Configurator with Embedded Firmware for Offline Instrument User Settings Implementation

• US 20100145671A1
• Filed: 12/05/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Invensys Systems Incorporated (Invensys PLC)
• Inventors: Allstrom, Peter E., Howe, Spencer K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,776,019 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/21
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25067 Graphic configuration control system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25084 Select configuration as function of operator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/455 Emulation; Interpretation; Software simulation, e.g. virtualisation or emulation of application or operating system execution engines

Abstract

A system for the customization of user settings on a target instrument includes a configuration module configured for the customization of user settings on a target instrument, and a representation module communicably coupled to the configuration module. The representation module includes a duplicate of firmware from the target instrument. A method of production of a system for the customization of user settings on a target instrument, includes configuring a configuration module for the customization of user settings on a target instrument, communicably coupling the configuration module to a representation module; and disposing a duplicate of firmware from the target instrument in the representation module.

Claims

1. A dual platform system for the customization of user settings on a target instrument in a process control system, comprising:

a configuration module running on a platform;

a representation module communicably coupled to said configuration module, said representation module including a firmware duplicate including a copy of at least a portion of firmware from the target instrument;

wherein said representation module is configured to transform the firmware duplicate into a representation of at least a portion of a physical target instrument;

the firmware being compliant with communication protocols selected from the group consisting of HART®

, FOXCOM®

, PROFIBUS™

, FOUNDATION™

FIELDBUS, and MODBUS, RS232, RS 485, DEVICENET™

, CONTROLNET™

, CAN™

, ZIGBEE™

(IEEE 802.15.4), Ethernet/IP, DH+, Intranet, and combinations thereof;

a menu module configured to generate prototypes of a user menu for the target instrument; and

a diagnostics module configured to perform an operation selected from the group consisting of;

confirming proper operation of said configuration module;

confirming proper configuration of the customized set of user settings; and

confirming proper configuration of a menu prototype for the target instrument, and combinations thereof;

wherein said system is configured to generate a customized set of user settings for the target instrument running on a second platform, independently of any connection to the target instrument, which user settings are capable of being used by the target instrument without further modification.

2. A system for the customization of user settings on a target instrument, comprising:

a configuration module running on a platform; and

a representation module running on a platform, said representation module being communicably coupled to said configuration module, said representation module including a firmware duplicate including at least a portion of firmware of the target instrument;

wherein said representation module is configured to transform the firmware duplicate into a representation of at least a portion of a physical target instrument; and

wherein said system is configured to generate a customized set of user settings for the target instrument running on a second platform.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said configuration module comprises computer readable code on computer readable media.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said representation module comprises computer readable code on computer readable media.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein said representation module is embedded within said configuration module.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the firmware duplicate comprises hardware adaptation code, the hardware adaptation code including instructions configured for adapting the firmware duplicate to specific hardware requirements of a host computer on which the configuration module is running.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the firmware duplicate comprises a copy of at least about 50% of the firmware from the target instrument.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the firmware duplicate comprises a copy of at least about 80-90% of the firmware from the target instrument.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the firmware of the target instrument is compliant with communication protocols selected from the group consisting of HART®

, FOXCOM®

, PROFIBUS™

, FOUNDATION™

FIELDBUS, and MODBUS®

, RS232, RS 485, DEVICENET™

, CONTROLNET™

, CAN™

, ZIGBEE™

(IEEE 802.15.4), Ethernet/IP, DH+, Intranet, and combinations thereof.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the system is configured for running on a standalone computer.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein the representation of at least a portion of a physical target instrument comprises a visual representation.

12. The system of claim 2, wherein the target instrument comprises a field device in a process control system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the field device comprises a single variable transmitter.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the field device comprises a multivariable transmitter.

15. The system of claim 2, wherein the customized set of user settings are configured for use by the target instrument.

16. The system of claim 2, further comprising a diagnostics module.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said diagnostics module comprises computer readable code on computer readable media.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said diagnostics module is configured to confirm proper operation of said configuration module.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said diagnostics module is configured to generate a prototype user menu.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said diagnostics module is configured to generate a prototype for the target instrument.

21. A method of customizing user settings on a target instrument, comprising:

a) providing a configuration module for customizing user settings on a target instrument;

b) providing a representation module with a duplicate of firmware of the target instrument;

c) communicably coupling the representation module to the configuration module; and

d) actuating the configuration and representation modules to generate a customized set of user settings for the target instrument.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said communicably coupling c) comprises embedding said representation module in said configuration module.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the target instrument comprises a field device in a process control system.

24. A system for the customization of user settings on a target instrument, comprising:

first computer readable code on computer readable media, said first code configured for customizing user settings on a target instrument; and

second computer readable code on computer readable media, said second code including firmware of the target instrument;

wherein said system is configured to generate a customized set of user settings for the target instrument.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising a target instrument.

26. The system of claim 24, further comprising a computer configured to interact with said first code and said second code.

27. The system of claim 24, further comprising a third computer readable code on computer readable media, said third code being configured as a diagnostics module.