Abstract: A distributed control system has a plurality of distributed field devices, each of which contains a transducer and a wireless transceiver. The distributed control system includes a base station transceiver, a database and a virtual transmitter application in communication with the database. Each field device transmits and receives data via wireless signals between the communications boards and the base station. The data is stored in the database for later retrieval and evaluation by the virtual transmitter application. The deployed field device senses information and transmits the sensed information wirelessly to a base station. The sensed information is stored in memory on a computer system, and programmatically groomed to provide a measurement value, upon request by a user.

Abstract: A system for providing remote diagnostic and maintenance services to a process plant includes a database and a server, both of which are located remotely from the process plant. The database includes a plurality of applications. The server includes a data collection unit, an analysis unit, and a control unit. The data collection unit collects data associated with the process plant via a communication link, such as the Internet. The analysis unit analyzes the collected data to detect a condition associated with the process plant. In response to the detected condition, the control unit automatically implements one or more of the applications by automatically executing one or more of the applications remotely and determining parameters to be communicated to the process plant, automatically downloading one or more applications to the process plant via the Internet, and/or activating a web page that provides information for guiding an operator located at the plant in correcting the detected condition.

Abstract: A two-wire field-mounted process device with multiple isolated channels includes a channel that can be an input channel or an output channel. The given input or output channel can couple to multiple sensors or actuators, respectively. The process device is wholly powered by the two-wire process control loop. The process device includes a controller adapted to measure one or more characteristics of sensors coupled to an input channel and to control actuators coupled to an output channel. The controller can be further adapted to execute a user generated control algorithm relating process input information with process output commands. The process device also includes a loop communicator that is adapted to communicate over the two-wire loop.

Abstract: An interface module is operatively coupled to a Fieldbus process control network and a Modbus process control network to facilitate the exchange of process control information between the networks. The interface module stores a register map database in which the process control parameters of the function blocks in the field devices of the Fieldbus process control network are mapped to register numbers of the Modbus process control network. Once the Fieldbus process control parameters are mapped to the Modbus registers, the interface module is adapted to transmit request messages on the Fieldbus process control network to the Fieldbus field devices for the current values of the process control parameters, receive response messages from the Fieldbus field devices, and store the current values of the process control parameters in the register map database.

Abstract: A two-wire field-mounted process device with multiple isolated channels includes a channel that can be an input channel or an output channel. The given input or output channel can couple to multiple sensors or actuators, respectively. The process device is wholly powered by the two-wire process control loop. The process device includes a controller adapted to measure one or more characteristics of sensors coupled to an input channel and to control actuators coupled to an output channel. The controller can be further adapted to execute a user generated control algorithm relating process input information with process output commands. The process device also includes a loop communicator that is adapted to communicate over the two-wire loop.

Abstract: A two-wire field-mounted process device with multiple isolated channels includes a channel that can be an input channel or an output channel. The given input or output channel can couple to multiple sensors or actuators, respectively. The process device is wholly powered by the two-wire process control loop. The process device includes a controller adapted to measure one or more characteristics of sensors coupled to an input channel and to control actuators coupled to an output channel. The controller can be further adapted to execute a user generated control algorithm relating process input information with process output commands. The process device also includes a loop communicator that is adapted to communicate over the two-wire loop.

Abstract: A two-wire field-mounted process device with multiple isolated channels includes a channel that can be an input channel or an output channel. The given input or output channel can couple to multiple sensors or actuators, respectively. The process device is wholly powered by the two-wire process control loop. The process device includes a controller adapted to measure one or more characteristics of sensors coupled to an input channel and to control actuators coupled to an output channel. The controller can be further adapted to execute a user generated control algorithm relating process input information with process output commands. The process device also includes a loop communicator that is adapted to communicate over the two-wire loop.