Patent US3949750A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3921146A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Programmable data processor and controller system
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1974-06-17
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Granted: 1975-11-18
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Expires: 1994-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A data processor/controller contains a program representative of a logic configuration required to control the sequencing of operations in equipment external thereto. The processor/controller includes means for accumulating the results of a plurality of logic operations as specified by the program and providing a final result representative of conditions in the logic configuration. The final result has a condition which is used to control the external equipment.
Inventors
- 👤 William J Danco
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:01
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/05; G05B19/054; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/10; G05B2219/11; G05B2219/1159
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
267 words
An improved programmable controller for controlling equipment, simulating a control circuit having sequenced opening and closing of electrical switches, said controller comprising: a. a store having located therein a plurality of first and second type information items, 1. each of said first type information items having an operation code portion identifying one of a prescribed number of types of logic operations and logic conditions, and further including an address portion identifying a location in said store containing an input logic condition, the state of which specifies the status of the logic condition identified by the first type information items representing a logic string, and 2. each of said second type information items identifying the end of a logic string and a location in said store; b. a variable state accumulator c. means to successively access said store to retrieve said information items; d. means to initialize said accumulator in accordance with the type of logic operAtion identified by the first accessed information item of the represented logic string; e. means responsive to the operation code portion of a then accessed information item of the first type, the state of the input logic condition identified by said then accessed information item and the then existing state of said accumulator to establish a new state of said accumulator; and, f. means responsive to a second type of information item to store the then existing state of said accumulator at a location identified by said second type of information item as an output logic condition serving to develop a control signal to be provided from said controller to said equipment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
267 words
An improved programmable controller for controlling equipment, simulating a control circuit having sequenced opening and closing of electrical switches, said controller comprising: a. a store having located therein a plurality of first and second type information items, 1. each of said first type information items having an operation code portion identifying one of a prescribed number of types of logic operations and logic conditions, and further including an address portion identifying a location in said store containing an input logic condition, the state of which specifies the status of the logic condition identified by the first type information items representing a logic string, and 2. each of said second type information items identifying the end of a logic string and a location in said store; b. a variable state accumulator c. means to successively access said store to retrieve said information items; d. means to initialize said accumulator in accordance with the type of logic operAtion identified by the first accessed information item of the represented logic string; e. means responsive to the operation code portion of a then accessed information item of the first type, the state of the input logic condition identified by said then accessed information item and the then existing state of said accumulator to establish a new state of said accumulator; and, f. means responsive to a second type of information item to store the then existing state of said accumulator at a location identified by said second type of information item as an output logic condition serving to develop a control signal to be provided from said controller to said equipment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
164 words
each of said second type instructions identifying the end of said control circuit and a location in said memory; b. successively accessing said memory to retrieve said instructions; c. establishing an initial status condition of an accumulator in accordance with the type of switch element identified by the first accessed instruction of said simulated control circuit; d. repetitively updating said initial status condition of said accumulator in accordance with the operation code portion of a then accessed instruction of the first type, the state of the input status bit identified by said then accessed instruction, and the then existing condition of the accumulator to derive a final accumulator status condition representative of the logic conditions of the switch elements of said control circuit; and, e. storing the final accumulator status condition at a location in said memory identified by a second type of instruction as an output status bit serving to develop a control signal to be provided from said computer to said equipment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
164 words
each of said second type instructions identifying the end of said control circuit and a location in said memory; b. successively accessing said memory to retrieve said instructions; c. establishing an initial status condition of an accumulator in accordance with the type of switch element identified by the first accessed instruction of said simulated control circuit; d. repetitively updating said initial status condition of said accumulator in accordance with the operation code portion of a then accessed instruction of the first type, the state of the input status bit identified by said then accessed instruction, and the then existing condition of the accumulator to derive a final accumulator status condition representative of the logic conditions of the switch elements of said control circuit; and, e. storing the final accumulator status condition at a location in said memory identified by a second type of instruction as an output status bit serving to develop a control signal to be provided from said computer to said equipment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
162 words
each of said type instructions identifying the end of a logic circuit and a location in said store b. an accumulator for storing logic states; c. means to successively access said store to retrieve said instruction; d. means to establish an initial logic state of said accumulator in accordance with the type of logic statement identified by the first accessed instruction of a represented logic circuit; e. means reesponive to the operation code portion of a then accessed instruction of the first type, the state of the input status bit identified by said then accesssed instruction and the then existing logic state of said accumulator to establish a new logic state of said accumulator; and, f. means responsive to a second type of instruction to store the then existing logic state of said accumulator at a location identified by said latter insruction as an output status bit serving to develop a control signal to be provided from said controller to said devices.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
162 words
each of said type instructions identifying the end of a logic circuit and a location in said store b. an accumulator for storing logic states; c. means to successively access said store to retrieve said instruction; d. means to establish an initial logic state of said accumulator in accordance with the type of logic statement identified by the first accessed instruction of a represented logic circuit; e. means reesponive to the operation code portion of a then accessed instruction of the first type, the state of the input status bit identified by said then accesssed instruction and the then existing logic state of said accumulator to establish a new logic state of said accumulator; and, f. means responsive to a second type of instruction to store the then existing logic state of said accumulator at a location identified by said latter insruction as an output status bit serving to develop a control signal to be provided from said controller to said devices.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
162 words
each of said second type information items identifying the end of a logic string and a location in said store; b. a variable state accumulator c. means to successively access said store to retrieve said information items; d. means to initialize said accumulator in accordance with the type of logic operAtion identified by the first accessed information item of the represented logic string; e. means responsive to the operation code portion of a then accessed information item of the first type, the state of the input logic condition identified by said then accessed information item and the then existing state of said accumulator to establish a new state of said accumulator; and, f. means responsive to a second type of information item to store the then existing state of said accumulator at a location identified by said second type of information item as an output logic condition serving to develop a control signal to be provided from said controller to said equipment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
162 words
each of said second type information items identifying the end of a logic string and a location in said store; b. a variable state accumulator c. means to successively access said store to retrieve said information items; d. means to initialize said accumulator in accordance with the type of logic operAtion identified by the first accessed information item of the represented logic string; e. means responsive to the operation code portion of a then accessed information item of the first type, the state of the input logic condition identified by said then accessed information item and the then existing state of said accumulator to establish a new state of said accumulator; and, f. means responsive to a second type of information item to store the then existing state of said accumulator at a location identified by said second type of information item as an output logic condition serving to develop a control signal to be provided from said controller to said equipment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
An improved programmable controller for controlling equipment, simulating a control circuit having sequenced opening and closing of electric switches, said controller comprising: a. a store having first and second portions, the first portion containing a plurality of first and second type information item and the second portion capable of containing input and output bits of states which represent, respectively, the conditions of switch elements in said equipment and the conditions of control signals to be provided from said controller to said equipment,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
An improved programmable controller for controlling equipment, simulating a control circuit having sequenced opening and closing of electric switches, said controller comprising: a. a store having first and second portions, the first portion containing a plurality of first and second type information item and the second portion capable of containing input and output bits of states which represent, respectively, the conditions of switch elements in said equipment and the conditions of control signals to be provided from said controller to said equipment,
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
189 words
each of said second type information items identifying the end of a logic string of electrical switch elements and a location of an output status bit in the second portion of said store; b. a variable state accumulator; c. means to successively access said store to retrieve said information items; d. means to establish an initial state of said accumulator in accordance with the type of logic operation identified by the first accessed information item of the represented logic string of electrical switch elements, e. means responsive to the operation code portion of a then accessed information item of the first type, the state of the input status bit identified by said then accessed information item and the then existing stat of said accumulator to establish a new state of said accumulator; and, f. means responsive to a second type of information item to store the then existing state of said accumulator, as an output status bit, at a location in the second portion of said store as identified by said latter information item, serving to develop a control signal to be provided from said controller to said equipment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
189 words
each of said second type information items identifying the end of a logic string of electrical switch elements and a location of an output status bit in the second portion of said store; b. a variable state accumulator; c. means to successively access said store to retrieve said information items; d. means to establish an initial state of said accumulator in accordance with the type of logic operation identified by the first accessed information item of the represented logic string of electrical switch elements, e. means responsive to the operation code portion of a then accessed information item of the first type, the state of the input status bit identified by said then accessed information item and the then existing stat of said accumulator to establish a new state of said accumulator; and, f. means responsive to a second type of information item to store the then existing state of said accumulator, as an output status bit, at a location in the second portion of said store as identified by said latter information item, serving to develop a control signal to be provided from said controller to said equipment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
said second information items collectively representing a plurality of logic strings and each having an operation code portion identifying one of a prescribed number of types of logic operations and logic conditions and further including an address portion identifying a location in said store containing a second status bit, the state of which specifies the status of the logic condition identified by the second type information item, and
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
said second information items collectively representing a plurality of logic strings and each having an operation code portion identifying one of a prescribed number of types of logic operations and logic conditions and further including an address portion identifying a location in said store containing a second status bit, the state of which specifies the status of the logic condition identified by the second type information item, and
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
184 words
each of said third type information items identifying the end of a logic string and a location in said store; b. a variable state accumulator; c. means to successively access said store to retrieve said information items; d. storage means responsive to each of said first type information items for storing the state of the first status bit identified thereby; e. means to initialize said accumulator in accordance with the type of logic operation identified by the first accessed information item of the second Type; f. means responsive to the state of the status bit stored in said storage means, the operation code portion of the then accessed information item of the second type, the state of the second status bit identified by said then accessed information item and the then existing state of said accumulator; and, g. means responsive to a third type information item to store the then existing state of said accumulator at a location identified by said latter information item, as an output status bit serving to develop a control signal to be provided from said controller to said equipment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
184 words
each of said third type information items identifying the end of a logic string and a location in said store; b. a variable state accumulator; c. means to successively access said store to retrieve said information items; d. storage means responsive to each of said first type information items for storing the state of the first status bit identified thereby; e. means to initialize said accumulator in accordance with the type of logic operation identified by the first accessed information item of the second Type; f. means responsive to the state of the status bit stored in said storage means, the operation code portion of the then accessed information item of the second type, the state of the second status bit identified by said then accessed information item and the then existing state of said accumulator; and, g. means responsive to a third type information item to store the then existing state of said accumulator at a location identified by said latter information item, as an output status bit serving to develop a control signal to be provided from said controller to said equipment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
An improved programmable controller for controlling equipment, simulating a control circuit having sequenced opening and closing of electrical switches, said controller comprising: a. a store having located therein a plurality of first and second type instructions,
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
An improved programmable controller for controlling equipment, simulating a control circuit having sequenced opening and closing of electrical switches, said controller comprising: a. a store having located therein a plurality of first and second type instructions,
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
308 words
An improved programmable controller for controlling equipment, simulating a control circuit having sequenced opening and closing of electrical switches, said controller comprising: a. a store for containing a program simulating an electrical circuit or ladder type diagram format of the type having a plurality of circuit conductors, each circuit conductor terminating in a relay coil operated in accordance with the status of continuity of the circuit conductor, each circuit conductor including at least one of a plurality of types of electrical elements forming an electrical circuit of switches, the conditions of which determine the status of continuity of the circuit conductor, each of said electrical elements being represented in said program by a plurality of first type instructions, each identifying one of the plurality of types of electrical elements and further identifying a location in said store containing a previously stored input status bit from said equipment, and each relay coil being represented by a second type instruction identifying the end of an electrical circuit and specifying a location in said store; b. means to successively access said store to retrieve said instructions; c. a variable state accumulator; d. means to initialize said accumulator in accordance with the type of electrical element identified by the first accessed instruction of the simulated electrical circuit; e. means for establishing a new state of said accumulator in accordance with the type of electrical element identified by a then accessed instruction of the first type, the state of the status bit identified by said then accessed instruction and the then existing state of said accumulater; and, f. means responsive to a second type instruction to store the then existing logic state of said accumulator at a location identified by said latter instruction as an output status bit serving to develop a control signal to be provided from said controller to said equipment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
308 words
An improved programmable controller for controlling equipment, simulating a control circuit having sequenced opening and closing of electrical switches, said controller comprising: a. a store for containing a program simulating an electrical circuit or ladder type diagram format of the type having a plurality of circuit conductors, each circuit conductor terminating in a relay coil operated in accordance with the status of continuity of the circuit conductor, each circuit conductor including at least one of a plurality of types of electrical elements forming an electrical circuit of switches, the conditions of which determine the status of continuity of the circuit conductor, each of said electrical elements being represented in said program by a plurality of first type instructions, each identifying one of the plurality of types of electrical elements and further identifying a location in said store containing a previously stored input status bit from said equipment, and each relay coil being represented by a second type instruction identifying the end of an electrical circuit and specifying a location in said store; b. means to successively access said store to retrieve said instructions; c. a variable state accumulator; d. means to initialize said accumulator in accordance with the type of electrical element identified by the first accessed instruction of the simulated electrical circuit; e. means for establishing a new state of said accumulator in accordance with the type of electrical element identified by a then accessed instruction of the first type, the state of the status bit identified by said then accessed instruction and the then existing state of said accumulater; and, f. means responsive to a second type instruction to store the then existing logic state of said accumulator at a location identified by said latter instruction as an output status bit serving to develop a control signal to be provided from said controller to said equipment.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
46 words
A method of controlling equipment by a programmable controller simulating a control circuit having sequenced opening and closing of electrical switches, the method comprising: a. storing in the memory of a computer a simulated control circuit comprised of a plurality of first and second type instructions,
Claim 22
Independent Claim
46 words
A method of controlling equipment by a programmable controller simulating a control circuit having sequenced opening and closing of electrical switches, the method comprising: a. storing in the memory of a computer a simulated control circuit comprised of a plurality of first and second type instructions,
Claim 23
Independent Claim
418 words
A method of controlling equipment by a programmable controller simulating a control circuit having sequenced opening and closing of electrical switches, the method comprising: a. storing in the memory a computer, instructions of first, second and third types forming a program for simulating a ladder diagram circuit of the type having a plurality of conductors, a permissive contact connected in common to said plurality of conductors represented by a first type of instruction identifying the beginning of the simulated ladder diagram circuit and identifying a location in said memory of a first status condition, the state of which controls the conducting status of said plurality of conductors, each of said plurality of conductors having connected therein at least one of a plurality of types of relay contacts, each represented by a one of said second type instructions, said second type instructions being sequentially located in said memory following a first type of instruction and each identifying a type and a condition of a relay contact and further identifying a location in said memory containing an input status bit provided to said computer from said equipment, the state of which specifies the condition of the type of relay contact identified by the second type instruction, and each conductor terminating in a relay having a condition determined by the conducting status of the conductor, the relay being represented by an instruction of the third type identifying the end of a conductor and a location in said memory; b. successively accessing said memory to retrieve said instructions; c. storing the condition of a permissive contact in accordance with the state of the first status condition identified by the first accessed instruction of said simulated ladder diagram circuit; d. establishing a second status condition in accordance with the type of relay contact identified by the first accessed instruction with the second type; e. repetitively updating said second status condition in accordance with the condition of the permissive contact, the then existing condition of the second status condition, and the state of the input status bit and the type and condition of the relay contact identified by the then accessed instruction of the second type to accumulate a final condition representative of the conducting status of a one of the plurality of conductors; and, f. storing the final status condition at a location in said memory identified by a third type of instruction as an output status bit serving to develop a control signal to be provided from said computer to said equipment.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
418 words
A method of controlling equipment by a programmable controller simulating a control circuit having sequenced opening and closing of electrical switches, the method comprising: a. storing in the memory a computer, instructions of first, second and third types forming a program for simulating a ladder diagram circuit of the type having a plurality of conductors, a permissive contact connected in common to said plurality of conductors represented by a first type of instruction identifying the beginning of the simulated ladder diagram circuit and identifying a location in said memory of a first status condition, the state of which controls the conducting status of said plurality of conductors, each of said plurality of conductors having connected therein at least one of a plurality of types of relay contacts, each represented by a one of said second type instructions, said second type instructions being sequentially located in said memory following a first type of instruction and each identifying a type and a condition of a relay contact and further identifying a location in said memory containing an input status bit provided to said computer from said equipment, the state of which specifies the condition of the type of relay contact identified by the second type instruction, and each conductor terminating in a relay having a condition determined by the conducting status of the conductor, the relay being represented by an instruction of the third type identifying the end of a conductor and a location in said memory; b. successively accessing said memory to retrieve said instructions; c. storing the condition of a permissive contact in accordance with the state of the first status condition identified by the first accessed instruction of said simulated ladder diagram circuit; d. establishing a second status condition in accordance with the type of relay contact identified by the first accessed instruction with the second type; e. repetitively updating said second status condition in accordance with the condition of the permissive contact, the then existing condition of the second status condition, and the state of the input status bit and the type and condition of the relay contact identified by the then accessed instruction of the second type to accumulate a final condition representative of the conducting status of a one of the plurality of conductors; and, f. storing the final status condition at a location in said memory identified by a third type of instruction as an output status bit serving to develop a control signal to be provided from said computer to said equipment.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
454 words
A method of controlling equipment by a programmable controller simulating a control circuit having sequenced opening and closing of electrical switches, the method comprising: a. storing in the memory of a computer, instructions of first, second, and third types forming a program for simulating a ladder diagram circuit of the type having a plurality of conductors, a permissive contact connected in common to said plurality of conducTors represented by a first type instruction identifying the beginning of the simulated ladder diagram circuit and identifying a location in said memory of a first status condition, the state of which controls the conducting status of said plurality of conductors, each of said plurality of conductors having connected therein at least one of a plurality of types of relay contacts, each represented by a one of said second type instructions, said second type instructions being sequentially located in said memory following a first type instruction and each identifying a type and condition of a relay contact and further identifying a location in said memory containing an input status bit provided to said computer from said equipment, the state of which specifies the condition of the type of relay contact identified by the second type instruction, and each conductor terminating in a relay having a condition determined by the conducting status of the conductor, the relay being represented by an instruction of the third type identifying the end of a conductor and a location in said memory; b. successively accessing said memory to retrieve said instructions; c. storing the condition of a permissive contact in accordance with the state of the first status condition identified by the first accessed instruction of said simulated ladder diagram circuit; d. establishing a second status condition in accordance with the type of relay contact identified by the first accessed instruction of the second type; e. repetitively updating said second status condition in accordance with the condition of the permissive contact, the then existing condition of the second status condition, and the state of the input status bit and the type and condition of the relay contact identified by the then accessed instruction of the second type to accumulate a final status condition representative of the conducting status of a one of the plurality of conductors; f. storing the final status condition at a location in said memory identified by a third type of instruction as an output status bit serving to develop a control signal to be provided from said computer to said equipment; and, g. repeating the steps of establishing the second status condition, repetitively updating the second status condition and storing the final status condition until the final status condition for each of the plurality of conductors has been stored.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
454 words
A method of controlling equipment by a programmable controller simulating a control circuit having sequenced opening and closing of electrical switches, the method comprising: a. storing in the memory of a computer, instructions of first, second, and third types forming a program for simulating a ladder diagram circuit of the type having a plurality of conductors, a permissive contact connected in common to said plurality of conducTors represented by a first type instruction identifying the beginning of the simulated ladder diagram circuit and identifying a location in said memory of a first status condition, the state of which controls the conducting status of said plurality of conductors, each of said plurality of conductors having connected therein at least one of a plurality of types of relay contacts, each represented by a one of said second type instructions, said second type instructions being sequentially located in said memory following a first type instruction and each identifying a type and condition of a relay contact and further identifying a location in said memory containing an input status bit provided to said computer from said equipment, the state of which specifies the condition of the type of relay contact identified by the second type instruction, and each conductor terminating in a relay having a condition determined by the conducting status of the conductor, the relay being represented by an instruction of the third type identifying the end of a conductor and a location in said memory; b. successively accessing said memory to retrieve said instructions; c. storing the condition of a permissive contact in accordance with the state of the first status condition identified by the first accessed instruction of said simulated ladder diagram circuit; d. establishing a second status condition in accordance with the type of relay contact identified by the first accessed instruction of the second type; e. repetitively updating said second status condition in accordance with the condition of the permissive contact, the then existing condition of the second status condition, and the state of the input status bit and the type and condition of the relay contact identified by the then accessed instruction of the second type to accumulate a final status condition representative of the conducting status of a one of the plurality of conductors; f. storing the final status condition at a location in said memory identified by a third type of instruction as an output status bit serving to develop a control signal to be provided from said computer to said equipment; and, g. repeating the steps of establishing the second status condition, repetitively updating the second status condition and storing the final status condition until the final status condition for each of the plurality of conductors has been stored.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
An improved programmable controller for controlling equipment, simulating a control circuit having sequenced opening and closing of electrical switches, said controller comprising: a. a store having located therein a plurality of first, second and third information items,
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
An improved programmable controller for controlling equipment, simulating a control circuit having sequenced opening and closing of electrical switches, said controller comprising: a. a store having located therein a plurality of first, second and third information items,
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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) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-05-19 | 1979-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-17 | 1983-05-19 | 1983-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-17 | 1987-05-19 | 1987-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |