Automatically configurable multi-purpose distributed control processor card for an industrial control system
First Claim
1. A configurable distributed control processor card to replace any one of a set of existing distributed control processor card types within a distributed industrial process control system, the set of existing distributed control processor card types being signally coupled to connectors in order to communicate with other components of the distributed industrial process control system via an external bus, the connectors comprising a set of lead connectors for communicatively coupling external bus lines for carrying data, address and control signals to leads of an inserted distributed control processor card, external lead definitions of the multiple existing card types being distinguishable from one another, the configurable distributed control processor card being capable of replacing any of the multiple existing processor card types and comprising in combination:
- a set of external leads for coupling processor card I/O lines to the set of lead connectors configured to receive one of the set of existing distributed control processor card types;
configuration determination logic for sensing a signal on at least one of the set of external leads after the set of external leads have been signally coupled to the set of lead connectors, and transmitting a signal specifying one of a set of distributed control processor card configurations corresponding to one of the set of existing distributed control processor card types therefrom;
a processor including a set of processor signal leads; and
configuration control logic, responsive to the signal specifying one of a set of distributed control processor card types, including configurable routing circuitry for selectively routing a set of signals between the set of processor signal leads and the set of external leads in accordance with the specified distributed control processor card type.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A configurable distributed control processor card for use in an industrial process control system is described. The configurable distributed control processor card includes configuration determination logic for designating a particular intended distributed control processor card configuration based upon a signal, originating from an external bus, sensed on one or more input pins to the configurable card. The configuration determination logic specifies one of a set of distributed control processor card configurations based upon the sensed signal.
A configurable distributed control processor card also includes card configuration logic. Based upon the specified configuration, a control program is selected from a set of control programs associated with the distinct ones of the set of distributed control processor card configurations. Furthermore, the input leads to the configurable distributed control processor card are selectively routed to inputs of a processor mounted upon the configurable distributed control processor card.
165 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A configurable distributed control processor card to replace any one of a set of existing distributed control processor card types within a distributed industrial process control system, the set of existing distributed control processor card types being signally coupled to connectors in order to communicate with other components of the distributed industrial process control system via an external bus, the connectors comprising a set of lead connectors for communicatively coupling external bus lines for carrying data, address and control signals to leads of an inserted distributed control processor card, external lead definitions of the multiple existing card types being distinguishable from one another, the configurable distributed control processor card being capable of replacing any of the multiple existing processor card types and comprising in combination:
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a set of external leads for coupling processor card I/O lines to the set of lead connectors configured to receive one of the set of existing distributed control processor card types; configuration determination logic for sensing a signal on at least one of the set of external leads after the set of external leads have been signally coupled to the set of lead connectors, and transmitting a signal specifying one of a set of distributed control processor card configurations corresponding to one of the set of existing distributed control processor card types therefrom; a processor including a set of processor signal leads; and configuration control logic, responsive to the signal specifying one of a set of distributed control processor card types, including configurable routing circuitry for selectively routing a set of signals between the set of processor signal leads and the set of external leads in accordance with the specified distributed control processor card type. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for replacing any one of a set of existing distributed control processor card types within a distributed industrial process control system by means of a configurable distributed control processor card, the set of existing distributed control processor card types being signally coupled to connectors in order to communicate with other components of the distributed industrial process control system via an external bus, the connectors comprising a set of lead connectors for communicatively coupling external bus lines for carrying data, address and control signals to leads of an inserted distributed control processor card, external lead definitions of the multiple existing card types being distinguishable from one another, the method for replacing any one of the multiple existing processor card types comprising the steps of:
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inserting the configurable distributed control processor card into a receptacle thus establishing communicative contact between a set of external leads for coupling processor card I/O lines to the set of lead connectors configured to receive one of the set of existing distributed control processor card types; sensing a signal on at least one of the set of external leads after the set of external leads have been signally coupled to the set of lead connectors, and in response transmitting a signal specifying one of a set of distributed control processor card configurations corresponding to one of the set of existing distributed control processor card types therefrom; and configuring, in response to the signal specifying one of a set of distributed control processor card types, routing circuitry to selectively route a set of signals between a set of processor signal leads and the set of external leads in accordance with the specified distributed control processor card type. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification