US 10,447,078 B2 · Smart function block for integration of PLCS into a control system and methods for the same

Abstract

A method for configuring a process control system includes coupling an I/O module to a PLC coupled to field devices. For each field device, the PLC has registers storing data of values associated with the field device. The PLC is configured such that each field device is associated with a PLC control tag, and each control tag is associated with tag parameters corresponding to the registers for the field device. The method includes configuring the I/O module to associate the tag parameters with corresponding controller parameters such that, for each control tag, there is a set of controller parameters associated with the tag parameters for the control tag. The method includes instantiating an integration object and associating the integration object with one of the control tags. The integration object configures itself, according to the set of controller parameters that is associated with the tag parameters for the control tag, as an analog input function block, a discrete input function block, an analog output function block, or a discrete output function block.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A method for configuring a process control system for controlling a process in a process plant, the method comprising:

communicatively coupling an input/output (I/O) module to a programmable logic controller (PLC) that is, in turn, communicatively coupled to a plurality of field devices, the PLC having, for each of the plurality of field devices, one or more registers storing data of values associated with the respective field device, the PLC configured such that each of the plurality of field devices is associated with a PLC control tag, and each PLC control tag is associated with one or more tag parameters corresponding to the one or more registers for the respective field device;
configuring the I/O module to associate the tag parameters with corresponding parameters of a controller such that, for each of the PLC control tags, there is a set of parameters of the controller that is associated with the tag parameters for the PLC control tag;
instantiating an integration function block object;
and
associating the integration function block object with a one of the PLC control tags,
wherein the integration function block automatically configures itself, according to the set of parameters of the controller that is associated with the tag parameters for the PLC control tag, as one of the group consisting of:
an analog input function block, a discrete input function block, an analog output function block, a discrete output function block, and a custom input or output function block.

4 more elements

A system for controlling a process in a process plant, the system comprising:

a plurality of field devices operating to process materials in the process plant;
a controller programmed to send signals to and receive signals from the plurality of field devices, to effect control of the process in the process plant;
an input/output (I/O) module disposed between the controller and the plurality of field devices and operating to communicate the signals to the plurality of field devices from the controller and to communicate the signals from the plurality of field devices to the controller;
a programmable logic controller (PLC) disposed between a subset of the plurality of field devices and the I/O module, the PLC operating to control to the subset of the plurality of field devices and having a plurality of registers associated with each of the subset of the plurality of field devices;
and
an integration function block instantiated in the controller, the integration function block operable, during configuration, to:
receive an assignment of a set of the registers of the PLC device, the set of the registers of the PLC device corresponding to PLC parameters of a one of the subset of the plurality of devices, each register corresponding to a parameter of the one of the subset of the plurality of devices;
create an association between the PLC parameter for each register in the set of registers and a corresponding parameter of the controller.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Smart function block for integration of PLCS into a control system and methods for the same

Life of this patent

Smart function block for integration of PLCS into a control system and methods for the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23