公开(公告)号：US06973508B2

公开(公告)日：2005-12-06

申请号：US10074304

申请日：2002-02-12

申请人： Rusty Shepard ,  Ken Krivoshein ,  Dan Christensen ,  Gary Law ,  Kent Burr ,  Mark Nixon

发明人： Rusty Shepard ,  Ken Krivoshein ,  Dan Christensen ,  Gary Law ,  Kent Burr ,  Mark Nixon

IPC分类号： G05B19/05 ,  G05B19/042 ,  G06F13/00

CPC分类号： G05B19/042 ,  G05B2219/25014 ,  G05B2219/25252 ,  G05B2219/25428

摘要： A versatile controller that can be used as either a stand-alone controller in a relatively small process plant or as one of numerous controllers in a distributed process control system depending on the needs of the process plant includes a processor adapted to be programmed to execute one or more programming routines and a memory, such as a non-volatile memory, coupled to the processor and adapted to store the one or more programming routines to be executed on the processor. The versatile controller also includes a plurality of field device input/output ports communicatively connected to the processor, a configuration communication port connected to the processor and to the memory to enable the controller to be configured with the programming routines and a second communication port which enables a user interface to be intermittently connected to the controller to view information stored within the controller memory. When used in a distributed process control system, the controller platform may be used as a remote input/output device and the ports of this remote input/output device may be logically mapped to controllers within the distributed process control system in a manner that is different than the physical connection between such controllers and the remote input/output device.

摘要翻译： 可以在相对小的过程工厂中用作独立控制器的多功能控制器或者根据过程工厂的需要在分布式过程控制系统中的众多控制器之一，包括一个适于被编程为执行一个 或更多的编程例程和诸如非易失性存储器的存储器，其耦合到处理器并且适于存储要在处理器上执行的一个或多个编程例程。 通用控制器还包括通信地连接到处理器的多个现场设备输入/输出端口，连接到处理器的配置通信端口和存储器，以使得控制器能够配置有编程例程，并且第二通信端口使能 要间歇地连接到控制器以查看存储在控制器存储器内的信息的用户界面。 当在分布式过程控制系统中使用时，控制器平台可以用作远程输入/输出设备，并且该远程输入/输出设备的端口可以以不同的方式逻辑映射到分布式过程控制系统内的控制器 这些控制器和远程输入/输出设备之间的物理连接。

公开(公告)号：US20060064512A1

公开(公告)日：2006-03-23

申请号：US11272363

申请日：2005-11-10

申请人： Rusty Shepard ,  Ken Krivoshein ,  Dan Christensen ,  Gary Law ,  Kent Burr ,  Mark Nixon

发明人： Rusty Shepard ,  Ken Krivoshein ,  Dan Christensen ,  Gary Law ,  Kent Burr ,  Mark Nixon

IPC分类号： G06F3/00

CPC分类号： G05B19/042 ,  G05B2219/25014 ,  G05B2219/25252 ,  G05B2219/25428

摘要： A versatile controller that can be used as either a stand-alone controller in a relatively small process plant or as one of numerous controllers in a distributed process control system depending on the needs of the process plant includes a processor adapted to be programmed to execute one or more programming routines and a memory, such as a non-volatile memory, coupled to the processor and adapted to store the one or more programming routines to be executed on the processor. The versatile controller also includes a plurality of field device input/output ports communicatively connected to the processor, a configuration communication port connected to the processor and to the memory to enable the controller to be configured with the programming routines and a second communication port which enables a user interface to be intermittently connected to the controller to view information stored within the controller memory. When used in a distributed process control system, the controller platform may be used as a remote input/output device and the ports of this remote input/output device may be logically mapped to controllers within the distributed process control system in a manner that is different than the physical connection between such controllers and the remote input/output device.

摘要翻译： 可以在相对小的过程工厂中用作独立控制器的多功能控制器或者根据过程工厂的需要在分布式过程控制系统中的众多控制器之一，包括一个适于被编程为执行一个 或更多的编程例程和诸如非易失性存储器的存储器，其耦合到处理器并且适于存储要在处理器上执行的一个或多个编程例程。 通用控制器还包括通信地连接到处理器的多个现场设备输入/输出端口，连接到处理器的配置通信端口和存储器，以使得控制器能够配置有编程例程，并且第二通信端口使能 要间歇地连接到控制器以查看存储在控制器存储器内的信息的用户界面。 当在分布式过程控制系统中使用时，控制器平台可以用作远程输入/输出设备，并且该远程输入/输出设备的端口可以以不同的方式逻辑映射到分布式过程控制系统内的控制器 这些控制器和远程输入/输出设备之间的物理连接。

公开(公告)号：US07460865B2

公开(公告)日：2008-12-02

申请号：US10464087

申请日：2003-06-18

申请人： Mark Nixon ,  Tom Aneweer ,  Kent Burr ,  Ron Eddie

发明人： Mark Nixon ,  Tom Aneweer ,  Kent Burr ,  Ron Eddie

IPC分类号： H04Q7/20

CPC分类号： H04W40/24 ,  G05B2219/21079 ,  G05B2219/25061 ,  G05B2219/25101 ,  G05B2219/31121 ,  G05B2219/31123 ,  G05B2219/31151 ,  G05B2219/33192 ,  H04W8/20 ,  H04W76/14 ,  Y02P90/10 ,  Y02P90/18 ,  Y02P90/86

摘要： Disclosed herein are methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for configuring a communication network associated with a plurality of wireless enabled field devices. A disclosed example method of establishing a communication network for use in a process control system having a controller and a plurality of wireless enabled field devices involves identifying a plurality of wireless communication links available for routing communications between the wirless enabled field devices and the controller. Each of the wireless enabled field devices is at least one of a sensor or an actuator. The example method also involves automatically assigning at least first and second ones of the plurality of wireless communication links to a first one of the wireless enabled field devices based on at least one predetermined signal criterion. The first wireless communication link wirelessly communicatively couples the first wireless enabled field device to a second wireless device. In addition, the second wireless communication link wirelessly communicatively couples the second wireless device to the controller.

摘要翻译： 这里公开了用于配置与多个无线使能的现场设备相关联的通信网络的方法，装置和制品。 公开的建立用于具有控制器和多个无线使能现场设备的过程控制系统中的通信网络的示例性方法包括识别可用于在无启动现场设备和控制器之间路由通信的多个无线通信链路。 每个无线使能的现场设备是传感器或致动器中的至少一个。 该示例性方法还涉及基于至少一个预定信号标准自动地将多个无线通信链路中的至少第一和第二无线通信链路分配给无线使能现场设备中的第一无线通信链路。 第一无线通信链路将第一无线使能现场设备无线通信地耦合到第二无线设备。 此外，第二无线通信链路将第二无线设备无线通信地耦合到控制器。

公开(公告)号：US20050164684A1

公开(公告)日：2005-07-28

申请号：US11010016

申请日：2004-12-10

申请人： Deji Chen ,  Mark Nixon ,  Kent Burr ,  Neil Peterson

发明人： Deji Chen ,  Mark Nixon ,  Kent Burr ,  Neil Peterson

IPC分类号： H01Q1/24

CPC分类号： G05B19/4184 ,  G05B19/0423 ,  G05B2219/23406 ,  G05B2219/24012 ,  G05B2219/25297 ,  G05B2219/25428 ,  G05B2219/31121 ,  G05B2219/32014 ,  G05B2219/36159 ,  G06F1/163 ,  Y02P90/14 ,  Y02P90/18

摘要： A handheld communicator wirelessly interfaces or communicates with individual devices in a process control system, such as field devices, controllers, etc., to wirelessly perform monitoring, maintenance, configuration and control activities with respect to those devices. The wireless handheld communicator includes a housing adapted for handheld operation, a processing unit disposed within the housing, a computer readable memory disposed within the housing and coupled to the processing unit and a display, a keypad and a radio frequency transceiver. The handheld communicator may be adapted to communicate with a host system to receive information needed to communicate with various field devices in the process plant and may then be used to wirelessly communicate with each of the various field devices directly while in close proximity to the field devices to perform monitoring and configuration activities with respect to the field devices. Thereafter, information obtained from the field devices may be wirelessly communicated to the host system or to a repository, such as a data historian or a configuration database.

摘要翻译： 手持式通信器与诸如现场设备，控制器等的过程控制系统中的各个设备无线地接口或通信，以无线地执行关于这些设备的监视，维护，配置和控制活动。 无线手持通信器包括适于手持操作的外壳，设置在外壳内的处理单元，设置在外壳内并耦合到处理单元的计算机可读存储器，以及显示器，小键盘和射频收发器。 手持式通信器可以适于与主机系统进行通信，以接收与过程工厂中的各种现场设备进行通信所需的信息，然后可以用于与各种现场设备中的每一个直接通信，同时紧邻现场设备 对现场设备执行监控和配置活动。 此后，从现场设备获得的信息可以无线地传送到主机系统或存储库，诸如数据历史记录器或配置数据库。

公开(公告)号：US20050062677A1

公开(公告)日：2005-03-24

申请号：US10936978

申请日：2004-09-09

申请人： Mark Nixon ,  Vasiliki Tzovla ,  Andrew Dove ,  Kent Burr ,  Neil Peterson

发明人： Mark Nixon ,  Vasiliki Tzovla ,  Andrew Dove ,  Kent Burr ,  Neil Peterson

IPC分类号： G06F3/16 ,  G05B15/02 ,  G05B19/042 ,  G05B19/418 ,  G05B23/02 ,  G06F1/16 ,  G06F15/00 ,  G06F17/00 ,  G09G5/00 ,  G10L15/00 ,  G10L15/28

CPC分类号： G05B19/042 ,  G05B2219/23293 ,  G05B2219/23406 ,  G05B2219/23414 ,  G05B2219/25428 ,  G06F1/163

摘要： A portable computer for use in interfacing to a process control system having a host system includes a housing adapted for hand-held operation, a processing unit disposed within the housing and a computer readable memory disposed within the housing and coupled to the processing unit. The portable computer also includes a display, a keypad and a radio frequency transceiver adapted to communicate with the host system, all of which are disposed within the housing and communicatively coupled to the processing unit. A first software routine stored in the computer readable memory processes a user input received from the keypad and sends a command to the host system via the radio frequency transceiver. Additionally, a second software routine stored in the computer readable memory receives process information sent from the host system in response to the command and displays the received process information via the portable computer display.

摘要翻译： 用于与具有主机系统的过程控制系统接口的便携式计算机包括适于手持操作的壳体，设置在壳体内的处理单元和设置在壳体内并耦合到处理单元的计算机可读存储器。 便携式计算机还包括适于与主机系统通信的显示器，小键盘和射频收发器，所有这些都设置在壳体内并且通信地耦合到处理单元。 存储在计算机可读存储器中的第一软件程序处理从小键盘接收的用户输入，并通过射频收发器向主机系统发送命令。 此外，存储在计算机可读存储器中的第二软件程序响应于该命令接收从主机系统发送的处理信息，并且经由便携式计算机显示器显示所接收的处理信息。

公开(公告)号：US20080250162A1

公开(公告)日：2008-10-09

申请号：US12140571

申请日：2008-06-17

申请人： Mark Nixon ,  Tom Aneweer ,  Kent Burr ,  Ron Eddie

发明人： Mark Nixon ,  Tom Aneweer ,  Kent Burr ,  Ron Eddie

IPC分类号： G06F13/12

CPC分类号： H04W40/24 ,  G05B2219/21079 ,  G05B2219/25061 ,  G05B2219/25101 ,  G05B2219/31121 ,  G05B2219/31123 ,  G05B2219/31151 ,  G05B2219/33192 ,  H04W8/20 ,  H04W76/14 ,  Y02P90/10 ,  Y02P90/18 ,  Y02P90/86

摘要： Disclosed herein are methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for configuring a communication network associated with a plurality of wireless enabled field devices. The disclosed methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture may compare identification information associated with a wireless enabled field device to configuration database information. Configuration information associated with the wireless enabled field device may be retrieved based on the comparison of the identification information to the configuration database information. The retrieved configuration information is sent to the wireless enabled field device via at least one wireless communication link to configure the wireless enabled field device.

摘要翻译： 这里公开了用于配置与多个无线使能的现场设备相关联的通信网络的方法，装置和制品。 公开的方法，装置和制造商品可以将与无线使能的现场设备相关联的识别信息与配置数据库信息进行比较。 可以基于识别信息与配置数据库信息的比较来检索与无线使能的现场设备相关联的配置信息。 所检索的配置信息经由至少一个无线通信链路发送到无线使能的现场设备，以配置无线使能的现场设备。

公开(公告)号：US06898542B2

公开(公告)日：2005-05-24

申请号：US10404156

申请日：2003-04-01

申请人： Michael G. Ott ,  Gary Law ,  Dennis Stevenson ,  Riyaz Ali ,  Mark Nixon ,  Tim Forsythe

发明人： Michael G. Ott ,  Gary Law ,  Dennis Stevenson ,  Riyaz Ali ,  Mark Nixon ,  Tim Forsythe

IPC分类号： G01M19/00 ,  G05B9/02 ,  G05B15/02 ,  G05B19/048 ,  G05B23/00 ,  G05B23/02 ,  G06F11/27 ,  G06F15/00 ,  G06F19/00 ,  H04L12/26

CPC分类号： G05B23/0256 ,  G05B9/02 ,  G05B2219/24054 ,  G05B2219/33331

摘要： A process control or safety system within a process plant uses one or more testing blocks to effect the timely and safe operation of on-line testing routines within field devices, such as valves, used in the process control or safety system. These testing blocks, which are easy to implement and to place in the process control or safety system, enable the periodic or on-demand testing of field devices to be integrated into the normal and on-going operation of the process control or safety system without causing scheduling or connection problems and without the need to rely on maintenance or other personnel, thereby providing better monitoring of the operational status of the field devices used within the process control and safety systems. This functionality is especially important in safety systems, in which it is desirable to timely monitor or assess the operational status of the devices used to shut the process down when an unsafe condition arises, so as to assure that initiation of a shut down by the safety system actually results in a shut down of the system.

摘要翻译： 过程工厂内的过程控制或安全系统使用一个或多个测试块来实现在过程控制或安全系统中使用的现场设备（例如阀门）内的在线测试程序的及时和安全的操作。 这些易于实施和放置在过程控制或安全系统中的测试块使现场设备的定期或按需测试能够集成到过程控制或安全系统的正常和持续运行中，而无需 导致调度或连接问题，而不需要依赖维护或其他人员，从而更好地监控过程控制和安全系统中使用的现场设备的操作状态。 该功能在安全系统中尤为重要，在安全系统中，需要及时监控或评估在出现不安全状况时关闭过程的设备的运行状态，以确保通过安全性启动关闭 系统实际上导致系统关闭。

公开(公告)号：US09158295B2

公开(公告)日：2015-10-13

申请号：US13113044

申请日：2011-05-21

申请人： Terrence L. Blevins ,  Wilhelm K. Wojsznis ,  Christopher J. Worek ,  Mark Nixon

发明人： Terrence L. Blevins ,  Wilhelm K. Wojsznis ,  Christopher J. Worek ,  Mark Nixon

IPC分类号： G06G7/48 ,  G05B17/02

CPC分类号： G05B17/02 ,  G05B2219/31265 ,  G05B2219/32077

摘要： A process is modeled by resolving the process into a plurality of process stages, including at least a first process stage and a second process stage, and developing a plurality of models, each model corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of process stages, wherein the model corresponding to each process stage is developed using data from one or more runs of that process stage and output quality data relating to the one or more runs of that process stage and wherein the model corresponding to each process stage is adapted to produce an output quality prediction associated with that process stage, and wherein the output quality prediction produced by the model of a first one of the process stages is used to develop the model of a second one of the process stages.

摘要翻译： 通过将过程解析成多个处理阶段（包括至少第一处理阶段和第二处理阶段）以及开发多个模型来建模过程，每个模型对应于多个处理阶段中的相应一个，其中 使用来自该过程级的一个或多个运行的数据和与该过程阶段的一个或多个运行相关的输出质量数据来开发与每个过程阶段相对应的模型，并且其中与每个过程阶段对应的模型适于产生输出 与该处理阶段相关联的质量预测，并且其中由第一个进程阶段的模型产生的输出质量预测用于开发第二个进程阶段的模型。

公开(公告)号：US20120078896A1

公开(公告)日：2012-03-29

申请号：US12889060

申请日：2010-09-23

申请人： Mark Nixon ,  Eric Rotvold ,  Jeff Potter

发明人： Mark Nixon ,  Eric Rotvold ,  Jeff Potter

IPC分类号： G06F17/30

CPC分类号： G06F17/30943 ,  G05B19/042 ,  G05B2219/31166

摘要： Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture to provide a search service to users of a process control system are disclosed. An example system includes a search database to store a set of searchable items associated with a process control system and to store a search profile associated with a selected query result, a publisher to collect information associated with the searchable items from the process control system and to publish the collected information to the search database, and a searcher to receive a request including the search profile and a query of the searchable items in the database, to search the searchable items based on the query, and to return at least a portion of the collected information based on the search profile.

摘要翻译： 公开了向过程控制系统的用户提供搜索服务的系统，方法和制品。 示例系统包括搜索数据库，用于存储与过程控制系统相关联的一组可搜索项目并存储与所选择的查询结果相关联的搜索简档，发布者收集与来自过程控制系统的可搜索项目相关联的信息，以及 将所收集的信息发布到搜索数据库，以及搜索者，以接收包括搜索简档和数据库中的可搜索项目的查询的请求，以基于查询搜索可搜索项目，并返回至少一部分 根据搜索资料收集信息。

公开(公告)号：US20100318934A1

公开(公告)日：2010-12-16

申请号：US12538995

申请日：2009-08-11

申请人： Terrence Lynn Blevins ,  Wilhelm K. Wojsznis ,  Mark Nixon ,  Christopher Worek ,  Randolf Reiss ,  Paul Richard Muston

发明人： Terrence Lynn Blevins ,  Wilhelm K. Wojsznis ,  Mark Nixon ,  Christopher Worek ,  Randolf Reiss ,  Paul Richard Muston

IPC分类号： G06G7/66 ,  G06F17/00 ,  G06F3/048

CPC分类号： G05B13/048 ,  G05B19/41875 ,  G05B2219/32187 ,  G05B2219/32194 ,  Y02P90/22

摘要： Example methods and apparatus to predict process quality in a process control system are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving process control information relating to a process at a first time including a first value associated with a first measured variable and a second value associated with a second measured variable, determining if a variation based on the received process control information associated with the process exceeds a threshold, if the variation exceeds the threshold, calculating a first contribution value based on a contribution of the first measured variable to the variation and a second contribution value based on a contribution of the second measured variable to the variation, determining at least one corrective action based on the first contribution value, the second contribution value, the first value, or the second value, and calculating a predicted process quality based on the at least one corrective action at a time after the first time.

摘要翻译： 公开了用于预测过程控制系统中的过程质量的示例性方法和装置。 所公开的示例性方法包括接收与第一时间处理有关的过程控制信息，包括与第一测量变量相关联的第一值和与第二测量变量相关联的第二值，确定基于接收到的过程控制信息相关联的变化 如果所述过程超过阈值，则如果所述变化超过所述阈值，则基于所述第一测量变量对所述变化的贡献和基于所述第二测量变量对所述变化的贡献的第二贡献值来计算第一贡献值，确定 基于第一贡献值，第二贡献值，第一值或第二值的至少一个校正动作，以及基于在第一次之后的时间的至少一个校正动作来计算预测过程质量。