Motion control systems

Abstract

A system for communicating with at least one motion control device, comprising a set of software drivers, a motion control component, and a network protocol. At least one software driver is selectable and associated with at least one motion control device. The motion control component exposes component functions for commanding at least one selected motion control device based on at least one selected software driver and the exposed component functions. The component functions exposed by the motion control component may be used through the network protocol.

1 . A system for generating a sequence of control codes for commanding at least one motion control device, comprising: 
 a software system comprising a set of at least one module function call, where the software system is capable of directing a motion control device to perform at least one motion operation;    a set of software drivers for generating a one or more control codes for commanding the at least one motion control device, where at least one software driver is selectable and associated with at least one motion control device;    a motion control module for commanding at least one motion control device based on at least one selectable software driver and the module functions called by the software system;    
   
   
       2 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a network protocol by which the motion control module and the software system are capable of communicating.  
   
   
       3 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a network protocol by which the motion control module and at least one software driver are capable of communicating.  
   
   
       4 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , in which a network protocol allows communication between the motion control module and at least one selected software driver.  
   
   
       5 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , in which at least one motion operation is capable of causing data to be read from the motion control device.  
   
   
       6 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , in which at least one motion operation is capable of causing digital input-output data to be read from the motion control device.  
   
   
       7 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , in which at least one motion operation is capable of causing analog input-output data to be read from the motion control device.  
   
   
       8 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , in which at least one motion operation is capable of causing motion related data to be read from the motion control device.  
   
   
       9 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , in which at least one motion operation is capable of causing program related data to be read from the motion control device.  
   
   
       10 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the motion control device is a program logic controller.  
   
   
       11 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the motion control device comprises a program logic controller.  
   
   
       12 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the motion control device is capable of communicating with a program logic controller.  
   
   
       13 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , in which at least one motion operation is capable of causing digital input-output data to be written to the motion control device.  
   
   
       14 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , in which at least one motion operation is capable of causing analog input-output data to be written to the motion control device.  
   
   
       15 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , in which at least one motion operation is capable of causing motion related data to be written to the motion control device.  
   
   
       16 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , in which at least one motion operation is capable of causing the motion control device to perform an action.  
   
   
       17 . A system as recited in  claim 16 , in which the motion control device comprises a program logic controller that performs the action.  
   
   
       18 . A system as recited in  claim 16 , in which the motion control device is a program logic controller that performs the action.  
   
   
       19 . A system as recited in  claim 16 , in which the motion control device is capable of causing program logic controller to perform the action by communicating with the program logic controller.  
   
   
       20 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , in which at least one motion operation is capable of causing the motion control device to move an object.  
   
   
       21 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the software system comprises an application program.  
   
   
       22 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the software system comprises server software.  
   
   
       23 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , in which at least one software driver further comprises at least one driver function for commanding at least one motion control device.  
   
   
       24 . A system as recited in  claim 23 , in which at least one driver function commands the motion control device to perform a primitive operation.  
   
   
       25 . A system as recited in  claim 24 , in which at least one driver function calls at least one primitive driver function to command at least one motion control device to perform an operation.  
   
   
       26 . A system as recited in  claim 24 , in which the motion control device is commanded to communicate with a program logic controller.  
   
   
       27 . A system as recited in  claim 24 , in which the motion control device comprises a program logic controller.  
   
   
       28 . A system as recited in  claim 25 , in which the motion control device is commanded to communicate with a program logic controller.  
   
   
       29 . A system as recited in  claim 25 , in which the motion control device comprises a program logic controller.  
   
   
       30 . A system for generating a sequence of control commands to be communicated with at least one selectable motion control device selected from a group of supported motion control devices, comprising: 
 a software system comprising a set of module function calls, where the software system defines the steps for operating motion control devices in a desired manner;    a set of software drivers for generating commands for controlling at least one motion control device, where at least one software driver is associated with at least one motion control device in the group of supported motion control devices;    a motion control module for commanding at least one selectable motion control device based on at least one software driver and module functions called by the software system; and    a set of stream modules for transmitting data to and receiving data from at least one motion control device, where at least one stream module sends data from at least one software driver to at least one motion control device in a data format associated with the motion control device.    
   
   
       31 . A system as recited in  claim 30 , further comprising a network protocol over which at least one software driver is capable of communicating with at least one software stream.  
   
   
       32 . A system as recited in  claim 30 , further comprising a network system, where the network system implements the network protocol.  
   
   
       33 . A system as recited in  claim 30 , further comprising selection software capable of selecting at least one selectable software driver using a network protocol.  
   
   
       34 . A system as recited in  claim 30 , in which a network protocol allows communication between the motion control module and at least one software driver.  
   
   
       35 . A system as recited in  claim 30 , in which a network protocol allows communication between the software system and the motion control module.  
   
   
       36 . A system as recited in  claim 35 , in which the software system comprises an application program.  
   
   
       37 . A system as recited in  claim 35 , in which the software system comprises a server module.  
   
   
       38 . A system as recited in  claim 35 , in which at least one software driver function commands the motion control device to perform a primitive operation.  
   
   
       39 . A system as recited in  claim 35 , in which at least one driver function calls at least one primitive driver function to command at least one motion control device to perform an operation.  
   
   
       40 . A system as recited in  claim 38 , in which the motion control device is commanded to communicate with a program logic controller.  
   
   
       41 . A system as recited in  claim 38 , in which the motion control device comprises a program logic controller.  
   
   
       42 . A system as recited in  claim 39 , in which the motion control device is commanded to communicate with a program logic controller.  
   
   
       43 . A system as recited in  claim 39 , in which the motion control device comprises a program logic controller.  
   
   
       44 . A system for generating a sequence of control codes for commanding at least one motion control device, comprising: 
 a software system comprising a series of module function calls, where the software system is capable of directing at least one motion control device to perform at least one motion operation;    a motion control module for commanding at least one motion control device based on module functions called by the software system;    a set of software drivers, where at least one software driver is selectable and associated with at least one motion control device; and    a network interface, where the software system, motion control module, and software drivers conform to the network interface.    
   
   
       45 . A system as recited in  claim 44 , in which at least one motion operation is capable of causing data to be read from the motion control device.  
   
   
       46 . A system as recited in  claim 44 , in which at least one motion operation is capable of causing the motion control device to perform an action.  
   
   
       47 . A system as recited in  claim 44 , in which at least one motion operation is capable of causing the motion control device to move an object.  
   
   
       48 . A system as recited in  claim 44 , in which the software system comprises an application program.  
   
   
       49 . A system as recited in  claim 44 , in which the software system comprises server software.  
   
   
       50 . A system for communicating with at least one motion control device, comprising: 
 a set of motion operations;    a software system comprising a set of module function calls, where the software system is capable of commanding at least one motion control device to perform at least one motion operation;    a set of software drivers, where at least one software driver is a selectable software driver and is associated with at least one motion control device; and    a motion control module for commanding at least one motion control device based on at least one selectable software driver and at least one module function call called by the software system;    a network protocol by which the motion control module and the software module are capable of communicating.    
   
   
       51 . A system as recited in  claim 50 , in which the network protocol further allows communication between the motion control module and at least one selectable software driver.  
   
   
       52 . A system as recited in  claim 50 , in which the software system comprises an application program.  
   
   
       53 . A system as recited in  claim 50 , in which the software system comprises server software.  
   
   
       54 . A system as recited in  claim 50 , in which the selectable software driver is capable of reading data from the motion control device.  
   
   
       55 . A system as recited in  claim 50 , in which the selectable software driver is capable of reading digital input-output data from the motion control device.  
   
   
       56 . A system as recited in  claim 50 , in which the selectable software driver is capable of reading analog input-output data from the motion control device.  
   
   
       57 . A system as recited in  claim 50 , in which the selectable software driver is capable of reading motion related data from the motion control device.  
   
   
       58 . A system as recited in  claim 50 , in which the selected software driver is capable of reading program related data from the motion control device.  
   
   
       59 . A system as recited in  claim 50 , in which the motion control device is a program logic controller.  
   
   
       60 . A system as recited in  claim 50 , where the motion control device comprises a program logic controller.  
   
   
       61 . A system as recited in  claim 50 , where the motion control device is capable of communicating with a program logic controller.  
   
   
       62 . A system as recited in  claim 50 , in which the selected software driver is capable of writing digital input-output data to the motion control device.  
   
   
       63 . A system as recited in  claim 50 , in which the selected software driver is capable of writing analog input-output data to the motion control device.  
   
   
       64 . A system as recited in  claim 50 , in which the selected software driver is capable of writing motion data to the motion control device.  
   
   
       65 . A system as recited in  claim 50 , in which the selectable software driver is capable of causing the motion control device to move an object.  
   
   
       66 . A system as recited in  claim 50 , in which the selectable software driver is capable of causing the motion control device to perform an action.  
   
   
       67 . A system as recited in  claim 66 , in which motion control device comprises a program logic controller that is capable of performing the action.  
   
   
       68 . A system as recited in  claim 66 , in which the motion control device is a program logic controller that is capable of performing the action.  
   
   
       69 . A system as recited in  claim 66 , in which the motion control device is capable of communicating with a program logic controller to cause the program logic controller to perform the action.  
   
   
       70 . A system for communicating with at least one selectable motion control device, comprising: 
 a software system comprising a set of module function calls, where the software system is capable of commanding at least one motion control device to perform at least one motion operation;    a set of software drivers, where at least one software driver is a selectable software driver and is associated with one motion control device; and    a motion control module for commanding at least one motion control device based on at least one selectable software driver and module function calls called by the software system;    a network protocol by which the motion control module and at least one selectable software driver are capable of communicating.    
   
   
       71 . A system as recited in  claim 70 , further comprising selection software capable of selecting at least one selectable software driver using the network protocol.  
   
   
       72 . A system as recited in  claim 70 , in which the network protocol further allows communication between the application program and the motion control module.  
   
   
       73 . A system as recited in  claim 70 , in which the software system comprises an application program.  
   
   
       74 . A system as recited in  claim 70 , in which the software system comprises server software.  
   
   
       75 . A system as recited in  claim 70 , in which the selectable software driver is capable of reading data from the motion control device.  
   
   
       76 . A system as recited in  claim 70 , in which the selectable software driver is capable of reading digital input-output data from the motion control device.  
   
   
       77 . A system as recited in  claim 70 , in which the selectable software driver is capable of reading analog input-output data from the motion control device.  
   
   
       78 . A system as recited in  claim 70 , in which the selectable software driver is capable of reading motion related data from the motion control device.  
   
   
       79 . A system as recited in  claim 70 , in which the selected software driver is capable of reading program related data from the motion control device.  
   
   
       80 . A system as recited in  claim 70 , in which the motion control device is a program logic controller.  
   
   
       81 . A system as recited in  claim 70 , where the motion control device comprises a program logic controller.  
   
   
       82 . A system as recited in  claim 70 , where the motion control device is capable of communicating with a program logic controller.  
   
   
       83 . A system as recited in  claim 70 , in which the selectable software driver is capable of writing digital input-output data to the motion control device.  
   
   
       84 . A system as recited in  claim 70 , in which the selectable software driver is capable of writing analog input-output data to the motion control device.  
   
   
       85 . A system as recited in  claim 70 , in which the selectable software driver is capable of writing motion data to the motion control device.  
   
   
       86 . A system as recited in  claim 70 , in which the selectable software driver is capable of causing the motion control device to move an object.  
   
   
       87 . A system as recited in  claim 70 , in which the selectable software driver is capable of causing the motion control device to perform an action.  
   
   
       88 . A system as recited in  claim 87 , in which motion control device comprises a program logic controller that is capable of performing the action.  
   
   
       89 . A system as recited in  claim 87 , in which the motion control device is a program logic controller that is capable of performing the action.  
   
   
       90 . A system as recited in  claim 87 , in which the motion control device is capable of communicating with a program logic controller to cause the program logic controller to perform the action.  
   
   
       91 . A system for communicating with at least one motion control device, comprising: 
 a software system comprising a set of calls to module functions, where the software system is capable of commanding at least one motion control device to perform at least one motion operation;    a set of software drivers, where at least one software driver is a selectable software driver and is associated with at least one motion control device;    a motion control module for commanding at least one selectable motion control device based on the module functions used by the software system and at least one selectable software driver;    a set of stream modules, where at least one stream module is a selectable stream module and carries data between at least one selectable software driver and at least one motion control device in a data format associated with the at least one motion control device; and    a network protocol that allows data to be transmitted between at least one selectable software driver and the selectable stream module.    
   
   
       92 . A system as recited in  claim 91 , in which the network protocol further allows communication between the motion control module and at least one selectable software driver.  
   
   
       93 . A system as recited in  claim 91 , further comprising selection software capable of selecting at least one selectable software driver using the network protocol.  
   
   
       94 . A system as recited in  claim 91 , further comprising selection software capable of selecting at least one selectable stream using the network protocol.  
   
   
       95 . A system as recited in  claim 91 , further comprising a network system that implements the network protocol to allow data to be transmitted between the selectable stream module and at least one selectable motion control device.  
   
   
       96 . A system as recited in  claim 91 , in which the network protocol further allows communication between the software system and the module functions.  
   
   
       97 . A system for communicating with at least one motion control device, comprising: 
 a set of software drivers, where at least one software driver is associated with at least one motion control device in the group of supported motion control devices and a selected software driver is associated with at least one motion control device;    a motion control module for exposing module functions for commanding at least one selected motion control device based on the exposed module functions and at least one selected software driver;    a set of stream modules for transmitting data to the supported motion control devices, where a selected stream module carries data between at least one selected software driver and at least one motion control device in a data format associated with at least one motion control device; and    a protocol that allows data to be transmitted between at least one selected software driver and the selected stream module.    
   
   
       98 . A system as recited in  claim 97 , in which at least one of the exposed module functions provides the capability to read data from the at least one motion control device.  
   
   
       99 . A system as recited in  claim 97 , in which at least one of the exposed module functions provides the capability to write motion data to the at least one motion control device.  
   
   
       100 . A system as recited in  claim 97 , in which at least one of the exposed module functions provides the capability to cause an action to occur on at least one motion control device.