Process controller having multi-channel serial communications link
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsMichael D. Carney, Francis J. Crowe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process controller includes a central processing unit (CPU) and a multi-channel serial communication interface including a plurality of serial communication engines in parallel to one another coupled to the CPU. The multi-channel serial communication interface provides a plurality of independent serial communication channels between the CPU and a plurality of IO modules. The plurality of independent communication channels enable the CPU to simultaneously receive signals at any time from any combination of the plurality of IO modules.
Claims14
A process controller, comprising:
- a plurality of IO modules which each include a serial peripheral interface (SPI) port for communicating with a central processing unit (CPU) which controls a physical process that generates a tangible product, a memory and a microprocessor or microcontroller and an interface for communicating with field devices including receiving signals transmitted by said field devices and sending control signals to said field devices for controlling said field devices;
- a multi-channel serial communication interface comprising a plurality of serial communication engines in parallel to one another between said plurality of IO modules and said CPU providing a plurality of independent serial communication channels (serial communication channels) that are dedicated for respective ones of said plurality of IO modules;
- wherein said multi-channel serial communication interface is coupled to said CPU by a bus providing a plurality of separate (independent) communication paths;
- wherein said bus enables said CPU to simultaneously communicate with any combination including with all of said plurality of IO modules using their respective one of said SPI port acting as a communications endpoint with respect to said CPU.
A method of process control, comprising:
- connecting a process controller comprising a plurality of IO modules which each include a serial peripheral interface (SPI) port for communicating with a central processing unit (CPU), a memory and a microprocessor or microcontroller, and an interface for communicating with field devices including receiving signals transmitted by said field devices and sending control signals to said field devices for controlling said field devices and a multi-channel serial communication interface comprising a plurality of serial communication engines in parallel to one another between said plurality of IO modules and said CPU providing a plurality of independent serial communication channels (serial communication channels) that are dedicated for respective ones of said plurality of IO modules,
- wherein said multi-channel serial communication interface is coupled to said CPU by a bus providing a plurality of separate (independent) communication paths;
- wherein said bus enables said CPU to simultaneously communicate with any combination including with all of said plurality of IO modules using their respective one of said SPI port acting as a communications endpoint with respect to said CPU, and wherein said plurality of IO modules are coupled to a plurality of field devices,
- said CPU controlling a physical process that generates a tangible product involving said plurality of field devices including:
- sending said control signals to control said plurality of field devices via said plurality of IO modules and receiving said signals transmitted by said field devices via said plurality of IO modules.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.