Abstract: An intelligent programmable process control system for controlling industrial processing and manufacturing equipment and the like utilizes a unique system of cooperating multiple microprocessors. A multi-bit microprocessor is utilized for controlling the analog portion of the processing equipment, and a single-bit microprocessor is utilized for sequencing. The control processor has overall supervisory control. An arbitration circuit for resolving simultaneous or phased access to memory by the two microprocessors is provided. In addition, a circuit is provided for accomplishing parallel I/O, again accessible by both microprocessors. In one embodiment, means for linking arithmetic functions and non-arithmetic (logic) functions within a boolean-type instruction set is provided.

Abstract: An intelligent programmable process control system for controlling industrial processing and manufacturing equipment and the like utilizes a unique system of cooperating multiple processors. A digital processor is utilized for controlling the analog portion of the processing equipment, and a boolean processor is utilized for sequencing and controlling the on/off states of controllable devices. Along the process communication means is provided for communications between the processors. In one embodiment, a circuit is provided for accomplishing parallel digital I/O, accessible by the digital processor for additional control of the analog processing equipment.

Abstract: An intelligent programmable process control system for controlling industrial processing and manufacturing equipment and the like utilizes a unique system of cooperating dual microprocessors. A digital microprocessor is utilized for digital computation and for controlling the analog portion of the processing equipment, and a boolean microprocessor is utilized for sequencing and for controlling the on/off states of devices located along the process in response to the on/off states of sensors located along the process according to a sequence of boolean logic functions. The digital microprocessor has overall supervisory control. Common memory provides a communication link between the two microprocessors. An arbitration circuit for resolving simultaneous or phased access to memory by the two microprocessors is provided. In addition, a circuit is provided for accomplishing parallel digital input/output functions, again accessible by both microprocessors.