US6594530B1
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Block-oriented control system
Assignee: Fieldcomm Group Inc
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Filing: 2002-06-04
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Granted: 2003-07-15
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Expires: 2022-06-04
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a block oriented control system that allows interoperability between devices made by different manufacturers. A block oriented control system is a system which includes a plurality of field devices incorporating a physical layer, communication stack, and user layer, with the field devices being connected by a transmission medium, such as a bus. The physical layer receives signals from the bus and translates the signals into a message for the communications stack, and receives messages from the communications stack and translates the messages into signals for the bus. The communication stack controls the communications between devices operating in the control system. The user layer is a block oriented approach to the system's control functions, and includes function blocks and system management. The function blocks are standardized encapsulations of control functions, such as analog input or proportional/derivative. The system management allows synchronization of the device applications and the network processing.
Inventors
- 👤 David A. Glanzer
- 👤 Terrence L. Blevins
- 👤 Ram Ramachandran
- 👤 Kenneth D. Krivoshein
- 👤 Patricia E. Brett
- 👤 Jack Elias
- 👤 William R. Hodson
- 👤 Frank Lynch
- 👤 Ashok K. Gupta
- 👤 Lee A. Neitzel
- 👤 Thomas B. Kinney
- 👤 Chuji Akiyama
- 👤 Yasuo Kumeda
- 👤 Hiroshi Mori
- 👤 Mitsugu Tanaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:44
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/418; G05B19/4185; G05B15/00; G05B15/02; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/31; G05B2219/31118; H; H04; H04L; H04L41/00; H04L41/06; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P90/00; Y02P90/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A block-oriented distributed process control system, comprising: a transmission medium; and a plurality of field devices, connected to the transmission medium, each field device including: a user layer, which includes a function block application that defines the functionality of the field device; a physical layer, which translates messages from the transmission medium into a suitable format for the user layer and from the user layer into a signal for transmission on the transmission medium; and a communication stack, connected to the user layer and the physical layer, wherein the communication stack includes a data link layer and-an application layer, wherein the data link layer controls the transmission of messages onto the transmission medium and the application layer allows the user layer to communicate over the transmission medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A block-oriented distributed process control system, comprising: a transmission medium; and a plurality of field devices, connected to the transmission medium, each field device including: a user layer, which includes a function block application that defines the functionality of the field device; a physical layer, which translates messages from the transmission medium into a suitable format for the user layer and from the user layer into a signal for transmission on the transmission medium; and a communication stack, connected to the user layer and the physical layer, wherein the communication stack includes a data link layer and-an application layer, wherein the data link layer controls the transmission of messages onto the transmission medium and the application layer allows the user layer to communicate over the transmission medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the application layer includes a fieldbus message specification, which defines the communication services and message formats.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the user layer includes a plurality of blocks interconnected to perform a desired function.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of blocks include a resource block, a function block, and a transducer block.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the function block includes a program and parameters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the transducer block controls access to the function block.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the resource block makes hardware specific characteristics of the field device electronically readable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the user layer further includes a plurality of objects.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of objects include an alert object and a link object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transmission medium is a bus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the field devices receive power from the bus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the function block application includes a resource.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the resource includes one or more blocks and objects coordinated to execute a related set of operations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the field devices each include a memory containing a system schedule, and wherein the function block application is executed according to the system schedule.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
113 words
A field device capable of operating in an open control system, comprising: a memory, including: system management data, wherein the system management data includes a system schedule; a function block, wherein the function block includes parameters and a computer program; a resource block, wherein the resource block makes hardware specific characteristics of the device electronically readable; and at least one transducer block, wherein the at least one transducer block controls access to the function block; a processor, operably connected to the memory, wherein the processor executes the function block based on the system schedule; and a medium attachment unit, which translates input messages and output messages between the processor and a transmission medium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
113 words
A field device capable of operating in an open control system, comprising: a memory, including: system management data, wherein the system management data includes a system schedule; a function block, wherein the function block includes parameters and a computer program; a resource block, wherein the resource block makes hardware specific characteristics of the device electronically readable; and at least one transducer block, wherein the at least one transducer block controls access to the function block; a processor, operably connected to the memory, wherein the processor executes the function block based on the system schedule; and a medium attachment unit, which translates input messages and output messages between the processor and a transmission medium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The field device of claim 15 , wherein the field device is chosen from the list consisting of: a sensor, actuator, and motor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The field device of claim 15 , wherein the function block is a calculation function block and the calculation function block parameters include a back calculation input and a back calculation output.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The field device of claim 15 , wherein the field device receives power from the transmission medium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The field device of claim 15 , wherein the function block is a basic function block chosen from the list consisting of: analog input, analog output, bias, control selector, discrete input, discrete output, manual loader, proportional/derivative, proportional/integral/derivative and ratio function blocks.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
63 words
The field device of claim 15 , wherein the function block is a complex function block chosen from the list consisting of: pulse input, complex analog output, complex discrete output, step output proportional/integral/derivative, device control, setpoint ramp generator, splitter, input selector, signal characterizer, lead lag, deadtime, arithmetic, calculate, integrator, timer, analog alarm, discrete alarm, analog human interface, and discrete human interface function blocks.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-07-14 | 2007-01-13 | 2007-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-07-14 | 2011-01-13 | 2011-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-07-14 | 2015-01-13 | 2015-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |