Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

Jacob Strickler Baker

Juergen K Weinhofer

Kendal R Harris

Jatin P Bhatt

William C Schwarz

Stephen L Steh

David R Mowry

Douglas J Reichard

David Allen Johnston

Scott A Pierce

Raymond R Husted

Douglas W Reid

Douglas Brian Sumerauer

Anthony J Cachat

Bohumir Sladek

Robert R Sepsi

Michael Silvestro

Carol A Knez

Unni M Heineking

Luis A Capriles

Holly E Johnson

An industrial control system includes an industrial controller and a programming interface. The programming interface is operable to communicate a plurality of operations for modifying a control program maintained by the industrial controller followed by a commit transaction command. The industrial controller is configured to designate the plurality of operations with a pending status and preprocess the plurality of operations. The industrial controller is further configured to commit the operations and clear the pending status responsive to receiving the commit transaction command.

Method and apparatus for communicating transactions between an industrial controller and a programming interface

The invention provides systems and methods that integrate and/or control motion of a plurality of axes in a motion control environment. Grouped axes can be linked (e.g., via a tag) to provide desired multi-axis coordinated motion as well as provide control for corresponding aspects of motion such as acceleration, velocity, etc. Such axes can be integrated with other control functionality such as process and/or machine control to provide the user with a comprehensive control. The foregoing can provide simple mechanisms for moving devices in multiple axes of a coordinate system in a coordinated fashion. Such coordinated move functionality can provide a user-friendly interface for linear and circular moves in multi-dimensional space. The algorithm employed for path planning can provide fast execution and dynamic parameter changes (e.g., maximum velocity, acceleration and deceleration) along a desired path of motion. In this manner, such instructions can provide smooth transitions from one coordinated move to the next.

Systems and methods for coordination motion instructions

A programming interface for a control system comprises a display region that provides a representation of a plurality of output cam profiles. The representation provides information concerning latch/unlatch operations of a plurality of cam elements that control on/off states of a plurality of output devices and that form the plurality of output cam profiles.

Output cam system and method

A position of a motion control axis is monitored and an output device responsive to the position of the motion control axis is controlled. The controlling further includes latching an electronic cam element that controls the output device, and unlatching the cam element that controls the output device. The manner in which the latching is performed and the manner in which the unlatching is performed are configurable in a programming interface. The programming interface is capable of receiving a latch position for the cam element and an unlatch position for the cam element. The programming interface is further capable of receiving additional configuration information to configure the manner in which the latching is performed and different additional configuration information to separately configure the manner in which the unlatching is performed.

A method is employed to eliminate undesired velocity reversal in a motion profile. A start speed, a start acceleration, a speed limit, an acceleration limit, a deceleration limit, an acceleration jerk limit, and a deceleration jerk limit are programmed for the motion profile. A critical jerk value needed to avoid velocity reversal associated with the motion profile is calculated. The critical jerk value is compared to the programmed deceleration jerk limit. The larger of the critical jerk value and the programmed deceleration jerk limit is set as a computed maximum deceleration jerk limit for use with the motion profile. In this manner, the computed maximum deceleration jerk limit will never be lower than the critical jerk and undesired velocity reversal is eliminated.

Elimination of unintended velocity reversals in s-curve velocity profiles

Methods and systems are disclosed for automatically generating an execution order for a control system function block diagram. The input data availability is determined for the inputs of the function blocks in the diagram, and an execution order is generated for the function block diagram according to the input data availability for the function block inputs. Also disclosed are methods and systems for generating a control routine from a function block diagram having a plurality of function blocks, wherein the control routine is generated from the function block diagram according to the execution order.

System and method for function block execution order generation

In accordance with a first preferred embodiment, a control method comprises monitoring a position of a motion control axis and controlling an output device responsive to the position of the motion control axis. The controlling step further includes latching a cam element that controls the output device, and unlatching the cam element that controls the output device. The, manner in which the latching step is performed and the manner in which the unlatching step is performed are configurable in a programming interface. The programming interface is capable of receiving a latch position for the cam element and an unlatch position for the cam element. The programming interface is further capable of receiving additional configuration information to configure the manner in which the latching step is performed and different additional configuration information to separately configure the manner in which the unlatching step is performed. The latching step and the unlatching step are performed in the manner configured in the programming interface. In accordance with another preferred embodiment, a programming interface for a control system comprises an axis motion control instruction and an output cam instruction. The axis motion control instruction is executable to control movement of a motion control axis. The output cam instruction is executable to control a state of an output device responsive to a position of the motion control axis. The programming interface permits the axis motion control instruction and the output cam instruction to both be used in a common user program.

In accordance with a first preferred embodiment, a control method comprises monitoring a position of a motion control axis and controlling an output device responsive to the position of the motion control axis. The controlling step further includes latching a cam element that controls the output device, and unlatching the cam element that controls the output device. The manner in which the latching step is performed and the manner in which the unlatching step is performed are configurable in a programming interface. The programming interface is capable of receiving a latch position for the cam element and an unlatch position for the cam element. The programming interface is further capable of receiving additional configuration information to configure the manner in which the latching step is performed and different additional configuration information to separately configure the manner in which the unlatching step is performed. The latching step and the unlatching step are performed in the manner configured in the programming interface. In accordance with another preferred embodiment, a programming interface for a control system comprises an axis motion control instruction and an output cam instruction. The axis motion control instruction is executable to control movement of a motion control axis. The output cam instruction is executable to control a state of an output device responsive to a position of the motion control axis. The programming interface permits the axis motion control instruction and the output cam instruction to both be used in a common user program.

Growing community of inventors

Rocky River, OH, United States of America

Jacob Strickler Baker