Field bus system
AssigneeYamatake Corporation
InventorNaoki FURUSAWA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A controller is provided with a first memory area and a second memory area, where a pre-update software is stored with the first memory area as the active area and an updated software is downloaded with the second memory area as an inactive memory area. A microprocessor for simulations performs a simulation of the control of the operation of a Held device using the updated software that has been downloaded. The execution status of the simulation can be monitored using a host computer. If the evaluation result of the state of execution of the simulation by an operator is “Pass,” then an activate command is sent to the controller. As a result, the active/inactive are switched in the controller.
Claims6
A field bus system for downloading, from a host computer to a controller, software for controlling the operation of a field device, comprising a host computer, a controller that is connected through a communication line to the host computer, and a field device controlled by the controller, wherein the controller comprises:
- first and second memory areas provided as memory areas for software installation;
- an active/inactive switch receiving an activate command from the host computer to switch either the first or the second memory area to be an active memory area and to switch the other to be an inactive memory area;
- a field device operation controller controlling the operation of the field device using the software that is stored in the active memory area;
- a downloading device downloading, to the inactive memory area, updated software sent from the host computer;
- and
- a simulator simulating the control of operation of the field device using the updated software that is downloaded into the inactive memory area;
- and wherein the host computer comprises:
- an updated software sender sending updated software to the controller;
- a monitor monitoring the state of execution of the simulation using the updated software in the controller;
- and
- an activate command sender sending an activate command to the controller.
A field bus system for downloading software from a host computer to a field device, comprising a host computer, a controller that is connected through a communication line to the host computer, and a field device controlled by the controller, wherein the controller comprises:
- first and second memory areas provided as memory areas for software installation;
- an active/inactive switch receiving an activate command from the host computer to switch either the first or the second memory area to be an active memory area and to switch the other to be an inactive memory area;
- a field device operator operating the field device using the software that is stored in the active memory area;
- a downloading device downloading, to the inactive memory area, updated software sent from the host computer;
- and simulator simulating the operation of the field device using the updated software that is downloaded into the inactive memory area;
- and wherein the host computer comprises:
- an updated software sender sending updated software to the field device;
- a monitor monitoring the state of execution of the simulation using the updated software in the field device;
- and
- an activate command sender sending an activate command to the field device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.