Process control system using a process control strategy distributed among multiple control elements

US6195591A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC. · US

Inventors

• Mark J. Nixon · Round Rock, US
• Robert B. Havekost · Austin, US
• Larry O. Jundt · Round Rock, US
• Dennis Stevenson · Round Rock, US
• Michael G. Ott · Austin, US
• Arthur Webb · Loughborough, GB
• Mike Lucas · Broughton Astley, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 11, 1998
• Grant date: Feb 27, 2001
• Expiry date: Dec 11, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P90/02
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A process controller implements an overall, user-developed control strategy in a process control network that includes distributed controller and field devices, such as Fieldbus and non-Fieldbus devices. A user defines the control strategy by building a plurality of function blocks and control modules and downloading or installing user-specified portions of the control strategy into the Fieldbus devices and the non-Fieldbus devices. Thereafter, the Fieldbus devices automatically perform the downloaded portions of the overall strategy independently of other portions of the control strategy. For example in a process control system that includes distributed field devices, controllers and workstations, portions of the control strategy downloaded or installed into the field devices operate independently of and in parallel with the control operations of the controllers and the workstations, while other control operations manage the Fieldbus devices and implement other portions of the control strategy.