Abstract: A process control routine may include a first internal function block for executing a control operation based on an input signal and an information conduit communicatively connected to the first internal function block. The information conduit may have an output adapted to provide the input signal to the first internal function block. The process control routine may further include an external function block communicatively connected to the information conduit and adapted to generate the input signal such that the output signal is directly provided to the information conduit prior to the execution of the control operation.

Abstract: A portable computer for use in interfacing to a process control system having a host system includes a housing adapted for hand-held operation, a processing unit disposed within the housing and a computer readable memory disposed within the housing and coupled to the processing unit. The portable computer also includes a display, a keypad and a radio frequency transceiver adapted to communicate with the host system, all of which are disposed within the housing and communicatively coupled to the processing unit. A first software routine stored in the computer readable memory processes a user input received from the keypad and sends a command to the host system via the radio frequency transceiver. Additionally, a second software routine stored in the computer readable memory receives process information sent from the host system in response to the command and displays the received process information via the portable computer display.

Abstract: A portable computer for use in interfacing to a process control system having a host system includes a housing adapted for hand-held operation, a processing unit disposed within the housing and a computer readable memory disposed within the housing and coupled to the processing unit. The portable computer also includes a display, a keypad and a radio frequency transceiver adapted to communicate with the host system, all of which are disposed within the housing and communicatively coupled to the processing unit. A first software routine stored in the computer readable memory processes a user input received from the keypad and sends a command to the host system via the radio frequency transceiver. Additionally, a second software routine stored in the computer readable memory receives process information sent from the host system in response to the command and displays the received process information via the portable computer display.

Abstract: A process control routine may include a first internal function block for executing a control operation based on an input signal and an information conduit communicatively connected to the first internal function block. The information conduit may have an output adapted to provide the input signal to the first internal function block. The process control routine may further include an external function block communicatively connected to the information conduit and adapted to generate the input signal such that the output signal is directly provided to the information conduit prior to the execution of the control operation.

Abstract: A portable computer for use in interfacing to a process control system having a host system includes a housing adapted for hand-held operation, a processing unit disposed within the housing and a computer readable memory disposed within the housing and coupled to the processing unit. The portable computer also includes a display, a keypad and a radio frequency transceiver adapted to communicate with the host system, all of which are disposed within the housing and communicatively coupled to the processing unit. A first software routine stored in the computer readable memory processes a user input received from the keypad and sends a command to the host system via the radio frequency transceiver. Additionally, a second software routine stored in the computer readable memory receives process information sent from the host system in response to the command and displays the received process information via the portable computer display.

Abstract: An adaptive predictive model includes a standard predictive model, such as a neural network or a natural model, constructed to produce an output that predicts a process parameter and a combiner network that combines the output of the predictive model with one or more measured values of the process parameter to produce an adjusted predicted process parameter during operation of a process. The adaptive predictive model reduces or corrects for non-linear as well as linear errors in the prediction of a process variable without having to reform the predictive model itself, while requiring only minor increases in processing power and time.

Abstract: A process controller that is communicatively coupled to an external field device via a communication network uses a shadow function block disposed within a process controller to enable implementation of a control routine that uses both an internal function block disposed within the process controller and an external function block disposed within the external field device. The shadow function block includes a communication port that communicates with the external function block via the communication network to thereby receive data pertaining to the external function block, a memory that stores the received data according to a configuration protocol of the internal function block and an output that provides the stored external function block data to the internal function block according to the configuration protocol of the internal function block.

Abstract: A portable computer for use in interfacing to a process control system having a host system includes a housing adapted for hand-held operation, a processing unit disposed within the housing and a computer readable memory disposed within the housing and coupled to the processing unit. The portable computer also includes a display, a keypad and a radio frequency transceiver adapted to communicate with the host system, all of which are disposed within the housing and communicatively coupled to the processing unit. A first software routine stored in the computer readable memory processes a user input received from the keypad and sends a command to the host system via the radio frequency transceiver. Additionally, a second software routine stored in the computer readable memory receives process information sent from the host system in response to the command and displays the received process information via the portable computer display.

Abstract: An advanced control block that implements multiple-input/multiple-output control, such as model predictive control, within a process control system is initiated by creating an initial control block having generic control logic and desired control inputs and control outputs communicatively connected to process outputs and process inputs within a process control routine. A waveform generator within the control block systematically upsets each of the process inputs via the control block outputs using excitation waveforms designed for use in developing a process model. At the same time, a data collection routine collects data indicating the response of each of the process outputs to the waveforms delivered at each of the process inputs. After sufficient data has been collected, a process modeling routine generates a process model from the collected data and a control logic parameter creation routine creates control logic parameters for the control logic from the process model.