Patent US2200709A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3593307A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US3593307A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Redundant, self-checking, self-organizing control system

Assignee: Adaptronics Inc
•
Filing: 1968-09-20
•
Granted: 1971-07-13
•
Expires: 1988-09-20
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A self-organizing control system having a plurality of selforganizing controllers acting in parallel to provide actuation signals for plant control. The controllers are constantly monitored to locate faulty controllers. When one controller does not compare with the others, it is initially coerced to operate correctly and, after a predetermined period, if correct operation is not provided, the faulty controller is removed from the system. In one embodiment, an odd number of controllers is always in the system to provide control on a majority basis. Therefore, the removal of a faulty controller will require the removal of an operating controller as well.

Inventors

  • 👤 James Reid Gouge Jr
  • 👤 Robert L Barron

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 11:51
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/18; G06F11/181; G05; G05B; G05B9/00; G05B9/02; G05B9/03

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 57 words
A self-checking control system which comprises an odd plurality of control devices, said control devices acting in parallel with each other to provide a control output, and means responsive to a fault in one of said control devices for removing said one of said control devices and an additional one of said control devices from said system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 57 words
A self-checking control system which comprises an odd plurality of control devices, said control devices acting in parallel with each other to provide a control output, and means responsive to a fault in one of said control devices for removing said one of said control devices and an additional one of said control devices from said system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 39 words
A self-checking control system as set forth in claim 1 further including means responsive to a second faulty device for removing said second faulty device from said system and replacing said additional one of said devices into said system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 45 words
A self-checking control system as set forth in claim 1 further including means responsive to removal of said devices from said system for increasing the output of the remaining ones of said odd plurality of control devices to retain the level of said control output.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 45 words
A self-checking control system as set forth in claim 2 further including means responsive to removal of said devices from said system for increasing the output of the remaining ones of said odd plurality of control devices to retain the level of said control output.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 43 words
A self-checking control system as set forth in claim 1 further including means responsive to the existence of only two nonfaulty devices for retaining said system in operation and means responsive to a nonmatch of said two devices for shutting down said system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 43 words
A self-checking control system as set forth in claim 2 further including means responsive to the existence of only two nonfaulty devices for retaining said system in operation and means responsive to a nonmatch of said two devices for shutting down said system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 42 words
A self-checking control system as set forth in claim 3 further including means responsive to the existence of only two nonfaulty devices for retaining said system in operation and means responsive to a nonmatch of said two devices for shutting down system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 43 words
A self-checking control system as set forth in claim 4 further including means responsive to the existence of only two nonfaulty devices for retaining said system in operation and means responsive to a nonmatch of said two devices for shutting down said system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 71 words
A self-checking control system which comprises a plurality of control devices acting in parallel to provide a single control signal, means responsive to the faulty operation of any one of said control devices to coerce said one of said control devices into proper operation and means responsive to a predetermined time length of faulty operation of said one of said control devices for shutting down said one of said control devices.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 71 words
A self-checking control system which comprises a plurality of control devices acting in parallel to provide a single control signal, means responsive to the faulty operation of any one of said control devices to coerce said one of said control devices into proper operation and means responsive to a predetermined time length of faulty operation of said one of said control devices for shutting down said one of said control devices.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 22 words
A self-checking control system as set forth in claim 9 wherein an odd plurality of said devices is present in said system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 40 words
A self-checking control system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means responsive to faulty operation in one of said control devices for shutting down said device also removes an additional one of said control devices from said system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 39 words
A self-checking control system as set forth in claim 11 further including means responsive to a second faulty device for removing said second faulty device from said system and replacing said additional one of said devices into said system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 38 words
A self-checking control system as set forth in claim 11 further including means responsive to removal of said devices from said system for increasing the output of the remaining devices to retain the level of said control signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 44 words
A self-checking control system as set forth in claim 12 further including means responsive to removal of said devices from said system for increasing the output of the ones of said devices operating in said system to retain the level of said control signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 43 words
A self-checking control system as set forth in claim 11 further including means responsive to the existence of only two nonfaulty devices for retaining said system in operation and means responsive to a nonmatch of said two devices for shutting down said system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 43 words
A self-checking control system as set forth in claim 12 further including means responsive to the existence of only two nonfaulty devices for retaining said system in operation and means responsive to a nonmatch of said two devices for shutting down said system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 43 words
A self-checking control system as set forth in claim 13 further including means responsive to the existence of only two nonfaulty devices for retaining said system in operation and means responsive to a nonmatch of said two devices for shutting down said system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 43 words
A self-checking control system as set forth in claim 14 further including means responsive to the existence of only two nonfaulty devices for retaining said system in operation and means responsive to a nonmatch of said two devices for shutting down said system.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3309571A Cited
US3348197A Cited
US3460096A Cited
US3519998A Cited
US2803703A Cited
US3037698A Cited
US3335403A Cited
US3315127A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1974-07-12 1975-01-11 1975-07-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1978-07-12 1979-01-11 1979-07-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1982-07-12 1983-01-11 1983-07-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag