초록 ▼

An improved field instrumentation system employing optical multiplex transmission in which data from a plurality of field devices, including both sensors and controllers, are transmitted through an optical distributor, such as a star coupler, to a master processor at a control panel location as well

An improved field instrumentation system employing optical multiplex transmission in which data from a plurality of field devices, including both sensors and controllers, are transmitted through an optical distributor, such as a star coupler, to a master processor at a control panel location as well as to other field devices. The optical distributor branches and couples in a ratio of N:N, the data which are transmitted bidirectionally through the various optical transmission paths connected to the field devices to form the basis of a control loop located in the field. A submaster processor, located in the field and coupled to the optical distributor, is automatically substituted for the master processor in the event that the master processor is disabled. The overall reliability of this system is thereby markedly improved.

대표청구항 ▼

A field instrumentation system having a panel side and a field side remote from the panel side and comprising: field devices arranged on the field side and comprising digital measuring units, including microcomputers, and field controllers for controlling operating terminals, said field devices digi

A field instrumentation system having a panel side and a field side remote from the panel side and comprising: field devices arranged on the field side and comprising digital measuring units, including microcomputers, and field controllers for controlling operating terminals, said field devices digitally processing data and performing bidirectional optical transmission of digital signals in a predetermined sequence; an optical distributor arranged on the field side of said field instrumentation system and connected to respective ones of said field devices through an optical transmission path; and a master processor, arranged on the panel side of said field instrumentation system and connected through an optical transmission path to said optical distributor for controlling said field devices, said optical distributor being arranged so that optical data on an optical transmission path coupled to said optical distributor is transmitted through said optical distributor to all other optical transmission paths connected to said optical distributor, output signals of said digital measuring units being applied through said optical distributor directly to said field controllers on said field side and also are applied separately, through said optical distributor, to said master processor, wherein a control loop is formed for said field controllers on said field side.