US4868412A
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US
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Distributed control system
Assignee: Sundstrand Corp
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Filing: 1988-10-28
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Granted: 1989-09-19
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Expires: 2008-10-28
Abstract
Abstract A control system is provided in which a plurality of independent control elements are each capable of generating a random value and determining a time delay as a function of that random value. Each of the control elements accesses the magnitude of a sensed parameter and responds to that magnitude. When correction of the sensed parameter is required, each independent control element senses the need for a correction and delays by an amount of time determined randomly and independent from all other control elements. After the randomly determined time delay has elapsed for each control element, that control element again accesses the magnitude of the sensed parameter and, if correction is still required, changes the connection status of an associated switch. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control element interrogates the status of its associated switch to determine if actuation would benefit the correction of the magnitude of the sensed parameter.
Inventors
- 👤 William R. Owens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:50
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J3/00; H02J3/18; G; G05; G05B; G05B11/00; G05B11/01; G05B11/14; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/1906; G05D23/1912; H02H; H02H3/00; H02H3/02; H02H3/05; H02J3/12; H02J3/14; H02J2105/00; H02J2105/50; H02J2105/57; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B70/00; Y02B70/30; Y02B70/3225; Y02B90/00; Y02B90/20; Y02E; Y02E40/00; Y02E40/30; Y04; Y04S; Y04S20/00; Y04S20/20; Y04S20/222; Y10; Y10S; Y10S323/00; Y10S323/906
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A control system, comprising: means for generating a random value; means for measuring elapsed time; means for accessing a magnitude of a sensed parameter; means for determining a time delay as a function of said random value, said generating means and said determining means being associated in signal communication with each other; and means for changing a connection status between a corrective component and an electrical circuit in response to said magnitude of said sensed parameter following a period of elapsed time after said magnitude is sensed, said period of elapsed time being a function of said time delay, said changing means being associated in signal communication with said determining means, said measuring means and said accessing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A control system, comprising: means for generating a random value; means for measuring elapsed time; means for accessing a magnitude of a sensed parameter; means for determining a time delay as a function of said random value, said generating means and said determining means being associated in signal communication with each other; and means for changing a connection status between a corrective component and an electrical circuit in response to said magnitude of said sensed parameter following a period of elapsed time after said magnitude is sensed, said period of elapsed time being a function of said time delay, said changing means being associated in signal communication with said determining means, said measuring means and said accessing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The control system of claim 1, wherein: said generating means, said measuring means, said accessing means, said determining means and said changing means are associated together as a first control element and said first control element is associated with another similarly configured control element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The control system of claim 2, wherein: each of said control elements is associated in signal communication with an individual one of a plurality of said corrective components and with said electrical circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The control system of claim 3, wherein: said changing means comprises an output port of a microprocessor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The control system of claim 3, wherein: said corrective component is a resistor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The control system of claim 1, wherein: said determining means is a segment of a software program.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
127 words
A distributed control system, comprising: a plurality of control elements, each of said plurality of control elements comprising means for generating a random value, means connected in signal communication with said generating means for determining a time delay as a function of said random value, means for accessing a magnitude of a sensed parameter, means for measuring elapsed time and means, connected in signal communicating with said accessing means, said measuring means and said determining means, for changing a connection status between a corrective component and an electrical circuit in response to a preselected value of said sensed parameter magnitude following a predetermined period of said elapsed time after said magnitude is sensed, said period of elapsed time being determined as a function of said time delay.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
127 words
A distributed control system, comprising: a plurality of control elements, each of said plurality of control elements comprising means for generating a random value, means connected in signal communication with said generating means for determining a time delay as a function of said random value, means for accessing a magnitude of a sensed parameter, means for measuring elapsed time and means, connected in signal communicating with said accessing means, said measuring means and said determining means, for changing a connection status between a corrective component and an electrical circuit in response to a preselected value of said sensed parameter magnitude following a predetermined period of said elapsed time after said magnitude is sensed, said period of elapsed time being determined as a function of said time delay.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 7, wherein: said random value is generated as a function of an exponential probability distribution function.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 7, further comprising: a switch connected in signal communication with said connection status changing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 7, wherein: said connection status changing means comprises an output port of a microprocessor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 7, wherein: said corrective component is a resistor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 7, wherein: said sensed parameter is electrical current.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 7, wherein: said sensed parameter is electrical voltage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 7, wherein: said sensed parameter is power factor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 7, wherein: a microprocessor comprises said generating means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 7, wherein: said plurality of control elements is connected in electrical communication with said electrical circuit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
129 words
A distributed control system, comprising: a plurality of control elements, each of said plurality of control elements comprising means for generating a random value, means for determining a time delay as a function of said random value, means for measuring elapsed time, means for accessing a magnitude of a sensed parameter and means for changing a connection status between a corrective component and an electrical circuit in response to the difference between said magnitude of said sensed parameter and a preselected reference magnitude following a predetermined period of said elapsed time after said parameter magnitude is sensed, said period of elapsed being a function of said time delay, said generating means, said determining means, said measuring means and said accessing means being connected in signal communication with each other.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
129 words
A distributed control system, comprising: a plurality of control elements, each of said plurality of control elements comprising means for generating a random value, means for determining a time delay as a function of said random value, means for measuring elapsed time, means for accessing a magnitude of a sensed parameter and means for changing a connection status between a corrective component and an electrical circuit in response to the difference between said magnitude of said sensed parameter and a preselected reference magnitude following a predetermined period of said elapsed time after said parameter magnitude is sensed, said period of elapsed being a function of said time delay, said generating means, said determining means, said measuring means and said accessing means being connected in signal communication with each other.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 17, further comprising: a switch connected in signal communication with said changing means, said switch being electrically connected to said electrical circuit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 17, wherein: each of said corrective components is connected in electrical communication with a said electrical circuit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
125 words
A control system having a control element, said corrective component comprising: means for generating a random value; means for determining a time delay as a function of said random value, said determining means being associated in information communication with said generating means; means for accessing a measured magnitude of a sensed parameter; means for measuring elapsed time; and means for changing a connection status between a circuit element and an electrical circuit in response to said magnitude of a said sensed parameter following a period of said elapsed time after said magnitude is sensed, said period of elapsed time being a function of said time delay, said changing means being associated in signal communication with said determining means, said accessing means and said measuring means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
125 words
A control system having a control element, said corrective component comprising: means for generating a random value; means for determining a time delay as a function of said random value, said determining means being associated in information communication with said generating means; means for accessing a measured magnitude of a sensed parameter; means for measuring elapsed time; and means for changing a connection status between a circuit element and an electrical circuit in response to said magnitude of a said sensed parameter following a period of said elapsed time after said magnitude is sensed, said period of elapsed time being a function of said time delay, said changing means being associated in signal communication with said determining means, said accessing means and said measuring means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 20, further comprising: means for comparing said measured magnitude to a predetermined threshold value.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for controlling an electrical system, comprising: generating a random value; determining a time delay as a function of said random value; accessing a measured magnitude of a sensed parameter; measuring elapsed time; and changing a connection status between a corrective component and an electrical circuit in response to said magnitude of said sensed parameter following a period of said elapsed time after said magnitude is sensed, said period of elapsed time being a function of said time delay.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for controlling an electrical system, comprising: generating a random value; determining a time delay as a function of said random value; accessing a measured magnitude of a sensed parameter; measuring elapsed time; and changing a connection status between a corrective component and an electrical circuit in response to said magnitude of said sensed parameter following a period of said elapsed time after said magnitude is sensed, said period of elapsed time being a function of said time delay.
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