Abstract: A method for network configuration in an industrial automation system includes obtaining, by a process control system comprising a plurality of network devices each associated with a network switch, network configuration data; and using the network configuration data to configure the network devices. The network configuration data identifies at least a redundancy protocol to be used by each of the network devices. Obtaining the network configuration data comprises activating one or more network connections of the network switches as a minimum number of network connections for obtaining the network configuration data, and receiving the network configuration data via the one or more activated network connections.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an I/O station for signalling between a network and a plurality of field devices in an automation system. The I/O station comprises an I/O network interface, and a plurality of I/O modules, each providing one or more I/O channels connecting respective one or more field device(s) of the plurality of field devices, whereby each of the field devices is communicatively connected to the network via the I/O module and the network interface. At least one of the I/O modules is an APL I/O module connecting APL field device(s) of the plurality of field devices, and at least one of the I/O modules is a non-APL I/O module connecting non-APL field device(s) of the plurality of field devices. The I/O station is configured for tunnelling data between at least one of the I/O modules and the network.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an I/O station, connected with a plurality of network devices in an automation system. The station comprises a plurality of I/O modules, each I/O module providing one or more I/O channels connecting respective one or more field device(s). The station also comprises an I/O network interface for forwarding data between the modules and the network devices via a network. Each of the channels connecting a respective field device is communicatively connected to at least one of the network devices via the network. The station further comprises a non-volatile storage storing configuration data for the station.

Abstract: A network device for an automation system includes a network switch, wherein the network device is configured to access non-volatile storage to which the network device is communicatively coupled to obtain provisioning data for the network switch, wherein the provisioning data comprises data enabling the network device to obtain at least a baseline configuration for the network switch. The provisioning data comprises data enabling the network device comprising the network switch to obtain the at least baseline configuration for the network switch.

Abstract: A controller for a process control system is configured to detect an adapter type of at least one adapter communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the at least one adapter is for coupling at least one field device of an automation system to the process control system; to select a communications protocol according to the detected adapter type, wherein the communications protocol is for communicating with the at least one field device; and to communicate with the at least one field device using the selected communications protocol to control an industrial process carried out by the automation system.

Abstract: A terminal block unit for an input/output device of a modular process control system includes two slot elements configured to receive two redundant signal conditioning units. The terminal block unit is configured to be housed in a pair of two adjacent slot elements of a module termination unit of an input/output device. The terminal block unit provides a parallel connection of the redundant signal conditioning units to a field device.

Abstract: A method for updating a process control system having a plurality of different hardware units includes providing a firmware data package, connecting a computing unit to an interface unit, transferring the firmware data package to the interface unit, providing current status data comprising information about the different hardware unit and information about the current firmware versions of the different hardware unit, checking whether the different hardware unit and the current firmware versions are compatible with the firmware update data for the different hardware units based on the current status data, and determining a checking result. When the checking result is positive, firmware update data in the different hardware unit is installed, and when the checking result is negative, an incompatibility message is provided.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the type of an analog sensor device in a process control system comprising at least a terminal block unit comprising four connection ports connectable with an analog sensor device, wherein the sensor device to be determined is a 2-wire connection sensor device, a 3-wire connection sensor device, or a 4-wire connection sensor device. The method includes detecting whether: a predefined resistance value is present for a 2-wire connection sensor device, a 3-wire connection sensor device, a predefined resistance value between two predefined pairs of connection ports of the terminal block unit is provided, or a 4-wire connection sensor device is connected to the terminal block unit.

Abstract: A terminal block unit for an input/output device of a modular process control system includes two slot elements configured to receive two redundant signal conditioning units. The terminal block unit is configured to be housed in a pair of two adjacent slot elements of a module termination unit of an input/output device. The terminal block unit provides a parallel connection of the redundant signal conditioning units to a field device.

Abstract: A method for updating a process control system having a plurality of different hardware units includes providing a firmware data package, connecting a computing unit to an interface unit, transferring the firmware data package to the interface unit, providing current status data comprising information about the different hardware unit and information about the current firmware versions of the different hardware unit, checking whether the different hardware unit and the current firmware versions are compatible with the firmware update data for the different hardware units based on the current status data, and determining a checking result. When the checking result is positive, firmware update data in the different hardware unit is installed, and when the checking result is negative, an incompatibility message is provided.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relates to a demodulator for frequency-shift keyed signals by using the Goertzel algorithm according to the general recursive calculating rule, where c re = 2 * cos ? ( 2 * ? * f g f s ) with the sampling frequency fs and the specified frequency fg. To reduce the mathematical complexity in feed-power-limited devices, it is proposed that the sampling frequency fs is an integral multiple of the frequency fg of a specified discrete spectral component.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relates to a demodulator for frequency-shift keyed signals by using the Goertzel algorithm according to the general recursive calculating rule, where c re = 2 * cos ? ( 2 * ? * f g f s ) with the sampling frequency fs and the specified frequency fg. To reduce the mathematical complexity in feed-power-limited devices, it is proposed that the sampling frequency fs is an integral multiple of the frequency fg of a specified discrete spectral component.