IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,684,875
Granted Patent B2
US 7,684,875 · App. 11/670,835 · Granted Mar 23, 2010

Methods and apparatus to configure process control system inputs and outputs

Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,684,875
App. No.
11/670,835
Granted
Mar 23, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus to configure process control system inputs and outputs are disclosed. A disclosed example method comprises obtaining a tag of a process control device from the input/output device, and associating the process control device with a process control module based on the obtained tag.

Claims (96)

1. A method comprising:

communicatively coupling a process control device to a channel of a multi-channel input/output port of a process controller via an input/output device;

obtaining a tag for the process control device from the input/output device;

querying based on the tag obtained from the input/output device a database of process control routines implemented by the process controller to identify a process control routine, the process control routine to control the process control device within a process plant;

communicatively coupling the identified process control routine to the channel of the multi-channel input/output port based on the database query; and

using a module class object to implement the process control routine.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the input/output device comprises an input/output slice, and the process control device comprises a field device.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising configuring the input/output device with the tag of the process control device.

4. A method as defined in claim 3 , wherein configuring the input/output device with the tag of the process control device comprises:

wiring the process control device to the input/output device; and

programming the process control device with the tag, wherein the input/output device obtains the tag from the process control device.

5. A method as defined in claim 3 , wherein configuring the input/output device with the tag of the process control device comprises:

wiring the process control device to the input/output device; and

programming the input/output device with the tag.

6. A method as defined in claim 5 , wherein the input/output device is programmed with the tag by an installer of the process control device.

7. A method comprising:

communicatively coupling a process control device to a channel of a multi-channel input/output port of a process controller via an input/output device;

obtaining a tag for the process control device from the input/output device;

querying based on the tag obtained from the input/output device a database of process control routines implemented by the process controller to identify a process control routine, the process control routine to control the process control device within a process plant;

communicatively coupling the identified process control routine to the channel of the multi-channel input/output port based on the database query;

configuring the process control routine with a second tag for the process control device;

comparing the tag obtained from the input/output device to the second tag; and

communicatively coupling the process control routine to the channel of the multi-channel input/output port when the obtained tag matches the second tag.

8. A method comprising:

communicatively coupling a process control device to a channel of a multi-channel input/output port of a process controller via an input/output device;

obtaining a tag for the process control device from the input/output device, wherein obtaining the tag for the process control device from the input/output device comprises directing an input/output gateway to sense whether the input/output device is present, the input/output gateway to read the tag from the input/output device when the input/output device is present;

querying based on the tag obtained from the input/output device a database of process control routines implemented by the process controller to identify a process control routine, the process control routine to control the process control device within a process plant; and

communicatively coupling the identified process control routine to the channel of the multi-channel input/output port based on the database query.

9. A method comprising:

communicatively coupling a process control device to a channel of a multi-channel input/output port of a process controller via an input/output device;

obtaining a tag for the process control device from the input/output device;

querying based on the tag obtained from the input/output device a database of process control routines implemented by the process controller to identify a process control routine, the process control routine to control the process control device within a process plant; and

communicatively coupling the identified process control routine to the channel of the multi-channel input/output port based on the database query, wherein communicatively coupling the identified process control routine to the channel of the multi-channel input/output port comprises:

comparing a channel identifier associated with the tag obtained from the input/output device to a second channel identifier configured for the identified process control routine; and

providing an error indicator when the channel identifier and the second channel identifier do not match.

10. An article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to:

obtain a tag of a process control device from an input/output device, the input/output device to communicatively couple the process control device to a channel of a multi-channel input/output port of a process controller;

query based on the tag obtained from the input/output device a database of process control routines implemented by the process controller to identify a process control routine, the process control routine to control the process control device within a process plant;

communicatively couple the process control routine to the channel of the multi-channel input/output port based on the database query; and

use a module class object to implement the process control routine.

11. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 10 , wherein the input/output device comprises an input/output slice, and the process control device comprises a field device.

12. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 10 , wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to configure the input/output device with the tag of the process control device.

13. An article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to:

obtain a tag of a process control device from an input/output device, the input/output device to communicatively couple the process control device to a channel of a multi-channel input/output port of a process controller;

query based on the tag obtained from the input/output device a database of process control routines implemented by the process controller to identify a process control routine, the process control routine to control the process control device within a process plant;

communicatively couple the process control routine to the channel of the multi-channel input/output port based on the database query;

configure the process control routine with a second tag for the process control device;

compare the tag obtained from the input/output device to the second tag; and

communicatively couple the process control routine to the channel of the multi-channel input/output port when the obtained tag matches the second tag.

14. An article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to:

obtain a tag of a process control device from an input/output device, the input/output device to communicatively couple the process control device to a channel of a multi-channel input/output port of a process controller;

query based on the tag obtained from the input/output device a database of process control routines implemented by the process controller to identify a process control routine, the process control routine to control the process control device within a process plant;

communicatively couple the process control routine to the channel of the multi-channel input/output port based on the database query; and

obtain the tag for the process control device from the input/output device by directing an input/output gateway to sense whether the input/output device is present, the input/output gateway to read the tag from the input/output device when the input/output device is present.

15. An article of manufacture the storing machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to:

obtain a tag of a process control device from an input/output device, the input/output device to communicatively couple the process control device to a channel of a multi-channel input/output port of a process controller;

query based on the tag obtained from the input/output device a database of process control routines implemented by the process controller to identify a process control routine, the process control routine to control the process control device within a process plant;

communicatively couple the process control routine to the channel of the multi-channel input/output port based on the database query; and

communicatively couple the process control routine to the channel of the multi-channel input/output port by:

comparing a channel identifier associated with the tag obtained from the input/output device a second channel identifier configured for the identified process control routine; and

providing an error indicator when the channel identifier and the second channel identifier do not match.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory and programmed to:

obtain a tag of a process control device from an input/output device, the input/output device to communicatively couple the process control device to a channel of a multi-channel input/output port of a process controller, wherein a configuration associates the tag with an input/output port;

query based on the tag obtained from the input/output device a database of process control routines implemented by the process controller to identify a process control routine, the process control routine to control the process control device within a process plant;

communicatively couple the process control routine to the channel of the multi-channel input/output port based on the database query; and

provide an error indicator when the input/output port does not correspond to a second input/output port to which the input/output device is connected.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 , wherein the apparatus comprises an input/output gateway of a process control system.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 , wherein the input/output device is located in a marshalling cabinet for a process control system.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 , wherein the input/output device is implemented by an input/output slice.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 , wherein the processor is programmed to configure the input/output device with the tag of the process control device.

21. An apparatus to comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory and programmed to:

obtain a tag of a process control device from an input/output device, the input/output device to communicatively couple the process control device to a channel of a multi-channel input/output port of a process controller;

query based on the tag obtained from the input/output device a database of process control routines implemented by the process controller to identify a process control routine, the process control routine to control the process control device within a process plant;

communicatively couple the process control routine to the channel of the multi-channel input/output port based on the database query;

configure the process control routine with a second tag for the process control device;

compare the tag obtained from the input/output device to the second tag; and

communicatively couple the process control routine to the channel of the multi-channel input/output port when the obtained tag matches the second tag.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory and programmed to:

obtain a tag of a process control device from an input/output device, the input/output device to communicatively couple the process control device to a channel of a multi-channel input/output port of a process controller;

query based on the tag obtained from the input/output device a database of process control routines implemented by the process controller to identify a process control routine, the process control routine to control the process control device within a process plant;

communicatively couple the process control routine to the channel of the multi-channel input/output port based on the database query; and

obtain the tag of the process control device from the input/output device by directing an input/output gateway to sense whether the input/output device is present, the input/output gateway to read the tag from the input/output device when the input/output device is present.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory and programmed to:

obtain a tag of a process control device from an input/output device, the input/output device to communicatively couple the process control device to a channel of a multi-channel input/output port of a process controller;

query based on the tag obtained from the input/output device a database of process control routines implemented by the process controller to identify a process control routine, the process control routine to control the process control device within a process plant;

communicatively couple the process control routine to the channel of the multi-channel input/output port based on the database query;

compare a channel identifier associated with the tag obtained from the input/output device to a second channel identifier configured for the identified process control routine; and

provide an error indicator when the channel identifier and the second channel identifier do not match.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2007
From: JUNDT, LARRY OSCAR; BURR, KENT ALLAN; LAW, GARY KEITH; IRWIN, WILLIAM GEORGE; LEWIS, MARTY JAMES; OTT, MICHAEL GEORGE; HAVEKOST, ROBERT BURKE
To: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018896/0410 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080189441A1 · Aug 7, 2008