Apparatus and method for wireless process control

• US 20070156253A1
• Filed: 01/03/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Telemetry Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Industrial Telemetry Incorporated
• Inventors: De Silvio, Louis
• Granted Patent: US 7,424,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/6
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/056 Programming the PLC
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/15117 Radio link, wireless

Abstract

An apparatus includes a programmable logic controller capable of receiving input data from and/or providing output data to at least one device in a process control system. The programmable logic controller is also capable of executing compiled code. The apparatus also includes a memory capable of storing source code corresponding to the compiled code. In addition, the apparatus includes a processor capable of storing the source code in the memory. The apparatus may further include a wireless radio capable of communicating over a wireless network. In particular embodiments, the programmable logic controller and the processor may form a single functional unit. In other embodiments, the processor and memory may operate in place of the programmable logic controller.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a programmable logic controller capable of at least one of;

receiving input data from and providing output data to at least one device in a process control system, the programmable logic controller also capable of executing compiled code;

a memory capable of storing source code corresponding to the compiled code; and

a processor capable of storing the source code in the memory.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless radio capable of communicating over a wireless network.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is further capable of:

retrieving the source code from the memory; and

providing the source code to the wireless radio for transmission over the wireless network.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is further capable of:

receiving a poll for information about the source code stored in the memory; and

providing the information to the wireless radio for transmission over the wireless network.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is further capable of:

identifying a destination associated with the input data using a mapping, the mapping associated with an input used to receive the input data; and

providing the input data to the wireless radio for transmission to the destination via the wireless network.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is further capable of:

receiving second input data from the wireless radio, the second input data received over the wireless network; and

at least one of;

providing the second input data to the programmable logic controller, the programmable logic controller capable of generating the output data based on the second input data, the output data for controlling one or more of the at least one device; and

generating second output data based on the second input data, the second output data for controlling one or more of the at least one device.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wireless radio comprises a wireless peer-to-peer, multipoint-to-multipoint radio capable of communicating over a wireless mesh network.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the programmable logic controller and the processor form a single functional unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the processor is coupled to a plurality of analog outputs and is capable of generating a plurality of analog output signals;

the programmable logic controller is coupled to a plurality of analog inputs and is capable of receiving a plurality of analog input signals; and

the programmable logic controller is coupled to a plurality of digital inputs/outputs and is capable of at least one of;

generating one or more digital output signals and receiving one or more digital input signals.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one device in the process control system comprises one or more of:

a sensor capable of measuring one or more characteristics in the process control system;

an actuator capable of initiating one or more physical actions in the process control system; and

a processing element capable of performing one or more physical actions in the process control system.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the programmable logic controller comprises a single chip;

the memory comprises a Flash memory; and

the processor comprises a microcontroller.

12. A method, comprising:

executing compiled code at a programmable logic controller, the programmable logic controller forming part of or coupled to a first controller in a process control system;

storing source code corresponding to the compiled code in a memory of the first controller; and

wirelessly communicating with a second controller over a wireless network, the controllers capable of controlling at least one device in the process control system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein storing the source code comprises providing the source code to a processor in the first controller, the processor capable of storing the source code in the memory.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

retrieving the source code from the memory; and

wirelessly communicating the source code over the wireless network.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a poll for information about the source code stored in the memory; and

wirelessly communicating the information over the wireless network.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein wirelessly communicating with the second controller comprises:

receiving input data through an input of the first controller;

identifying a destination associated with the input data using a mapping, the mapping associated with the input of the first controller and a radio and an input or output of the second controller; and

addressing data packets containing the input data with an address associated with the identified destination.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein wirelessly communicating with the second controller comprises:

receiving input data from the second controller; and

generating output data based on the input data, the output data for controlling one or more of the at least one device.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein wirelessly communicating with the second controller comprises using a wireless peer-to-peer, multipoint-to-multipoint radio capable of communicating over a wireless mesh network.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one device in the process control system comprises one or more of:

a sensor capable of measuring one or more characteristics in the process control system;

an actuator capable of initiating one or more physical actions in the process control system; and

a processing element capable of performing one or more physical actions in the process control system.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the programmable logic controller forms part of a processor in the first controller.

21. A system, comprising:

a plurality of devices capable of one or more of;

measuring one or more characteristics in the system, initiating one or more physical actions in the system, and performing one or more physical actions in the system; and

a plurality of controllers coupled to the plurality of devices, each of at least one of the controllers comprising;

a programmable logic controller capable of at least one of;

receiving input data from and providing output data to at least one of the devices, the programmable logic controller also capable of executing compiled code;

a memory capable of storing source code corresponding to the compiled code;

a processor capable of storing the source code in the memory; and

a wireless radio capable of communicating with at least one other of the controllers over a wireless network.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a workstation capable of at least one of:

polling one or more of the controllers to identify the source code stored in the memory of the one or more controllers; and

retrieving the source code stored in the memory of one or more of the controllers.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the workstation is further capable of:

allowing a user to alter mappings between inputs and outputs of the controllers.

24. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor capable of at least one of;

receiving input data from and providing output data to at least one device in a process control system, the processor also capable of executing compiled code; and

a memory capable of storing source code corresponding to the compiled code;

wherein the processor is further capable of storing the source code in the memory.