Method for transmitting a process map via a gateway device

• US 9,575,920 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2013
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB AG (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Ismail, Muhamad-Ikhwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Zaman, Faisal M
• Application Number:
  US14/134,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20140108685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 710/260, 710/307, 710/315
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21018 Connect sensors to a concentrator, concentrators to bus
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31348 Gateway
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/42 Bus transfer protocol, e.g. handshake; Synchronisation

Abstract

Exemplary methods and systems are directed to transmitting a process map of a control or automation system via a gateway device. The gateway device includes at least one first functional unit connected to a higher-ranking control unit via a first communications link based on a primary field bus protocol, and at least one second functional unit connected to at least one field device via a second communications link based on a secondary field bus protocol. Binary signals are stored in corresponding registers and analog signals, which are in an integer format, are transmitted to the first functional unit such that the number of binary signals is reduced by packing the binary signals into data bytes. The data bytes are translated into corresponding telegrams that can be processed by the primary field bus protocol and with the analog signals are transmitted to the higher-ranking control unit.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting a process map of a control or automation system via a gateway device including at least one first functional unit, to which a superordinate control unit is connected via a first communications link based on a primary field bus protocol, and at least one second functional unit, to which at least one field device is connected via a second communications link based on a secondary field bus protocol, the method comprising:

transmitting process variables, which are provided by the field devices, as process data objects based on the secondary field bus protocol, wherein the process variables are transmitted as messages to the second functional unit of the gateway device;

allocating corresponding registers in a binary format to the process data objects in a form of digital signals;

allocating corresponding addresses in an integer format to the process data objects in a form of analog signals; and

transmitting the digital signals stored in the corresponding registers and the analog signals in the integer format to the first functional unit such that the number of binary signals is reduced by packing the binary signals into respective data bytes with no overhead for each data bit, the binary signals are translated into corresponding messages which can be processed by the primary field bus protocol, and are transmitted, together with the analog signals in the integer format, to the superordinate control unit based on the primary field bus protocol.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first function unit is configured to operate as a task gateway.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the process data objects of the control or automation system are transmitted between the gateway device and the superordinate unit using a high-performance Ethernet, Profibus, or Profinet protocol.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signals are serially transmitted via the second communications link.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the process data objects of the control or automation system are transmitted between the gateway device and the field devices connected to the latter via the CAN or CANopen field bus protocol.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein process variables provided by the field devices are transmitted as process data objects based on the secondary field bus protocol to the second functional unit of the gateway device, which operates as a CANopen task master, as so-called CAN messages.

12. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the gateway device is configured to operate as a task gateway.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the process data objects of the control or automation system are transmitted between the gateway device and the superordinate unit using a high-performance Ethernet, Profibus, or Profinet protocol.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the signals are serially transmitted via the second communications link.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the process data objects of the control or automation system are transmitted between the gateway device and the field devices connected to the latter via the CAN or CANopen field bus protocol.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein process variables provided by the field devices are transmitted as process data objects based on the secondary field bus protocol to the second functional unit of the gateway device, which operates as a CANopen task master, as so-called CAN messages.

19. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the process data objects of the control or automation system are transmitted between the gateway device and the superordinate unit using a high-performance Ethernet, Profibus, or Profinet protocol, and

wherein the process data objects of the control or automation system are transmitted between the gateway device and the field devices connected to the latter via the CAN or CANopen field bus protocol.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein process variables provided by the field devices are transmitted as process data objects based on the secondary field bus protocol to the second functional unit of the gateway device, which operates as a CANopen task master, as so-called CAN messages.

7. A method for transmitting a process map of a control or automation system via a gateway device including at least one first functional unit, to which a superordinate control unit is connected via a first communications link based on a primary field bus protocol, and at least one second functional unit, to which at least one field device is connected via a second communications link based on a secondary field bus protocol, the method comprising:

transmitting the process variables provided by the superordinate unit as process data objects based on the primary field bus protocol to the first functional unit of the gateway device, as messages in a byte format with no overhead for each data bit which can be processed by the primary field bus protocol;

generating eight binary signals from each byte and storing the binary signals in a corresponding register address of the first functional unit;

entering the signals in integer format from the superordinate unit in a register address;

transmitting the binary signals stored in the corresponding registers, and analog signals in integer format to the second functional unit operating as a task master;

and transmitting the binary signals into corresponding messages which can be processed by the secondary field bus protocol and transmitted, together with the analog signals in integer format, to corresponding field devices based on the secondary field bus protocol.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the process data objects of the control or automation system are transmitted between the gateway device and the superordinate unit using a high-performance Ethernet, Profibus, or Profinet protocol.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the signals are serially transmitted via the second communications link.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the process data objects of the control or automation system are transmitted between the gateway device and the field devices connected to the latter via the CAN or CANopen field bus protocol.

11. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein process variables provided by the field devices are transmitted as process data objects based on the secondary field bus protocol to the second functional unit of the gateway device, which operates as a CANopen task master, as so-called CAN messages.

13. A system for transmitting a process map of a control or automation system comprising:

a gateway device including at least one first functional unit, to which a superordinate control unit is connected via a first communications link based on a primary field bus protocol, and at least one second functional unit, to which at least one field device is connected via a second communications link based on a secondary field bus protocol,

wherein the second functional unit of the gateway device, which operates as a task master, receives process variables provided by the field devices as process data objects based on the secondary field bus protocol as messages,

wherein registers provided in the second functional unit are allocated to the process data objects which are in the form of digital signals and are in binary format, and

wherein the digital signals stored in the corresponding registers are packed as binary signals into data blocks of eight bits each with no overhead for each data bit, stored in the first functional unit operating as a task gateway, and translated into corresponding messages which can be processed by the primary field bus protocol and can be transmitted, together with analog signals in integer format, to the superordinate control unit based on the primary field bus protocol.

14. An automation control system, comprising:

a gateway device including at least one first functional unit, to which a superordinate control unit is connected via a first communications link based on a primary field bus protocol, and at least one second functional unit, to which at least one field device is connected via a second communications link based on a secondary field bus protocol,

wherein the second functional unit of the gateway device, which operates as a task master, receives process variables provided by the field devices as process data objects based on the secondary field bus protocol as messages,

wherein registers provided in the second functional unit are allocated to the process data objects which are in the form of digital signals and are in binary format, and

wherein the digital signals stored in the corresponding registers are packed as binary signals into data blocks of eight bits each with no overhead for each data bit, stored in the first functional unit operating as a task gateway, and translated into corresponding messages which can be processed by the primary field bus protocol and can be transmitted, together with analog signals in integer format, to the superordinate control unit based on the primary field bus protocol.