Process control arrangement for a plant of process and/or automation technology connecting a superordinate communication plane with fieldbus systems

• US 9,651,942 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2010
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endress+Hauser Process Solutions AG
• Original Assignee: Endress+Hauser Process Solutions AG
• Inventors: Reinkensmeier, Jorg, Kolblin, Robert, Maneval, Michael, Poschmann, Axel, Da Silva Neto, Eugenio Ferreira
• Primary Examiner(s): Snyder, Steven
• Application Number:
  US13/503,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20120233370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,413 Days
• Field of Search: 710105, 709231
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41855 by local area network [LAN], network structure
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25012 Two different bus systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25021 Profibus
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25142 Lan between host and main controller, other network between main and sub controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25174 Ethernet
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31121 Fielddevice, field controller, interface connected to fieldbus
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31122 Bridge between networks
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31124 Interface between communication network and process control, store, exchange data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31135 Fieldbus
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33226 Daisy chain
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/14 Handling requests for interconnection or transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/362 with centralised access control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40208 characterized by the use of a particular bus standard
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40221 Profibus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4026 Bus for use in automation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A process control arrangement (PKA), having a number of fieldbus systems (DP1, PA1, FH), especially different fieldbus systems (DP1, PA1, FH), and having a number of fieldbus interfaces (PAP1, PAP2, PAP3), wherein each of the fieldbus systems (DP1, PA1, FH) is connected to at least one of the fieldbus interfaces (PAP1, PAP2, PAP3), wherein the fieldbus interfaces (PAP1, PAP2, PAP3) serve for communication between the fieldbus systems (DP1, PA1, FH) and a communication plane (ET2) superordinated to the fieldbus systems, only a first of the fieldbus interfaces (PAP1) is directly connected to the superordinated communication plane (ET2), and wherein the fieldbus interfaces (PAP1, PAP2, PAP3) are connected in series with one another beginning with the first of the fieldbus interfaces (PAP1).

Claims

1. A process control arrangement for a plant of process and/or automation technology, having:

a superordinated communication plane;

a number of fieldbus systems; and

a number of fieldbus interfaces serving as plant access points (PAPs), wherein;

said fieldbus interfaces form a wired discrete Local Area Network (LAN), in which said fieldbus interfaces are connected with one another in series and said fieldbus interfaces network is a self-configuring network,

each of said fieldbus systems is connected to at least one of said fieldbus interfaces;

each of said fieldbus interfaces serve for communication between said fieldbus systems and the superordinated communication plane;

only a first of said fieldbus interfaces is directly connected to said superordinated communication plane;

said fieldbus interfaces are connected in series with one another beginning with the first of said fieldbus interfaces; and

the superordinated communication plane only issues an address to the first of said fieldbus interfaces in order to communicate with the number of fieldbus systems through the first of said fieldbus interfaces.

2. The process control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the first of said fieldbus interfaces is connected to a second of said fieldbus interfaces in series; and

the second of said fieldbus interfaces is connected in series to the first of said fieldbus interfaces, directly connected after the first of said fieldbus interfaces.

3. The process control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

each fieldbus interface following a preceding fieldbus interface is connected in series, directly connected, to the preceding fieldbus interface.

4. The process control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said fieldbus interfaces are topologically considered arranged along a line.

5. The process control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

at least two of said fieldbus systems are reciprocally line redundant fieldbus systems.

6. The process control arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said reciprocally line redundant fieldbus systems are a primary fieldbus system and a secondary fieldbus system;

communication between participants of said reciprocally line redundant fieldbus systems occurs by means of the primary fieldbus system, in a disturbance free normal operation; and

in a case, in which communication between the participants occurs by means of the secondary fieldbus system, said superordinated communication plane accesses, especially automatically accesses, one of the participants of said redundant fieldbus system via the fieldbus interface associated with the secondary fieldbus system.

7. The process control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

a signal intended for one of said fieldbus systems and sent from a participant of said superordinated communication plane is transmittable, at least sectionally, via the serially connected fieldbus interfaces.

8. The process control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

a process image of said fieldbus systems connected to said fieldbus interfaces is at least partially stored in at least one of said fieldbus interfaces; and

the process image contains data of the participants of said fieldbus systems.

9. The process control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said fieldbus interfaces has;

a first connection, which serves to connect said fieldbus interfaces either with said superordinated communication plane or a preceding fieldbus interface;

a second connection, which serves to connect said fieldbus interface to said fieldbus system; and

a third connection, which serves to connect said fieldbus interface to an additional fieldbus interface of equal construction.

10. The process control arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

at least said first of said fieldbus interfaces has an electrical and/or electronic unit, which serves to produce a signal tappable via said third connection; and

the produced signal corresponds to a signal received via said first connection or represents such a received signal.

11. The process control arrangement as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said first connection serves as input and said third connection serves as output for signals transmitted from said superordinated communication plane to said fieldbus system.