IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0722341
(2003-11-25)
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등록번호 |
US-7337256
(2008-02-26)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Korowitz,Simon
- Kagan,Harris D.
- Lake,Harold
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Nutter, McClennen & Fish LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
20 인용 특허 :
52 |
초록
▼
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 co
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.
대표청구항
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What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. A control system, comprising: a plurality of field devices, at least one of the field devices providing a second control function within the control system, the second control function including controlli
What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. A control system, comprising: a plurality of field devices, at least one of the field devices providing a second control function within the control system, the second control function including controlling one or more devices, a computing device providing a first control function within the control system, the first control function including controlling at least the field device that provides the second control function, the computing device including a control subsystem comprising: a bus, a plurality of modules that are coupled to the bus and that each comprise a housing, and at least a first module comprising a controller, at least a second module including interface logic adapted for communication with one or more of the field devices, at least a third module including interface logic adapted for communication with the field device that provides the second control function. 2. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the housing is a field mountable housing. 3. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the interface logic included in the second module converts signals transmitted to and/or received from the field device to which it interfaces in a manner that differs from that of the interface logic included in the third module with respect to the field device to which it interfaces. 4. A control system, comprising: a computing device providing a first control function within the control system, a plurality of field devices, at least one of the field devices providing a second control function within the control system, a control subsystem communicatively coupled to the computing device, the control subsystem comprising: a bus, a plurality of modules that are coupled to the bus and that each comprise a housing, and at least a first module comprising a controller, at least a second module including interface logic adapted for communication with one or more of the field devices, at least a third module including interface logic adapted for communication with the field device that provides the second control function wherein the computing device downloads programs and data to the control subsystem. 5. A control system according to claim 4, wherein the housing is a field mountable housing. 6. A control system according to claim 4, wherein the interface logic included in the second module converts signals transmitted to and/or received from the field device to which it interfaces in a manner that differs from that of the interface logic included in the third module with respect to the field device to which it interfaces. 7. A control system according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the field devices comprises a sensor. 8. A control system according to claim 4, wherein the bus is a multidrop bus. 9. A control system, comprising: a computing device providing a first control function within the control system, a plurality of field devices, at least one of the field devices providing a second control function within the control system, a control subsystem communicatively coupled to the computing device, the control subsystem comprising: a bus, a plurality of modules that are coupled to the bus and that each comprise a housing, and at least a first module comprising a controller, at least a second module including interface logic adapted for communication with one or more of the field devices, at least a third module including interface logic adapted for communication with the field device that provides the second control function a support member that is adapted to mount to any of a wall and a DIN rail, at least one module being mechanically coupled to the support member, wherein the computing device downloads programs and data to the control subsystem. 10. A control system according to claim 9, wherein the interface logic included in the second module converts signals transmitted to and/or received from the field device to which it interfaces in a manner that differs from that of the interface logic included in the third module with respect to the field device to which it interfaces. 11. A control system, comprising a network, a first control device that is coupled to the network, a second control device that is coupled to the network for communication with at least the first control device, one or more field devices, at least one of the field devices comprising a third control device, the second control device comprising a bus, a control processor that is coupled to the bus, one or more modules that are coupled to the bus for communication with at least the control processor, at least one of the modules comprising a housing, and at least one of the modules including interface logic adapted to serve as an interface to at least one field device, at least one other of the modules including interface logic adapted to serve as an interface to, and controlling, the field device that comprises the third control device, the first control device being configured to control the second control device. 12. A control system according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the field devices comprises a sensor. 13. A control system according to claim 11, wherein the bus is a multidrop bus. 14. A control system according to claim 11, wherein the housing is a field mountable housing. 15. A control system according to claim 11, wherein the interface logic included in the at least one module converts signals transmitted to and/or received from the field device to which it interfaces in a manner that differs from that of the interface logic included in the at least one other module with respect to the field device to which it interfaces. 16. A control system, comprising a network, a first control device that is coupled to the network, a second control device that is coupled to the network for communication with at least the first control device, one or more field devices, at least one of the field devices comprising a third control device, the second control device comprising a bus, a control processor that is coupled to the bus, one or more modules that are coupled to the bus for communication with at least the control processor, at least one of the modules comprising a housing, and at least one of the modules including interface logic adapted to serve as an interface to at least one field device, at least one other of the modules including interface logic adapted to serve as an interface to, and controlling, the field device that comprises the third control device, a support member that is adapted to mount to any of a wall and a DIN rail, at least one of the modules being mechanically coupled to the support member, the first control device being configured to control the second control device. 17. A control system, comprising a first control device and a second control device, the first control device comprising a bus, a plurality of modules that are coupled to the bus, a first module comprising a control processor, a second module including interface logic adapted for communication with a field device, at least one of the modules other than the first module and the second module including interface logic adapted to serve as an interface to a field device that comprises the second control device, at least one of the modules comprising a housing, a computing device that is coupled to the first control device via a network, the computing device being configured to download programs to the first control device. 18. A control system according to claim 17, wherein the housing is a field mountable housing. 19. A control system according to claim 17, wherein the second control device executes programming for process control. 20. A control system, comprising a first control device and a second control device, the first control device comprising a bus, a plurality of modules that are coupled to the bus, at least one of the modules comprising a control processor, at least one other of the modules adapted to provide an interface to a field device, at least one of the other modules serving as an interface to a field device that comprises the second control device, at least one of the other modules including interface logic that comprises a PCMCIA card, a computing device that is coupled to the first control device via a network, the computing device being configured to download programs to the first control device. 21. According to claim 20, wherein the interface logic further comprises an interface controller in communication with the PCMCIA card, and an external connector in communication with the PCMCIA card. 22. A control system, comprising a first control device and a second control device, the first control device comprising a bus, a plurality of modules that are coupled to the bus, at least one of the modules comprising a control processor, at least one other of the modules adapted to provide an interface to a field device, at least one of the other modules serving as an interface to a field device that comprises the second control device, at least one of the other modules comprising a PCMCIA card that is adapted for communications with the respective field device of that module, a computing device that is coupled to the first control device via a network, the computing device being configured to download programs to the first control device. 23. A control system, comprising a first control device that is coupled to a workstation via a network, the first control device comprising a bus, a plurality of modules that are coupled to the bus, a first module comprising a control processor, a second module including interface logic adapted for communication with a field device, at least one of the modules other than the first module and the second module including interface logic adapted to serve as an interface to a field device that comprises the second control device, at least one of the modules comprising a housing, the workstation being configured to download programs to the first control device. 24. A control system according to claim 23, wherein the housing is a field mountable housing. 25. A control system, comprising a first control device that is coupled to a workstation via a network, the first control device comprising a bus, a plurality of modules that are coupled to the bus, at least one of the modules comprising a control processor, at least one other of the modules adapted to provide an interface to a field device, at least one of the other modules serving as an interface to a field device that comprises the second control device, at least one of the other modules comprising interface logic that includes a PCMCIA card, the workstation being configured to download programs to the first control device. 26. According to claim 25, wherein the interface logic further comprises an interface controller in communication with the PCMCIA card, and an external connector in communication with the PCMCIA card. 27. A control system, comprising a first control device that is coupled to a workstation via a network, the first control device comprising a bus, a plurality of modules that are coupled to the bus, at least one of the modules comprising a control processor and including interface logic adapted for communication with a field device, at least one other of the modules including interface logic adapted for communication with a field device, at least one of the other modules serving as an interface to a field device that comprises the second control device, a support member that is adapted to mount to any of a wall and a DIN rail, at least one of the modules being mechanically coupled to the support member, the workstation being configured to download programs to the first control device. 28. A control system, comprising a first control device that is coupled to a workstation via a network, the first control device comprising a bus, a plurality of modules that are coupled to the bus, at least one of the modules comprising a control processor, at least one other of the modules adapted to provide an interface to a field device, at least one of the other modules serving as an interface to a field device that comprises the second control device, at least one of the other modules comprising a PCMCIA card that is adapted to serve as the interface to the respective field device of that module, the workstation being configured to download programs to the first control device. 29. A control system, comprising a computing device coupled to a network, a first control device that is coupled to the computing device via the network, the first control device comprising a bus, a control processor that is coupled to the bus, a plurality of modules that are coupled to the bus and that each include interface logic adapted to serve as an interface to a field device , at least one of the modules comprising a housing, at least one of the modules including serving as an interface to, and controlling, a device that includes a second control device, wherein the computing device is configured to download programs to the first control device. 30. A control system according to claim 29, wherein the interface logic included in one of the modules converts signals transmitted to and/or received from the field device to which it interfaces in a manner that differs from that of the interface logic included in another of the modules with respect to the field device to which it interfaces. 31. A control system according to claim 29, wherein the housing is a field mountable housing. 32. A control system, comprising a computing device coupled to a network, a first control device that is coupled to the computing device via the network, the first control device comprising a bus, a control processor that is coupled to the bus, a plurality of modules that are coupled to the bus and that are adapted to serve as interfaces to field devices, at least one of the modules serving as an interface to, and controlling, a device that includes a second control device, at least one of the other modules comprising interface logic that comprises a PCMCIA card, wherein the computing device is configured to download programs to the first control device. 33. According to claim 32, wherein the interface logic further comprises an interface controller in communication with the PCMCIA card, and an external connector in communication with the PCMCIA card. 34. A control system, comprising a computing device coupled to a network, a first control device that is coupled to the computing device via the network, the first control device comprising a bus, a control processor that is coupled to the bus, a plurality of modules that are coupled to the bus and that are adapted to serve as interfaces to field devices, and that each include interface logic, at least one of the modules including interface logic adapted to serve as an interface to, and controlling, a device that includes a second control device, at least one of the other modules comprising a support member that is adapted to mount to a DIN rail, wherein the computing device is configured to download programs to the first control device. 35. A control system, comprising a computing device coupled to a network, a first control device that is coupled to the computing device via the network, the first control device comprising a bus, a control processor that is coupled to the bus, a plurality of modules that are coupled to the bus and that are adapted to serve as interfaces to field devices, at least one of the modules serving as an interface to, and controlling, a device that includes a second control device, at least one of the other modules comprising a PCMCIA card that is adapted to serve as the interface to the respective field device of that module, wherein the computing device is configured to download programs to the first control device. 36. A control system, comprising a first control device coupled to a network, a second control device that is coupled to the first control device via the network, the second control device including a control processor, a plurality of modules that are coupled to one another and to the control processor by a bus, the modules each having interface logic adapted to serve as an interface to one or more field devices, at least one of the modules comprising a housing, at least one of the modules having interface logic adapted to serve as an interface to a field device that comprises a third control device. 37. A control system according to claim 36, wherein the second control device is adapted to control the third control device. 38. A control system according to claim 36, wherein the second control device can be expanded to include further modules. 39. A control system according to claim 36, wherein the housing is a field mountable housing. 40. A control system according to claim 36, wherein the interface logic included in one of the modules converts signals transmitted to and/or received from the field device to which it interfaces in a manner that differs from that of the interface logic included in another of the modules with respect to the field device to which it interfaces. 41. A control system, comprising a first control device coupled to a network, a second control device that is coupled to the first control device via the network, the second control device including a control processor, a plurality of modules that are coupled to one another and to the control processor by a bus, the modules being adapted to serve as interfaces to field devices, at least one of the modules being adapted to serve as an interface to a field device that comprises a third control device, at least one of the other modules comprising interface logic that comprises a PCMCIA card. 42. According to claim 41, wherein the interface logic further comprises an interface controller in communication with the PCMCIA card, and an external connector in communication with the PCMCIA card. 43. A control system, comprising a first control device coupled to a network, a second control device that is coupled to the first control device via the network, the second control device including a control processor, a plurality of modules that are coupled to one another and to the control processor by a bus, the modules each including interface logic adapted for communication with one or more field devices, at least one of the modules including interface logic adapted for communication with a field device that comprises a third control device, a support member that is adapted to mount to any of a wall and a DIN rail, wherein at least one of the modules is coupled to the support. 44. A control system according to claim 43, wherein the support member is adapted to mount to a DIN rail. 45. A control system, comprising a first control device coupled to a network, a second control device that is coupled to the first control device via the network, the second control device including a control processor, a plurality of modules that are coupled to one another and to the control processor by a bus, the modules being adapted to serve as interfaces to field devices, at least one of the modules being adapted to serve as an interface to a field device that comprises a third control device, at least one of the other modules comprising a PCMCIA card that is adapted to serve as the interface to the respective field device of that module.
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