Fisher-rosemount Systems, Inc

Fieldbus Foundation

Kenneth D Krivoshein

Ram Ramachandran

Gary Keith Law

Daniel Dean Christensen

Hiroshi Mori

Mitsugu Tanaka

Kent Allan Burr

Alper Turhan Enver

John Michael Lucas

Lee Allen Neitzel

Thomas B Kinney

David A Glanzer

Jack Elias

Chuji Akiyama

Yasuo Kumeda

William R Hodson

Patricia E Brett

Frank Lynch

Ashok K Gupta

Mark J Nixon

Terrence L Blevins

Larry Oscar Jundt

Andrew Philip Dove

Ebtesam S Tanyous

Rusty Shepard

Terrance L Blevins

A method or apparatus automatically configures a control module for synchronous execution on a Fieldbus segment of a process control network by determining if all of the critical function blocks of a particular control module can be assigned to FOUNDATION&#xae; Fieldbus field devices or to the I/O device associated with a particular Fieldbus segment. If so, the method or apparatus automatically assigns the function blocks of the control module, which would otherwise be scheduled to execute in a controller, to the I/O device for the Fieldbus segment. This technique enables all of the critical or necessary function blocks within the control module to execute in one macrocycle of the Fieldbus segment, thereby executing synchronously on a Fieldbus segment. This operation, in turn, increases the overall execution rate of the control module with respect to control modules that have function blocks split between a controller and field devices on a Fieldbus segment, which has been the traditional manner of configuring control modules implemented using devices on a Fieldbus segment.

Automatic configuration of synchronous block execution for control modules run in fieldbus networks

An example apparatus includes a first interface configured to identify a first function associated with a process control routine. The example apparatus also includes a sub-schedule generator configured to generate a first sub-schedule associated with a first time period. The first sub-schedule indicates a first execution time at which the first function is to be executed. The example apparatus also includes a schedule generator configured to form a schedule associated with a second time period based on two instances of the first sub-schedule. The schedule indicates the first execution time and a second execution time at which the first function is to be executed.

Methods and apparatus to generate schedules to execute functions in a process control system

A versatile controller that can be used as either a stand-alone controller in a relatively small process plant or as one of numerous controllers in a distributed process control system depending on the needs of the process plant includes a processor adapted to be programmed to execute one or more programming routines and a memory, such as a non-volatile memory, coupled to the processor and adapted to store the one or more programming routines to be executed on the processor. The versatile controller also includes a plurality of field device input/output ports communicatively connected to the processor, a configuration communication port connected to the processor and to the memory to enable the controller to be configured with the programming routines and a second communication port which enables a user interface to be intermittently connected to the controller to view information stored within the controller memory. When used in a distributed process control system, the controller platform may be used as a remote input/output device and the ports of this remote input/output device may be logically mapped to controllers within the distributed process control system in a manner that is different than the physical connection between such controllers and the remote input/output device.

Highly versatile process control system controller

A technique for configuring a Boolean logic function block displays a matrix associated with the Boolean logic function block on a display screen of a computer. A programmer may then enter configuration data into the matrix to configure the Boolean logic function block. The matrix may include a plurality of cells, some of which correspond to variables to be used in generating a function block output, and the programmer may enter configuration data into the cells. The configuration data entered into cells are indicative of logic functions to which the variables corresponding to the cells are to be provided as inputs.

Boolean logic function block

A system and method for managing delivery of a link active schedule has a master link active scheduler and a backup link active scheduler communicatively coupled together via a databus. The system and method stores a link active schedule in a master link active scheduler and automatically transmits the most current link active schedule from the master link active scheduler over the databus to the backup link active scheduler upon receipt of the link active schedule in the master link active scheduler.

Automatically downloaded link active schedule

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

A configuration system for use in a process control network having a controller, a first device network that communicates using a first input/output protocol, such as a Fieldbus or a HART device protocol, and a Profibus network that communicates using a Profibus input/output communication protocol includes a configuration database that stores configuration information pertaining to the first device network and configuration information pertaining to the Profibus device network, a data access routine that automatically requests configuration information pertaining to the first device network and configuration information pertaining to the Profibus device network and a configurator that configures the Profibus device network based on the Profibus device network configuration information. The configurator stores the Profibus device network configuration information in the configuration database along with configuration information pertaining to the first device network. A documentation routine accesses the configuration database to display a process control documentation schematic illustrating the configuration of the first device network and the Profibus device network within the process control system.

Process control configuration system for use with a profibus device network

A configuration system for use in a process control network having a controller, a first device network that communicates using a first input/output protocol, such as a Fieldbus or a HART device protocol, and an AS-Interface device network that communicates using an AS-Interface input/output communication protocol includes a configuration database that stores configuration information pertaining to the first device network and configuration information pertaining to the AS-Interface device network, a data access routine that automatically requests configuration information pertaining to the first device network and configuration information pertaining to the AS-Interface device network and a configurator that configures the AS-Interface device network based on the AS-Interface device network configuration information. The configurator stores the AS-Interface device network configuration information in the configuration database along with configuration information pertaining to the first device network. A documentation routine accesses the configuration database to display a process control documentation schematic illustrating the configuration of the first device network and the AS-Interface device network within the process control system.

Process control configuration system for use with an AS-Interface device network

Block oriented control system

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Elgin, TX, United States of America

Kenneth D Krivoshein