Control systems and methods for translating code from one format into another format

• US 7,024,665 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2002
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smar Research Corp.
• Original Assignee: Smar Research Corp.
• Inventors: Jose De Souza, Flavio Henrique, Ferraz, William Duarte
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaki, Kakali
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHRADER, LAWRENCE J
• Application Number:
  US10/201,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20040019391A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 717120-123, 717136-137, 700/266, 700/286, 700/18
• US Class Current: 717/136
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/31 Programming languages or programming paradigms

Abstract

A control system and method for translating code from one format to another format are provided. In particular, code can be received from at least one field device. In particular, the code is received in a first format, and the received code is translated into a second format when the first format is different than the second format. For example, the second format can have a format of a Function Block Logic language, such as Foundation Fieldbus Function Block Logic language, and the first format can have a format of a non-Function Block Logic language, such as an IEC 61131-x language.

Claims

1. A control system, comprising:

an interface arrangement adapted to receive code from at least one field device, wherein the interface arrangement receives the code in a first format, and translates the received code into a second format when the first format is different than the second format.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first format has a format of a first programming language, and the second format has a format of a second programming language.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first programming language is a non-Function Block Logic language.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the non-Function Block Logic language is an IEC 61131-x language.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the IEC 61131-x language is at least one of a Ladder Logic language, a Sequential Function Chart language, and an Instruction List language.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the second programming language is a Function Block Logic language.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the Function Block Logic language is a Foundation Fieldbus Function Block Logic language.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first programming language is an IEC 61131-x language.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the IEC 61131-x language is at least one of a Ladder Logic language, a Sequential Function Chart language, and an Instruction List language.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the interface arrangement is further adapted to generate a graphical expression of the received code in a format of the first programming language, and wherein the graphical expression comprises a plurality of cells, each of the cells including one of a single element and no elements.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the element is at least one of a line segment and a variable.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the variable is at least one of an input variable and an output variable.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the interface arrangement is further adapted to generate a matrix associated with the graphical expression by:

replacing first cells which do not comprise the single element having a number 0,

replacing second cells which include the line segment with a number 1,

replacing third cells which include a variable that is not virtually connected to another variable with a number 100, and

replacing fourth cells which include a variable vertically connected to another variable with a number (N), and

wherein the number (N) equals to 100 minus a quantity of variables connected to and positioned below the variable which is vertically connected to another variable.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first programming language is a Ladder Logic language.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the interface arrangement is further adapted to solve the matrix, and translate the received code from first programming language into the second programming language based on the solution of the matrix.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the interface arrangement solves the matrix using boolean algebra.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one field device, wherein at least one of the controller and the at least one field device include the interface arrangement.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one field device is a smart field device, and wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the at least one smart field device using an open smart communications protocol.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the open smart communications protocol is a Foundation Fieldbus protocol.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the open smart communications protocol is a PROFIBUS protocol.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one field device is at least one of a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a flow rate sensor, a valve and a switch.

22. The system of claim 17, further comprising a computer system communicatively coupled to at least one of the controller and the at least one field device.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the computer system is adapted to receive data from at least one of the controller and the at least one field device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the data includes values associated with at least one measurement performed by the at least one field device, the at least one measurement including at least one of temperature, pressure and flow rate.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the data includes time that the at least one field device has been in operation.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the data includes at least one of a position of a valve of the at least one field device and a position of a switch of the at least one field device at various times during an operation of the at least one field device.

27. A method for translating code from one format to another format, comprising to the steps of:

receiving the code from at least one field device in a first format; and

translating the received code into a second format when the first format is different than the second format.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first format has a format of a first programming language, and the second format has a format of a second programming language.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the first programming language is a non-Function Block Logic language.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the non-Function Block Logic language is an IEC 61131-x language.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the IEC 61131-x language is at least one of a Ladder Logic language, a Sequential Function Chart language, and an Instruction List language.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the second programming language is a Function Block Logic language.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the Function Block Logic language is a Foundation Fieldbus Function Block Logic language.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the first programming language is an IEC 61131-x language.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the IEC 61131-x language is at least one of a Ladder Logic language, a Sequential Function Chart language, and an Instruction List language.

36. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of generating a graphical expression of the received code, wherein the graphical expression comprises a plurality of cells, and wherein each of the cells comprises one of a single element and no elements.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the element is at least one of a line segment and a variable.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the variable is at least one of an input variable and an output variable.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of generating a matrix associated with the graphical expression, wherein the step of generating the matrix comprises the substeps of:

replacing first cells which do not include the single element with the number 0,

replacing second cells which include the line segment with the number 1,

replacing third cells which include a variable that is not vertically connected to another variable with the number 100, and

replacing fourth cells which include a variable vertically connected to another variable with a number (N), wherein the number (N) equals to 100 minus a quantity of variables connected to and positioned below the variable that is vertically connected to another variable.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the first language is a Ladder Logic language.

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising the steps of:

solving the matrix; and

translating the received code from the first programming language into the second programming language based on a solution of the matrix.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the matrix is solved using boolean algebra.

43. The method of claim 27, wherein the at least one field device is a smart field device, and wherein a controller is communicatively coupled to the at least one smart field device using an open smart communications protocol.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the open smart communications protocol is a Foundation Fieldbus protocol.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the open smart communications protocol is a PROFIBUS protocol.

46. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of determining whether the first format is different than the second format.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the translating step is performed only when the first format is different than the second format.

48. The method of claim 27, wherein the at least one field device is at least one of a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a flow rate sensor, a valve and a switch.

49. The method of claim 43, wherein a computer system is adapted to receive data from at least one of the controller and the at least one field device.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein the data includes values associated with at least one measurement performed by the at least one field device, the at least one measurement including at least one of temperature, pressure and flow rate.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein the data includes time that the at least one field device has been in operation.

52. The method of claim 48, wherein the data includes at least one of a position of a valve, and a position of a switch at various times during an operation of the at least one field device.