Phoenix Contact Development and Manufacturing, Inc.

Phoenix Contact America, Inc.

Aaron Richard Kreider

Davis Mathews

Michael Colin Cherewka

Brenton Eugene Helfrick

Brian Vogt

David Nathan Katz

Todd Eugene Shadle

Brent Helfrick

A method for providing galvanic isolation between an input or trunk interface () and multiple outputs or spur interfaces () for connecting field devices () to a trunk () of a two-wire () process control network () includes connecting multiple sets of multiple spur interfaces to respective isolating elements (). Each isolating element () connects a respective set of outputs or spur interfaces () to the trunk interface () and galvanically isolates () the respective set of spur interfaces () from the trunk interface (). Field devices () attached to different sets of spur interfaces are also galvanically isolated from one another.

Spur isolation in a fieldbus network

A fieldbus coupler for coupling a local fieldbus network utilizing a first fieldbus protocol to a foreign field device or foreign fieldbus network through an interconnecting wired or wireless network transmission line that utilizes a second fieldbus protocol different from the first fieldbus protocol includes a first circuit configured to communicate over the local fieldbus network using the first fieldbus protocol, a second circuit configured to connect the fieldbus coupler with the interconnecting network transmission line and communicate over the interconnecting network transmission line using the second fieldbus protocol, and a third circuit configured to communicate with the first and second circuits and capable of transmitting data to and from the first and second circuits to enable communications between the local fieldbus network via the interconnecting network transmission line.

Fieldbus network with two-wire loop

A voltage limiting device for limiting the voltage being transferred from a trunk circuit to a spur circuit of a distributed control network includes an AC signal device that passes the AC data signals between the trunk circuit and the spur circuit.

Voltage limiting device for use in a distributed control system

A two-wire process input-output ('IO') transmitter powered by a two-wire process loop and configured as a single transmitter. The transmitter including a gateway module and at least one local IO module. The gateway module including a first circuit configured to wholly power the gateway module from the two-wire process loop, a second circuit configured to communicate via the two-wire process loop, and a third circuit configured to communicate with the at least one IO module via a local bus separated from the two-wire process loop. The at least one local IO module including a first circuit configured to wholly power the respective local IO module from the two-wire process loop, a second circuit to communicate at least with the gateway module via the local bus, and a third circuit configured to interface with at least one IO field device.

Two-wire loop process IO transmitter powered from the two-wire loop

A modular system for transmitting power and data between a control processor that receives and transmits signals along a trunk of a distributed control network, and one or more field devices located in a hazardous area includes a backplane bus and a trunk module connected to the backplane and interconnecting the trunk and backplane. Intrinsically safe spur modules are removably attached to the backplane.

Growing community of inventors

Mount Joy, PA, United States of America

Aaron Richard Kreider