A control device for controlling a controlled apparatus, and a control method therefor

Claim 1

A system comprising a controlled apparatus and control device for controlling said controlled apparatus; i) said controlled apparatus comprising: at least one variable operation device; operating means for operating said at least one variable operation device; and detector means for detecting the operation of said at least one variable operation device and for generating a state signal corresponding to said operation; (ii) said control device comprising: first means for storing at least one pre-set operation pattern for said at least one variable operation device and for generating a pre-set command signal; and second means for generating a modification signal for modifying said pre-set command signal, thereby to generate a command signal for controlling said operating means; characterised in that: the control device has: analysis means for: (a) determining a relationship between said command signal and said state signal, and (b) generating a compensation signal on the basis of said relationship, and said control device is arranged further to modify said pre-set command signal on the basis of said compensation signal, and to control said operating means thereby.

Claim 6

A system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said analysis means is arranged to generate a plurality of said compensation signals, and said second means is a fuzzy logic system for selectively combining at least some of said plurality of said compensation signals, and said system is arranged further to modify said pre-set command signal as the basis of the combination of said compensation signals by said second means.

Claim 7

A system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said analysis means is arranged to generate a plurality of said compensation signals, includes a fuzzy logic system for selectively combining at least some of said plurality of said compensation signals, and is arranged to perform said further modifying of said pre-set command signal on the basis of the combination of said compensation signals by said fuzzy logic system.

Claim 8

A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first means is arranged to store a plurality of said pre-set operation patterns, and said second means is a fuzzy logic system for selectively combining at least some of said pre-set operation patterns to generate said command signal.

Claim 10

A system comprising a controlled apparatus and a control device for controlling said controlled apparatus; i) said controlled apparatus comprising: at least one variable operation device; operating means for operating said at least one variable operation device; and detector means for detecting the operation of said at least one variable operation device and for generating a state signal corresponding to said operation; (ii) said control device comprising: first means for storing a plurality of pre-set operation patterns for said at least one variable operation device; and a fuzzy logic system for selectively combining at least some of said plurality of pre-set operation patterns, and for generating a command signal for said operating means; characterised in that: the control device has: analysis means for: a) determining at least one relationship between said command signal and said state signal; and b) generating at least one compensation pattern on the basis of said relationship; and said fuzzy logic system is arranged selectively to combine said at least one compensation pattern and said plurality of pre-set operation patterns, thereby to modify said command signal.

Claim 11

A system comprising a controlled apparatus and a control device for controlling said controlled apparatus; i) said controlled apparatus comprising: at least one variable operation device; operating means for operating said at least one variable operation device; and detector means for detecting the operation of said at least one variable operation device and for generating a state signal corresponding to said operation; (ii) said control device comprising generating means for generating a command signal for controlling said operating means; characterised in that: the control device has: analysis means for analysing the relationships between said command signal and said state signal, and for generating a plurality of operation patterns corresponding to said relationships; and a fuzzy logic system for selectively combining at least some of said operation patterns, and for controlling said generation means on the basis of the combination of said at least some of said operating patterns.

Claim 12

A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said analysis means has a plurality of modules each arranged to generate a corresponding compensation signal; a first one of said modules being arranged to analyse said command signal and said state signal and to generate first one of said compensation signals when said state signal includes a first pattern, and having means for generating a first module signal representing said first pattern when said state signal includes said first pattern; a second one of said modules being arranged to derive the difference between said state signal and said first module signal, and to generate a second one of said compensation signals when said difference includes a second pattern.

Claim 14

A system comprising a controlled apparatus and a control device for controlling said controlled apparatus; said controlled apparatus having at least one variable operation device, actuator means for actuating said at least one variable operation device, and detector means for detecting the actuation of said at least one variable operation device and for generating a state signal representing said actuation; characterised in that: said control device comprises: a first control module, said first control module being arranged to receive said state signal, said first control module having first analysis means for analysing said state signal and for generating a first control signal when said state signal includes a first pattern, and means for generating a first modification signal representing said first pattern when said state signal includes said first pattern; a second control module arranged to derive the difference between said state signal and said first modification signal, said second control module having second analysis means for analysing said difference and for generating a second control signal when said difference includes a second pattern; and means for generating the sum of said first and second control signals and for controlling said actuator means on the basis of said sum.

Claim 16

A system comprising a controlled apparatus and a control device for controlling said controlled apparatus; said controlled apparatus having at least one variable operation device, actuator means for actuating said at least one variable operation device, and detector means for detecting the actuation of said at least one variable operation device and for generating a state signal representing said actuation; characterised in that: said control device comprises: a first control module, said first control module being arranged to receive said state signal, said first control module having first analysis means for analysing said state signal and for generating a first control signal when said state signal includes a first pattern, and means for generating a first modification signal representing said first pattern when said state signal includes said first pattern; a second control module arranged to derive the difference between said state signal and said first modification signal, said second control module having second analysis means for analysing said difference and for generating a second control signal when said difference includes a second pattern; a second control module arranged to derive the difference between said state signal and said first modification signal, said second control module having second analysis means for analysing said difference and for generating a second control signal when said difference includes a second pattern; said second control module is arranged to generate a second modification signal representing said second pattern when said difference includes said second patter; a third control module arranged to derive the further difference between said first and second modification signals, said third control module having third analysis means for analysing said further difference and for generating a third control signal when said further difference includes a third pattern; and a fuzzy logic system for selectively combining said first, second and third control signals and for controlling said actuator means on the basis of said selective combination.

Claim 17

A system according to any one of the preceding claims, having a plurality of said variable operation devices.

Claim 18

A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said controlled system is a rolling mill.

Claim 19

A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said controlled system is a sendzimir mill.

Claim 20

A system according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein said controlled system is a heating furnace.

Claim 21

A system according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein said controlled system is an elevator system.

Claim 22

A system according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein said controlled system is a railroad system.

Claim 23

A system according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein said controlled system is an electric car system.

Claim 24

A system according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein said controlled system is an automobile system.

Claim 26

A method of controlling a controlled apparatus, comprising the steps of storing at least one pre-set operation pattern for said at least one variable operation device; detecting the operation of said at least one variable operation device of said controlled apparatus; generating a state signal corresponding to said operation of said at least one variable operation device; generating a pre-set command signal on the basis of said pre-set operation pattern; and modifying said pre-set command signal; characterised in that: a relationship between said command signal and said state signal is determined; said pre-set command signal is further modified on the basis of said compensation signal; and said at least one variable operation device is controlled on the basis of said pre-set command signal as modified by said steps of modifying and further modifying.

Claim 29

A method according to any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein said step of modifying said pre-set command signal is prior to said step of further modifying said pre-set command signal, whereby said pre-set command signal is first modified by said modifying step, and the result of said modifying step is modified by said further modifying step.

Claim 30

A method according to any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein said step of modifying said pre-set command signal is subsequent to said step of further modifying said pre-set command signal, whereby said pre-set command signal is first modified by said further modifying step and the result of said further modifying step is modified by said modifying step.

Claim 31

A method of controlling a controlled apparatus, comprising the steps of: storing at least one pre-set operation pattern for at least one variable operation device of said controlled apparatus; detecting the operation of said at least one variable operation device; generating a state signal corresponding to the operation of said at least one variable operation device; generating a pre-set command signal and a pre-set state signal on the basis of said at least one operation pattern; detecting the difference between said pre-set state signal and said state signal; modifying said pre-set command signal on the basis of a feedback signal derived from said difference; and detecting when said difference exceeds a predetermined limit; characterised in that: when said difference exceeds said predetermined limit: (i) the relationship between at least one of said command signal and said feedback signal and said difference between said state signal and said pre-set state signal is determined, and (ii) said pre-set command signal is further modified on the basis of said relationship; and controlling said at least one variable operation device on the basis of said pre-set command signal as modified by said steps of modifying and further modifying.

Claim 32

A method of controlling a controlled apparatus, comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of pre-set operation patterns for at least one variable operation device of said controlled apparatus; detecting the operation of said at least one variable operation device; and generating a state signal corresponding to said operation of said at least one variable operation device; characterised in that: at least one relationship between at least one of said plurality of pre-set operation patterns and said state signal is determined, and at least one compensation pattern is generated on the basis of said at least one relationship; at least some of said pre-set operation patterns and said at least one compensation pattern are selectively combined, using fuzzy logic, thereby to generate a command signal; and said at least one variable operation device is controlled on the basis of said command signal.

Claim 33

A method of controlling a controlled apparatus, comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of pre-set operation patterns for said at least one variable operation device of said controlled apparatus; detecting the operation of said at least one variable operation device of said controlled system; and generating a state signal corresponding to said operation of said at least one variable operation device; characterised in that: the controlled system is controlled in first and second modes; wherein, in said first mode: (i) at least some of said pre-set operation patterns are selectively combined using fuzzy logic, to generate a first command signal; (ii) said at least one variable operation device is operated on the basis of said first control signal; and (iii) relationship between said first command signal and said state signal is investigated, thereby to generate at least one compensation pattern on the basis of said relationship; and wherein, in said second mode: (i) said at least one compensation pattern and at least some of said plurality of pre-set operation patterns are selectively combined by fuzzy logic, to generate a second command signal; and (ii) said at least one variable operation device is operated on the basis of said second control signal.

Claim 34

A method of controlling a controlled apparatus, comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of pre-set operation patterns for at least one variable operation device of said controlled apparatus on the basis of pre-set parameters for said at least one variable operation device; detecting the operation of said at least one variable operation device; generating a state signal corresponding to said operation of said at least one variable operation device; characterised in that: the controlled system is controlled in first and second modes; wherein, in said first mode: (i) at least some of said pre-set operation patterns are selectively combined using fuzzy logic, to generate a first command signal; (ii) said at least one variable operation device is operated on the basis of said first control signal; and (iii) a plurality of relationships between said first command signal and said state signal are investigated, thereby to generate a plurality of compensation patterns on the basis of said plurality of relationship; and wherein, in said second mode: (i) at least some of said plurality of compensation patterns are selectively combined by fuzzy logic, to generate a second command signal; and (ii) said at least one variable operation device is operated on the basis of said second control signal.

Claim 35

A method of controlling a controlled apparatus, comprising the steps of: storing at least one pre-set operation pattern for at least one variable operation device of said controlled apparatus; detecting the operation of said at least one variable operation device; generating a state signal corresponding to said operation of said at least one variable operation device; generating a pre-set command signal on the basis of said pre-set operation pattern; modifying said pre-set command signal; and generating a command signal for controlling said operating means; characterised in that: the relationships between said command sign and said state signal are analysed, and a plurality of operation patterns are generated corresponding to said relationships; at least some of said plurality of operation patterns are combined using fuzzy logic; and said step of generating said command signal is controlled on the basis of the combination of said at least some of said plurality of operation patterns.

Claim 36

A method of controlling a controlled apparatus, comprising detecting the actuation of at least one variable operation device of said controlled apparatus, and generating a state signal on the basis of said actuation; characterised in that said state signal is analysed, a first control signal is generated when said state signal includes a first pattern, and a first modification signal representing said first pattern is generated when said state signal includes said first pattern; the difference between said state signal and said first modification signal is derived; said difference is analysed, and a second control signal is generated when said difference includes a second pattern; and said actuation of said at least one variable operation device is controlled on the basis of said first and second control signals.

Claim 37

A method of controlling a controlled apparatus, comprising detecting the actuation of at least one variable operation device of said controlled apparatus, and generating a state signal on the basis of said actuation; characterised in that said state signal is analysed, a first control signal is generated when said state signal includes a first pattern, and a first modification signal representing said first pattern is generated when said state signal includes said first pattern; the difference between said state signal and said first modification signal is derived; said difference is analysed, and a second control signal is generated when said difference includes a second pattern; and generating a second modification signal representing said second pattern when said state signal difference includes said second pattern; deriving the further difference between said difference and said second modification signal; analysing said further difference, and generating a third control signal when said further difference includes a third pattern; and selectively combining said first, second and third control signals by fuzzy logic, and controlling the actuation of said at least one variable operation device on the basis of said selective combination.

Claim 38

A method of controlling a rolling mill having a plurality of rollers and a plurality of actuators for controlling the relative position of at least a pair of said rollers; storing at least one pre-set operation pattern for said plurality of actuators; generating respective pre-set command signals on the basis of said at least one pre-set operation patterns; detecting the operation of said actuators and generating a corresponding state signal; and modifying said pre-set command signals, thereby generating respective command signals for said actuators; characterised in that: relationships between said command signals and said state signals are determined; said pre-set command signals are further modified on the basis of said relationships; and the operation of said actuators is controlled on the basis of said pre-set command signal as modified by said steps of modifying and further modifying.

Claim 44

A system for controlling a predetermined characteristic of a given controlled system by controlling a plurality of actuators, said system comprising: detection means for detecting a plurality of values of a parameter representing said predetermined characteristic and for outputting the values as a plurality of detected signals; pattern recognition means for receiving a combination of said plurality of detected signals as a pattern and for deriving degree of similarity of the combination of said detected signals to each of a plurality of predetermined reference patterns; means for processing said degree of similarity by using fuzzy inference and for determining the manipulated variable of said each actuator; and means for generating a command of said each actuator on the basis of said manipulated variable, wherein said actuators are actuators of systems selected from the group consisting of a hot rolling mill, a heating furnace, a continuous casting direct rolling mill, an elevator control system, a railroad system, an electric car system, and an automobile control system.

Claim 49

A method for controlling a controlled system for determining the sectional shape of a rolled material in the axis direction of a pair of rolls, said pair of rolls being cooled by coolant jetted from a plurality of cooling means disposed in the axis direction, said rolled material being rolled between said pair of rolls, said method comprising the steps of: detecting sectional thickness of said rolled material at a plurality of positions in said axis direction on the output side of the rolling mill; applying predetermined calculation processing based upon fuzzy inference to absolute value deviations indicating the deviations of said plurality of detected thickness values from a predetermined desired thickness value and position deviations indicating the deviations of thickness at two adjacent positions of each of said plurality of positions, and thereby deriving manipulated variables for control of said plurality of cooling means; and adjusting the quantity of said jetted coolant on the basis of said manipulated variables for control; wherein said controlled system is selected from the group consisting of a hot rolling mill, and a continuous casting direct mill.

Claim 50

A method for controlling a controlled system for determining the sectional shape of a rolled material in the axis direction of a pair of rolls, said pair of rolls being cooled by coolant jetted from a plurality of cooling means disposed in the axis direction, said rolled material being rolled between said pair of rolls, said method comprising the steps of: detecting sectional thickness of said rolled material at a plurality of positions in said axis direction on the output side of the rolling mill; applying predetermined calculation processing based upon fuzzy inference to absolute value deviations indicating the deviations of said plurality of detected thickness values from a predetermined desired thickness value and time deviations indicating the change of thickness at each of said plurality of positions with time, and thereby deriving manipulated variables for control of said plurality of cooling means; and adjusting the quantity of said jetted coolant on the basis of said manipulated variables for control; wherein said controlled system is selected from the group consisting of a hot rolling mill, and a continuous casting direct mill.

Claim 51

A method for controlling a controlled system for determining the sectional shape of a rolled material in the axis direction of a pair of rolls, said pair of rolls being cooled by coolant jetted from a plurality of cooling means disposed in the axis direction, said rolled material being rolled between said pair of rolls, said control method comprising the steps of: detecting sectional thickness of said rolled material at a plurality of positions in said axis direction on the output side of the rolling mill; applying predetermined calculation processing based upon fuzzy inference to absolute value deviations indicating the deviations of said plurality of detected thickness values from a predetermined desired thickness value, position deviations indicating the deviations of thickness at two adjacent positions of each of said plurality of positions, and time deviations indicating the change of thickness at each of said plurality of positions with time, and thereby deriving manipulated variables for control of said plurality of cooling means; and adjusting the quantity of said jetted coolant on the basis of said manipulated variables for control; wherein said actuators are actuators of systems selected from the group consisting of a hot rolling mill, a heating furnace, a continuous casting direct rolling mill, an elevator control system, a railroad system, an electric car system, and an automobile control system.

Claim 55

A method for controlling a controlled apparatus for determining the sectional shape of a rolled material in the axis direction of a pair of rolls, said pair of rolls being cooled by coolant jetted from a plurality of cooling means disposed in the axis direction, said rolled material being rolled between said pair of rolls, said control method comprising the steps of: detecting sectional thickness of said rolled material at a plurality of positions in said axis direction on the output side of the rolling mill; deriving absolute value deviations indicating the deviations of said plurality of detected thickness values from a predetermined thickness value, position deviations indicating the deviations of thickness at two adjacent positions of each of said plurality of positions, and time deviations indicating the change of thickness at each of said plurality of positions with time; applying predetermined calculation processing based upon fuzzy inference to said absolute value deviations, said position deviations and said time deviations, and thereby deriving manipulated variables for control of said plurality of cooling means; and adjusting the quantity of said jetted coolant on the basis of said manipulated variable for control; wherein said controlled system is selected from the group consisting of a hot rolling mill, and a continuous casting direct mill.