US5828851A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process control system using standard protocol control of standard devices and nonstandard devices
Assignee: Fisher Rosemount Systems Inc
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Filing: 1996-04-12
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Granted: 1998-10-27
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Expires: 2016-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A process controller implements and executes a standard set of function blocks or control functions defined by a standard protocol so that standard-type control is achieved with respect to non-standard-type devices. The process controller enables standard devices to implement the standard set of function blocks and control functions. The process controller implements an overall strategy as if all connected devices are standard devices by usage of a Fieldbus function block as a fundamental building block for control structures. These function blocks are defined to create control structures for all types of devices.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Nixon
- 👤 Robert B. Havekost
- 👤 Larry O. Jundt
- 👤 Dennis Stevenson
- 👤 Michael G. Ott
- 👤 Arthur Webb
- 👤 Mike Lucas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:40
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/042; G05B19/0421; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/20; G05B2219/25; G05B2219/25428
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A process control system for controlling a plurality of field devices of multiple different field device types including standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices, the process control system comprising: a plurality of distributed controllers coupled to the field devices; and a software system including a plurality of function blocks defined in a standard protocol, the function blocks being selectively installable and operative on ones of the plurality of distributed controllers for selectively controlling a standard-protocol field device and a non-standard-protocol field device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A process control system for controlling a plurality of field devices of multiple different field device types including standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices, the process control system comprising: a plurality of distributed controllers coupled to the field devices; and a software system including a plurality of function blocks defined in a standard protocol, the function blocks being selectively installable and operative on ones of the plurality of distributed controllers for selectively controlling a standard-protocol field device and a non-standard-protocol field device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process control system according to claim 1, wherein the standard protocol is a Fieldbus standard protocol.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process control system according to claim 1, wherein the standard protocol is a Profibus standard protocol.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process control system according to claim 1, wherein the standard protocol is an ACN standard protocol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process control system according to claim 1, wherein the non-standard-protocol field devices include HART devices and conventional non-smart devices.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
A process control system according to claim 1, further comprising: a user interface for interfacing with a user; wherein the Standard-protocol field devices and the non-standard-protocol field devices operate in compliance with the defined Fieldbus architecture standard and the software system performs Standard-protocol control operations on Standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices transparent to the user over the user interface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process control system according to claim 1 wherein the software system further includes: a configuration program for configuring the function blocks and installing the function blocks on the plurality of distributed controllers, the distributed controllers retaining the configuration until reconfigured.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process control system according to claim 1, wherein the function blocks are selectively installable by downloading a selected function block to a controller of the plurality of distributed controllers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process control system according to claim 1, wherein the function blocks are implemented as objects in an object-oriented environment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
A process control system according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of function blocks is configured into a communication services hierarchy including: a remote object communications (ROC) level for communicating messages between two function blocks in a same controller and between two function blocks in different controllers, and a low level communications level for interfacing with communications hardware and transmitting messages across the communications hardware.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
A process control system for controlling a plurality of field devices of multiple different field device types including standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices, the process control system comprising: a plurality of distributed controllers coupled to the field devices; and a plurality of control means selectively installable and operative on ones of the plurality of distributed controllers controlling, in combination, the standard-protocol field devices and the non-standard-protocol field devices.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
70 words
A process control system for controlling a plurality of field devices of multiple different field device types including standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices, the process control system comprising: a plurality of distributed controllers coupled to the field devices; and a plurality of control means selectively installable and operative on ones of the plurality of distributed controllers controlling, in combination, the standard-protocol field devices and the non-standard-protocol field devices.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process control system according to claim 11, wherein the standard protocol is a Fieldbus standard protocol.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process control system according to claim 11, wherein the standard protocol is a Profibus standard protocol.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process control system according to claim 11, wherein the standard protocol is an ACN standard protocol.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process control system according to claim 11, wherein the non-standard-protocol field devices include HART devices and conventional non-smart devices.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
A process control system according to claim 11, further comprising: means for interfacing with a user; wherein the Standard-protocol field devices and the non-standard-protocol field devices operate in compliance with the defined Fieldbus architecture standard and the software system performs Standard-protocol control operations on Standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices transparent to the user over the user interface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process control system according to claim 11 wherein the plurality of control means are configured and installed on the plurality of distributed controllers, the distributed controllers retaining the configuration until reconfigured.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process control system according to claim 11, wherein the control means are selectively installable by downloading a selected control means to a controller of the plurality of distributed controllers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process control system according to claim 11, wherein the control means are implemented as objects in an object-oriented environment.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
65 words
A process control system according to claim 11 wherein the plurality of control means are configured into a communication services hierarchy including: a remote object communications (ROC) level for communicating messages between two function blocks in a same controller and between two function blocks in different controllers, and a low level communications level for interfacing with communications hardware and transmitting messages across the communications hardware.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
84 words
A process control system comprising: a plurality of field devices of multiple different field device types including standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices; a plurality of distributed controllers coupled to the field devices; a workstation coupled to the distributed controllers; and a software system including a plurality of function blocks defined in a standard protocol, the function blocks being selectively installable and operative on ones of the plurality of distributed controllers for selectively controlling a standard-protocol field device and a non-standard-protocol field device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
84 words
A process control system comprising: a plurality of field devices of multiple different field device types including standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices; a plurality of distributed controllers coupled to the field devices; a workstation coupled to the distributed controllers; and a software system including a plurality of function blocks defined in a standard protocol, the function blocks being selectively installable and operative on ones of the plurality of distributed controllers for selectively controlling a standard-protocol field device and a non-standard-protocol field device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process control system according to claim 21, wherein the standard protocol is a Fieldbus standard protocol.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process control system according to claim 21, wherein the standard protocol is a Profibus standard protocol.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process control system according to claim 21, wherein the standard protocol is an ACN standard protocol.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process control system according to claim 21 wherein the non-standard-protocol field devices include HART devices and conventional non-smart devices.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
59 words
A process control system according to claim 21, further comprising: means for interfacing with a user; wherein the standard-protocol field devices and the non-standard-protocol field devices operate in compliance with the defined Fieldbus architecture standard and the software system performs Standard-protocol control operations on Standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices transparent to the user over the user interface.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process control system according to claim 21 wherein the software system further includes: a configuration program for configuring the function blocks and installing the function blocks on the plurality of distributed controllers, the distributed controllers retaining the configuration until reconfigured.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
113 words
A computer program product for use in a computer implemented process control system comprising: a computer usable medium having computable readable code embodied therein including a process control system for controlling a plurality of field devices of multiple different field device types including standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices, the process control system including a plurality of distributed controllers coupled to the field devices, the computer program product further comprising: a software system including a plurality of function blocks defined in a standard protocol, the function blocks being selectively installable and operative on ones of the plurality of distributed controllers for selectively controlling a standard-protocol field device and a non-standard-protocol field device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
113 words
A computer program product for use in a computer implemented process control system comprising: a computer usable medium having computable readable code embodied therein including a process control system for controlling a plurality of field devices of multiple different field device types including standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices, the process control system including a plurality of distributed controllers coupled to the field devices, the computer program product further comprising: a software system including a plurality of function blocks defined in a standard protocol, the function blocks being selectively installable and operative on ones of the plurality of distributed controllers for selectively controlling a standard-protocol field device and a non-standard-protocol field device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer program product according to claim 28 wherein the standard protocol is a Fieldbus standard protocol.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer program product according to claim 28 wherein the standard protocol is a Profibus standard protocol.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer program product according to claim 28 wherein the standard protocol is an ACN standard protocol.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computer program product according to claim 28 wherein the non-standard-protocol field devices include HART devices and conventional non-smart devices.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
61 words
A computer program product according to claim 28 further comprising: a user interface for interfacing with a user; wherein: the Standard-protocol field devices and the non-standard-protocol field devices operate in compliance with the defined Fieldbus architecture standard and the software system performs Standard-protocol control operations on Standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices transparent to the user over the user interface.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
41 words
A computer program product according to claim 28 wherein the software system further includes: a configuration program for configuring the function blocks and installing the function blocks on the plurality of distributed controllers, the distributed controllers retaining the configuration until reconfigured.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
30 words
A computer program product according to claim 28 wherein the function blocks are selectively installable by downloading a selected function block to a controller of the plurality of distributed controllers.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computer program product according to claim 28 wherein the function blocks are implemented as objects in an object-oriented environment.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
65 words
A computer program product according to claim 28 wherein the plurality of function blocks is configured into a communication services hierarchy including: a remote object communications (ROC) level for communicating messages between two function blocks in a same controller and between two function blocks in different controllers, and a low level communications level for interfacing with communications hardware and transmitting messages across the communications hardware.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
92 words
A process control system for controlling a plurality of field devices of multiple different field device types including standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices, the process control system comprising: a plurality of distributed controllers coupled to the field devices; and a software system including a plurality of function blocks defined in a standard protocol, the function blocks being selectively definable, creatable, modifiable, and installable as a control module that is operative on ones of the plurality of distributed controllers for selectively controlling a standard-protocol field device and a non-standard-protocol field device.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
92 words
A process control system for controlling a plurality of field devices of multiple different field device types including standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices, the process control system comprising: a plurality of distributed controllers coupled to the field devices; and a software system including a plurality of function blocks defined in a standard protocol, the function blocks being selectively definable, creatable, modifiable, and installable as a control module that is operative on ones of the plurality of distributed controllers for selectively controlling a standard-protocol field device and a non-standard-protocol field device.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
93 words
A process control system comprising: a plurality of field devices of multiple different field device types including standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices; a plurality of distributed controllers coupled to the field devices; a workstation coupled to the distributed controllers; and a software system including a plurality of function blocks defined in a standard protocol, the function blocks being selectively definable, creatable, modifiable, and installable as a control module that is operative on ones of the plurality of distributed controllers for selectively controlling a standard-protocol field device and a non-standard-protocol field device.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
93 words
A process control system comprising: a plurality of field devices of multiple different field device types including standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices; a plurality of distributed controllers coupled to the field devices; a workstation coupled to the distributed controllers; and a software system including a plurality of function blocks defined in a standard protocol, the function blocks being selectively definable, creatable, modifiable, and installable as a control module that is operative on ones of the plurality of distributed controllers for selectively controlling a standard-protocol field device and a non-standard-protocol field device.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
74 words
A process control system for controlling a plurality of field devices of multiple different field device types including standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices, the process control system comprising: a plurality of distributed controllers coupled to the field devices; and a plurality of control modules selectively definable, creatable, modifiable, and installable and operative on ones of the plurality of distributed controllers controlling, in combination, the standard-protocol field devices and the non-standard-protocol field devices.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
74 words
A process control system for controlling a plurality of field devices of multiple different field device types including standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices, the process control system comprising: a plurality of distributed controllers coupled to the field devices; and a plurality of control modules selectively definable, creatable, modifiable, and installable and operative on ones of the plurality of distributed controllers controlling, in combination, the standard-protocol field devices and the non-standard-protocol field devices.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-10-26 | 2002-04-27 | 2002-10-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-10-26 | 2006-04-27 | 2006-10-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-10-26 | 2010-04-27 | 2010-10-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |