Process control system having dual wireless communication links

• US 8,184,562 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2009
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Tapperson, Gary, Boyd, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Le
• Application Number:
  US12/625,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20100074156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/225, 340/3.1, 340/825.23, 340/2.1, 700/244, 703/11, 219/209, 702/185, 709/228, 398/115, 735/87
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31122 Bridge between networks
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31162 Wireless lan
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31251 Redundant access, wireless and hardware access to fielddevices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

Field devices or other devices within a process control system are provided with both hardwired and wireless communication ports to enable communications to be performed within the process control system using one or both of hardwired and wireless communications. In particular, a field device for use in a process control system within a process control environment includes a microprocessor-based communication unit adapted to generate or receive communication signals, a first communication port adapted to be connected to a hardwired communication link for providing communications to or from the communication unit via the hardwired communication link and a second communication port adapted to be connected to a wireless transceiver to provide wireless communications to or from the communication unit via the wireless transceiver.

Claims

1. A distributed industrial process control system comprising:

a central computer system located in a control room and a first wireless communication link associated with the central computer system for transmitting and receiving process control information to and from the central computer system; and

a field mounted controller located a distance from the central computer system;

a plurality of process control field devices;

a process control network for communicating process control signals between the controller and the plurality of process control field devices, wherein at least one of the field devices either controls a physical process parameter based on a process control signal transmitted from the controller to the at least one of the field devices or measures a physical process control parameter and transmits a process control signal to the controller representing the measured physical process control parameter; and

a second wireless communication link associated with the process control network for transmitting process control information to the central computer system and receiving process control information and secondary information from the computer system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to control the field devices based upon commands received from the central computer system via the first and second wireless communication links, and adapted to provide data to the central computer system based upon signals received from field devices via the first and second wireless communication links.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the field devices are powered from the process control network.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication link associated with the process control network is powered from the process control network.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the process control information includes primary process control signals effecting physical process control parameter controlled by a process control field device.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the process control information includes primary process control signals representing a physical process control parameter measured by a process control field device.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the process control information includes secondary information related to the operation of a process control field device.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the central computer system is adapted to communicate with the controller through the wireless communication links for monitoring process variables.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the central computer system is adapted to communicate with the controller through the wireless communication links for performing control actions.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the central computer system is adapted to communicate with the controller through the wireless communication links for performing diagnostics.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the central computer system is adapted to communicate with the controller through the wireless communication links for accessing secondary functions of the field devices.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the central computer system is adapted to communicate with the controller through the wireless communication links for performing shut-down procedures.

13. A distributed industrial process control system comprising:

a process control network;

a plurality of industrial process control field devices communicatively coupled to the process control network, wherein each of the plurality of field devices controls or measures a physical process parameter;

a controller communicatively coupled to the process control network for controlling the field devices, the controller producing process control information including one or more control signals for causing one or more of the process control field devices to control a physical process parameter according to the one or more process control signals, or receiving process control information including one more control signals representing a physical process parameter measured by one or more of the process control field devices;

a remote process computer located a distance from the controller; and

a wireless communication link between the process control network and the remote process control computer for communicating process control information between the remote process computer and at least one of the controller or at least one of the process control field devices that are communicatively coupled to the process control network.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is adapted to control the field devices based upon commands received from the remote process computer via the wireless communication link, and adapted to provide data to the remote process computer based upon signals received from field devices.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the field devices are powered from the process control network.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the process control information includes primary process control signals effecting physical process control parameter controlled by a process control field device.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the process control information includes primary process control signals representing a physical process control parameter measured by a process control field device.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the process control information includes secondary information related to the operation of a process control field device.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein the remote process computer is adapted to communicate with the controller through the wireless communication link for monitoring process variables.

20. The system of claim 13 wherein the remote process computer is adapted to communicate with the controller through the wireless communication link for performing control actions.

21. The system of claim 13 wherein the central computer system is adapted to communicate with the controller through the wireless communication links for performing diagnostics.

22. The system of claim 13 wherein the remote process computer is adapted to communicate with the controller through the wireless communication link for accessing secondary functions of the field devices.

23. The system of claim 13 wherein the central computer system is adapted to communicate with the controller through the wireless communication link for performing shut-down procedures.