Methods and apparatus for process control with improved communication links
US8331855B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 12, 2010 |
| Grant date | Dec 11, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 11, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L45/24
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A control network carries information between nodes in a control system. For example, in one aspect of the invention, a control network includes first and second nodes, each of which is associated with at least one device in a control system, such as a controller, actuator, sensor, or otherwise. The first node is configured to wirelessly transmit information for simultaneous, or substantially simultaneous, transfer to the second node over at least two pathways. Those pathways can be made up of one or more network segments that interconnect nodes in the control network. In some cases, at least one of the at least two pathways is through a third and/or further nodes. Further, the first node can employ different radio channels, e.g., using different frequencies from one another, over at least one of the at least two pathways to transmit information to the second node.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.