Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Intrasystem connection – Protocol
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-18
2001-07-24
Etienne, Ario (Department: 2155)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Intrasystem connection
Protocol
C713S001000, C713S100000, C709S241000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266726
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is related to copending application by Nixon et al., entitled “A Process Control System for Versatile Control of Multiple Process Devices of Various Device Types”, filed on even date herewith U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/631,521, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, including any appendices and references thereto.
This application is related to copending application by Nixon et al., entitled “Process Control System for Monitoring and Displaying Diagnostic Information of Multiple Distributed Devices”, filed on even date herewith U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/631,557, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, including any appendices and references thereto.
This application is related to copending application by Nixon et al., entitled “Process Control System Including Automatic Sensing and Automatic Configuration of Devices”, filed on even date herewith U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/631,519, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, including any appendices and references thereto.
This application is related to copending application by Nixon et al., entitled “A Process Control System User Interface Including Selection of Multiple Control Languages”, filed on even date herewith U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/631,517, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, including any appendices and references thereto.
This application is related to copending application by Dove, entitled “System for Assisting Configuring a Process Control Environment”, filed on even date herewith U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/631,458, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, including any appendices and references thereto.
This application is related to copending application by Nixon et al., entitled “Process Control System Using a Control Strategy Implemented in a Layered Hierarchy of Control Modules”, filed on even date herewith U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/631,520, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, including any appendices and references thereto.
This application is related to copending application by Dove et al., entitled “System for Configuring a Process Control Environment”, filed on even date herewith U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/631,863, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, including any appendices and references thereto.
This application is related to copending application by Nixon et al., entitled “A Process Control System Using a Process Control Strategy Distributed Among Multiple Control Elements”, filed on even date herewith U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/631,518, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, including any appendices and references thereto.
This application is related to copending application by Nixon et al., entitled “Improved Process System”, filed on even date herewith U.S. Provisional Patent application No. 60/017,700, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, including any appendices and references thereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to process control systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a process control system for controlling a plurality of devices of multiple different types, including both standard devices and nonstandard devices, using a standard control protocol.
2. Description of the Related Art
Present-day process control systems use instruments, control devices and communication systems to monitor and manipulate control elements, such as valves and switches, to maintain at selected target values one or more process variables, including temperature, pressure, flow and the like. The process variables are selected and controlled to achieve a desired process objective, such as attaining the safe and efficient operation of machines and equipment utilized in the process. Process control systems have widespread application in the automation of industrial processes such as the processes used in chemical, petroleum, and manufacturing industries, for example.
Control of the process is often implemented using microprocessor-based controllers, computers or workstations which monitor the process by sending and receiving commands and data to hardware devices to control either a particular aspect of the process or the entire process as a whole. The specific process control functions that are implemented by software programs in these microprocessors, computers or workstations may be individually designed, modified or changed through programming while requiring no modifications to the hardware. For example, an engineer might cause a program to be written to have the controller read a fluid level from a level sensor in a tank, compare the tank level with a predetermined desired level, and then open or close a feed valve based on whether the read level was lower or higher than the predetermined, desired level. The parameters are easily changed by displaying a selected view of the process and then by modifying the program using the selected view. The engineer typically would change parameters by displaying and modifying an engineer's view of the process.
Many process control systems include local field devices such as valves, motors, regulators and the like which are responsive to specific control protocols, such as Profibus, Fieldbus, CAN and the like, to implement various control function routines. Accordingly, these controllers are responsive to certain standard control protocols to implement control functionality in the field. The use of such standard control signal protocols can reduce the time and effort of developing a control system because a designer can use the same types of control signals from all devices responsive to the control protocol.
However, certain control devices are not responsive to standard control protocols. These devices are often responsive to other types of control signals such as digital ON/OFF signals, analog current signals or analog voltage signals. A system designer either has to avoid using field devices that are nonresponsive to an installed protocol, or develop systems that operate under one or more protocols. Thus, present day processing systems disadvantageously lack a capability to utilize both standard protocol control devices and devices that do not respond to control signals defined under the standard protocols.
What is needed is a process control system that controls both devices that are defined using a standard protocol and other, non-protocol devices in a manner that is transparent to the user of the process control system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a process controller implements and executes a standard set of function blocks or control functions defined by a standard protocol so that standard-type control is achieved with respect to non-standard-type devices. The process controller enables standard devices to implement the standard set of function blocks and control functions. The process controller implements an overall strategy as if all connected devices are standard devices by usage of a function block as a fundamental building block for control structures. These function blocks are defined to create control structures for all types of devices.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a process control system controls a plurality of field devices of multiple different field device types including standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices. The process control system includes a plurality of distributed controllers coupled to the field devices, and a software system including a plurality of function blocks defined in a standard protocol. The function blocks are selectively installable and operative on ones of the plurality of distributed controllers for selectively controlling a standard-proto
Havekost Robert B.
Jundt Larry O.
Lucas Mike
Nixon Mark
Ott Michael G.
Etienne Ario
Fisher-Rosemount Systems Inc.
Koestner Ken J.
Skjerven Morrill & MacPherson LLP
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