Modifier function blocks in a process control system
First Claim
1. A function block entity for use in a process control system that performs a process control routine using a multiplicity of communicatively interconnected function blocks, each having a software routine therein for controlling an associated processor, where one or more of the multiplicity of interconnected function blocks provide output signals to one or more other of the multiplicity of interconnected function blocks, and receive at least one input signal from one or more other of the multiplicity of interconnected function blocks, the function block entity comprising:
- a base function block having a first series of processor implementable instructions that cause a first processor to perform a function associated with the process control routine and a resettable branching point located within the first series of instructions, said base function block stored in a first computer readable memory to be accessed by the first processor; and
a modifier function block having a second series of processor implementable instructions, said modifier function block stored in a second computer readable memory to be accessed by the first processor;
wherein the resettable branching point includes a pointer settable to a first value that causes the first processor to execute another of the first series of processor implementable instructions within the base function block and a second value that causes the first processor to execute the second series of instructions within the modifier function block.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A modifier function block adapted for use in process control routine includes a series of processor implementable instructions that conditionally enhance or modify the functionality of a base function block associated with the process control routine. The base function block includes a resettable branching point located within a set instructions used to perform a process control related operation. The branching point of the base function block has a pointer which, when set to a first value, causes another of the set of instructions within the base function block to be executed (to thereby bypass the execution of the modifier function block), and which, when set to a second value, causes the series of instructions within the modifier function block to be executed (to thereby alter the functionality of the base function block). In this manner, the modifier function block may be conditionally called, depending on the state of the base function block, to change the operation of the base function block or to, alternatively, leave the functionality of the base function block unaltered.
125 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A function block entity for use in a process control system that performs a process control routine using a multiplicity of communicatively interconnected function blocks, each having a software routine therein for controlling an associated processor, where one or more of the multiplicity of interconnected function blocks provide output signals to one or more other of the multiplicity of interconnected function blocks, and receive at least one input signal from one or more other of the multiplicity of interconnected function blocks, the function block entity comprising:
-
a base function block having a first series of processor implementable instructions that cause a first processor to perform a function associated with the process control routine and a resettable branching point located within the first series of instructions, said base function block stored in a first computer readable memory to be accessed by the first processor; and
a modifier function block having a second series of processor implementable instructions, said modifier function block stored in a second computer readable memory to be accessed by the first processor;
wherein the resettable branching point includes a pointer settable to a first value that causes the first processor to execute another of the first series of processor implementable instructions within the base function block and a second value that causes the first processor to execute the second series of instructions within the modifier function block. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A process control system comprising:
-
a plurality of communicatively interconnected process control devices, a first one of which includes a processor and a memory;
a process control routine having a multiplicity of communicatively interconnected function blocks, wherein each of the multiplicity of communicatively interconnected function blocks includes a software routine that controls an associated processor, and wherein one or more of the multiplicity of communicatively interconnected function blocks provide output signals to one or more other of the multiplicity of communicatively interconnected function blocks, and receive at least one input signal from one or more other of the multiplicity of communicatively interconnected function blocks;
wherein one of the communicatively interconnected function blocks is a base function block that is stored in the memory for controlling operation of the processor, the base function block including, a first series of processor implementable instructions that cause the processor to perform an operation within the process control routine, and a resettable branching point located within the series of instructions; and
a modifier function block that is stored in the memory, that is communicatively connected to the base function block and that includes a second series of processor implementable instructions that modify an operation performed by the first series of processor implementable instructions within the base function block. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A modifier function block adapted for use in conditionally modifying the operation of a base function block within a process control routine, where the base function block and the modifier function blocks are part of an entity comprising a multiplicity of interconnected function blocks, and where one or more of the multiplicity of interconnected function blocks provide output signals to one or more other of the multiplicity of interconnected function blocks, and receive at least one input signal from one or more other of the multiplicity of interconnected function blocks, wherein the base function block has a set of instructions for controlling a processor to perform a process control operation within a process control routine and a resettable pointer that, when set to a first value causes the processor to continue implementing the set of instructions within the base function block and that, when set to a second value, causes control of the processor to be given to the modifier function block, the modifier function block comprising:
-
an interface that defines data associated with the base function block to be used by the modifier function block when the pointer within the base function block is set to the second value and the processor reaches the pointer within the set of instructions within the base function block;
a series of processor implementable instructions stored in a computer readable memory that modify the process control operation performed by the set of instructions within the base function block using the data provided in accordance with the interface; and
a return instruction, stored in the computer readable memory, that returns control of the processor to the set of instructions within the base function block when the series of processor implementable instructions within the modifier function block have been executed by the processor. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A method of modifying an operation of a base function block adapted to operate within a function block entity comprising a multiplicity of interconnected function blocks, and where one or more of the multiplicity of interconnected function blocks provide output signals to one or more other of the multiplicity of interconnected function blocks, and receive at least one input signal from one or more other of the multiplicity of interconnected function blocks, such base function block having a set of processor implementable instructions therein used to perform part of a process control routine in a process control system, the method comprising the steps of:
-
storing the base function block in a memory of a process control device having a processor therein;
storing a modifier function block within the memory of the process control device, the modifier function block having a series of processor implementable instructions that modify the operation performed by the set of instructions within the base function block; and
placing a resettable pointer in the set of instructions within the base function block, wherein the pointer can be set to a first value that causes another of the set of instructions within the base function block to be executed by the processor when the processor reaches the pointer and a second value that causes the series of instructions within the modifier function block to be executed by the processor when the processor reaches the pointer. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
-
Specification