Distributed control system for controlling material flow having wireless transceiver connected to industrial process control field device to provide redundant wireless access
US6236334A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 28, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 22, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 28, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P90/02
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus provides redundant wireless to access field devices in a distributed control system having primary access to the field devices provided by hard-wired media that couples the field devices to the control room. The field devices are coupled to a Fieldbus control network. In a first embodiment, each field device is provided with a wireless Fieldbus port that is accessible by a wireless terminal. In a second embodiment, each Fieldbus control network is provided with a field module having a wireless Fieldbus port that allows all devices connected to the Fieldbus control network to be accessed by a wireless terminal. In a third embodiment, an H2-to-H1 Fieldbus bridge (which may service a plurality of H1 control networks) is provided with a wireless Fieldbus port that allows all Fieldbus devices connected to H1 control networks serviced by the H2-to-H1 bridge to be accessed by a wireless handheld unit of a wireless terminal. The redundant wireless access provided by the present invention allows a control room operator to access field devices in the event of failure or unavailability of the hard-wired media that provides primary access to the field devices.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.