Integrated bus controller and power supply device for use in a process control system

A communication network interface device for use in interfacing between a first network bus of a first input/output communication network and a second network bus of a second communication network, comprising:

• a housing;
• a bus controller disposed in the housing for providing bus based communication signals over a first network bus capable of simultaneously carrying the bus based communication signals and a power signal, the bus controller including:
• a first controller input/output line for connection to the first network bus to provide the bus based communication signals over the first network bus, and
• a second controller input/output line for connection to a second network bus, wherein the bus controller operates as an interface device between the first network bus and the second network bus;
• a bus power supply disposed in the housing, the bus power supply producing the power signal for providing power via the first network bus to multiple devices that are connected to the first network bus and located external to the housing;
• a first physical network interface disposed through the housing, the first physical network interface providing an electrical connection between the first bus controller input/output line and the first network bus;
• and
• a second physical network interface disposed through the housing, the second physical network interface providing an electrical connection between the second bus controller input/output line and the second network bus.

A communication network control system for use in providing communication signals and a power signal on a bus of a communication network, comprising:

• a terminal block including one or more inputs and including an output for connection to a bus, of a communication network, that is capable of simultaneously transmitting power and facilitating communication;
• a first bus controller device including:
• a first housing;
• a first bus controller disposed in the first housing, the first bus controller including a first controller input/output line for connection to one of the inputs of the terminal block to provide bus based communication signals to the bus via the terminal block;
• and
• a first bus power supply disposed in the first housing, the first bus power supply (i) producing a first power signal for providing power via the bus to multiple devices that are connected to the bus and located external to the first housing and (ii) including a first bus power supply output for connection to one of the inputs of the terminal block to provide the first power signal to the bus via the terminal block;
• and
• a second bus controller device including:
• a second housing;
• a second bus controller disposed in the second housing, the second bus controller including a second controller input/output line for connection to one of the inputs of the terminal block to provide bus based communication signals to the bus via the terminal block;
• and
• a second bus power supply disposed in the second housing, the second bus power supply (i) producing a second power signal for providing power via the bus to multiple devices that are connected to the bus and located external to the second housing and (ii) including a second bus power supply output for connection to one of the inputs of the terminal block to provide the second power signal to the bus via the terminal block;
• wherein the terminal block electrically couples the first controller input/output line and the second controller input/output line to the bus and electrically couples the first bus power supply output and the second bus power supply output to the bus.