Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided which allow control systems to be tested. Specifically, a test system is coupled to a control system in a manner which allows the test system to communicate with and drive the control system by sending and receiving signals via both the controller-I/O communication channel and the field I/O connectors. In essence, the test system is used to both simulate a plant to be controlled and to monitor, validate, and or modify the internal state of the control system controller and possibly the control system I/O interface. Plant simulation is accomplished by simulating the I/O devices to which the control system is coupled (and hence the plant processes) when installed in its operational environment.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 18, 2004
Date of Patent:
November 7, 2006
Assignee:
Flour Technologies Corporation
Inventors:
D. Dwight Brayton, Stephen G. Romero, Christopher S. Ghormley, Mark E. Dallas