Patent · US Expired

Programmable controller with multiple task processors

US4937777A · kind A · utility

122Cited by
18References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 7, 1987
Grant dateJun 26, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 7, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG05B2219/15081
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A programmable controller for operating a machine to carry out programmed functions includes a plurality of program processors. Each of the program processors is operable to execute simultaneously a different user control program that directs the operation of the machine to perform specific functions. Each of the program processors includes a memory for storing the user control programs and function chart data. The function chart data comprises a series of descriptor files each of which contain an identification of a user control program to execute, a transition condition that indicates when the execution of that user control program is to terminate, and which descriptor file is to be processed next as well as the program processors to process it. A mechanism is also provided to enable the program processors to execute other programs in as background tasks without adversely affecting the execution of the control programs.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.