Transducers with electronic data sheets that enable transducer access using multiple types of transducer object models

A transducer for a distributed control system, comprising:

• electronic data sheet that stores a set of object information corresponding to each of a set of object models for representing the transducer wherein each object model is characterized by a corresponding set of methods for accessing the transducer;
• such that the object information enables a component node to translate between a particular one of the object models and a standard interface to the transducer during an access of the transducer that uses the methods of the particular one of the object models.

A component node for a distributed control system, comprising:

• network interface that enables communication via a network having an object model for representing a transducer wherein the object model is characterized by a set of methods for accessing the transducer;
• standard interface that enables communication with the transducer;
• processor that reads a set of object information corresponding to the object model from the transducer and translates between the object model and the standard interface during an access of the transducer that uses the methods.