US005422826A
United States Patent [19] [11] Patent Number: 5,422,826
Cousineau [45] Date of Patent: Jun. 6,1995
[54] MICROCONTROLLER BASED CONTROL SYSTEM FOR USE IN A WIND TURBINE [75] Inventor: Kevin L. Cousineau, Tehachapi, Calif.
[73] Assignee: Zond Systems, Inc., Tehachapi, Calif. [21] Appl. No.: 179,243 [22] Filed: Jan. 10,1994
Related U.S. Application Data
[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 579,676, Sep. 10, 1990, Pat. No. 5,278,773.
[51] IntCI.« G06F 15/20
[52] U.S. CI 364/494; 364/492;
416/36
[58] Field of Search 364/550,494, 492, 131,
364/133; 73/189; 416/36, 61, 197, 41; 290/44,
55
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Primary Examiner—Ellis B. Ramirez
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Cushman, Darby & Cushman
[57] ABSTRACT
A distributed module control system for controlling a wind turbine using multiple controls and monitors comprising multiple modules that include microcontrollers, and having data input terminals and data output terminals; high level logic circuitry interconnecting the modules via selected data input and data output terminals; and certain modules also connected with the turbine monitors and controls to control operation of the wind turbines in response to monitoring of turbine operation.
