Apparatus for providing non-redundant secondary access to field devices in a distributed control system

Abstract

An apparatus for accessing field devices in a distributed control system provides non-redundant secondary access to a plurality of field devices that are controlled by a control room. The field devices are coupled to a Fieldbus control network. In a first embodiment, each field device is provided with a wireless Fieldbus port that is accessible by a wireless handheld unit or wireless terminal. In a second embodiment, each Fieldbus control network is provided with a field module having a wireless Fieldbus port that allows all devices connected to the Fieldbus control network to be accessed by a wireless handheld unit or a wireless terminal. In a third embodiment, an H2-to-H1 Fieldbus bridge (which may service a plurality of H1 control networks) is provided with a wireless Fieldbus port that allows all Fieldbus devices connected to H1 control networks serviced by the H2-to-H1 bridge to be access by a wireless handheld unit of a wireless terminal. In a fourth embodiment, a bridge/converter provides an interface between older analog control room components and newer Fieldbus field devices. In one configuration, the bridge/converter includes a hard-wired Fieldbus port connected to a terminal, which may be in the control room. In another configuration, the bridge/converter includes a wireless Fieldbus port that allows a wireless handheld unit or a wireless terminal to access the Fieldbus devices serviced by the bridge/converter. The present invention allows a maintenance person to access Fieldbus field devices while servicing a device in the field, and allows secondary functions of field devices (which vary by manufacturer) to be accessed from a single remote unit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.