Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for auto-tuning a regulator for a process, comprising the steps of: (a) applying a perturbation to the process; (b) observing input signals to the process which correspond to said perturbation and output signals of the process resulting from the applied perturbation; (c) modifying said input and output signals for rendering said signals fully integrable and hence Fourier transformable; (d) performing a FFT (Fast Fourier Transformation) of the integrable input and output signals to obtain a plurality of points on a frequency response curve of the process; (e) using an optimal multiple point fitting method for automatically selecting parameters of a regulator structure based on the points on the frequency response curve; and (f) tuning the regulator for the process in accordance with the parameters selected by the optimal multiple-point fitting method.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for auto-tuning a regulator for a process, comprising the steps of: (a) applying a perturbation to the process; (b) observing input signals to the process which correspond to said perturbation and output signals of the process resulting from the applied perturbation; (c) modifying said input and output signals for rendering said signals fully integrable and hence Fourier transformable; (d) performing a FFT (Fast Fourier Transformation) of the integrable input and output signals to obtain a plurality of points on a frequency response curve of the process; (e) using an optimal multiple point fitting method for automatically selecting parameters of a regulator structure based on the points on the frequency response curve; and (f) tuning the regulator for the process in accordance with the parameters selected by the optimal multiple-point fitting method.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method for auto-tuning a regulator as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of modifying said signals comprises decomposing said signals into a periodic and a decay component, and the step of introducing a decay exponential or factor to said signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method for auto-tuning a regulator as recited in claim 1, wherein: a) said step of modifying said signals comprises introducing a decay exponential or factor to said signals to render the signals fully integrable; and b) said step of performing a FFT results in obtaining a plurality of points on a shifted frequency response curve of the process.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method for auto-tuning a regulator as recited in claim 3, further comprising the steps of: a) performing an inverse FFT on the shifted frequency response curve of the process to obtain an inversely transformed signal, b) removing the decay exponential from the inversely transformed signal to obtain a modified inversely transformed signal, and c) performing a FFT on the inversely transformed signal to obtain the frequency response curve of the process.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method for auto-tuning a regulator as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of using an optimal multiple point fitting method comprises applying a least squares point fitting method for selecting said parameters of the regulator structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
131 words
The method for auto-tuning a regulator as recited in claim 1, comprising the further step of continually varying the regulator by: (a) monitoring process transients representative of changes in process set point or load; (b) upon detecting a significant transient, repeating the following steps of: (i) estimating a plurality of points on a changed frequency response curve of the changed process from the transient for obtaining a transfer function for the changed process; (ii) using an optimal multi-point fitting method for automatically selecting parameters of the regulator structure based on the estimated frequency response points for the changed process; and (iii) automatically tuning the regulator for the changed process in accordance with the parameters selected by the optimizing multi-point fitting method, thereby providing a continually adaptive variation of the process regulator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
131 words
The method for auto-tuning a regulator as recited in claim 2, comprising the further step of continually varying the regulator by: (a) monitoring process transients representative of changes in process set point or load; (b) upon detecting a significant transient, repeating the following steps of: (i) estimating a plurality of points on a changed frequency response curve of the changed process from the transient for obtaining a transfer function for the changed process; (ii) using an optimal multi-point fitting method for automatically selecting parameters of the regulator structure based on the estimated frequency response points for the changed process; and (iii) automatically tuning the regulator for the changed process in accordance with the parameters selected by the optimizing multi-point fitting method, thereby providing a continually adaptive variation of the process regulator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
131 words
The method for auto-tuning a regulator as recited in claim 3, comprising the further step of continually varying the regulator by: (a) monitoring process transients representative of changes in process set point or load; (b) upon detecting a significant transient, repeating the following steps of: (i) estimating a plurality of points on a changed frequency response curve of the changed process from the transient for obtaining a transfer function for the changed process; (ii) using an optimal multi-point fitting method for automatically selecting parameters of the regulator structure based on the estimated frequency response points for the changed process; and (iii) automatically tuning the regulator for the changed process in accordance with the parameters selected by the optimizing multi-point fitting method, thereby providing a continually adaptive variation of the process regulator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method for auto-tuning a regulator as recited in claim 6, wherein said step of estimating a plurality of points on a changed frequency response curve comprises performing a FFT of changed input and output signals to obtain said points on the changed frequency response curve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method for auto-tuning a regulator as recited in claim 7, wherein said step of estimating a plurality of points on a changed frequency response curve comprises performing a FFT of changed input and output signals to obtain said points on the changed frequency response curve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method for auto-tuning a regulator as recited in claim 8, wherein said step of estimating a plurality of points on a changed frequency response curve comprises performing a FFT of changed input and output signals to obtain said points on the changed frequency response curve.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
199 words
A method for auto-tuning a regulator for a multi-variable process having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, comprising the steps of: (a) applying a sequence of perturbations to said plurality of inputs of the process; (b) observing an input transient signal resulting from application of a perturbation to one of said plurality of inputs and observing a plurality of output transient signals resulting therefrom, and repeating said observing step upon application of a perturbation to another of said plurality of inputs; (c) modifying said input transient signals and said output transient signals for rendering said transient signals fuilly integrable and hence Fourier transformable; (d) performing a FFT (Fast Fourier Transformation) of the integrable transient signals to obtain a plurality of points on a plurality of frequency response characteristics from individual inputs to individual outputs of the process for obtaining a plurality of transfer functions for the multivariable process; (e) automatically selecting parameters of multivariable regulator structures based on the points on the frequency response characteristics by using an optimal multiple point fitting method; and (f) tuning the multivariable regulator structures for the multivariable process in accordance with the parameters selected by the optimal multiple-point fitting method.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
199 words
A method for auto-tuning a regulator for a multi-variable process having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, comprising the steps of: (a) applying a sequence of perturbations to said plurality of inputs of the process; (b) observing an input transient signal resulting from application of a perturbation to one of said plurality of inputs and observing a plurality of output transient signals resulting therefrom, and repeating said observing step upon application of a perturbation to another of said plurality of inputs; (c) modifying said input transient signals and said output transient signals for rendering said transient signals fuilly integrable and hence Fourier transformable; (d) performing a FFT (Fast Fourier Transformation) of the integrable transient signals to obtain a plurality of points on a plurality of frequency response characteristics from individual inputs to individual outputs of the process for obtaining a plurality of transfer functions for the multivariable process; (e) automatically selecting parameters of multivariable regulator structures based on the points on the frequency response characteristics by using an optimal multiple point fitting method; and (f) tuning the multivariable regulator structures for the multivariable process in accordance with the parameters selected by the optimal multiple-point fitting method.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said step of automatically selecting parameters of the multivarable regulator structures is based on a decoupling condition and on processes equivalent thereto.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said step of automatically selecting parameters of the multivarable regulator structures is based on a matching between an open-loop transfer matrix and an objective matrix.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
183 words
A method for auto-tuning a regulator for a process having a long deadtime using Smith Predictor control, comprising the steps of: (a) applying a perturbation to the process; (b) observing input signals to the process which correspond to said perturbation and output signals of the process resulting from the applied perturbation; (c) modifying said input and output signals for rendering said signals fully integrable and hence Fourier transformable; (d) performing a FFT (Fast Fourier Transformation) of the integrable input and output signals to obtain a plurality of points on a frequency response curve of the process; (e) obtaining a transfer function model of the process from an identified frequency response; (f) using an optimal multiple point fitting method for automatically selecting parameters of a regulator structure based on the points on the frequency response curve; (g) applying the optimal fitting method to a dead-time free part of said transfer function model for automatically selecting parameters of the regulator; and (h) tuning the regulator for the process by using said transfer model as a predictor, and (i) using said regulator as the primary controller.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
183 words
A method for auto-tuning a regulator for a process having a long deadtime using Smith Predictor control, comprising the steps of: (a) applying a perturbation to the process; (b) observing input signals to the process which correspond to said perturbation and output signals of the process resulting from the applied perturbation; (c) modifying said input and output signals for rendering said signals fully integrable and hence Fourier transformable; (d) performing a FFT (Fast Fourier Transformation) of the integrable input and output signals to obtain a plurality of points on a frequency response curve of the process; (e) obtaining a transfer function model of the process from an identified frequency response; (f) using an optimal multiple point fitting method for automatically selecting parameters of a regulator structure based on the points on the frequency response curve; (g) applying the optimal fitting method to a dead-time free part of said transfer function model for automatically selecting parameters of the regulator; and (h) tuning the regulator for the process by using said transfer model as a predictor, and (i) using said regulator as the primary controller.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of applying a perturbation comprises applying a step function to an input of the process.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of applying a perturbation comprises applying a relay test to the process.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said steps of performing a FFT, using an optimal multiple point fitting method and selecting parameters of a regulator structure are implemented using a computer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said steps of performing a FFT, using an optimal multiple point fitting method and selecting parameters of a regulator structure are implemented by a program in a medium.