US3699989A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Feedback control apparatus
Assignee: Lummus Technology LLC
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Filing: 1970-06-18
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Granted: 1972-10-24
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Expires: 1990-06-18
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for controlling the operation of a device is disclosed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention wherein the actual operation of the device is detected by detecting means and compared to a predetermined standard of performance. Indications of the variance between the actual operation of the device and the predetermined standard of performance are utilized by control function generating means to generate a device control function which adjusts the operation of the device such that the variance is reduced to zero. The device control function is additionally applied to device simulating means which simulates the response of the device to the device control function and generates a simulating function representative of that response. The control function generating means combines the simulating function with the indicated variance to produce the control function which includes a substantially noise-free component indicative of the rate of change of the operation of the device thereby anticipating the future operation of the device.
Inventors
- 👤 Ward F O'connor
- 👤 William George Van Vliet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:31
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B13/00; G05B13/02; G05B13/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2278; Y10T137/2409; Y10T137/2452; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7758; Y10T137/7761
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
Apparatus for controlling the operation of a device, said device producing an actual output signal representative of the actual operation thereof, comprising: means for providing a signal indicative of a desired output signal to be produced by said device; error detecting means for producing an error signal when said actual output signal produced by said device differs from said desired output signal; device simulating means for simulating physical characteristics of said device including the time constants thereof and responsive to a control signal for producing a further signal substantially equal to said actual output signal; and control signal generating means coupled to said error detecting means and including differentiating means coupled to said device simulating means for generating saId control signal having a component proportional to said error signal and another component proportional to the rate of change of said further signal whereby said control signal is adapted to be applied to said devices such that said actual output signal tends to be equal to said desired output signal thereby minimizing said error signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
Apparatus for controlling the operation of a device, said device producing an actual output signal representative of the actual operation thereof, comprising: means for providing a signal indicative of a desired output signal to be produced by said device; error detecting means for producing an error signal when said actual output signal produced by said device differs from said desired output signal; device simulating means for simulating physical characteristics of said device including the time constants thereof and responsive to a control signal for producing a further signal substantially equal to said actual output signal; and control signal generating means coupled to said error detecting means and including differentiating means coupled to said device simulating means for generating saId control signal having a component proportional to said error signal and another component proportional to the rate of change of said further signal whereby said control signal is adapted to be applied to said devices such that said actual output signal tends to be equal to said desired output signal thereby minimizing said error signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control signal generating means further comprises: amplifying means coupled to said error detecting means for producing a signal proportional to the value of said error signal; and combining means coupled to said differentiating means and said amplifying means for combining the signals produced by said differentiating means and said amplifying means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control signal generating means further comprises: integrating means coupled to said error detecting means for producing a signal proportional to the integral of said error signal; and combining means coupled to said differentiating means and said integrating means for combining the signals produced by said differentiating means and said integrating means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control signal generating means further comprises: amplifying means coupled to said error detecting means for producing a signal proportional to the value of said error signal; integrating means coupled to said error detecting means for producing a signal proportional to the integral of said error signal; and combining means coupled to said differentiating means, said amplifying means and said integrating means for combining the signals produced by said differentiating means, said amplifying means and said integrating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said combining means comprises algebraic summing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said device simulating means comprises an electrical analog model of said device and said further signal produced thereby is an electrical signal having a negligible noise component.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said device simulating means comprises a digital computer model of said device and said further signal produced thereby is an electrical signal having a negligible noise component.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said error detecting means comprises differential amplifier means including a first input terminal supplied with said desired output signal and a second input terminal supplied with said actual output signal whereby said error signal is proportional to the algebraic difference between said desired output signal and said actual output signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
169 words
Apparatus for controlling the operation of a device comprising: detecting means for detecting the actual operation of said device; simulating means for simulating the physical characteristics of said device, including the time constant thereof; said simulating means responding to control functions applied thereto for producing simulated representations of the operation of said device; error indicating means coupled to said detecting means for producing indications proportional to the variance between the actual operation of said device and a predetermined standard of performance; control function generating means coupled to said simulating means and said error indicating means for generating said control function such that said control function includes a component indicative of the rate of change of said simulated representations of the operation of said device whereby the future operation of said device may be anticipated; said component including negligible noise disturbances; and means for applying said control function to said device so that the actual operation thereof tends to conform in a stable manner to said predetermined standard of performance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
169 words
Apparatus for controlling the operation of a device comprising: detecting means for detecting the actual operation of said device; simulating means for simulating the physical characteristics of said device, including the time constant thereof; said simulating means responding to control functions applied thereto for producing simulated representations of the operation of said device; error indicating means coupled to said detecting means for producing indications proportional to the variance between the actual operation of said device and a predetermined standard of performance; control function generating means coupled to said simulating means and said error indicating means for generating said control function such that said control function includes a component indicative of the rate of change of said simulated representations of the operation of said device whereby the future operation of said device may be anticipated; said component including negligible noise disturbances; and means for applying said control function to said device so that the actual operation thereof tends to conform in a stable manner to said predetermined standard of performance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
173 words
Apparatus for controlling the performance of a processing system comprising: regulating means for regulating a process variable in accordance with a control function; monitor means for monitoring the operation of said processing system and for producing indications of the actual operation thereof; means for simulating physical characteristics of said regulating means and said processing system, including the time constants thereof, and responsive to said control function for producing simulated indications of said operation; error means for generating manifestations of the variance between the actual operation of said processing system and a predetermined standard of performance; first means coupled to said error means for producing first representations of the value of said generated manifestations; second means coupled to said error means for producing second representations of the integral of said generated manifestations; third means coupled to said means for simulating for producing third representations of the rate of change of said simulated indications of said operation; and combining means for combining said first, said second and said third representations to produce said control function.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
173 words
Apparatus for controlling the performance of a processing system comprising: regulating means for regulating a process variable in accordance with a control function; monitor means for monitoring the operation of said processing system and for producing indications of the actual operation thereof; means for simulating physical characteristics of said regulating means and said processing system, including the time constants thereof, and responsive to said control function for producing simulated indications of said operation; error means for generating manifestations of the variance between the actual operation of said processing system and a predetermined standard of performance; first means coupled to said error means for producing first representations of the value of said generated manifestations; second means coupled to said error means for producing second representations of the integral of said generated manifestations; third means coupled to said means for simulating for producing third representations of the rate of change of said simulated indications of said operation; and combining means for combining said first, said second and said third representations to produce said control function.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said means for simulating comprises a model of said regulating means and said processing system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said model comprises electrical analog means such that said simulated indications are electrical signals having negligible electrical noise disturbances.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said monitor means comprises transducer means such that said produced indications are electrical signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said error means comprises differential amplifier means including a first input terminal supplied with electrical signals representative of said predetermined standard of performance and a second input terminal supplied with said electrical signals produced by said transducer means whereby said generated manifestations are electrical signals proportional to the algebraic difference between said electrical signals representative of said predetermined standard of performance and said electrical signals produced by said transducer means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said first means comprises electrical amplifying means whereby said first representations are first electrical signals having amplitudes proportional to the value of the electrical signals generated by said differential amplifier means; said second means comprises electrical integrating means whereby said second representations are second electrical signals having amplitudes proportional to the integral of the electrical signals generated by said differential amplifier means; and said third means comprises electrical differentiating means whereby said third representations are third electrical signals having amplitudes proportional to the rate of change of said electrical signals produced by said electrical analog means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said combining means comprises electrical summation amplifier means such that said control function is an electrical signal proportional to the algebraic addition of said first, said second and said third electrical signals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said regulating means comprises control valve means including actuator means responsive to said electrical signal produced by said electrical summation amplifier means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said monitor means comprises pressure transducer means for producing fluid pressures as indications of the actual performance of said processing system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein said regulating means comprises a final control element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 wherein said error means comprises pressure responsive means for producing fluid pressures proportional to the difference bEtween said fluid pressures applied thereto by said pressure transducer means and a control point to which said pressure responsive means is set, said control point corresponding to said predetermined standard of performance.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein said first means comprises fluid pressure proportional control means whereby said first representations are fluid pressures linearly proportional to said fluid pressures produced by said pressure responsive means; said second means comprises fluid pressure reset control means whereby said second representations are fluid pressures proportional to the integral of said pressures produced by said pressure responsive means; and said third means comprises fluid pressure rate control means whereby said third representations are fluid pressures proportional to the rate of change of said simulated indications of said operation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 21 wherein said combining means comprises means in fluid communication with said fluid pressure proportional control means, said fluid pressure reset control means and said fluid pressure rate control means such that said control function is a fluid pressure proportional to said fluid pressures produced by said fluid pressure proportional control means plus said fluid pressures produced by said fluid pressure reset control means plus said fluid pressures produced by said fluid pressure rate control means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein said simulated indications of said performance produced by said model are characterized as fluid pressures and wherein said first means, said second means, said third means and said combining means are included in a proportional-plus-reset-plus derivative stack-type fluid pressure control means for producing said control function characterized as a fluid pressure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-24 | 1976-04-24 | 1976-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-24 | 1980-04-24 | 1980-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-24 | 1984-04-24 | 1984-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |