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: A method of providing fieldbus connectivity includes, by a network device for an industrial automation system: obtaining fieldbus connectivity requirements specifying a required fieldbus protocol type using which the network device is to communicate; loading, from a library, a fieldbus connectivity service, wherein the fieldbus connectivity service comprises fieldbus stack software and a fieldbus stack hardware configuration for implementing a protocol stack which conforms to the required fieldbus protocol type; using the fieldbus stack hardware configuration to carry out partial reconfiguration of a flexible fieldbus communications interface, wherein the flexible fieldbus communications interface comprises a portion which remains unaltered during the partial reconfiguration; binding the fieldbus stack software to a portion of the flexible fieldbus communications interface that was partially reconfigured using the fieldbus stack hardware configuration; and using the protocol stack which conforms to the requir

Abstract: A dynamically reconfigurable fieldbus communications interface includes programmable logic which comprises a static area and at least one dynamic area; and control circuitry configured to program the at least one dynamic area using one of a plurality of interchangeable fieldbus stack hardware configurations, each conforming to a respective fieldbus protocol type.

Abstract: A power down circuitry for a controller of a process control system includes at least one energy storage device configured to store energy for a power down sequence; and at least one data storage device to store control application state data, wherein the power down circuitry is configured to detect power loss and, in response to the detection of power loss, to carry out the power down sequence, wherein the power down sequence comprises obtaining and storing the control application state data in the data storage device, wherein the power down circuitry is further configured to determine at least one reliability indicator for output to an operator of the process control system.

Abstract: A capacitor health diagnostics circuitry configured to run a diagnostics test to determine a capacity of at least one buffer capacitor. The diagnostics test comprises a multiphase discharge test performed under varying current conditions to determine a leakage current of the at least one capacitor and to determine the capacitance of the at least one capacitor based at least partially on the determined leakage current.

Abstract: A power down circuitry for a controller of a process control system includes at least one buffer capacitor for buffering sufficient energy to complete a power down sequence; a power voter configured to select the at least one buffer capacitor as energy source in response to detection of power failure; non-volatile memory for retaining process data following the detection of power failure; and logic circuitry configured to coordinate transfer of the process data to the non-volatile memory during the power down sequence.

Abstract: A method for detecting network misconfiguration in process control systems includes, by a first network device in a process control system, receiving a transmission from a second network device via a network, wherein the transmission comprises transmission data representing one or more components using which the transmission was made by the second network device; determining reception data representing one or more components using which the transmission was received by the first network device; determining a current network configuration based on the transmission data and the reception data; and validating the determined current network configuration against an expected network configuration to detect misconfiguration of the network.

Abstract: A diagnostics method for a process control system, the process control system configured to communicate with at least one network device via a network and comprising a first component and a second component. The method includes diagnostics on the network to determine whether a network fault renders the first component essential for the second component to connect to the at least one network device.

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: 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 process control system comprising at least one module termination unit, at least one adapter module arranged on the module termination unit and configured to communicate with a field device, and at least one controller module arranged on the module termination unit and configured to process data from the adapter module, wherein the adapter module and the controller module are connected to each other by a peer-to-peer connection, in particular through the module termination unit.

Abstract: A communication barrier arrangement includes a first driver having a first interface for receiving signals from a first device destined for a second device, an isolation barrier including a first transformer for signal transfer and having a primary winding connected to the first driver and a secondary winding, a second driver connected to the secondary winding and having a first connection terminal for output of the signals towards the second device, a first signal conditioner having a second connection terminal for receiving the signals from the second driver and a second interface for delivering them to the second device and a protection circuit including a resistor in parallel with a first capacitor, the protection circuit being connected between the first and second connection terminals.

Abstract: An inlay element configured to be arranged in a module termination unit of a modular process control system includes a first connector section and a second connector section, wherein the first connector section is configured to be connected to at least one controller module and wherein the second connector section is configured to be connected to at least one fieldbus device.

Abstract: A communication barrier arrangement includes a first driver having a first interface for receiving signals from a first device destined for a second device, an isolation barrier including a first transformer for signal transfer and having a primary winding connected to the first driver and a secondary winding, a second driver connected to the secondary winding and having a first connection terminal for output of the signals towards the second device, a first signal conditioner having a second connection terminal for receiving the signals from the second driver and a second interface for delivering them to the second device and a protection circuit including a resistor in parallel with a first capacitor, the protection circuit being connected between the first and second connection terminals.

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 module arrangement for a modular field device connection unit comprises a frame module having an interface receptacle, an interface module adapted to be inserted into the interface receptacle along a module insertion path, and a resetting mechanism adapted to reset the movable coding element into the neutral position by insertion of the interface module into the interface receptacle and/or removal of the interface module from the interface receptacle. The interface module has a cartridge receptacle and a movable coding element. The movable coding element is movable from a neutral position into a coding position by insertion of a cartridge member into the cartridge receptacle. The resetting mechanism has a trigger element at least partially protruding into the module insertion path.

Abstract: A module arrangement for a modular field device connection unit comprises a frame module having an interface receptacle, an interface module adapted to be inserted into the interface receptacle along a module insertion path, and a resetting mechanism adapted to reset the movable coding element into the neutral position by insertion of the interface module into the interface receptacle and/or removal of the interface module from the interface receptacle. The interface module has a cartridge receptacle and a movable coding element. The movable coding element is movable from a neutral position into a coding position by insertion of a cartridge member into the cartridge receptacle. The resetting mechanism has a trigger element at least partially protruding into the module insertion path.