Multi-channel pressure control systems and methods

Abstract

Pressure control systems and methods are provided that aid in the control of fluidic or pneumatic devices, by improving the ability to control pressure independently and simultaneously on multiple channels, which in turn permits pressure changes on the channels to occur more quickly and more precisely. In order to match rise/fall times between steps on different channels that may be of different magnitudes, various embodiments slow down fast steps such that they match the 'default' rate of slower steps, such as by using a step partitioning method or breaking a single step into substeps with a pause inserted between substeps of necessary duration such that the complete step time matches the target step time. The provided systems and methods may utilize a combination of proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control loop and discrete pressure steps to achieve faster, more accurate control over pressure rises and pressure falls.