IP Library Granted Patent US 11,181,588
Granted Patent B2
US 11,181,588 · App. 16/534,874 · Granted Nov 23, 2021

Systems and methods for detection and configuration of spray system components

Inventor: Jonathan Jean Guernsey (Temperance, MI)
Assignee: Carlisle Fluid Technologies, Inc.
G01R31/60G06F13/4068
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,181,588
App. No.
16/534,874
Granted
Nov 23, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are techniques for automatically detecting and configuring a variety of spray system components. The techniques include a controller configured to detect one or more spray system components. The controller is also configured to initialize software drivers corresponding to the spray system components upon connection of the spray system components to the controller. The techniques may provide one or more hardware on top (HAT) boards configured to couple to the controller and the spray system components.

Claims (48)

1. A spray system, comprising:

a first spray applicator configured to operate with a first software driver;

a second spray applicator configured to operate with a second software driver different from the first software driver;

a first cascade voltage multiplier configured to operate with a third software driver; and

a controller configured to operably couple to the first cascade voltage multiplier, the first spray applicator, and the second spray applicator, wherein the controller is configured to automatically detect the first cascade voltage multiplier and initialize the third software driver upon connection of the first cascade voltage multiplier to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to automatically detect the first spray applicator and initialize the first software driver upon connection of the first spray applicator to the first cascade voltage multiplier, and wherein the controller is configured to automatically detect the second spray applicator and initialize the second software driver upon connection of the second spray applicator to the controller.

2. The spray system of claim 1 , comprising:

a second cascade voltage multiplier configured to operate with a fourth software driver different from the third software driver;

wherein the controller is configured to operably couple to the second cascade voltage multiplier, and the second cascade voltage multiplier is configured to couple to the second spray applicator, and wherein the controller is configured to automatically detect the second cascade voltage multiplier and initialize the fourth software driver upon connection of the second cascade voltage multiplier to the controller.

3. The spray system of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a printed circuit board and a plurality of hardware attached on top (HAT) boards coupled to the printed circuit board.

4. The spray system of claim 3 , wherein a first HAT board of the plurality of HAT boards is configured to couple to the first spray applicator, the second spray applicator, or both.

5. The spray system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of HAT boards comprises six HAT boards.

6. The spray system of claim 3 , wherein at least one HAT board of the plurality of HAT boards comprises a discrete input/output (I/O) HAT board.

7. The spray system of claim 6 , comprising a sensor configured to couple to the discrete I/O HAT board, wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a motor feedback sensor, a flow meter, or any combination thereof.

8. The spray system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to initialize a corresponding software driver from a memory of the controller based on the sensor coupled to the discrete I/O HAT board.

9. The spray system of claim 1 , wherein the first spray applicator comprises a powder gun, and the second spray applicator comprises a rotary atomizer.

10. The spray system of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a memory, and the first software driver and the second software driver are stored on the memory.

11. A spray system, comprising:

a spray applicator configured to operate with a first software driver;

a cascade voltage multiplier configured to operate with a second software driver different from the first software driver;

a hardware attached on top (HAT) board configured to couple to the spray applicator, the cascade voltage multiplier, or both; and

a controller configured to couple to the HAT board, wherein the controller is configured to automatically detect the cascade voltage multiplier via the HAT board and initialize the second software driver upon the cascade voltage multiplier being communicatively connected to the HAT board, and wherein the controller is configured to automatically detect the spray applicator via the HAT board and initialize the first software driver upon the spray applicator being communicatively connected to the HAT board.

12. A method of operating a spray system, comprising:

automatically detecting, via a processor, a first cascade voltage multiplier operably coupled to a controller of the spray system;

automatically detecting, via the processor, a first spray applicator operably coupled to the controller of the spray system;

automatically detecting, via the processor, a second spray applicator operably coupled to the controller of the spray system;

automatically initializing, via the processor, a first software driver upon detecting the first cascade voltage multiplier;

automatically initializing, via the processor, a second software driver upon detecting the first spray applicator;

automatically initializing, via the processor, a third software driver upon detecting the second spray applicator, wherein the third software driver is different from the second software driver;

controlling, via the processor, a first operation of the first spray applicator; and

controlling, via the processor, a second operation of the second spray applicator.

13. The method of claim 12 , comprising:

automatically detecting, via the processor, a second cascade voltage multiplier operably coupled to the controller of the spray system; and

automatically initializing, via the processor, a fourth software driver upon detecting the second cascade voltage multiplier, wherein the fourth software driver is different from the first software driver.

14. The method of claim 13 , comprising:

determining that the controller is incompatible with the first cascade voltage multiplier, the second cascade voltage multiplier, or both; and

providing an indication of the incompatibility of the first cascade voltage multiplier, the second cascade voltage multiplier, or both.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first spray applicator and the second spray applicator are operably coupled to the controller of the spray system via at least one HAT board of a plurality of HAT boards coupled to the controller.

16. The method of claim 15 , comprising:

detecting, via the processor, the HAT board of the plurality of HAT boards coupled to the controller; and

installing the first software driver and the second software driver in a memory of the controller.

17. The method of claim 12 , comprising:

detecting, via the processor, a discrete input/output (I/O) HAT board coupled to the controller, wherein the discrete I/O HAT board is configured to couple to one or more sensors, one or more valves, or a combination thereof; and

installing corresponding software drivers in a memory of the controller based on the one or more sensors, the one or more valves, or a combination thereof, configured to couple to the discrete I/O HAT board.

18. The method of claim 17 , comprising initializing, via the processor, the corresponding software drivers from the memory of the controller based on the one or more sensors, the one or more valves, or a combination thereof, coupled to the discrete I/O HAT board.

19. The method of claim 12 , comprising:

detecting, via the processor, a smart internet-of-things (IOT) HAT board coupled to the controller, wherein the smart IOT HAT board is configured to receive data related to the spray system; and

determining the first operation of the first spray applicator and the second operation of the second spray applicator based on the data received by the smart IOT HAT board.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first spray applicator and the second spray applicator are wirelessly detected via the processor, and wherein the first operation of the first spray applicator and the second operation of the second spray applicator are wirelessly controlled.

Assignments (3)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT [ABL] Recorded Oct 19, 2023
From: CARLISLE FLUID TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; HOSCO FITTINGS, LLC; INTEGRATED DISPENSE SOLUTIONS, LLC; CARLISLE FLUID TECHNOLOGIES UK LIMITED
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 065288/0960 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT [TERM LOAN] Recorded Oct 18, 2023
From: CARLISLE FLUID TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; HOSCO FITTINGS, LLC; INTEGRATED DISPENSE SOLUTIONS, LLC; CARLISLE FLUID TECHNOLOGIES UK LIMITED
To: MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 065272/0075 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2019
From: GUERNSEY, JONATHAN JEAN
To: CARLISLE FLUID TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 050014/0001 →