METHOD FOR REPLACEMENT OF A DEFECTIVE FIELD DEVICE BY A NEW FIELD DEVICE IN A SYSTEM WHICH COMMUNICATES VIA A DIGITAL FIELDBUS, IN PARTICULAR AN AUTOMATION SYSTEM

• US 20080303472A1
• Filed: 06/06/2008
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ABB AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB AG (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: JOHN, Dirk, EIFEL, Dominik, FENGLER, Frank, HILSCH, Georg, BOLLMEYER, Stefan
• Application Number:
  US12/134,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20080303472A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/568.2
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25101 Detect connected module, load corresponding parameters, variables into module
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25104 Detect transfer of control module, use mean default values instead of normal
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25124 Configure attributes of parameters

Abstract

A method for replacement of a field device to be replaced by a new field device in a system which communicates via a digital fieldbus, e.g., an automation system; wherein previous parameters, information and/or values of the field device to be replaced are compared by an electronic control unit, which communicates via the fieldbus, with parameters, information and/or values of the new field device with respect to at least one data record, in order to modify them if necessary in accordance with the field device to be replaced.

Claims

1. A method for replacement of a field device to be replaced by a new field device in a system, the method comprising:

previous parameters, information and/or values of the field device to be replaced are compared by an electronic control unit, which communicates via the fieldbus, with parameters, information and/or values of the new field device with respect to at least one data record, in order to modify them if necessary to match the field device to be replaced.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the parameters, information and/or values comprise the device description (DD), the device type management (DTM), the configuration list.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

a change confirmation to be acknowledged by the operator is requested by the electronic control unit before any change to the at least one data record in the new field device.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the comparison of the relevant parameters, information and/or values is carried out off-line.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

first of all parameters, information and/or values which are fundamentally necessary for operation are compared, and if necessary changed, after which ever more specific parameters, information and/or values are compared and if necessary changed.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the electronic control unit reads the previous parameters, information and/or values of the first field device before replacement, in order to store them for the comparison to be carried out.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein

the parameters, information and/or values that have been read from the first field device are mapped onto the new field device.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the parameters, information and/or values which are not mapped onto the new field device are output to the display.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system communicates via a digital fieldbus.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system is an automation system.

11. A system in which a method is employed for replacement of a field device to be replaced by a new field device, comprising:

an electronic control unit; and

a fieldbus through which the electronic control unit communicates parameters, information and/or values of the new field device with respect to at least one data record, wherein the electronic control unit is capable of comparing previous parameters, information and/or values of the field device to be replaced, and modifying the parameters, information and/or values of the new field device with respect to at least one data record to match the field device to be replaced.