Interface Device for Connecting Process Controllers to OPC UA Peer Devices
AssigneeABB Schweiz AG
InventorsRoland Braun, Mario Hoernicke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for connecting a process controller to one or more peer devices includes providing a process controller interface for bidirectional communication; using a peer device interface for bidirectional OPC UA communication with the peer devices; and providing a logic unit that determines one or more to-be-performed actions from the one or more inputs according to a predetermined logic; determines, according to the predetermined logic, one or more outputs which, when supplied to the process controller, and/or to the peer devices, cause the to-be-performed actions to be performed; and supply these outputs to the process controller, and/or to the one or more peer devices.
Claims20
An interface device for connecting at least one process controller to one or more peer devices, comprising:
- a process controller interface for bidirectional communication with the process controller;
- a peer device interface for bidirectional OPC UA communication with the peer devices;
- and
- a logic unit that is configured to, in response to one or more inputs from the process controller, and/or from the one or more peer devices, meeting one or more predetermined conditions:
- determine one or more to-be-performed actions from the one or more inputs according to a predetermined logic;
- determine, according to the predetermined logic, one or more outputs which, when supplied to the process controller, and/or to the peer devices, cause the to-be-performed actions to be performed;
- and
- supply these outputs to the process controller, and/or to the one or more peer devices.
A method for connecting at least one process controller to one or more peer devices using an interface device, the method comprising:
- providing a process controller interface for bidirectional communication with the process controller;
- providing a peer device interface for bidirectional OPC UA communication with the peer devices;
- and
- providing a logic unit that is configured to, in response to one or more inputs from the process controller, and/or from the one or more peer devices, meeting one or more predetermined conditions:
- determine one or more to-be-performed actions from the one or more inputs according to a predetermined logic;
- determine, according to the predetermined logic, one or more outputs which, when supplied to the process controller, and/or to the peer devices, cause the to-be-performed actions to be performed;
- and
- supply these outputs to the process controller, and/or to the one or more peer devices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.