US5463545A
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US
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Functional redundancy control system
Assignee: Kyocera Mita Industrial Co Ltd
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Filing: 1995-02-23
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Granted: 1995-10-31
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Expires: 2015-02-23
Abstract
Abstract A so-called "softly broken apparatus" by constructing a self-repair apparatus based on functional redundancy. An apparatus is represented in a form including a function using an FBS diagram (a diagram comprising functions, behaviors and states). When a fault occurs, a function lost is retrieved by the FBS diagram, and a functional part capable of developing the lost function by a potential function is detected. The potential function of the functional part is developed, thereby to recover the lost function. Specifically, when a fault occurs in an apparatus, a lost function is recovered by utilizing a part which originally exists in the apparatus by utilizing the existing part as a substitute for the part which fails.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasushi Umeda
- 👤 Tetsuo Tomiyama
- 👤 Hiroyuki Yoshikawa
- 👤 Yuichi Koike
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 17:36
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B9/00; G05B9/02; G05B9/03; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/55; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; G06F11/202; G06F11/2038
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A function redundancy control system for an apparatus including a plurality of elements controllable by a control means, each of said plurality of controllable elements having ability to perform a predetermined function inherently required in the apparatus, said system comprising: retrieving means for determining whether controllable elements of said plurality are controllable to perform a potential function which is substantially the same as a predetermined inherent function of another one of said plurality of controllable elements and which potential function is not ordinarily performed, and for identifying controllable elements having said potential function; and redundancy system control means for causing one of said controllable elements to perform the potential function thereof after said one controllable element has been identified by said retrieving means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A function redundancy control system for an apparatus including a plurality of elements controllable by a control means, each of said plurality of controllable elements having ability to perform a predetermined function inherently required in the apparatus, said system comprising: retrieving means for determining whether controllable elements of said plurality are controllable to perform a potential function which is substantially the same as a predetermined inherent function of another one of said plurality of controllable elements and which potential function is not ordinarily performed, and for identifying controllable elements having said potential function; and redundancy system control means for causing one of said controllable elements to perform the potential function thereof after said one controllable element has been identified by said retrieving means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
The function redundancy system control system according to claim 1, wherein said retrieving means comprises: storing means for storing data describing at least a part of an apparatus, which is a control object, in a predetermined relational representation using functions, behaviors and states, said representation defining a FBS diagram; FBS retrieving means for retrieving data indicative of present potential functions on the basis of the FBS diagram stored in the storing means; and means for determining a potential function to be performed on the basis of retrieved data from said FBS retrieving means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The function redundancy system control system according to claim 2, wherein said FBS diagram clearly represents a many-to-many correspondence between a plurality of functions and a plurality of behaviors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The function redundancy system control system according to claim 1, which further comprises diagnosing means for diagnosing a fault in the apparatus which is a control object, said retrieving means being operated when it is judged by said diagnosing means that a fault occurs in the apparatus which is a control object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The function redundancy system control system according to claim 3, which further comprises diagnosing means for diagnosing a fault in the apparatus which is a control object, said retrieving means being operated when it is judged by said diagnosing means that a fault occurs in the apparatus which is a control object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
156 words
A function redundancy system control system comprising: storing means for storing data describing at least a part of an apparatus in predetermined relational representation using function, behaviors and states, said representation defining a FBS diagram, said data representing controllable elements of the apparatus, which elements perform inherent functions required during normal operation of the apparatus, at least some of the controllable elements being controllable, during redundancy operation of the apparatus, to perform a substitutable function that is substantially the same as the inherent function of other controllable elements of the apparatus; retrieving means for retrieving a substitutable function which can be substituted for a particular inherent function of a certain controllable element in the apparatus on the basis of the FBS diagram stored in the storing means; and redundancy system control means for operating the apparatus by causing one of said at least some controllable elements to perform the substitutable function retrieved by said retrieving means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
156 words
A function redundancy system control system comprising: storing means for storing data describing at least a part of an apparatus in predetermined relational representation using function, behaviors and states, said representation defining a FBS diagram, said data representing controllable elements of the apparatus, which elements perform inherent functions required during normal operation of the apparatus, at least some of the controllable elements being controllable, during redundancy operation of the apparatus, to perform a substitutable function that is substantially the same as the inherent function of other controllable elements of the apparatus; retrieving means for retrieving a substitutable function which can be substituted for a particular inherent function of a certain controllable element in the apparatus on the basis of the FBS diagram stored in the storing means; and redundancy system control means for operating the apparatus by causing one of said at least some controllable elements to perform the substitutable function retrieved by said retrieving means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The function redundancy system control system according to claim 6, wherein said FBS diagram clearly represents a many-to-many correspondence between a plurality of functions and a plurality of behaviors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The function redundancy system control system according to claim 7, which further comprises diagnosing means for diagnosing a fault in the apparatus which is a control object, said retrieving means being operated when it is judged by said diagnosing means that a fault occurs in the apparatus which is a control object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
154 words
The function redundancy system control system according to claim 8, wherein said diagnosing means comprises: storing means for storing qualitative data representing the apparatus which is a control object as a combination of a plurality of elements including said controllable elements and qualitatively representing behaviors and attributes of the respective elements and the combinational relationship among the elements using parameters; operating means for diagnosing an operating state when the apparatus which is a control object is operated by said redundancy system control means, for simulating operation of the apparatus on the basis of the qualitative data stored in said storing means when it is judged that the operating state is not normal, and for obtaining an adjusting work plan which can be carried out by adjusting a parameter on the basis of the results of the simulation; and parameter type state adjusting means for executing the adjusting work plan obtained by the operating means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
155 words
The functional redundancy system control system according to claim 8, wherein said diagnosing means comprises: storing means storing qualitative data representing functional means in said apparatus as a combination of a plurality of elements including said controllable elements and qualitatively representing behaviors and attributes of the respective elements and the combination relationship among the elements using parameters; operating means for obtaining a fault repair work plan which can be performed by changing a parameter on the basis of qualitative data stored in the storing means when it is judged that a fault occurs in the apparatus which is a control object; parameter type fault repair means for executing the fault repair work plan obtained by the operating means; and means for outputting, when the fault in the apparatus which is a control object cannot be repaired by executing the fault repair work plan by the parameter type fault repair means, the occurrence of the fault.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
The function redundancy system control system according to claim 10, wherein said diagnosing means further comprises: operating means for diagnosing an operation state when the apparatus which is a control object is operated by said redundancy system control system, for simulating operation of said functional means in said apparatus on the basis of qualitative data stored in said storing means when it is judged that the operating state is not normal, and for obtaining an adjusting work plan which can be carried out by adjusting a parameter on the basis of the results of the simulation; and parameter type state adjusting means for executing the adjusting work plan obtained by the operating means.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
210 words
An apparatus having a functional redundancy system and being operable in an ordinary operation sequence and a redundancy operation sequence, said apparatus comprising: control means; and a plurality of elements controlled by the control means, each of the plurality of controlled elements being controlled, during the ordinary operation sequence of said apparatus, by the control means to perform only a predetermined inherent function that is performed thereby and at least one element of the plurality of controlled elements being controllable by the control means to perform a potential function which is substantially the same as the predetermined inherent function of another one of the controlled elements, and which is not ordinarily performed by the said at least one controlled element, the control means including: ordinary control means for operating the plurality of controlled elements in accordance with the ordinary operation sequence such that said plurality of controlled elements perform their inherent functions; and redundancy system control means for operating the said at least one controlled element in accordance with the redundancy operation sequence which is different from said ordinary operation sequence such that the inherent function of the said another one of the controlled elements is replaced by the potential function performed by the said at least one controlled element.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
210 words
An apparatus having a functional redundancy system and being operable in an ordinary operation sequence and a redundancy operation sequence, said apparatus comprising: control means; and a plurality of elements controlled by the control means, each of the plurality of controlled elements being controlled, during the ordinary operation sequence of said apparatus, by the control means to perform only a predetermined inherent function that is performed thereby and at least one element of the plurality of controlled elements being controllable by the control means to perform a potential function which is substantially the same as the predetermined inherent function of another one of the controlled elements, and which is not ordinarily performed by the said at least one controlled element, the control means including: ordinary control means for operating the plurality of controlled elements in accordance with the ordinary operation sequence such that said plurality of controlled elements perform their inherent functions; and redundancy system control means for operating the said at least one controlled element in accordance with the redundancy operation sequence which is different from said ordinary operation sequence such that the inherent function of the said another one of the controlled elements is replaced by the potential function performed by the said at least one controlled element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus having a functional redundancy system according to claim 12, wherein the said another one of the controlled elements can designate a predetermined plurality of said controlled elements, and said redundancy system control means performs operation in accordance with a predetermined sequence out of a predetermined plurality of redundancy operation sequences depending on which of the controlled elements has been designated by the said another one of the controlled elements.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus having a functional redundancy system according to claim 13, which comprises a ROM storing said predetermined plurality of sequences.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
223 words
An apparatus having a functional redundancy system and being operable in an ordinary operation sequence and a redundancy operation sequence, said apparatus comprising: functional means, said functional means including a plurality of controlled elements, each controlled element of said plurality having a predetermined inherent function that is performed thereby during the ordinary operation sequence of said apparatus, and at least one controlled element of said plurality having a potential function which is substantially the same as the predetermined inherent function of another one of the controlled elements and which is not ordinarily performed; diagnosing means for making a diagnosis to judge whether or not a fault is present in said functional means; ordinary control means for controlling said plurality of controlled elements in accordance with the ordinary operation sequence such that such plurality of controlled elements perform the inherent functions thereof when it is judged by said diagnosing means that no fault is present; and redundancy system control means for controlling, when it is judged by said diagnosing means that a fault is present, a controlled element other than a controlled element which has failed in accordance with the redundancy operation sequence which is different from the ordinary operation sequence such that the inherent function of the controlled element which has failed is replaced by the potential function performed by another controlled element.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
223 words
An apparatus having a functional redundancy system and being operable in an ordinary operation sequence and a redundancy operation sequence, said apparatus comprising: functional means, said functional means including a plurality of controlled elements, each controlled element of said plurality having a predetermined inherent function that is performed thereby during the ordinary operation sequence of said apparatus, and at least one controlled element of said plurality having a potential function which is substantially the same as the predetermined inherent function of another one of the controlled elements and which is not ordinarily performed; diagnosing means for making a diagnosis to judge whether or not a fault is present in said functional means; ordinary control means for controlling said plurality of controlled elements in accordance with the ordinary operation sequence such that such plurality of controlled elements perform the inherent functions thereof when it is judged by said diagnosing means that no fault is present; and redundancy system control means for controlling, when it is judged by said diagnosing means that a fault is present, a controlled element other than a controlled element which has failed in accordance with the redundancy operation sequence which is different from the ordinary operation sequence such that the inherent function of the controlled element which has failed is replaced by the potential function performed by another controlled element.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus having a functional redundancy system according to claim 15, wherein said redundancy system control means performs a control operation in accordance with a predetermined sequence out of a predetermined plurality of redundancy control sequences to correspond to the type of a controlled element which has failed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus having a functional redundancy system according to claim 16, which comprises a ROM storing said predetermined plurality of sequences.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus having a functional redundancy system according to claim 15, wherein said diagnosing means diagnoses, when a controlled element is controlled by said redundancy system control means, an operating state of the controlled element controlled by the redundancy control means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
153 words
The apparatus having a functional redundancy system according to claim 18, wherein said diagnosing means comprises: storing means for storing qualitative data representing said functional means as a combination of a plurality of elements including said controlled elements and qualitatively representing behavior and attributes of the respective elements and the combinational relationship among the elements using parameters; operating means for simulating, when a controlled element is controlled by said redundancy system control means, operation of the controlled element controlled by the redundancy system control means on the basis of qualitative data stored in said storing means when it is judged that an operating state of the controlled element is not normal, and for obtaining an adjusting work plan which can be carried out by adjusting a parameter on the basis of the results of the simulation; and parameter type state adjusting means for executing the adjusting work plan obtained by the operating means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
148 words
The apparatus having a functional redundancy system according to claim 15, wherein said diagnosing means comprises: storing means for storing qualitative data representing said functional means as a combination of a plurality of elements including said controlled elements and qualitatively representing behaviors and attributes of the respective elements and the combinational relationship among the elements using parameters; operating means for obtaining, when it is judged that a fault occurs in said functional means, a fault repair work plan which can be performed by changing a parameter on the basis of the qualitative data stored in the storing means; parameter type fault repairing means for executing the fault repair work plan obtained by the operating means; and means for outputting, when the fault in the functional means cannot be repaired by executing the fault repair work plan by the parameter type fault repairing means, the occurrence of the fault.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
118 words
The apparatus having a functional redundancy system according to claim 20, wherein said diagnosing means further comprises: operating means for diagnosing, when a controlled element is controlled by said redundancy system control means, an operating state of the controlled element controlled by the redundancy system control means, for simulating operation of the controlled element on the basis of qualitative data stored in said storing means when it is judged that the operating states is not normal, and for obtaining an adjusting work plan which can be carried out by adjusting a parameter on the basis of the results of the simulation; and parameter type state adjusting means for executing the adjusting work plan obtained by the operating means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-10-30 | 1999-05-01 | 1999-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-10-30 | 2003-05-01 | 2003-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-10-30 | 2007-05-01 | 2007-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |