Abstract: A tablet PC for industrial/manufacturing process control and data management is disclosed. The tablet PC includes one or more industrial/manufacturing process control and data management applications as well as a set of hardware/software capabilities including wireless network access, screen capture/annotation, electronic pen/stylus input, handwriting input panel and recognition, camera, data snapshot capture, email, barcode/RF reader, etc. The combination of enhancements to the software and hardware embodied within the disclosed tablet PC for industrial process control and data management provide a variety of new uses for a PC in an industrial environment.

Abstract: A system for process control comprises a server digital data processor and a client digital data processor that are coupled by a network, such as the Internet or an Intranet. The server digital data processor, which is additionally coupled to a control/sensing device and any associated interface equipment (collectively, referred to as “process control apparatus”), includes a command processor that transfers information between the network and the process control apparatus. The client digital data processor includes an information client (e.g., a so-called Internet web browser) capable of requesting and receiving an applet from the server digital data processor. The information client, further, defines a hardware-independent and operating system-independent virtual machine environment within the client digital data processor.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for updating a historian with data captured by a process variable transmitter, in which the process variable transmitter incorporates the data into an electronic mail message and a historian host receives the electronic mail message, extracts the data and incorporates it into the historian. The system includes a process variable transmitter configured as an electronic mail client, and includes a remote historian.

Abstract: The invention provides improved methods and apparatus for control using field and control devices that provide a virtual machine environment and that communicate via an IP network. By way of non-limiting example, such field device can be an “intelligent” transmitter or actuator that includes a low power processor, along with a random access memory, a read-only memory, FlashRAM, and a sensor interface. The processor can execute a real-time operating system, as well as a Java virtual machine (JVM). Java byte code executes in the JVM to configure the field device to perform typical process control functions, e.g., for proportional integral derivative (PID) control and signal conditioning. Control networks can include a plurality of such field and control devices interconnected by an IP network, such as an Ethernet.

Abstract: An Ethernet communications redundancy system provides network access redundancy and end-to-end error detection and recovery, useful to Industrial control applications as well as other types of applications. In embodiments of the invention, an additional data link driver is provided between the network stack and the IEEE 802.3 MAC PHY. Internet Protocol or proprietary applications will still run without modification or enhancement since the additional layer is not exposed as such to higher layers. Embodiments of the invention allow the use of commercial off the shelf (COTS) protocol stacks (e.g. IP, Ethernet) and are independent of any employed network redundancy.

Abstract: To detect a power supply failure on an intrinsically safe field bus of a manufacturing process control system in an efficient manner there is provided a field device with a discharge protection unit which is connected to a control bus for supply of an operating current from the control bus to the field device. The discharge protection unit inhibits a discharge of energy stored in the field device to the control bus. The field device also comprises a controller unit adapted to control the operation of the field device and being powered with the operating current from the control bus. According to the present invention the discharge protection unit comprises at least two rectifying elements inserted into the current path of the operating current with identical conducting directions and an input signal or an output signal of a selected rectifying element is supplied as interrupt signal to the controller unit for power supply failure detection.

Abstract: To enable a relatively constant output voltage at a DC/DC converter of a field device during a predictable time after shut-down of energy supplied to the DC/DC converter there is proposed a load voltage controller having a comparison unit adapted to compare the load voltage signal (Uo) with an externally supplied load voltage reference signal (Uref). When the load voltage (Uo) exceeds the load voltage reference signal (Uref) an energy buffer stores supplied energy for subsequent resupply to the load of the field device.

Abstract: A control system has a first module that includes a memory and diagnostic logic. The diagnostic logic periodically tests at least selected locations in the memory and, in connection with such testing, reads data from those locations and writes that data back to the locations. A second module is coupled to the first module such that the written back data is transferred to the second module, as well as to the memory of the first. Mapping or other conversion logic can translate addresses or other data identifiers, as necessary, to insure that the transferred data is properly identified upon its receipt by the second module.

Abstract: A flowmeter is disclosed. The flowmeter includes a vibratable conduit, and a driver connected to the conduit that is operable to impart motion to the conduit. A sensor is connected to the conduit and is operable to sense the motion of the conduit and generate a sensor signal. A controller is connected to receive the sensor signal. The controller is operable to detect a single-phase flow condition and process the sensor signal using a first process during the single-phase flow condition to generate a validated mass-flow measurement. The controller is also operable to detect a two-phase flow condition and process the sensor signal using a second process during the two-phase flow condition to generate the validated mass-flow measurement.

Abstract: The invention provides improved apparatus for configuring process, environmental, industrial and other control systems. Such apparatus employs “appearance” objects (or other data and/or programming constructs) defining the appearance of configurable system components in graphical editors or other views in which the components may be depicted. “Placeholder” objects (or other constructs) persist the location, size, color, or other aspects of appearance defined by an appearance object for a configurable component in views in which it is actually depicted. By way of example, a process control configuration apparatus according to this aspect of the invention uses “configurable” objects to define blocks, loops and other components of a process control system. Appearance objects provide (or reference) icons or representations indicating how the configurable objects are to be depicted, e.g., in a configuration editor.

Abstract: A digital flowmeter includes a vibratable conduit, a driver connected to the conduit and operable to impart motion to the conduit, and a sensor connected to the conduit and operable to sense the motion of the conduit. A control and measurement system is connected to the driver and the sensor. The control and measurement system includes circuitry to receive a sensor signal from the sensor, generate a drive signal based on the sensor signal using digital signal processing, supply the drive signal to the driver, and generate a measurement of a property of a two-phase material flowing through the conduit based on the signal from the sensor.

Abstract: A control system for executing an application program is disclosed herein. The control system includes a plurality of main processor modules. The control system further includes a plurality of input/output modules for providing input process data to associated ones of the plurality of main processor modules. A voting system is operative to compare the input process data associated with first and second of the plurality of main processor modules to the input process data associated with a third of the main processor modules. This results in generation of voted input process data utilized by the third main processor module in executing the application program. In certain implementations the system includes a high-speed bus for distributing the voted input process data to the first and second main processor modules, each of which also executes the application program based upon the voted input process data.

Abstract: A high pressure sensor is provided with a single-piece pressure port machined from stainless steel and has no internal gaskets or seals. A housing surrounds the pressure port along a portion of its axial length. The housing and pressure port have mating configurations that prevent axial rotation when the pressure port is inserted into the assembled position in the housing. A retaining ring locks the pressure port axially with respect to the housing and is fixed in place by a fixative, such as epoxy.

Abstract: A solid-state electricity meter uses a sensor to measure a current supplied to a load. In one aspect, the electricity meter housing includes a meter base, a register cover, and a meter cover. The meter base includes a plurality of meter cover lock notches disposed about a periphery of the meter base. The register cover includes a plurality of secure ramps disposed on a base portion thereof, each secure ramp having a ramped portion along one side and a land portion. The meter cover includes a plurality of locking tabs corresponding to the meter cover lock notches and further includes a plurality of meter cover locks corresponding to the secure ramps. Upon insertion of the meter cover locking tabs into the meter base lock notches and rotation of the meter cover in a predetermined clockwise or counterclockwise direction, the meter cover locks engage the corresponding secure ramps, thereby biasing the meter cover locking tabs against the backside of the meter base to provide a secure connection.

Abstract: A manual override mechanism is presented for a motor driven rotary actuator that allows the output of the actuator to be manually positioned. Once positioned, the output of the actuator may be locked by a locking mechanism to prevent this output from rotating to its quiescent position. When incorporated in a spring return rotary actuator, the manual override may be used to apply a preload on the spring before the driven device is connected. When the actuator is used to drive a valve or damper, the preload applies a positive closing force on the damper in its zero position to ensure a tight closure of the valve or damper. The locking mechanism engages the gear train and opposes the closing force applied by the spring return of the actuator. To disengage the locking mechanism automatically, the motor applies a forward kick to the gear train. Manual disengagement is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for scheduling when to run a process to take advantage of time-varying input prices by predicting the “rank” of the current actual input price among future input prices. The rank is that portion of a future time period during which the input price will be less than the current actual input price. An “operational cutoff” is set based on the portion of time during which a process should run in order to produce a target output amount. Periodically, the actual input price is determined, and its rank is predicted. The predicted rank is then compared with the operational cutoff. If the predicted rank is below the cutoff, then it makes economic sense to run the process. Otherwise, it would be cheaper not to run the process at present but to wait a while in expectation that the input price will drop.

Abstract: A manual override mechanism is presented for a motor-driven linear actuator that allows the output rack and pinion of the actuator to be manually positioned. Once positioned, the output may be locked by a locking mechanism to prevent this output from translating to its quiescent position. When incorporated in a spring-return linear actuator, the manual override may be used to apply a preload on the spring before the driven device is connected. When the actuator is used to drive a valve or damper, the preload applies a positive closing force on the valve or damper in its zero position to ensure a tight closure of the valve or damper. The locking mechanism engages the gear train and opposes the closing force applied by the spring return of the actuator. To disengage the locking mechanism automatically, the motor applies a forward kick to the gear train. Manual disengagement is also provided.

Abstract: The disclosed alarm analysis tools cope with insufficiently understood process characteristics. The configuration of the alarms and their associated displays are governed by generalized display policies applicable to groups of alarms rather than by detailed configuration of individual alarm action. To aid an operation in the configuration process, another aspect of the invention concerns an alarm selection method and apparatus operating on a computer, which comprises an application window displaying a main alarm list, a selection means to select the alarm indications displayed in the alarm list, and an operations means producing a main alarm list subset having characteristics of the selected alarm indications.

Abstract: A digital device interface for transferring information between a processor and a control device includes a first serial peripheral interface (SPI), e.g., with “data in,” “data out” and “clock” ports, in serial communication with a second SPI. The first SPI can be coupled to, and associated with, the processor; the second SPI, with the control device. A first transfer logic section, e.g., a shift register engine, transfers bytes, word, longwords or other multi-bit datum between the processor and the control device. A second transfer logic section effects a transfer transaction between the processor and the control device—that is, the transfer of plural multi-bit datum relating to a common data access operation or a common data generation operation. For sensor-type control devices, such a transaction may include, for example, the “continuous” transfer of data sensed by the device.