Integration of field devices in a distributed system

• US 8,793,417 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB AG (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Bollmeyer, Stefan, Dittel, Armin, Wagener, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): AUVE, GLENN ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US13/332,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20120159022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 710/8, 710/9, 710/104, 700/9
• US Class Current: 710/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40013 Details regarding a bus controller
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4026 Bus for use in automation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to a system and method for integrating field devices in an automation system having a plurality of field devices connectable via at least one bus system. A respective field device is connected to the bus system of the automation system, and is automatically addressed by a superordinate controller using a predefined default address. The device addressed using the default address then registers in the system with its device address, and a fixed address which is provided from a multiplicity of unassigned addresses from an address memory is automatically allocated to the device registered in the system. An individually assigned identification (TAG) provided from the predetermined configuration of the automation system is allocated to the allocated fixed address, and, after the automatically allocated fixed address has been transmitted to the field device, the field device is changed to a suitable state for communication with the superordinate controller.

Claims

1. A method for automatically integrating field devices in an automation system having a plurality of field devices connectable via at least one bus system, the field devices being incorporated in the automation system via the bus system according to a predetermined configuration stored in memory of the automation system and executed by a processor of the automation system, the method comprising:

connecting a respective field device to the bus system of the automation system;

automatically addressing the respective field device connected to the system by a superordinate controller using a predefined default address by means of an automatically running first routine;

registering the default address of the addressed device in the system using its device address;

allocating automatically a fixed address selected from a plurality of unassigned addresses in an address memory to the device registered in the system by means of a second automatically running routine;

allocating an individually assigned identification (TAG) provided from a predetermined configuration of the automation system to the allocated fixed address; and

after the automatically allocated fixed address has been transmitted to the respective field device, changing the field device to a suitable state for communication with the superordinate controller.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

adopting the assigned fixed address into project data relating to an the installation of the distributed system, the project data describing a hardware provided in the distributed system.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

detecting a fixed address which has already been automatically allocated to the respective field device from an address area using a test routine, wherein the address which has already been allocated is retained by the respective field device.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

changing the previously automatically allocated fixed address to a previously unassigned bus address from an address area using a change routine.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a special address in an address area is reserved for the respective field device on the basis of a predefined function in the automation system.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the automatic address allocation is started with the aid of a graphical user interface.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

at least one of allocating the identification (TAG), and assigning the identification to a planned functionality of the respective device via a start-up tool.

8. The method according to claim 7, comprising:

automatically assigning an identification (TAG) which is already stored in the respective field device and corresponds to project data the planned functionality of the respective field device using the start-up tool.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the automation system communicates using at least one of PROFIBUS and Foundation field bus protocols.

10. An automation system, comprising:

at least one bus system;

a plurality of field devices connectable via the at least one bus system; and

a superordinate controller configured with program code, wherein the controller includes;

means for automatically addressing a respective field device connected to the system using a predefined default address;

means for registering the default address of the addressed device in the system using its device address;

means for allocating automatically a fixed address selected from a plurality of unassigned addresses in an address memory is automatically allocated to the device registered in the system;

means for allocating an individually assigned identification (TAG) provided from a predetermined configuration of the automation system to the allocated fixed address; and

means for changing the field device to a suitable state after the automatically allocated fixed address has been transmitted to the respective field device.

11. The system according to claim 10, comprising:

memory for storing the assigned fixed address into project data relating to an installation of the distributed system, wherein the project data describes hardware provided in the system.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the controller comprises:

means for detecting a fixed address which has already been automatically allocated to the respective field device from an address area using a test routine, wherein the address which has already been allocated is retained by the respective field device.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the controller comprises:

means for changing the previously automatically allocated fixed address to a previously unassigned bus address from an address area using a change routine.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein the controller reserves a special address in an address area for the respective field device on the basis of a predefined function in the automation system.

15. The system according to claim 10, comprising:

a graphical user interface for starting automatic address allocation.

16. The system according to claim 10, comprising:

a start-up tool for at least one of allocating the identification (TAG) and assigning it to a planned functionality of the respective field device.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the start-up tool automatically assigns an identification (TAG) which is already stored in the respective field device and corresponds to project data of the planned functionality of the respective field device.

18. The system according to claim 10, wherein the automation system communicates using at least one of PROFIBUS and Foundation field bus protocols.

19. A processing apparatus of an automation system having a plurality of field devices connectable via at least one bus system, comprising:

memory for storing a predetermined configuration of the field devices;

means for automatically addressing a respective field device connected to the system using a predefined default address;

means for registering the default address of the addressed device in the system using its device address;

means for allocating automatically a fixed address selected from a plurality of unassigned addresses in an address memory to the device registered in the system;

means for allocating an individually assigned identification (TAG) provided from the predetermined configuration of the automation system to the allocated fixed address; and

means for changing the field device to a suitable state after the automatically allocated fixed address has been transmitted to the respective field device.