Abstract:
The present invention relates to a system and methodology facilitating material class processing and quality controls in an industrial controller environment. One or more classes are provided that generically describe materials or components of a recipe. The classes are associated with the recipe and resolved or determined before or during runtime of automated processes producing the recipe. If a class designation is encountered during recipe execution, an operator can be queried for which material or materials from the detected class is desired for the recipe currently being produced. After a material is selected from the class, the recipe is then processed according to the selected material from the respective class. In another aspect, automatic selections can be made to resolve members of class-based recipes. In yet another aspect of the present invention, quality phase processes and procedures are associated with a recipe and can be automatically initiated during various phases or stages of recipe production. Such processes include quality tests, quality recording/documentation, corrective actions, maintenance procedures, serving embedded files or documentation, initiating training procedures, and/or providing other automated procedures.
Abstract:
In an industrial control setting, different components can have information that can be valuable to various entities, such as other components, technicians, and the like. A decision can be made as to what information should be available to entities and a determination can be made if the information should be published in a directory or be discoverable. Security can be taken into account in determining if information should be published and decision making can employ adaptive learning, such that a publish and/or discovery decision criterion can be modified based on the learning.
Abstract:
A process controller a procedure module that includes instructions for executing a procedure, and a plurality of supplemental procedure modules, each of which includes instructions for executing one of a plurality of supplemental procedures. The process controller also includes a process monitor processor configured to receive an input electronic signal indicative of a status of a process feature, apply logic based on the input electronic signal, and generate an output electronic signal in response to the input electronic signal. The process controller also includes a sequence engine processor configured to execute the procedure, receive the output electronic signal, apply logic based on the output electronic signal, select one or more of the plurality of supplemental procedures based on the received output electronic signal, and execute the selected one or more of the plurality of supplemental procedures.
Abstract:
Various amounts of information can be beneficial to different controllers configured upon an industrial control system. Information can be retained in a distributed directory such that controllers quickly learn information concerning other controllers. The distributed directory can be automatically constructed and populated with information from different controllers. When a module enters an industrial control system, information can automatically advertise to other units through use of the distributed directory.
Abstract:
A controller and module for an industrial automation system is provided. A logical module employs resources and logic to expose functionality of the module while providing generic interfaces to external components of the module. A controller is operable with the logical module to provide interactions with components that are at, above, or below a layer associated with the controller.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a system and methodology facilitating automated manufacturing processes in an industrial controller environment. An automation system is provided for automated industrial processing. The system includes an equipment phase object that is executed by a controller engine, wherein the equipment phase object can be accessible from internal instructions within the controller and/or from external instructions directed to the controller such as from a server or another controller across a network connection. A sequencing engine operates with the equipment phase object to facilitate automated industrial processing. The sequencing engine can be adapted to various industrial standards or in accordance with other state type models.
Abstract:
A message component for an industrial automation system is provided. This includes a service component that is employed to locate functionality of applications associated with a control system message bus. An operations component exchanges messages with the message bus, where the service component and the operations component form an external view to facilitate communications between the applications.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a system and methodology facilitating material-driven processing in an industrial controller environment. Various models supported by database objects are provided to automatically and dynamically map inventory systems/processes to control systems/process such as in batch or recipe operations. A material model is provided that tracks to an inventory database and includes such aspects as defining material types and containers to house such materials. An area model maps the material model to possible units and equipment modules to process the materials. These models include phased-based parameters that define amounts of material that flow into and out of a determined area for processing the materials. Before, during and/or after automated manufacturing operations, object binding operations occur between material-based servers associated with an inventory system and batch servers associated with a process-control system. Such binding includes Just-In-Time or on-demand binding at run time, and relates material requirements of a recipe (or batch) to the units and equipment that are available to produce the recipe.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a system and methodology facilitating material-driven processing in an industrial controller environment. Various models supported by database objects are provided to automatically and dynamically map inventory systems/processes to control systems/process such as in batch or recipe operations. A material model is provided that tracks to an inventory database and includes such aspects as defining material types and containers to house such materials. An area model maps the material model to possible units and equipment modules to process the materials. These models include phased-based parameters that define amounts of material that flow into and out of a determined area for processing the materials. Before, during and/or after automated manufacturing operations, object binding operations occur between material-based servers associated with an inventory system and batch servers associated with a process-control system. Such binding includes Just-In-Time or on-demand binding at run time, and relates material requirements of a recipe (or batch) to the units and equipment that are available to produce the recipe.
Abstract:
At creation, a state machine of an industrial control configuration can be hard-coded with a number of states in a hierarchical manner. Once implemented into the configuration, it can be desirable for the states, interpretations of the states, and the like to be modified in accordance with particular desires and processes. Therefore, a user can select a change to a hierarchical rule set of the state machine while the state machine is part of the configuration and the change can be implemented.