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 [Search a list of Patent Appplications for class 700]   CLASS 700,DATA PROCESSING: GENERIC CONTROL SYSTEMS OR SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS
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SECTION I - CLASS DEFINITION

GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE CLASS SUBJECT MATTER

This class is structured into two main divisions: (A) Generic Control System, Apparatus or Process and (B) Specific Application, Apparatus or Process

(1) Note. In establishing Class 700, patents from pertinent subclasses in Classes 364 and 395 were directly translated into corresponding subclasses in the new class. The general structure of Class 700 parallels that of Class 364 from which it is derived and reflects the atypical location of generic subject matter (subclasses 1-89) in hierarchical superiority to specific applications (subclasses 90-306). Notes regarding patent placement are found below.

(A) This is the generic class for the combination of a data processing or calculating computer apparatus (or corresponding methods for performing data processing or calculating operations) AND a device or apparatus controlled thereby, the entirety hereinafter referred to as a "control system".

(1) Note. Control systems which claim control of or control by a particular art device or environment are classified in the "Specific Application, Apparatus or Process" area of this class. Control systems which are not so limited are classified in the "Generic Control System, Apparatus or Process" area of this class. Control systems which are limited to a particular art device or environment but also include at least one claim to the generic control are classified in the "Generic Control System, Apparatus or Process" area.
(2) Note. An example of such a control system includes a data processing or calculating computer interactively connected to an external device to sense a condition (e.g., position) of such external device. The processed data representing the sensed condition develops a control signal to be applied to such external device to perform a control function (e.g., optimization).
(3) Note. "Apparatus" as used herein does not include internal control features of a computer which are classified elsewhere.
(4) Note. Classification herein is based on control system structure or function. The search for particular details of the data processing or calculating computer structural entity is elsewhere in this class.
(5) Note. For classification herein the "Apparatus" being controlled must be only nominally recited. Control systems which are limited by the claims to a particular type of process or have a specific utility are classified in the "Specific Application, Apparatus or Process" area of this class. Control systems which recite specific steps of a process or have structural details to a particular type of apparatus are classified with the appropriate art device. For example: the claimed recitation of (a) a controlled chemical process is classified in the "Generic Control System, Apparatus or Process" area of this class, (b) a controlled distillation process is classified in the "Specific Application, Apparatus or Process" area of this class and (c) a controlled chemical process which involves a recited chemical reaction, is classified in one of the chemical classes.
(6) Note. Where there is nominal claim recitation of the device or apparatus and nominal data processor or computer structure claimed, the control system is classifiable herein only when there is no class providing for the device or apparatus.
(7) Note. Control systems which include an algorithm peculiar to a specific art by claim disclosure are excluded from this class and will be found in the class wherein the specific art is classified.

(B) This is also the generic class for data processing or calculating computer apparatus (or corresponding methods for performing data processing or calculating operations) wherein the data processing or calculating computer apparatus is designed for or utilized in a particular art device, system, process, or environment, or is utilized for the solution of a particular problem in a field other than mathematics (arithmetic processing per se is classified elsewhere).

(1) Note. Control systems which claim control of or control by a particular art device or environment are classified in the "Specific Application, Apparatus or Process" area of this class. Control systems which are not so limited are classified in the "Generic Control System, Apparatus or Process" area of this class. Control systems which are limited to a particular art device or environment but also include at least one claim to the generic control are classified in the "Generic Control System, Apparatus or Process" area.
(2) Note. For classification herein, there must be significant claim recitation of the data processing system or calculating computer and only nominal claim recitation of any external art environment. Where significant structure of the external device is recited by the claims, classification is in the appropriate device class.
(3) Note. This and indented subclasses will accommodate devices, systems, or processes which claim a control of or a control by a particular art device or environment and do not have a generic claim to the control; see the "Generic Control" area of this class for generic control devices.
(4) Note. In view of the nature of the subject matter included herein, consideration of the classification schedule for diverse art or environment is necessary for proper search.

(C) Significantly claimed apparatus external to this class, claimed in combination with apparatus under the class definition, which perform data processing or calculation operations are classified in the class appropriate to the external device unless specifically excluded therefrom.

(D) Nominally claimed apparatus external to this class in combination with apparatus under the class definition is classified in this class unless provided for in the appropriate external class.

SECTION II - REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:

235, Registers,   appropriate subclasses for various data bearing record controlled systems and for basic machines and associated indicating mechanisms for ascertaining the number of movements of various devices and machines, plus machines made from these basic machines alone (e.g., cash registers, voting machines), and in combination with various perfecting features, such as printers and recording means.
307, Electrical Transmission or Interconnection Systems,   appropriate subclasses for electrical transmission or interconnection systems.
340, Communications: Electrical,   appropriate subclasses for residual electrical communication systems.
341, Coded Data Generation or Conversion,   appropriate subclasses for electrical pulse and digit code converters.
342, Communications: Directive Radio Wave Systems and Devices (e.g., Radar, Radio Navigation),   appropriate subclasses for directive wave systems which may include object detection or tracking.
345, Computer Graphics Processing and Selective Visual Display Systems,   appropriate subclasses for the selective control of two or more light generating or light controlling display elements in accordance with a received image signal, and particularly subclasses 418 through 475for computer graphics processing.
348, Television,   appropriate subclasses, particularly subclasses 169 through 172for television systems which may include object detection or tracking.
356, Optics: Measuring and Testing,   appropriate subclasses for optical measuring systems which may include object detection or tracking.
358, Facsimile and Static Presentation Processing,   subclass 1.1 1.18 for static data presentation processing.
360, Dynamic Magnetic Information Storage or Retrieval,   appropriate subclasses, for record carriers and systems wherein information is stored and retrieved by interaction with a medium and there is relative motion between a medium and a transducer, for example, magnetic disk drive devices and control thereof, per se.
365, Static Information Storage and Retrieval,   appropriate subclasses for addressable static singular storage elements or plural singular storage elements of the same type.
369, Dynamic Information Storage or Retrieval,   appropriate subclasses for record carriers and systems wherein information is stored and retrieved by interaction with a medium and there is relative motion between a medium and a transducer.
370, Multiplex Communications,   appropriate subclasses for generic multiplexing and demultiplexing systems.
375, Pulse or Digital Communications,   appropriate subclasses for generic pulse or digital communication systems.
377, Electrical Pulse Counters, Pulse Dividers, or Shift Registers: Circuits and Systems,   appropriate subclasses for generic circuits for pulse counting.
379, Telephonic Communications,   appropriate subclasses for two-way electrical communication of intelligible audio information of arbitrary content over a link including an electrical conductor.
382, Image Analysis,   appropriate subclasses for operations performed on image data with the aim of measuring a characteristic of an image, detecting variations, detecting structures such as in subclass 103 for detecting or tracking targets, transforming the image data, and for procedures for analyzing and categorizing patterns present in image data.
701, Data Processing: Vehicles, Navigation, and Relative Location,   appropriate subclasses for vehicular or navigational data processing.
702, Data Processing: Measuring, Calibrating, and Testing,   appropriate subclasses for measuring or testing data processing.
703, Data Processing: Structural Design, Modeling, Simulation, and Emulation,   appropriate subclasses.
704, Data Processing: Speech Signal Processing, Linguistics, Language Translation and Audio Compression/Decompression,   subclasses 200 through 278for artificial intelligence systems that process speech signals.
705, Data Processing: Financial, Business Practice, Management, or Cost/Price Determination,   appropriate subclasses for data processing related to business, finances, management, or cost/price determining.
706, Data Processing: Artificial Intelligence,   appropriate subclasses for artificial intelligence systems that represent, apply, and acquire knowledge and subclasses 15 through 44for neural networks and circuits.
707, Data Processing: Databases and File Management, Data Structures, or Document Processing,   appropriate subclasses for database structure, database/file management, or document processing.
708, Electrical Computers: Arithmetic Processing and Calculating,   appropriate subclasses for electrical arithmetic processing.
709, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Multiple Computer or Process Coordinating,   appropriate subclassesfor multicomputer digital data transferring systems.
710, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Input/Output,   appropriate subclasses for input/output processing (e.g., bus processing) in a computer or digital data processing system.
711, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Memory,   appropriate subclasses for storage accessing, control, or addressing in a computer or digital processing system.
712, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Processing Architectures and Instruction Processing (e.g., Processors),   appropriate subclasses for computer or digital processing system architecture or instruction processing.
713, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Support,   appropriate subclasses for computer or digital processing system support (e.g., power supply and timing, etc.).
714, Error Detection/Correction and Fault Detection/Recovery,   appropriate subclasses for error or fault detection or compensation in a computer or digital processing system.
716, Data Processing: Design and Analysis of Circuit or Semiconductor Mask,   appropriate subclasses.
717, Data Processing: Software Development, Installation, and Management,   appropriate subclasses.
901, Robots,   appropriate subclasses for robotic cross-reference art collections.

SECTION III - GLOSSARY

CALCULATING OPERATION:

Arithmetic and or some limited logic operations performed upon or with signals representing numbers or values.

COMPUTER:

A machine that inputs data, processes data, stores data, and outputs data.

DATA:

Representation of information in a coded manner suitable for communication, interpretation, or processing.

DATA PROCESSING (for the purpose of this class):

A systematic operation on data in accordance with a set of rules which results in a significant change in the data.

END EFFECTOR:

A terminal on a robot arm that carries a hand, welding gun, painting nozzle, or other tool.

SUBCLASSES

[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 1]    1GENERIC CONTROL SYSTEM, APPARATUS OR PROCESS:
 Subject matter wherein there is a combination of a data processing or calculating computer apparatus (or corresponding method for performing data processing or calculating operation) and a device or apparatus controlled thereby, the entirety hereinafter referred to as a control system.
(1) Note. An example of such a control system includes a data processing or calculating computer interactively connected to an external device to sense a condition (e.g., position) of such external device. The processed data representing the sensed condition develops a control signal to be applied to such external device to perform a general applicability control function (e.g., optimization).
(2) Note. "Apparatus" may include a plant, manufacturing process, or facility.
(3) Note. Classification herein is based on control system structure or function. Particular details of the data processing or calculating computer structural entity is classified elsewhere.
(4) Note. For classification herein the "Apparatus" being controlled must be only nominally recited. Control systems which are limited by the claims to a particular type of process or have a specific utility are classified in the "Application" area of this class. Control systems which recite specific steps or have structural details to a particular type of process art classified with the appropriate art device. For example: The claimed recitation of (a) a chemical controlled process, (b) a distillation controlled process and (c) a chemical controlled process which involves a chemical reaction, are classified in the Generic Control" area of this class, the "Application" area of this class and in one of the chemical classes, respectively.
(5) Note. Where there is nominal claim recitation of the device or apparatus and nominal data processor or computer structure claimed, the control system is classifiable herein only when there is no class providing for the device or apparatus.
(6) Note. Control systems which include an algorithm peculiar to a specific art by claim disclosure are excluded from this class and will be found in the class wherein the specific art is classified.
(7) Note. All of the following classes listed have subclasses providing for control or regulating systems or apparatus.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:

53, Package Making,   subclasses 52 through 76.
60, Power Plants,   appropriate subclasses.
62, Refrigeration,   subclass 160 .
72, Metal Deforming,   subclasses 6.1 through 21.6.
74, Machine Element or Mechanism,   subclass 2 .
83, Cutting,   subclasses 72 through 76.
91, Motors: Expansible Chamber Type,   appropriate subclasses.
95, Gas Separation: Processes,   subclasses 1 through 24.
96, Gas Separation: Apparatus,   appropriate subclasses.
100, Presses,   subclasses 43 through 52.
118, Coating Apparatus,   subclasses 663 through 694.
137, Fluid Handling,   appropriate subclasses.
141, Fluent Material Handling, With Receiver or Receiver Coacting Means,   appropriate subclasses.
162, Paper Making and Fiber Liberation,   appropriate subclasses and particularly subclasses 252 through 260.
165, Heat Exchange,   subclasses 200 through 303.
172, Earth Working,   subclasses 2 through 12.
173, Tool Driving or Impacting,   subclasses 2 through 183.
177, Weighing Scales,   appropriate subclasses.
187, Elevator, Industrial Lift Truck, or Stationary Lift for Vehicle,   subclasses 247 through 248.
221, Article Dispensing,   subclasses 9 through 14.
222, Dispensing,   subclasses 52 through 69.
227, Elongated-Member-Driving Apparatus,   subclasses 2 through 7.
228, Metal Fusion Bonding,   subclass 102 .
234, Selective Cutting (e.g., Punching),   appropriate subclasses.
236, Automatic Temperature and Humidity Regulation,   appropriate subclasses.
244, Aeronautics and Astronautics,   appropriate subclasses.
251, Valves and Valve Actuation,   appropriate subclasses.
290, Prime-Mover Dynamo Plants,   subclasses 7 through 44.
299, Mining or In Situ Disintegration of Hard Material,   subclasses 1.05 through 1.9.
318, Electricity: Motive Power Systems,   appropriate subclasses.
323, Electricity: Power Supply or Regulation Systems,   appropriate subclasses.
360, Dynamic Magnetic Information Storage or Retrieval,   subclasses 69 through 80.
376, Induced Nuclear Reactions: Processes, Systems, and Elements,   subclasses 100 through 152and subclasses 207-244.
399, Electrophotography,   subclasses 9 through 37for diagnostics, subclasses 38-74 for controls of the electrophotographic process, and subclass 77 for sequential control programming of machine operation.
405, Hydraulic and Earth Engineering,   appropriate subclasses.
408, Cutting by Use of Rotating Axially Moving Tool,   subclasses 8 through 13.
409, Gear Cutting, Milling, or Planing,   appropriate subclasses.
415, Rotary Kinetic Fluid Motors or Pumps,   appropriate subclasses.
416, Fluid Reaction Surfaces (i.e., Impellers),   appropriate subclasses.
417, Pumps,   subclasses 1 through 47.
431, Combustion,   subclasses 18 through 90.
432, Heating,   appropriate subclasses.
436, Chemistry: Analytical and Immunological Testing,   appropriate subclasses.
451, Abrading,   subclasses 2 through 3for a condition responsive control for sandblasting.
483, Tool Changing,   subclasses 4 through 6for apparatus including a tool transfer means combined with a tool support or storage means and a programmable control system.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 2]    2Plural processors:
 This subclass is indented under 1.  Subject matter where more than one processor is used in a control system and at least one of the processors is programmable.
(1) Note. Classification herein requires active participation by the plural processors in the control system.

SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:

82,for control systems having plural processors where one processor (standby) will follow the operation of the other processor (active) and takeover operation of the system on failure of the active processor.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 3]    3Master-slave:
 This subclass is indented under 2.  Subject matter where one processor (master) controls one or more other processors (slave).

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:

709, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Multiple Computer or Process Coordinating,   subclasses 208 through 211for general purpose master/slave multicomputer data transfer.
710, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Input/Output,   subclass 110 for bus master/slave control.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 4]    4Parallel:
 This subclass is indented under 2.  Subject matter where the plural processors operate independently with respect to each other and are connected to a common bus.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 5]    5Shared memory:
 This subclass is indented under 4.  Subject matter where the plural processors share access to a common memory.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 6]    6Hybrid types (analog, digital):
 This subclass is indented under 2.  Subject matter wherein at least one processor is of a different type (e.g., analog, digital) than at least one other processor.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:

708, Electrical Computers: Arithmetic Processing and Calculating,   subclasses 1 through 9for an electrical hybrid calculating computer.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 7]    7Including sequence or logic processor:
 This subclass is indented under 2.  Subject matter where at least one of the processors performs sequence or logic functions.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 8]    8Cascade control:
 This subclass is indented under 1.  Subject matter where the output of a primary controller is utilized to adjust the set point of a secondary controller.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 9]    9Supervisory control:
 This subclass is indented under 1.  Subject matter where a central or host computer is used to control plural controllers.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:

340, Communications: Electrical,   subclasses 3.1 through 3.9for selective electrical communication having monitoring in addition to control (e.g., supervisory).
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 10]    10Of analog controllers:
 This subclass is indented under 9.  Subject matter where the controllers are analog and a particular characteristic of such as set point is adjusted.
(1) Note. A controller is a device which holds a process or condition at a desired level or status as determined by comparison of the actual value with the desired value.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 11]    11Sequential or selective:
 This subclass is indented under 1.  Subject matter where output signals from a data processor or computer structure are sequentially or selectively applied to control a device or apparatus in a repetitive, orderly manner according to a predetermined schedule of operation.
(1) Note. Sequencing as a basic process is essentially digital in nature, the relationship being, for example, "on", "off" or "in", "out", etc.

SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:

79+,for sequential and selective control systems having a diagnostic feature.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:

340, Communications: Electrical,   subclasses 825 through 825.98for selective electrical communication.
718, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Virtual Machine Task or Process Management or Task Management/Control,   appropriate subclassesfor computer task management or control.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 12]    12State of condition or parameter (e.g., on/off):
 This subclass is indented under 11.  Subject matter where input signals representative of a particular condition of a system to be controlled are analyzed and a comparison made with the predetermined conditions in the operation schedule and corresponding output signals produced.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 13]    13Position responsive:
 This subclass is indented under 12.  Subject matter where the particular system condition or parameter is position, the control output signal being produced in response to a position responsive input signal.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 14]    14Time responsive (duration):
 This subclass is indented under 12.  Subject matter where the particular system condition is time related, the output signal establishing a particular state (e.g., on/off) of such condition for a prescribed interval or duration.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:

307, Electrical Transmission or Interconnection Systems,   subclass 41 for sequential or alternating selectively connected or controlled load circuits; and subclasses 141-141.8 for switch actuation with time delay or retardation means.
340, Communications: Electrical,   subclass 309.4 for timer controlled systems including sequentially actuated indicators.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 15]    15Having display:
 This subclass is indented under 14.  Subject matter where a visual indication related to a controlled time interval or duration is provided (e.g., time remaining).

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:

116, Signals and Indicators,   appropriate subclasses for mechanical indication, in general.
340, Communications: Electrical,   subclasses 500 through 693.12for condition responsive indication.
345, Computer Graphics Processing and Selective Visual Display Systems,   appropriate subclasses for visual display systems.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 16]    16Clock-calendar (e.g., time of day):
 This subclass is indented under 14.  Subject matter where the time interval or duration is related to a 24-hour day and 7-day week schedule.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 17]    17Operator interface (e.g., display with control):
 This subclass is indented under 11.  Subject matter including input/output means by which an operator may communicate with the control system.

SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:

83+,for control systems of a general type including an operator interface feature.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:

116, Signals and Indicators,   appropriate subclasses for mechanical indication, in general.
340, Communications: Electrical,   subclass 3.71 for selective electrical communication having monitoring in addition to control (e.g., supervisory) and including an indicator which has manual control input and subclasses 500-693.12 for condition responsive indicating.
345, Computer Graphics Processing and Selective Visual Display Systems,   appropriate subclasses for visual display systems.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 18]    18Specific programming (e.g., relay or ladder logic):
 This subclass is indented under 17.  Subject matter where a predetermined schedule of operation may be established directly by use of relay or ladder technology.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 19]    19Plural controlled systems, mechanisms, or elements:
 This subclass is indented under 11.  Subject matter where there is more than one system being controlled, or in which there is more than one communication being controlled, or where there is control of more than one element of a controlled system.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:

709, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Multiple Computer or Process Coordinating,   appropriate subclassesfor multiple computer data transfer systems.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 20]    20Plural controllers:
 This subclass is indented under 11.  Subject matter where more than one device is used to control a system.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:

709, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Multiple Computer or Process Coordinating,   appropriate subclassesfor multiple computer data transfer systems.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 21]    21Failure protection or reliability:
 This subclass is indented under 11.  Subject matter where there is a means or a step for increasing a conditional probability of correctly performing a service (e.g., control) throughout a time interval, given correct performance at the beginning of the interval, or for increasing the probability of correctly performing a service at any given instant.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:

361, Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices,   subclasses 1 through 138for electrical (other than pulse coded data error) fault sensing and removal.
714, Error Detection/Correction and Fault Detection/Recovery,   appropriate subclasses for computer failure protection and reliability, in general.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 22]    22Electrical power distribution:
 This subclass is indented under 11.  Subject matter wherein the distribution of electrical power is controlled.

SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:

286through 298, for computers used in an electrical power distribution environment other than for control.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:

323, Electricity: Power Supply or Regulation Systems,   appropriate subclasses for power regulation and supply systems, in general.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 23]    23Sequence program response:
 This subclass is indented under 11.  Subject matter where the control system responds to an encoded, ordered list of instructions.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:

712, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Processing Architectures and Instruction Processing (e.g., Processors),   subclasses 200 through 248for computer programming, in general.
718, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Virtual Machine Task or Process Management or Task Management/Control,   appropriate subclassesfor computer task management or control.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 24]    24Addressing:
 This subclass is indented under 23.  Subject matter including one or more values which specify one or more memory locations.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:

340, Communications: Electrical,   subclasses 3.5 through 3.55for selective electrical communication having monitoring in addition to control (e.g., supervisory) which includes addressing.
365, Static Information Storage and Retrieval,   subclasses 230.01 through 243.5for addressing means in static memories.
711, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Memory,   subclasses 1 through 6and subclasses 200-221 for addressing in computer systems.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 25]    25I/O table:
 This subclass is indented under 23.  Subject matter having means which stores, in an array, data related to input and output of the control system.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:

710, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Input/Output,   subclasses 1 through 74for input/output data processing.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 26]    26Diagnostics or debugging:
 This subclass is indented under 23.  Subject matter including means to diagnose malfunctions in the control system.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:

714, Error Detection/Correction and Fault Detection/Recovery,   subclasses 1 through 57for computer reliability.
717, Data Processing: Software Development, Installation, and Management,   subclasses 124 through 135for analysis or debugging in a software development tool.
  
[List of Patents for class 700 subclass 27]    27Having status indication:
 This subclass is indented under 23.  Subject matter having a human perceptible representation of information about the process being controlled or the controller.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:

116, Signals and Indicators,   appropriate subclasses for mechanical indication, in general.
340, Communications: Electrical,   subclasses