Process control system with an embedded safety system
First Claim
1. A process control system having an embedded safety network comprising:
- a host computer arranged to send and receive process control messages and safety messages;
a first communication network;
a controller operatively connected to the host computer by the first communication network and adapted to perform process control functionality; and
a plurality of input/output (I/O) cards operatively connected to the controller via a second communication network, the plurality of I/O cards including;
a first I/O card adapted for operative communication with a first process control related field device; and
a second I/O card adapted for operative communication with a safety-related field device, the second I/O card including a processor that executes a safety module for implementing safety functionality apart from the process control functionality using the safety-related field device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process plant includes a process control system having a safety system embedded therein. The integrated process control and safety system includes a host computer arranged to send and receive process level messages and safety level messages, a controller operatively connected to the host computer by a first communication network, at least one first input/output device adapted for operative communication with at least one process control field device, and at least one second input/output device adapted for operative communication with at least one safety-related field device. The first and second input/output devices are operatively connected to the controller via a second communication bus. The second input/output device includes a processor programmed to monitor both the process level messages and the safety level messages, to distinguish the process level messages from safety level messages, to select the safety level messages and to communicate with the safety-related field device based on the safety level messages.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A process control system having an embedded safety network comprising:
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a host computer arranged to send and receive process control messages and safety messages;
a first communication network;
a controller operatively connected to the host computer by the first communication network and adapted to perform process control functionality; and
a plurality of input/output (I/O) cards operatively connected to the controller via a second communication network, the plurality of I/O cards including;
a first I/O card adapted for operative communication with a first process control related field device; and
a second I/O card adapted for operative communication with a safety-related field device, the second I/O card including a processor that executes a safety module for implementing safety functionality apart from the process control functionality using the safety-related field device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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- 17. The process control system of claim 17, wherein the first and the second security levels are user identity based security levels.
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19. A safety system for use in a process plant, the safety system comprising:
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a first safety logic device communicatively connected to a first safety field device;
a first safety logic module stored in and adapted to be executed by the first safety logic device to perform first safety functionality using the first safety field device;
a second safety logic device communicatively connected to a second safety field device;
a second safety logic module stored in and adapted to be executed by the second safety logic device to perform second safety functionality using the second safety field device; and
a first communication bus interconnecting the first and the second safety logic devices to enable the first and the second safety logic devices to communicate with one another. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A configuration system for use in a process plant having a safety network, a process control network and a user workstation communicatively coupled to the safety network and to the process control network via a shared communication network, the configuration system comprising:
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a computer readable memory;
a configuration application stored on the computer readable memory and adapted to be executed on a processor to;
assign a safety module to a safety element within the safety network to perform a safety function;
assign a process control module to a process control element within the process control network to perform a process control function; and
download the safety module to the safety element and the process control module to the process control element via the shared communication network. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A safety logic module system for use in a safety network disposed in a process plant having a process controller communicatively coupled to one or more process control input/output devices which perform process control functions and to a safety logic solver via a first communication bus, with the safety logic solver connected to one or more safety field devices, the safety logic module system comprising:
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a computer readable memory;
a safety logic module stored on the computer readable memory and adapted to be executed on a processor of the safety logic solver to;
perform a safety function with respect to the one or more safety field devices;
communicate via a second communication bus to another safety logic module within another safety logic solver connected to the first communication bus; and
communicate with the process controller and the process control input/output devices via the first communication bus. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
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Specification