Back to results
US 9,535,413 B2Granted
Automatic device parameter binding method and system
AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
InventorsHarsh Shah, David W. Siegler, James Edward Joe, Qing Jia, Tao Song, Zhen Wei
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides techniques for automatically binding device parameters to an input and output interface. Doing so enables dynamic parameters to be available to the core firmware engine. More specifically, there is no input and output data in the configuration software domain required for mapping the parameters. Rather, the configuration software may directly access the device parameters during the logic execution. This is achieved in a library by representing the parameter repository and the EPATH pointing to each parameter from the configuration software domain.
Claims26
A method for distributed control of a process, comprising:
- accessing a function block configured to perform an arithmetic or logical operation on a parameter having a first parameter designation;
- and
- configuring a distributed automation control device that forms part of a machine or process control system, the distributed automation control device storing the function block and executing the function block in operation in the machine or process control system, wherein configuring the distributed automation control device comprises storing in the distributed automation control device a virtual data table comprising a conversion of the first parameter designation to a second parameter designation utilized for the parameter in the machine or process control system, wherein the first parameter designation is in a software domain of a configuration tool used to configure the distributed automation control device, and the second parameter designation is outside of the software domain and independent from the software domain, wherein the virtual data table provides an addressing space that facilitates conversion between a path for the first parameter designation and a pointer for the second parameter designation during use of the distributed automation control device.
A distributed automation control device, comprising:
- a memory circuit storing a function block configured to perform an arithmetic or logical operation on a parameter having a first parameter designation;
- and
- a processor configured to execute the function block in operation in a machine or process control system;
- wherein the memory circuit stores a virtual data table comprising a conversion of the first parameter designation to a second parameter designation utilized for the parameter in the machine or process control system, wherein the first parameter designation is in a software domain of a configuration tool used to configure the distributed automation control device, and the second parameter designation is outside of the software domain and independent from the software domain, wherein the virtual data table provides an addressing space that facilitates conversion between a path for the first parameter designation and a pointer for the second parameter designation during use of the distributed automation control device.
1 more element
A distributed control system, comprising:
- a distributed automation control device, comprising a memory circuit storing a function block configured to perform an arithmetic or logical operation on a parameter having a first parameter designation, and a processor configured to execute the function block in operation in a machine or process control system, wherein the memory circuit stores a virtual data table comprising a conversion of the first parameter designation to a second parameter designation utilized for the same parameter in the machine or process control system, wherein the first parameter designation is in a software domain of a configuration tool used to configure the distributed automation control device, and the second parameter designation is outside of the software domain and independent from the software domain, wherein the virtual data table provides an addressing space that facilitates conversion between a path for the first parameter designation and a pointer for the second parameter designation during use of the distributed automation control device;
- and
- an automation controller coupled to the distributed automation control device via a network;
- wherein the distributed automation control device is configured to communicate with the automation controller via the network, but executes the function block utilizing the second parameter designation without command from the automation controller.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.