Mark K Rutherford

US Patent:

6721608, Apr 13, 2004

Filed:

Mar 20, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/531057

Inventors:

Mark L. Rutherford - Nashville TN 37212

International Classification:

G05B 1302

US Classification:

700 28, 700 29, 700 37, 700 45

Abstract:

An apparatus for controlling a two degree of freedom process comprises a first controller, a second controller, and a process model. The three components are oriented in such a way that the first controller receives input from a first variable and the second controller receives input from a second variable. The process model is a model of the process process and provides feedback to the first controller. Furthermore, the orientation of the controllers isolates the first controller from the second variable and isolates the second controller from the first variable when the process model matches the process. Since each controller shapes a response to only one variable, the transfer functions of each controller can be chosen to meet stringent performance standards.

US Patent:

6959218, Oct 25, 2005

Filed:

Feb 27, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/789221

Inventors:

Mark L. Rutherford - Nashville TN, US

International Classification:

G05B013/02

US Classification:

700 28, 700 29, 700 37, 700 45

Abstract:

A method for controlling a controlled process in response to an input signal and a disturbance signal includes modeling the controlled process in a process model; controlling the process model by a first controller; isolating the first controller from the disturbance signal so that the first controller may be designed for an optimal response to the input signal; driving the first controller by a first drive signal proportional to the difference between the input signal and a process model output signal; isolating a second controller from the input signal so that the second controller may be designed for an optimal response to the disturbance signal; and driving the second controller by a second drive signal proportional to difference between a process output signal and the process model output signal.

US Patent:

7123973, Oct 17, 2006

Filed:

Aug 30, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/214700

Inventors:

Mark L. Rutherford - Nashville TN, US

International Classification:

G05B 13/02
G05B 11/01

US Classification:

700 53, 700 20, 700 28, 700 29, 700 37, 700 45, 700 54

Abstract:

A method for controlling a controlled process in response to an input signal and a disturbance signal includes modeling the controlled process in a process model; controlling the process model by a first controller; isolating the first controller from the disturbance signal so that the first controller may be designed for an optimal response to the input signal; driving the first controller by a first drive signal proportional to the difference between the input signal and a process model output signal; isolating a second controller from the input signal so that the second controller may be designed for an optimal response to the disturbance signal; and driving the second controller by a second drive signal proportional to difference between a process output signal and the process model output signal.