Apparatus and methods to communicatively couple field devices to controllers in a process control system

An apparatus, comprising:

• a base comprising:
• a first physical interface to be communicatively coupled to one of a first field device in a process control system or a second field device in the process control system;
• and
• a second physical interface to be communicatively coupled to a controller in the process control system via a bus;
• and
• a module to be removably attached to the base, the module to communicate with the first field device using a first communication protocol when the first physical interface is communicatively coupled to the first field device, the module to communicate with the second field device using a second communication protocol when the first physical interface is communicatively coupled to the second field device, the module to communicate with the controller via the bus using a third communication protocol, the third communication protocol different from the first and second communication protocols, the third communication protocol to communicate information on the bus from a second module in communication with the bus and in communication with the other one of the first field device or the second field device, the first physical interface of the base to be communicatively coupled to a third physical interface of a second base removably attached to the second module to enable peer-to-peer communications between the first and second field devices.

A method comprising:

• receiving first information at a base having a first physical interface to be communicatively coupled to one of a first field device in a process control system or a second field device in the process control system;
• at a module removably attached to the base, encoding the first information for communication using a first communication protocol, the first information communicated to the module from the first field device using a second communication protocol when the first physical interface is coupled to the first field device, the first information communicated to the module from the second field device using a third communication protocol different than the second communication protocol when the first physical interface is coupled to the second field device, the first communication protocol different from the second and third communication protocols;
• and
• communicating the encoded first information from the module, via a second physical interface of the base, to a controller via a bus using the first communication protocol.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a first interface to be communicatively coupled to one of a first field device in a process control system or a second field device in the process control system, the first interface to communicate using a first fieldbus communication protocol when coupled to the first field device and to communicate using a second fieldbus communication protocol different than the first fieldbus communication protocol when coupled to the second field device;
• a communication processor communicatively coupled to the first interface, the communication processor to encode first information received from the one of the first field device or the second field device for communication via a bus using a third communication protocol different from the first and second fieldbus communication protocols;
• and
• a second interface communicatively coupled to the communication processor and the bus to communicate the first information via the bus using the third communication protocol to a controller in the process control system, wherein the bus is to use the third communication protocol to communicate second information received from the other one of the first field device or the second field device.