US2016153948A1PendingUtilityA1

Programmable logic controller-based control center and user interface for air sampling in controlled environments

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Assignee: VELTEK ASSOCIATES INCPriority: Nov 9, 2012Filed: Feb 5, 2016Published: Jun 2, 2016
Est. expiryNov 9, 2032(~6.3 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Jeffrey ChurchvaraMark A. Phillips
G05B 19/02G05B 19/058G08B 21/12G01M 3/2815G01N 33/0063G08B 25/009G05B 2219/13031G01N 33/0073G08B 25/14G01N 1/2273
56
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Claims

Abstract

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for sampling air at multiple locations in a controlled environment. The system includes one or more air sampling devices configured to monitor and test a volume of air within a controlled environment. A control center including a programmable logic controller (PLC) is configured to monitor and control the one or more air sampling devices. One or more touch panel displays are connected to the control center and provide a human-computer interface between the control center and users.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 .- 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method for sampling air at multiple locations, comprising steps of:
 drawing in a respective volume of air through one or more air sampling devices;   monitoring an air sampling of each of the one or more air sampling devices using a control center including a programmable logic controller (PLC); and   transmitting indications of the air sampling by each of the one or more air sampling devices to one or more touch panel displays.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising steps of:
 detecting an alarm at one of the one or more air sampling devices; and   transmitting an indication of the alarm to the one or more touch panel displays.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising steps of:
 detecting an alarm at one of the one or more air sampling devices when a rate of air flow through the one of the one or more air sampling devices deviates from a desired value by a predetermined amount; and   transmitting an indication of the alarm to the one or more touch panel displays.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising steps of:
 monitoring a flow rate of air through each of one or more ports coupled respectively to the one or more air sampling devices;   detecting a flow rate error through one of the one or more ports; and   transmitting an indication of the flow rate error to the one or more touch panel displays.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising steps of:
 receiving a command from one of the one or more touch panel displays for controlling air flow through one of the one or more air sampling devices; and   controlling the air flow through the one of the one or more air sampling devices via a vacuum line connected to the one of the one or more air sampling devices.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising a step of transmitting to each of the one or more touch panel displays data regarding a flow rate of air through the one or the one or more air sampling devices for being displayed in each of the one or more touch panel displays. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising steps of:
 receiving a command from one of the one or more touch panel displays for controlling air flow through one of the one or more air sampling devices; and   controlling a flow rate of air through a port coupled to the one of the one or more touch panel displays via a vacuum line.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the one or more touch panel displays are co-located with the one or more air sampling devices. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the one or more touch panel displays are located inside a clean room environment. 
     
     
         38 . A method for sampling air at multiple locations, comprising steps of:
 drawing in a respective volume of air through one or more air sampling devices;   monitoring an air sampling of each of the one or more air sampling devices using a control center including a programmable logic controller (PLC); and   providing one or more touch panel displays connected to the control center for providing a human-computer interface between the control center and users.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising a step of automatically activating an alarm at one or more of the one or more touch panels when a rate of air flow through one or more of the one or more air sampling devices deviates from a desired value by a predetermined amount. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising a step of automatically activating an alarm at a first one of the one or more touch panels when a rate of air flow through a first one of the one or more air sampling devices deviates from a desired value by the predetermined amount. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising steps of:
 receiving, in each of the one or more touch panel displays, data from the control center regarding the one or more air sampling devices; and   displaying, in each of the one or more touch panel displays, the received data.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising a step of controlling at least one of the one or more air sampling devices from the one or more touch panels. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising a step of controlling the one or more air sampling devices using the control center. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising a step of activating an alarm when a predetermined alarm condition has been satisfied. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the predetermined alarm condition includes when the actual rate of air flow at the one or more air sampling devices deviates a predetermined amount from a desired rate of air flow. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the one or more touch panel displays are co-located with the one or more air sampling devices. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the one or more touch panel displays are located inside a clean room environment. 
     
     
         48 . A method for sampling air at multiple locations, comprising steps of:
 drawing in a respective volume of air through one or more air sampling devices;   controlling an air sampling of each of the one or more air sampling devices using a control center including a programmable logic controller (PLC); and   providing one or more touch panel displays connected to the control center for providing a human-computer interface between the control center and users.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising a step of automatically activating an alarm at one or more of the one or more touch panels when a rate of air flow through one or more of the one or more air sampling devices deviates from a desired value by a predetermined amount. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising a step of automatically activating an alarm at a first one of the one or more touch panels when a rate of air flow through a first one of the one or more air sampling devices deviates from a desired value by the predetermined amount. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising steps of:
 receiving, in each of the one or to more touch panel displays, data from the control center regarding the one or more air sampling devices; and   displaying, in each of the one or more touch panel displays, the received data.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising a step of controlling at least one of the one or more air sampling devices from the one or more touch panels. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising a step of monitoring the one or more air sampling devices by the control center. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 38 , ter comprising, a step of activating an alarm when a predetermined alarm condition has been satisfied. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the predetermined arm condition includes when the actual rate of air flow at the one or more air sampling devices deviates a predetermined amount from a desired rate of air flow. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the one or more touch pane displays are co-located with the one or more air sampling devices. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the one or more touch panel displays are located inside a clean room environment.

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