Time-shared numerical control system

Claim 2

Apparatus comprising: means for receiving requests for securing data for each of a plurality of drive mechanisms, an asynchronously shared algorithm means for calculating the algorithm for each increment of motion for all said drive mechanisms, serially, said algorithm means calculating only one increment of motion at a time for a selected one of said drive mechanisms; means for selectively responding to said requests for securing data from a data storage unit containing motion control data to supply at least some of said motion control data to said algorithm means, and means for distributing said data from said algorithm means in a coordinated sequence to said drive mechanisms.

Claim 3

A machine-tool, control system including a special-purpose computer, a plurality of drives each having a drive input connected to said computer, control means for producing signals for selectively directing said computer to service successive ones of said drives, said computer including algorithm means for performing an algorithm for generating motion signals, said computer performing only one sequence of said algorithm for each of said drives for each signal from said control means and said computer performing for only one drive at a time serially on a time shared basis, and means for coupling the output of said algorithm means directly to the said drive input associated with the said drive directed to be served by said control means.

Claim 4

A machine-tool, control system including a special-purpose computer, a plurality of drives each having a drive input connected to said computer, control means for producing signals for selectively directing said computer to service successive ones of said drives, said computer including algorithm means for performing an algorithm for generating motion signals, said computer performing only one sequence of said algorithm for each of said drives for each signal from said control means and said computer performing for only one drive at a time serially on a time shared basis, and means for coupling the output of said algorithm means directly to the said drive input associated with the said drive directed to be served by said control means.

Claim 5

Apparatus including a plurality of numerically controlled mechanisms providing demand signals, a time-shared, numerical-control algorithm computer for sequential calculation of control signals for said plurality of numerically controlled mechanisms, said computer including an algorithm unit having an output for motion control signals, means for providing direct connection of mOtion control signals from the output from said algorithm unit to the control inputs of said mechanisms without storage of the output of said algorithm unit in means comprising buffer storage, coupling means for coupling said demand signals from said mechanisms to said computer, said computer including means having an input connected to said coupling means and an output coupled to said algorithm means for providing time sharing of said algorithm unit serially, on demand, asynchronously, in response to said demand signals from said plurality of mechanisms.

Claim 6

Apparatus including a plurality of numerically controlled mechanisms providing demand signals, a time-shared, numerical-control algorithm computer for sequential calculation of control signals for said plurality of numerically controlled mechanisms, said computer including an algorithm unit having an output for motion control signals, means for providing direct connection of mOtion control signals from the output from said algorithm unit to the control inputs of said mechanisms without storage of the output of said algorithm unit in means comprising buffer storage, coupling means for coupling said demand signals from said mechanisms to said computer, said computer including means having an input connected to said coupling means and an output coupled to said algorithm means for providing time sharing of said algorithm unit serially, on demand, asynchronously, in response to said demand signals from said plurality of mechanisms.

Claim 7

Apparatus including a plurality of machine tools including numerically controlled mechanisms, each mechanism including a demand output for providing demand signals, calculating means for performing at one time a single calculation for a single mechanism coupled to said demand outputs, said calculating means being time shared asynchronously for performing calculations for other mechanisms in a time priority sequence determined by said demand signals, and distribution means coupled to said calculating means and said demand outputs for supplying an output from said calculating means for each said calculation to the one of said mechanisms corresponding to said time priority sequence.

Claim 8

Apparatus including a plurality of machine tools including numerically controlled mechanisms, each mechanism including a demand output for providing demand signals, calculating means for performing at one time a single calculation for a single mechanism coupled to said demand outputs, said calculating means being time shared asynchronously for performing calculations for other mechanisms in a time priority sequence determined by said demand signals, and distribution means coupled to said calculating means and said demand outputs for supplying an output from said calculating means for each said calculation to the one of said mechanisms corresponding to said time priority sequence.

Claim 9

Apparatus comprising: plural outputs for connection to machine tool drives, means adapted for receiving externally generated requests for supplying data to a given one of said plural outputs, a fast data storage unit containing input data, means for interpolating input data to provide output signals, means for selectively responding to said requests in an asynchronous, interleaved order to secure corresponding input data from said fast data storage unit to supply said input data to the said means for interpolating for providing output signals, and means for distributing said output signals to corresponding ones of said output signals to corresponding ones of said outputs from said means for interpolating in a coordinated sequence.

Claim 10

Apparatus comprising: plural outputs for connection to machine tool drives, means adapted for receiving externally generated requests for supplying data to a given one of said plural outputs, a fast data storage unit containing input data, means for interpolating input data to provide output signals, means for selectively responding to said requests in an asynchronous, interleaved order to secure corresponding input data from said fast data storage unit to supply said input data to the said means for interpolating for providing output signals, and means for distributing said output signals to corresponding ones of said output signals to corresponding ones of said outputs from said means for interpolating in a coordinated sequence.

Claim 11

A machine tool control system including a special purpose computer, control means for producing signals for asynchronously directing said computer to service successive machine tools having inputs connected to said computer in response to demand signals from said machine tools, said computer including interpolation means for performing a multiple-sequence pulse generation interpolation for generating motion pulses, said computer performing only one sequence of said interpolation for each axis of a machine tool for each signal from said control means only one machine tool at a time on an interleaved basis, and means for coupling said motion pulses directly to the input of the machine tool selected by said control means without delay.

Claim 12

A machine tool control system including a special purpose computer, control means for producing signals for asynchronously directing said computer to service successive machine tools having inputs connected to said computer in response to demand signals from said machine tools, said computer including interpolation means for performing a multiple-sequence pulse generation interpolation for generating motion pulses, said computer performing only one sequence of said interpolation for each axis of a machine tool for each signal from said control means only one machine tool at a time on an interleaved basis, and means for coupling said motion pulses directly to the input of the machine tool selected by said control means without delay.

Claim 13

Apparatus including a time-shared numerical-control interpolating means for sequential calculation of a stream of pulses for a plurality of numerically controlled machines and providing said stream of pulses at the output thereof, connecting means being adapted to be directly connected to the control inputs of numerically controlled machines without storage of the output of said interpolating means in means comprising buffer storage, time sharing control means for controlling the assignment of said interpolating means to provide a single-motion control calculation at a time, demand lines adapted to be connected to numerically controlled machines shifting of the operation of said interpolating means in response to inputs to said control means from said demand lines and said control means being adapted for providing asynchronous dedication of said interpolation means to one machine tool at a time in response to said control means.

Claim 14

Apparatus including a time-shared numerical-control interpolating means for sequential calculation of a stream of pulses for a plurality of numerically controlled machines and providing said stream of pulses at the output thereof, connecting means being adapted to be directly connected to the control inputs of numerically controlled machines without storage of the output of said interpolating means in means comprising buffer storage, time sharing control means for controlling the assignment of said interpolating means to provide a single-motion control calculation at a time, demand lines adapted to be connected to numerically controlled machines shifting of the operation of said interpolating means in response to inputs to said control means from said demand lines and said control means being adapted for providing asynchronous dedication of said interpolation means to one machine tool at a time in response to said control means.

Claim 15

Apparatus including a plurality of drives, control means for controlling said drives, each drive having control means associated therewith, a drive instruction calculation unit having a plurality of outputs for said drives, said unit including time-shared means for calculating a single sequence of a multiple-Sequence instruction for a single drive by means for providing a separate calculation for a drive at a time for each of a plurality of sequences for said drive, a traffic control unit for controlling the sequence of operation of said calculation unit providing traffic control signals, each drive including requesting means for a given drive coupled to said traffic control unit, each calculation providing an output in response to each traffic control signal for the drive corresponding to said traffic control signal, interleaved asynchronously with calculations and outputs for other drives and the one of said outputs corresponding to a said single drive supplying each of said outputs to said controller for said drive directly without intervening inactive storage of said output.

Claim 16

Apparatus including a plurality of drives, control means for controlling said drives, each drive having control means associated therewith, a drive instruction calculation unit having a plurality of outputs for said drives, said unit including time-shared means for calculating a single sequence of a multiple-Sequence instruction for a single drive by means for providing a separate calculation for a drive at a time for each of a plurality of sequences for said drive, a traffic control unit for controlling the sequence of operation of said calculation unit providing traffic control signals, each drive including requesting means for a given drive coupled to said traffic control unit, each calculation providing an output in response to each traffic control signal for the drive corresponding to said traffic control signal, interleaved asynchronously with calculations and outputs for other drives and the one of said outputs corresponding to a said single drive supplying each of said outputs to said controller for said drive directly without intervening inactive storage of said output.