Term #2,102
control loop
Claim Term
control loop
Reference Case 1
DAR-2
Date Added
9/7/23
Created
9/7/23, 11:20 PM
Modified
9/18/23, 7:32 PM
Full Desc
"Control Loop" refers to a closed-loop process, method, or system that continuously monitors and adjusts a process to maintain a desired setpoint or target. Control loops can regulate and optimize processes, ensuring the processes operate within specified parameters and deliver consistent and reliable results. A control loop often includes the following components:
Process: The process is the system or operation that needs to be controlled or regulated. This could be a manufacturing process, a heating or cooling system, a chemical reaction, a biological process, a physiological process, or any other system with variable inputs, outputs, and/or parameters.
Setpoint: The setpoint is the desired or target value that the process should achieve or maintain. The setpoint represents the ideal operating condition for the process.
Sensor (or Measuring Device): The sensor is a device that measures the current state, condition, or output of the process or one or more components and/or stages of a process. The sensor provides feedback for an actual process variable (PV) and sends this information to a controller.
Controller: The controller can be a device and/or software of a computing device that receives input from the sensor and compares the input to the setpoint. Based on this comparison, the controller calculates the necessary control action to bring the process variable back to the setpoint.
Actuator: The actuator is a device, component, or mechanism that receives signals from the controller and physically adjusts the process or components or other aspects of a process to achieve the desired setpoint. The adjusted aspect could be a valve position, flow rate, flow pressure, motor revolutions per minute, motor on or off state, gate or port state (open or closed), proportional pinch valve position, heater/cooler increasing or decreasing heat/cold output, mass flow control (e.g., sweep gas flowrate) or any other device that can change a parameter of the process.
Feedback Loop: The feedback loop is the continuous flow of information and control signals between the sensor, controller, and actuator. The feedback loop allows the controller to make real-time adjustments to keep the process variable close to or at the setpoint.
A control loop can include one or more of setpoints, sensors, controllers, actuators, and/or feedback loops.
The basic operation of a control loop involves the controller comparing the actual process variable (PV) with the setpoint (SP) and generating a control signal that instructs the actuator to make adjustments. The process variable can be continuously measured and controlled to minimize deviation from the setpoint, ensuring that the process operates efficiently and within desired limits. (© ChatGPT Aug. 3 Version, Modified, accessed chat.openai.com/chat Sept. 7, 2023).