange. Fig. - 5 shows a basic electronic controller that includes a Power Supply Monitoring Means (5.3) which continuously monitors the input power supply and produces status signals for Central Control Means (5.1) which determines the required control actions based the received signals a well as the value of internal variables. The output of Central Control Means (5.1) is fed to Output Control Means (5.2) to generate the signals for driving external devices for performing the desired control function. The Central Control Means (5.1), Output Control Means (5.2) and Power Supply Monitoring Means (5.3) are 9 interconnected to each other through a facilitating means (5.4) comprising an optimal connection of interconnecting signals that enable efficient information exchange. Fig. - 6 shows an electronic controller containing a Power Supply Monitoring Means (6.4) that monitors the input power supply and produces status signals at one input of Central Control Means (6.1) as well as Input Control Means (6.3) which provides signals from external input devices at another input of Central Control Means (6.1). Central Control Means (6.1) determines the required control actions based on all the received signals as well as the value of internal variables and controls Output Control Means (6.2) to generate the signals for driving external devices for performing the desired control function. The Input Control Means (6.3), Central Control Means (6.1), Output Control Means (6.2) and Power Supply Monitoring Means (6.4) are interconnected to each other through a facilitating means (6.5) comprising an optimal connection of interconnecting signals that enable efficient information exchange. Fig.-7 shows an electronic controller containing a Power Supply Monitoring Means (7.5) that monitors the input power supply and produces status signals at one input of Central Control Means (7.1), Input Control Means (7.3) which provides signals from external input devices at another input of Central Control Means (7.1) and User Interface Means (7.4) which provides user requirement signals at another input of Central Control Means (7.1). Central Control Means (7.1) determines the required control actions based on all the received signals a well as the value of internal variables and controls Output Control Means (7.2) to generate the signals for driving external devices for performing the desired control function. At the same time Central Control Means (7.1) also produces signals for User Interface Means (7.4) to generate feedback for the user by driving external display and/or audio devices. Various blocks / means are 10 interconnected to each other through a facilitating means (7.6) comprising an optimal connection of interconnecting signals that enable efficient information exchange. Fig.-8 shows an electronic controller containing a Power Supply Monitoring Means (8.5) that monitors the input power supply and produces status signals at one input of Central Control Means (8.1). Input Control Means (8.3) provides signals from external input devices at another input of Central Control Means (8.1) and User Interface Means (8.4) provides user requirement signals at another input of Central Control Means (8.1). Network Interface Means (8.6) receives signals from external devices connected to the electronic controller through a communication network and passes the signals to the Central Control Means (8.1). The Central Control Means (8.1) determines the required control actions based on all the received signals a well as the value of internal variables and controls Output Control Means (8.2) to generate the signals for driving external devices for performing the desired control function. At the same time Central Control Means (8.1) also produces signals for User Interface Means (8.4) to generate feedback for the user by driving external display and/or audio devices. Central Control Means (8.1) also generates requests from external devices on the network and responds to requests originating from such devices, through the Network Interface Means (8.6). The aforesaid means are interconnected to each other through a facilitating means (8.7) comprising an optimal connection of interconnecting signals that enable efficient information exchange. The instant invention is explained with the example stated below: Fig.-9 shows the block diagram of one such controller connected on the network in an Industrial control system for controlling production equipment. Industrial 11 control system uses a number of sensors (9.1 to 9.5) and switches (9.6 to 9.9). Multiple sensors (9.1 to 9.5) located at various points in the equipment provide signals defining the value of various measured parameters such as temperature, pressure and level while the switches (9.6 to 9.9) provide signals defining the status of various elements such as doors and flaps, as well as the presence of objects such as parts to be processed. The signals from all these devices (9.1 to 9.9) are processed by Input Interface Processor (9.11) inside Equipment Controller (9.10) which performs signal conditioning, Analog-to-Digital conversion, Switch debouncing, Noise elimination and filtering. Central Control Processor (9.12) implements the required control software and Output Control Processor (9.13) implements the special drive software required to operate the various load devices (9.16 to 9.20) such as motors, solenoids and contactors, located at various points in the equipment. Network Interface Processor (9.14) simultaneously processes requests such as data and equipment status information received from other controllers connected to the network while User Interface Processor (9.15) independently provides services to the user operating the equipment. The aforesaid means are interconnected to each other through a facilitating means (9.21) comprising an optimal connection of interconnecting signals that enable efficient information exchange. WORKING: Signals from external devices, such as sensors (9.1 to 9.5) and switches (9.6 to 9.9), are received at the input of Input Control Processor (9.11) which performs signal conditioning and processing prior to supplying to one input of the Central Control Processor (9.12). At the same time, user supplied inputs through external devices such as keyboards are received at the input of User Interface Processor (9.15). The Input Control Processor (9.11) processes the inputs, performing operations such as switch debouncing, and provides the processed 12 signals to another input of the Central Control Processor (9.12). The Network Interface processor (9.14) also simultaneously monitors the communication channel and receives any requests that may be sent by an external device on the network, extracts the content of the request from the received data stream which typically contains framing information in accordance with the protocol being implemented on the network. Central Control Processor (9.12) processes the outputs from the Input Interface Processor (9.11), User Interface Processor (9.15) and Network Interface Processor (9.14) according to predefined control software and produces signals and the input of Output Control Processor (9.13). Output Control Processor (9.13) processes the signals from Central Control processor (9.12) and implements the required drive control software, such as PWM, Phase-control or Integral-cycle control and generate the necessary drive signals for driving the switching devices such as IGBTs/MOSFETs or TRIACs/SCRs. In this manner the equipment is controlled in accordance with the requirements. The aforesaid method is also described using a flowchart as shown in Fig. 10. The set of control functions are partitioned (10.1) into multiple subsets of data, which are individually optimized (10.2). The control elements are operating simultaneously for implementing each subset (10.3) and a facilitating mechanism is implemented for enabling the synergistic operation of all the control elements (10.4). Thus the device is controlled based upon these control functions using distributed processing for providing improved efficiency of operation. 13 Claims: 1. A single electronic device for controlling an equipment or apparatus by performing predetermined or configurable control functions characterized in that it incorporates distributed processor means for providing improved efficiency of operation, comprising: multiple, simultaneously operating control means (1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2...) each of which is optimized for performing a subset of said control functions and facilitating means (1.3, 2.4....) for enabling reduced delay in operation of said control means (1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2...). 2. A single electronic device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said facilitating means is an optimal connection of signals for interconnecting said control means to each other and enabling the exchange of information between them. 3. A single electronic device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said control means is an electronic circuit for optimally performing said subset of predefined or configurable control functions. 4. A single electronic device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said control means includes a mechanism for receiving signals from one or more external devices connected to its input. 5. A single electronic device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said control means includes a mechanism for communicating with one or more external devices for exchange of information relating to said subset of control functions. 14 6. A single electronic device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said control means includes a voltage measurement mechanism for monitoring power supply conditions. 7. A single electronic device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said control means includes a input / output mechanism for directly receiving inputs from the user of said device or equipment and/or directly providing outputs to said user. 8. A single electronic device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said control means is an embedded microcontroller. 9. A method for efficiently controlling an equipment or apparatus using a single electronic device for performing predetermined or configurable control functions characterized in that it incorporates distributed processing for providing improved efficiency of operation, comprising the steps of: partitioning the set of control functions into multiple subsets, providing individually optimized and simultaneously operating control elements for implementing each subset, implementing a facilitating mechanism for enabling the synergistic operation of all the control elements. 10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said facilitating mechanism is implemented by providing an optimal connections for interconnecting the control elements to each other and enabling the exchange of information between them. 15 11. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein each of said control elements operate to provide optimal performance of said predefined or configurable control functions. 12. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein at least one of said control elements includes the capability of receiving signals from one or more external devices connected to its input. 13. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein at least one of said control elements includes the capability of communicating with one or more external devices for exchange of information relating to said control functions. 14. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein at least one of said control elements includes the capability of measuring voltage for monitoring power supply conditions. 15. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein at least one of said control elements includes the capability of directly receiving inputs from the user of said device or equipment and/or directly providing outputs to said user. 16. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein at least one of said control elements is implemented using an embedded microcontroller or digital signal processor or configurable logic circuit. 17. A single electronic device for controlling an equipment or apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

281-mum-2002-cancelled pages(15-7-2005).pdf

281-mum-2002-claims(granted)-(15-7-2005).doc

281-mum-2002-claims(granted)-(15-7-2005).pdf

281-mum-2002-correspondence(14-07-2005).pdf

281-mum-2002-correspondence(ipo)-(10-06-2005).pdf

281-mum-2002-drawing(15-7-2005).pdf

281-mum-2002-form 1(22-03-2002).pdf

281-mum-2002-form 13(15-07-2005).pdf

281-mum-2002-form 19(07-04-2004).pdf

281-mum-2002-form 2(granted)-(15-7-2005).doc

281-mum-2002-form 2(granted)-(15-7-2005).pdf

281-mum-2002-form 3(22-03-2002).pdf

281-mum-2002-power of authority(22-03-2002).pdf

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