Patent ES-8502269-A1 (ES)
Title: Modular control device for multi-stage industrial process
IPC: G05B24/00
Filed: 1983-11-21
Abstract: Each module has six faces four of which are associated with links (5-8)to the adjacent modules above, below and to left and to right. Within the module a decision unit (A) ensures that a stage signal and condition (CO) are taken into account simultaneously or otherwise. A processing unit (D) ensures management of the signals and co-ordination of operations of the components, and especially the setting of an associated action (AS). It co-operates with other links (9.1,9.2,12) to secondary external events upstream or downstream from the associated action and to common circuits or supplies. - An upstream unit (B1,B2) and a downstream unit (C1,C2) ensure signal exchanges with the vertical and lateral links. Internal operating modes and/or relationships with other modules can be pseudo-programmed by combinatorial elements (e.g. microswitches) It may be applied to automation of industrial process, partic. in sall and medium size industrial plants.  (2/16) EPAB- EP-110928 B An industrial process control device defined by a functional diagram including a chaining of elementary steps which can include choices; switches, simultaneous operations or loops, said device consisting of a set of modules which, through their assembly, form a synoptical structure representative of said functional diagram, at the same time as a control chain corresponding to this diagram, characterised in that the modules are of a sole universal type incorporating all the standard functions which may be necessary for processing the operation of an actuating device, each module thus including an integrated set of elementary steps needed for managing the operating sequences of said actuating device, said integrated assembly being made up of the following means; a) a means (A) of making decisions according to a step order and a condition (CO), resulting from a step signal transmitted to culminate in a function of the corresponding actuating device, b) an initial means of interface (B1) which, through a link (5) ensures the exchange of signals with a prior module, c) a second means of interface (B2) ensuring by links (7,1; 8.1), the exchange of signals upstream of said module with adjacent modules, d) a third means of interface (C1) ensuring  through link (6), the exchange of signals with a following module, e) a fourth means of interface (C2) ensuring by links (7.2; 8.2) the exchange of signals downstream of said modules with adjacent modules, f) means (D) of managing the operation of said actuating device and including: 1) an order transmission  subassembly (D1) offering the possibility of connection subordinating the transmission of the step signal from the decision means (A) to an external event (K), for instance from another module. (27pp) - EP-110928 B An industrial process control device defined by a functional diagram including a chaining of elementary steps which can include choices; switches, simultaneous operations or loops, said device consisting of a set of modules which, through their assembly, form a synoptical structure representative of said functional diagram, at the same time as a control chain corresponding to this diagram, characterised in that the modules are of a sole universal type incorporating all the standard functions which may be necessary for processing the operation of an actuating device, each module thus including an integrated set of elementary steps needed for managing the operating sequences of said actuating device, said integrated assembly being made up of the following means; a) a means (A) of making decisions according to a step order and a condition (CO), resulting from a step signal transmitted to culminate in a function of the corresponding actuating device, b) an initial means of interface (B1) which, through a link (5) ensures the exchange of signals with a prior module, c) a second means of interface (B2) ensuring by links (7,1; 8.1), the exchange of signals upstream of said module with adjacent modules, d) a third means of interface (C1) ensuring through link (6), the exchange of signals with a following module, e) a fourth means of interface (C2) ensuring by links (7.2; 8.2) the exchange of signals downstream of said modules with adjacent modules, f) means (D) of managing the operation of said actuating device and including: 1) an order transmission subassembly (D1) offering the possibility of connection subordinating the transmission of the step signal from the decision means (A) to an external event (K), for instance from another module. (27pp) USAB- US4771374 A The modular control is built up with a basic module to control a multiplicity of steps, whether successive or simultaneous. Each module controls a step in the overall control process, with a part (A) which makes a decision for a respective step based on a condition signal (CO) and a part (D) for accordingly controlling an associated action AS. The function provided by the assembled modular control can be represented on a surface as defined by the collection of the front panels of all the modules. - This approach to providing control means is particularly useful for a broad range of control technology between hardware logic of elementary logic cells and sophisticated and expensive programmable automatic devices.