Abstract: Field devices or other devices within a process control system are provided with both hardwired and wireless communication ports to enable communications to be performed within the process control system using one or both of hardwired and wireless communications. In particular, a field device for use in a process control system within a process control environment includes a microprocessor-based communication unit adapted to generate or receive communication signals, a first communication port adapted to be connected to a hardwired communication link for providing communications to or from the communication unit via the hardwired communication link and a second communication port adapted to be connected to a wireless transceiver to provide wireless communications to or from the communication unit via the wireless transceiver.

Abstract: Field devices or other devices within a process control system are provided with both hardwired and wireless communication ports to enable communications to be performed within the process control system using one or both of hardwired and wireless communications. In particular, a field device for use in a process control system within a process control environment includes a microprocessor-based communication unit adapted to generate or receive communication signals, a first communication port adapted to be connected to a hardwired communication link for providing communications to or from the communication unit via the hardwired communication link and a second communication port adapted to be connected to a wireless transceiver to provide wireless communications to or from the communication unit via the wireless transceiver.

Abstract: Field devices or other devices within a process control system are provided with both hardwired and wireless communication ports to enable communications to be performed within the process control system using one or both of hardwired and wireless communications. In particular, a field device for use in a process control system within a process control environment includes a microprocessor-based communication unit adapted to generate or receive communication signals, a first communication port adapted to be connected to a hardwired communication link for providing communications to or from the communication unit via the hardwired communication link and a second communication port adapted to be connected to a wireless transceiver to provide wireless communications to or from the communication unit via the wireless transceiver.

Abstract: A pair of wireless transceivers is disposed within a process control system to enable wireless communications between multiple devices within the process control system, such as between field devices, control units, user terminals, controllers, etc. In one embodiment, a process control system within an industrial process environment includes a process control field device that operates within the industrial process environment, a control unit adapted to provide control signals to the process control field device and a wireless transceiver pair including a first wireless transceiver connected to the process control field device and a second wireless transceiver connected to the control unit. The wireless transceiver pair wirelessly communicates one or more signals between the control unit and the process control field device to thereby provide wireless communications within the process environment.

Abstract: An apparatus provides wireless communication between multiple devices within a process control system, such as between field devices, control units, user terminals, controllers, etc., using a wireless bus protocol. In one embodiment, a process control system for use within a process control environment includes a plurality of process control field devices that operate within the process environment, and a control device adapted to receive a sense signal from or to provide a control signal to one or more of the plurality of process control field devices. First and second wireless transceivers are communicatively connected to different ones of the process control field devices and the control device and communicate with one another using a bus protocol, to thereby provide wireless communications within the process control system.

Abstract: An apparatus provides redundant wireless to access field devices in a distributed control system having primary access to the field devices provided by hard-wired media that couples the field devices to the control room. The field devices are coupled to a Fieldbus control network. In a first embodiment, each field device is provided with a wireless Fieldbus port that is accessible by a wireless terminal. In a second embodiment, each Fieldbus control network is provided with a field module having a wireless Fieldbus port that allows all devices connected to the Fieldbus control network to be accessed by a wireless terminal. In a third embodiment, an H2-to-H1 Fieldbus bridge (which may service a plurality of H1 control networks) is provided with a wireless Fieldbus port that allows all Fieldbus devices connected to H1 control networks serviced by the H2-to-H1 bridge to be accessed by a wireless handheld unit of a wireless terminal.

Abstract: A wireless bridge device disposed within a process control system provides wireless communication between multiple devices within the process control system, such as between field devices, control units, user terminals, controllers, etc. In one embodiment, a process control system disposed within an industrial process environment includes a first process control device, a bridge device, a plurality of field devices disposed within the industrial process environment and a hardwired communication link disposed between the bridge device and each of the plurality of field devices.

Abstract: A wireless bridge device disposed within a process control system provides wireless communication between multiple devices within the process control system, such as between field devices, control units, user terminals, controllers, etc. In one embodiment, a process control system disposed within an industrial process environment includes a first process control device, a bridge device, a plurality of field devices disposed within the industrial process environment and a hardwired communication link disposed between the bridge device and each of the plurality of field devices.

Abstract: An apparatus provides wireless communication between multiple devices within a process control system, such as between field devices, control units, user terminals, controllers, etc., using a wireless bus protocol. In one embodiment, a process control system for use within a process control environment includes a plurality of process control field devices that operate within the process environment, and a control device adapted to receive a sense signal from or to provide a control signal to one or more of the plurality of process control field devices. First and second wireless transceivers are communicatively connected to different ones of the process control field devices and the control device and communicate with one another using a bus protocol, to thereby provide wireless communications within the process control system.

Abstract: Field devices or other devices within a process control system are provided with both hardwired and wireless communication ports to enable communications to be performed within the process control system using one or both of hardwired and wireless communications. In particular, a field device for use in a process control system within a process control environment includes a microprocessor-based communication unit adapted to generate or receive communication signals, a first communication port adapted to be connected to a hardwired communication link for providing communications to or from the communication unit via the hardwired communication link and a second communication port adapted to be connected to a wireless transceiver to provide wireless communications to or from the communication unit via the wireless transceiver.

Abstract: A pair of wireless transceivers is disposed within a process control system to enable wireless communications between multiple devices within the process control system, such as between field devices, control units, user terminals, controllers, etc. In one embodiment, a process control system within an industrial process environment includes a process control field device that operates within the industrial process environment, a control unit adapted to provide control signals to the process control field device and a wireless transceiver pair including a first wireless transceiver connected to the process control field device and a second wireless transceiver connected to the control unit. The wireless transceiver pair wirelessly communicates one or more signals between the control unit and the process control field device to thereby provide wireless communications within the process environment.

Abstract: An apparatus provides redundant wireless to access field devices in a distributed control system having primary access to the field devices provided by hard-wired media that couples the field devices to the control room. The field devices are coupled to a Fieldbus control network. In a first embodiment, each field device is provided with a wireless Fieldbus port that is accessible by a wireless terminal. In a second embodiment, each Fieldbus control network is provided with a field module having a wireless Fieldbus port that allows all devices connected to the Fieldbus control network to be accessed by a wireless terminal. In a third embodiment, an H2-to-H1 Fieldbus bridge (which may service a plurality of H1 control networks) is provided with a wireless Fieldbus port that allows all Fieldbus devices connected to H1 control networks serviced by the H2-to-H1 bridge to be accessed by a wireless handheld unit of a wireless terminal.

Abstract: An apparatus provides redundant wireless to access field devices in a distributed control system having primary access to the field devices provided by hard-wired media that couples the field devices to the control room. The field devices are coupled to a Fieldbus control network. In a first embodiment, each field device is provided with a wireless Fieldbus port that is accessible by a wireless terminal. In a second embodiment, each Fieldbus control network is provided with a field module having a wireless Fieldbus port that allows all devices connected to the Fieldbus control network to be accessed by a wireless terminal. In a third embodiment, an H2-to-H1 Fieldbus bridge (which may service a plurality of H1 control networks) is provided with a wireless Fieldbus port that allows all Fieldbus devices connected to H1 control networks serviced by the H2-to-H1 bridge to be accessed by a wireless handheld unit of a wireless terminal.

Abstract: An apparatus for accessing field devices in a distributed control system provides non-redundant secondary access to a plurality of field devices that are controlled by a control room. The field devices are coupled to a Fieldbus control network. In a first embodiment, each field device is provided with a wireless Fieldbus port that is accessible by a wireless handheld unit or wireless terminal. In a second embodiment, each Fieldbus control network is provided with a field module having a wireless Fieldbus port that allows all devices connected to the Fieldbus control network to be accessed by a wireless handheld unit or a wireless terminal. In a third embodiment, an H2-to-H1 Fieldbus bridge (which may service a plurality of H1 control networks) is provided with a wireless Fieldbus port that allows all Fieldbus devices connected to H1 control networks serviced by the H2-to-H1 bridge to be access by a wireless handheld unit of a wireless terminal.

Abstract: An apparatus provides redundant wireless to access field devices in a distributed control system having primary access to the field devices provided by hard-wired media that couples the field devices to the control room. The field devices are coupled to a Fieldbus control network. In a first embodiment, each field device is provided with a wireless Fieldbus port that is accessible by a wireless terminal. In a second embodiment, each Fieldbus control network is provided with a field module having a wireless Fieldbus port that allows all devices connected to the Fieldbus control network to be accessed by a wireless terminal. In a third embodiment, an H2-to-H1 Fieldbus bridge (which may service a plurality of H1 control networks) is provided with a wireless Fieldbus port that allows all Fieldbus devices connected to H1 control networks serviced by the H2-to-H1 bridge to be accessed by a wireless handheld unit of a wireless terminal.