Flexible function blocks
AssigneeFieldbus Foundation
InventorsDavid Glanzer, Stephen Mitschke, William Hawkins, Michael von Le Suire, Sergio Tateishi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A new and improved control system architecture using a combination of standard function blocks and new flexible function blocks eliminates the need for expensive and difficult to maintain custom control software and special I/O gateways for discrete/hybrid/batch and PLC applications. The end user builds application-specific flexible function blocks by configuring the number and type of inputs and outputs, and the block algorithm. Flexible function blocks and gateway flexible function block interconnect and interoperate with each other and with standard function blocks in a distributed control architecture.
Claims26
1-28. (canceled)
An apparatus for operating in a block-oriented open control system comprising:
- a memory, which includes system management data and a flexible function block;
- wherein the system management data includes a system schedule;
- wherein the flexible function block includes end-user configured parameters and an end-user configured algorithm;
- a gateway mapping communications to the flexible function block;
- a processor, operably connected to the memory, wherein the processor executes the flexible function block based on the system schedule;
- and
- a medium attachment unit, which translates input messages and output messages between the processor and a transmission medium.
A system for permitting interoperability between devices in a block-oriented open control system comprising:
- a plurality of devices, at least one device including a resource block and a flexible function block;
- wherein the flexible function block includes end-user configured parameters and an end-user configured algorithm;
- wherein the resource blocks uniquely identify each device and the flexible function block processes parameters to produce an output message;
- a gateway mapping communications to the flexible function block;
- and
- a medium attachment unit, operably connected to the flexible function block,
- wherein the medium attachment unit translates an input message from a transmission medium to the flexible function block and the output message from the flexible function block to the transmission medium.
A memory for storing data for access by an application framework operating in a device within a block-oriented open control system, the memory comprising:
- a data structure stored in the memory, the data structure including:
- a resource block, which makes hardware specific characteristics of the device electronically readable;
- and
- a gateway function block including an end-user configured program and input and output parameters, the gateway function block operable to map communications to the block-oriented open control system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.