Process control system and method for operating a system of this type

• US 8,000,816 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2004
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Merte, Rolf, Karte, Thomas, Lasarzik, Wolfgang, Milanovic, Raiko, Stelter, Andreas, Gasch, Armin
• Primary Examiner(s): Decady; Albert
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEVENS, THOMAS H
• Application Number:
  US10/590,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20070270977A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,726 Days
• Field of Search: 700/19, 700/30, 700/250, 737/24
• US Class Current: 700/19
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31089 Direct communication between cooperating parts of a cell, not over server
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31282 Data acquisition, BDE MDE
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

The invention relates to a process control system having measuring devices and actuators. All of the measuring devices and actuators process information and exchange data amongst themselves. All measuring devices and actuators are interconnected to enable a bi-directional data exchange. Several, or all of the measuring devices and actuators can exchange data with a service unit that can be connected to the devices and actuators. The invention also relates to a method for operating a process control system of this type.

Claims

1. A process control system comprising measurement devices and actuators wherein

a) all the measurement devices and actuators contain means for information processing and for data interchange between the measurement devices and actuators,

b) all the measurement devices and actuators are connected by means for bidirectional data interchange, and

c) a plurality of the measurement devices and actuators have means for data interchange with a service appliance which can be connected,

wherein the means for data interchange with a service appliance which can be connected are an interface device for bi-directional data interchange and a plug-in apparatus, with the interface device being designed to provide current data relating to a process state for calling up.

2. The process control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for information processing and for data interchange between the measurement devices and actuators are a microcomputer with interface devices for bidirectional data interchange.

3. The process control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a bus system, to which all of the measurement devices and actuators are connected, is provided as the means for bidirectional data interchange.

4. The process control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a laptop or a PDA is used as the service appliance which can be connected.

5. The process control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measurement devices and actuators are designed to carry out plausibility checks and diagnoses.

6. The process control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measurement devices and actuators are designed for preprocessing of recorded data.

7. A method for operation of a process control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein

data which has been recorded in measurement devices of the process control system by sensors of the measurement devices and has possibly been obtained by preprocessing is linked to data from other measurement devices, and all of the data is stored and is transmitted to respective other measurement devices and to actuators, and

data which has been called up from a service device which is connected to measurement devices or actuators is emitted.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein self-diagnoses are carried out in the components of the process control system, whose results are likewise stored such that they can be called up by a service device.

9. The process control system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for data interchange with a service appliance which can be connected are an interface device for bi-directional data interchange and a plug-in apparatus, with the interface device being designed to provide current data relating to a process state for calling up.

10. The process control system as claimed in claim 9, wherein point-to-point links are produced as means for bidirectional data interchange.

11. The process control system as claimed in claim 10, wherein a bus system, to which all of the measurement devices and actuators are connected, is provided as the means for bidirectional data interchange.

12. The process control system as claimed in claim 11, wherein a laptop or a PDA is used as the service appliance which can be connected.

13. The process control system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the measurement devices and actuators are designed to carry out plausibility checks and diagnoses.

14. The process control system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the measurement devices and actuators are designed for preprocessing of recorded data.

15. A method for operation of a process control system as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

data which has been recorded in measurement devices of the process control system by sensors of the measurement devices and has possibly been obtained by preprocessing is linked to data from other measurement devices, and all of the data is stored and is transmitted to the respective other measurement devices and to actuators, and

data which has been called up from a service device which is connected to measurement devices or actuators is emitted.

16. A process control system, comprising:

measurement devices and actuators, each of which includes means for information processing and for data interchange between the measurement devices and actuators;

means for interconnecting the measurement devices and actuators for bidirectional data interchange; and

means, provided with multiple ones of the measurement devices and actuators, for data interchange with a service appliance which can be connected,

wherein the means for data interchange with a service appliance which can be connected are an interface device for bi-directional data interchange and a plug-in apparatus, with the interface device being designed to provide current data relating to a process state for calling up.