The Foxboro Company

General Signal Corporation

Invensys Systems, Inc.

Sperry Rand Corporation

Leeds & Northrup Company

Ekms, Inc.

Simon Korowitz

Harold Lake

Harris D Kagan

Charles Wilson Piper

David P Prentice

Alan Andrew Gale

Edwin L Karas

Charles W Kellstedt

Nathan H Tobol

William M Slechta

Edward L Weiss

John P Angelosanto

M Charles Cheney

Felix J Houvig

Robert J Esterling

Clarence L Freed

Roger E Powell, Ii

Francis E McMenamin

John Greenup

Thomas Alden Fiske

Kurt R Leichter

A field controller for use in a distributed control system including an area controller and at least one field controller. The field controller manages at least one controlled device in an industrial process operation. The field controller comprises a processor module segment through which it can control a selected number of devices, and it may also include one or more expansion module segments to enable it to control a larger number of controlled devices. The processor module segment includes a processor module and at least one local interface module for interfacing to a controlled device, and the expansion module segment includes interface modules for interfacing to other controlled devices. In the processor module segment, the processor module and said local interface module are interconnected by a bus segment, which is also connected to an upstream off-module connector. Each expansion module segment includes at least one interface module, and also includes a downstream off-module connector and an upstream off-module connector, which are interconnected by a bus segment. The downstream off-module connector of each expansion module segment is adapted to mate with the upstream off-module connector of the processor module segment and of other expansion module segment, so as to facilitate the interconnection of the processor module segment and a sequence of expansion module segments by establishing a unitary multi-drop bus comprising the processor module's bus segment and the bus segments of expansion module in the sequence. The processor module controls each controlled device through the respective local interface module or expansion interface module connected thereto. The processor module segment and each expansion module segment are each mounted in a housing segment which is configured to form a unitary housing when they are interconnected.

Distributed control system with multiple control levels and/or downloading

Distributed control system including a compact easily-extensible and serviceable field controller

A method for manufacturing a Personal Computer Memory Common Interface Architecture (&ldquo;PCMCIA&rdquo;) printed circuit board (&ldquo;PCB&rdquo;) includes providing a PCB having a PCMCIA area and an auxiliary area. The PCMCIA area has multiple locations adapted to receive electronic components. The auxiliary area has multiple test points disposed thereon. The method also includes populating the PCMCIA area with electronic components. Testing of the PCMCIA area is next performed by electrically contacting at least some of the multiple test points within said auxiliary area. If the testing produces unsatisfactory results, diagnostics and repair are performed. After the testing produces satisfactory results, the auxiliary area is separated from the PCMCIA area to produce a populated, tested, PCMCIA PCB.

Printed circuit board including removable auxiliary area with test points

An I/O device in the form of an internal dongle includes a body having connective structure being arranged to removably attach the body to a housing of an electronic device. The dongle also includes a circuit assembly that has an exterior connector on the body for electrically connecting to a second electronic device, a dongle circuit being electrically coupled to the external connector through the body, an electronic cable having a first end electrically coupled to the dongle circuit, and a second end being structured and arranged to connect to an electronic component of the first mentioned electronic device within the housing.

Control device with PCMCIA card for communications with field device

A field controller for use in a distributed control system including an area controller and at least one field controller. The field controller manages at least one controlled device in an industrial process operation. The field controller comprises a processor module segment through which it can control a selected number of devices, and it may also include one or more expansion module segments to enable it to control a larger number of controlled devices. The processor module segment includes a processor module and at least one local interface module for interfacing to a controlled device, and the expansion module segment includes interface modules for interfacing to other controlled devices. In the processor module segment, the processor module and said local interface module are interconnected by a bus segment, which is also connected to an upstream off-module connector. Each expansion module segment includes at least one interface module, and also includes a downstream off-module connector and an upstream off-module connector, which are interconnected by a bus segment. The downstream off-module connector of each expansion module segment is adapted to mate with the upstream off-module connector of the processor module segment and of other expansion module segment, so as to facilitate the interconnection of the processor module segment and a sequence of expansion module segments by establishing a unitary multi-drop bus comprising the processor module's bus segment and the bus segments of expansion module in the sequence. The precessor module controls each controlled device through the respective local interface module or expansion interface module connected thereto. The processor module segment and each expansion module segment are each mounted in a housing segment which is configured to form a unitary housing when they are interconnected.

Distributed control system including a compact, easily-extensible and serviceable field controller

An article adapted to pass a cable through a housing includes a substantially solid body, including front and rear ends. A side surface of the body provides a groove extending into the body from the front to the rear end. The groove is sized to carry a selected size electric cable. The body also includes connective structure adapted to removably connect the body to the housing. The article also includes a sheet of nonconductive material extending across the groove at the front end of the body. The sheet provides a circular opening sized to allow the cable to pass therethrough. The sheet also has a slit extending from the side surface to the circular opening. The sheet is fabricated of a resilient material and is structured to allow the cable to be inserted through the slit and into the circular opening such that the cable extends along the groove and extends into the housing from the rear end of the body when the body is connected to the housing.

I/O connector module for a field controller in a distributed control system

Distributed control system including a compact easily-extensible and

I/O connector module for a field controller in a distributed control

An industrial computing device includes a field mountable primary housing having a removable side cover to facilitate expansion. Within the primary housing there is a head board having a processor on one side. On the opposite side, there is an expansion connector adapted to receive an expansion board and at least one peripheral connector, which is coupled to the processor within the housing. The peripheral connector receives at least one PCMCIA card such that the PCMCIA card is also within the housing when plugged into the peripheral connector. The expansion board includes at least one more peripheral connector to receive at least one more PCMCIA card. The peripheral connector, the expansion connector and the side cover are oriented orthogonal to a mounting plane of the computing device. The primary housing can also include a removable front cover, which together with a top or bottom portion of the primary housing, provides an aperture for flush-mounting an I/O device in the form of an internal dongle. The dongle can include a rear cable that connects to the PCMCIA card or other device within the housing, a front connector for coupling to a field device, and a circuit coupling the connector and the cable.

Industrial field controlling device with controller and expansion modules

A method for transmitting messages between a communications controller and devices in a factory process control system, wherein each device has an associated identification number which is unique to that device. A message to be transmitted is compiled, and then based on the criticality of the message, one of a standard, secure, or critical message protocols is chosen for the message; each protocol being defined to generate a message checksum for the message in a manner different from the other protocols. The generated checksum is then included in the message. Using the secure and critical protocols, a message checksum is generated from the message to be transmitted and the identification number of the intended recipient device. In the secure protocol, the message checksum is included in the message, but the identification number is not included in the message; in the critical protocol, both the message checksum and the identification number are included in the message. A crosstalk query message may be sent from the controller to determine if a link of a factory process control system is susceptible to crosstalk. The controller sends to a link on which a particular device is known to reside a diagnostic message indicating the identification number of the particular device and requesting any other devices that unintentionally receive the message to transmit a response message to the communications controller.

Protection against communications crosstalk in a factory process control

Field controller housing

A selectively pressured housing apparatus comprising a body, a wall member, an aperture, and a mounting seat. The body has a chamber therein extending along a first axis, is open at a first axial end and a second axial end, and has a port extending along a second axis transverse to the first axis. The port communicates with the chamber. The wall member is inside of the body and extends transverse to the first axis and parallel to the second axis and divides the chamber into first and second compartments, axially spaced along the first axis. The port communicating with the chamber is in the second compartment. The aperture extends through the wall member and connects the first and second compartments. The mounting seat is on the wall member and extends circumferentially about the aperture for removably and replaceably seating an element with a selected pressure seal to the wall member. According to one preferred embodiment, the first and second compartments are employed for housing process electronics associated with a differential pressure transmitter.

Pressure sealed housing apparatus and methods

A modem which utilizes a method and means for coding a data signal for transmission and reception which includes the steps of generating a prefix signal which is a train of pulses at a multiple or submultiple of a selected baseband frequency, then generating a data stream following said prefix with the data stream having one binary state transmitted at said baseband frequency and the other transmitted at another frequency. The data stream is terminated with a suffix having a waveform different from that of the two binary states. A separate receiver is provided for each of the redundant highways. The receivers utilize a clock circuit synchronized to the data and a timer responsive to the clock for establishing the bit time. The incoming signal is modified by a factor so that a single decoding circuit can be used to decode the prefix as well as the data. A prefix counter counts the initial incoming pulses and upon receiving the number in a prefix indicates to the circuit that a carrier has been detected. A synch period which follows the prefix is detected as an additional indication that the prefix is finished and data is next. The first carrier received from the redundant highways is selected based upon completion of the prefix count and the detection of a synch period. Once the synch period is detected a bypass circuit is utilized to bypass the modifying circuit so that the incoming signals go directly to the decoding circuit without modification. A bad-bit circuit is provided to prevent passing on to the station any bad bits. Likewise a dead-line timing circuit is provided to reset the receivers after a predetermined time period has elapsed without a carrier being detected.

FSK modem for bidirectional loop communications system

Transferring mastership in a multi-master communications channel of a system having a plurality of intercommunicating stations is accomplished by a method which includes the grouping into a logical loop of high traffic stations those stations which must be serviced frequently, and the grouping into at least one other logical loop of low traffic stations those requiring less frequent service. The token signifying mastership is passed from station to station in the high traffic loop at a maximum speed compatible with the work to be done by each station until a predetermined time period has lapsed since the mastership was passed through the low traffic group. Upon expiration of that time period, mastership is passed sequentially through the low traffic loop stations. Mastership is then returned to a previously determined high traffic loop station.

Communications network access rights arbitration

Growing community of inventors

Sharon, MA, United States of America

Simon Korowitz