Shadow function block interface for use in a process control network

• US 20040213285A1
• Filed: 05/18/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Stevenson, Dennis L., Jundt, Larry O., Dienstbier, Steve L., Tzovla, Vasiliki, Christensen, Dan D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,519,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/465
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23248 Integrate function blocks from different machines; CORBA, RMI protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31135 Fieldbus
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31422 Upload, download programs, parameters from, to station to, from server
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A process control routine may include a first internal function block for executing a control operation based on an input signal and an information conduit communicatively connected to the first internal function block. The information conduit may have an output adapted to provide the input signal to the first internal function block. The process control routine may further include an external function block communicatively connected to the information conduit and adapted to generate the input signal such that the output signal is directly provided to the information conduit prior to the execution of the control operation.

Claims

1. to 20 (Canceled)

21. A process control routine comprising:

a function block pair including;

a first function block executable on a first device; and

a shadow function block executable on a second device, the second device communicatively connected to the first device;

wherein an output of the first function block is mirrored to an output of the shadow function block, or an input of the first function block is mirrored to an input of the shadow function block.

22. The process control routine of claim 21, wherein the shadow function block is adapted to be executed as one of a set of interconnected function blocks within the second device.

23. The process control routine of claim 21, wherein the first function block and the shadow function block communicate a measurement parameter between the first device and the second device.

24. The process control routine of claim 23 wherein the measurement parameter is a set point.

25. The process control routine of claim 23 wherein the measurement parameter is a measured value.

26. The process control routine of claim 23 wherein the measurement parameter is a control value.

27. The process control routine of claim 23 wherein the measurement parameter is a limit.

28. The process control routine of claim 21, wherein the first function block and the shadow function block communicate a status indicator between the first device and the second device.

29. The process control routine of claim 28, wherein the status indicator is a device state.

30. The process control routine of claim 28, wherein the status indicator is a function block state.

31. The process control routine of claim 21, wherein the first function block and the shadow function block communicate an alarm notification between the first device and the second device.

32. A shadow function block comprising:

a first input adapted to receive data from an output of an external device;

a first storage location adapted to store data received from the external device;

a first output adapted to communicate data stored in the first storage location to an input of a control routine;

a second input adapted to receive data from an output of the control routine;

a second storage location adapted to store data received from the output of the control routine; and

a second output adapted to communicate data stored in the second storage location to an input of the external device.

33. The shadow function block of claim 32, wherein the control routine includes a plurality of interconnected function blocks.

34. The shadow function block of claim 32, wherein the first storage location is adapted to mirror the stored data to the first output.

35. The shadow function block of claim 32, wherein the second storage location is adapted to mirror the stored data to the second output.

36. The shadow function block of claim 32, wherein the first storage location and the second storage location are logical locations defined on a memory.

37. The shadow function block of claim 32, wherein the first input and the second output communicate according to a first protocol and the first output and the second input communicate according to a second protocol.

38. The shadow function block of claim 37, wherein the first protocol and the second protocol use synchronous communication.

39. A method of communicating within a process control routine using a function block pair, the method comprising:

creating a first function block to execute on a first device;

creating a shadow function block to execute on a second device providing a communications connection between the second device and the first device;

mirroring an output of the first function block through the communications connection to an output of the shadow function block; and

mirroring an input of the first function block through the communications connection to an input of the shadow function block.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein creating the shadow function block includes executing the shadow function block as one of a set of interconnected function blocks within the second device.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein executing the shadow function block as one of a set of interconnected function blocks includes defining a process control routine adapted to control a process.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein creating the shadow function block includes creating the shadow function block to conform to the Fieldbus protocol.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein providing the communications connection between the first function block and the shadow function block includes communicating a measurement parameter between the first device and the second device.

44. The method of claim 39, wherein providing the communications connection between the first function block and the shadow function block includes communicating a status indicator between the first device and the second device.

45. The method of claim 39, wherein creating the first function block includes executing the first function block on an external field device.