METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROL USING CONTROL DEVICES THAT PROVIDE A VIRTUAL MACHINE ENVIRONMENT AND THAT COMMUNICATE VIA AN IP NETWORK
The invention provides improved methods and apparatus for control using field and control devices that provide a virtual machine environment and that communicate via an IP network. By way of non-limiting example, such field device can be an “intelligent” transmitter or actuator that includes a low power processor, along with a random access memory, a read-only memory, FlashRAM, and a sensor interface. The processor can execute a real-time operating system, as well as a Java virtual machine (JVM). Java byte code executes in the JVM to configure the field device to perform typical process control functions, e.g., for proportional integral derivative (PID) control and signal conditioning. Control networks can include a plurality of such field and control devices interconnected by an IP network, such as an Ethernet.
1 - 228 . (canceled)
229 . A device for use in a control system, comprising:
a controller having a powered Ethernet connection and at least one communication connection,
the powered Ethernet connection adapted to provide power to the controller from a control network, and
the at least one communication connection adapted to provide for communication with at least one field device.
230 . The device of claim 229 , wherein the communication connection is a bus connection.
231 . The device of claim 230 , wherein the bus connection is adapted to provide for communication with a field device via a bus operating in substantial accord with a protocol selected from the group consisting of: Foundation Fieldbus, Foxcomm, Profibus, ControlNet, Modbus, Devicenet, HART, NodeBus, LonWorks.
232 . The device of claim 229 , wherein the communication connection is an Ethernet connection.
233 . The device of claim 229 , wherein the controller further comprises a processor adapted to execute a control algorithm to control the at least one field device.
234 . The device of claim 229 , further comprising a first I/O card comprising the powered Ethernet connection and a second I/O card comprising the at least one communication connection.
235 . The device of claim 229 , wherein the device is coupled for communication with a control device adapted to monitor and control aspects of a process.
236 . The device of claim 229 , wherein the device functions at the direction of a plant-level processor.
237 . The device of claim 229 , wherein the at least one communication connection provides power to the at least one field device.
238 . The device of claim 237 , wherein the at least one field device includes a sensing element and the device includes a pair of wires providing excitation to the sensing element.
239 . The device of claim 229 , wherein the field device obtains power via the at least one communication connection and via the powered Ethernet connection.
240 . The device of claim 229 , wherein the device is coupled for communication via one or more networks.
241 . The device of claim 240 , wherein the device further comprises a device integrator adapted to provide communication between a plurality of the one or more networks.
242 . The device of claim 240 , wherein the controller is coupled for communication with one or more control devices disposed on the one or more networks and adapted to monitor and control aspects of a process.
243 . The device of claim 229 , further comprising one or more networked I/O modules for providing interoperability between control systems.
244 . The device of claim 229 , wherein the at least one communication connection comprises at least two communication connections operating according to different protocols from one another.
245 . A system for monitoring and controlling a process, comprising:
a field device;
a control device; and
a networked device coupled for communication with the control device via a powered Ethernet connection and coupled for communication with the field device via at least one communication connection,
wherein the field device receives power via the communication connection and the networked device receives power via the powered Ethernet connection.
246 . The system of claim 245 , wherein the control device is selected from the group consisting of: workstation, enterprise server, plant server, controller, personal computer, handheld computer, and integrator.
247 . The system of claim 245 , wherein the networked device comprises a controller adapted to communicate with the control device and the field device.
248 . The system of claim 245 , further comprising a powered Ethernet hub coupled between the control device and the networked device and adapted to provide power to the networked device.
249 . A device for a process control system, comprising:
a powered Ethernet connection adapted to provide power to the device and a communication connection adapted to provide for communication with a field device via a communication link that provides power to the field device.
250 . The device of claim 249 , wherein the device further includes a first network I/O card for providing the powered Ethernet connection and a second network I/O card for providing the communication connection.
251 . The device of claim 249 , wherein the device further comprises:
a processor for implementing station management software and for communicating with a control device adapted to monitor and control aspects of a process and a field device; and
a memory for storing data.