Honeywell G.m.b.h.

Honeywell International Inc.

Fieldbus Foundation

Jack Elias

Hiroshi Mori

Mitsugu Tanaka

Ram Ramachandran

Thomas B Kinney

Lee Allen Neitzel

Kenneth D Krivoshein

David A Glanzer

Chuji Akiyama

Yasuo Kumeda

William R Hodson

Patricia E Brett

Frank Lynch

Ashok K Gupta

Terrence L Blevins

Michael D Carney

Mark Striano

Giancarlo Punis

Theodore B Bozarth

Thomas P Overholt

Terrance L Blevins

Arthur M Olen

John L Carey, Jr

An apparatus includes first and second input terminals configured to be coupled to one of multiple types of input sources. The apparatus also includes a diode and a resistor coupled in series between the first and second input terminals. The apparatus further includes a plurality of switches each coupled to at least one of the diode and the resistor. The switches are configured to be opened and closed to reconfigure the apparatus depending on the type of input source. The switches could include a first switch coupled to the first input terminal, a current source, and a first side of the diode. The switches could also include a second switch coupled to the current source, a second side of the diode, and a first side of the resistor. In addition, the switches could include a third switch coupled to the second input terminal and a second side of the resistor.

Remotely configurable analog/digital input circuit and related apparatus and method

A controller input/output module visual indicator and safety means including a light redirector, terminal block assembly and at least one circuit having at least one light emitting diode or like light transmission means positioned distally from terminal block assembly. Each light redirector is configured to receive light from each corresponding light transmission means on a proximate end and redirect the light information to a distal end adjacent to the terminal block assembly for viewing by the control operator. An optional shield or side barrier may optionally be coupled to the circuit to provide operator safety from the high voltage signals which may exist on each input/output module.

Controller input/output module visual indicator and safety means

The present invention is a block oriented control system that allows interoperability between devices made by different manufacturers. A block oriented control system is a system which includes a plurality of field devices incorporating a physical layer, communication stack, and user layer, with the field devices being connected by a transmission medium, such as a bus. The physical layer receives signals from the bus and translates the signals into a message for the communications stack, and receives messages from the communications stack and translates the messages into signals for the bus. The communication stack controls the communications between devices operating in the control system. The user layer is a block oriented approach to the system's control functions, and includes function blocks and system management. The function blocks are standardized encapsulations of control functions, such as analog input or proportional/derivative. The system management allows synchronization of the device applications and the network processing.

Block-oriented control system

Block oriented control system

A process controller with power outage analysis capability uses a real time clock generator powered by an uninterruptible power source for providing a real time reference which is used to measure the actual duration of a process controller disabling power outage. A non-volatile memory is also powered by the uninterruptible power source and is used to store the maximum allowable outage time limit for a particular process being controlled. The clock generator is initialized at the start of the power outage by a power outage detector which provides an early warning of an imminent power outage. After the power is restored to the controller, a digital computer used in the process controller compares the actual power outage time as represented by the accumulated clock time with allowable power outage time limit stored in the memory and is arranged to provide a first process control sequence if the actual power outage time is less than the maximum allowable time and a second process control sequence if the actual power outage time is greater than the maximum allowable time.

Process controller with power outage analysis capability

A method for fault-testing of electrical apparatus includes the steps of interrupting the application of control signals normally producing changes in the electrical apparatus, disconnecting electrical apparatus monitoring circuits from energizing signal means used to produce output signals from the electrical apparatus monitoring circuits dependent on the state of electrical apparatus, and checking the subsequent output of monitoring circuits to detect the output signal to detect output signals during the deenergized state indicative of a fault in the monitoring circuits. An apparatus for performing the aforesaid testing method includes a digital computer having a stored test control program therein for selectively addressing the power supply connection means of the monitoring equipment to produce a deenergization of the monitoring equipment and means for checking the output of the monitoring equipment after the deenergization thereof.

Method and apparatus for fault-testing of electrical system monitor

A power supply structure for an electronic system includes a primary power source and a stand-by or secondary power source. The secondary power source is ground circuit isolated from the primary source. A monitoring circuit, which is energized from the secondary source is connected to monitor the primary source for incipient failure, then to produce an output signal which may be used to trigger an alarm and/or switch the secondary power source into energizing connection with respect to the electronic system.

D.C. monitoring circuit

A battery backup system for an AC energized DC supply has an AC line monitor for producing a pulse signal having a pulse width dependent on rise time of the AC signal and a frequency dependent on zero line crossings of the AC signal. The pulse signals are checked for frequency and pulse width by being used to control the charging time of a timing capacitor for a timer and to be compared with the pulse width of a predetermined reference pulse, respectively. The occurrence of a defect in the pulse signals stemming from either pulse testing criteria is effective to trigger an SCR circuit into conduction to connect a backup battery to the load devices to replace the DC power formerly being supplied by the AC line. After restoration of the AC power, the backup battery is removed following a fixed time delay to allow the AC powered DC supply to stabilize. A battery charging power supply is connected to the backup battery and is automatically switched between a battery 'float-rate' and a 'high-rate' charging operation following an AC outage and returned when the charging current indicates that the backup battery is fully charged.

Battery backup for AC powered DC supply

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Lansdale, PA, United States of America

Jack Elias