Abstract:
In this invention, a valve positioner (50) receives a setpoint from a master (62) and provides a control pressure to a valve actuator (70) for controlling a valve (72). A sensing circuit (102) in the positioner (50) senses the position of the valve (72) and the control pressure, and a control circuit (94) in the positioner (50) uses both the sensed pressure and position to provide a command output to a pneumatic section (100) which produces the control pressure.
Abstract:
A smart field-mounted control unit (22), for controlling a process, receives signals and sends a command output over a two-wire circuit (18) which powers the control unit (22). An input section (50) receives the signals, which can be instructions representative of commands or instruction sets, process variables sensed by external control units or setpoints representative of a desired process state. The instructions are representative of a control requirement of the process and adjust a controlling section (52) in the control unit (22) to generate the command output (58) in conformance with the control requirement. The command output (58) can be a function of the difference between the process setpoint and a process variable, or a function of a linear combination of a process variable and its calculated time integral and time derivative functions. A sensing section (100) in the control unit (22) can sense and scale a process variable for generating the command output (58) as well. The control unit (22) can include a regulator section, controlled by the command output (58), which regulates application of a mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic or electromagnetic force applied to the process.
Abstract:
The present invention includes a process control instrument (100) having an improved data bus protocol for facilitating communications between master and slave nodes. The process control instrument (100) includes a microprocessor (200) operating in accordance with the SPI data bus protocol, first and second peripheral devices (204, 206), and a data bus (220) coupled to the microprocessor and the first and second peripheral devices. The improved data bus protocol used in the process control instruments of the present invention provides numerous advantages such as reduced printed circuit board space requirements and greater interchangeability of peripheral and master node components.
Abstract:
A circuit (58) for compensating variables in a measurement transmitter (2). Within the transmitter, a sensor (54) senses a primary process variable such as differential pressure and a converter (56) digitizes the sensed process variable. The sensor (54) senses pressures within a span of pressures values. A memory (68) inside the transmitter stores at least two membership functions. The memory (68) also stores a set of compensation formulas, each formula corresponding to a membership function. A selection circuit (64) in the transmitter (2) selects those membership functions which have a non-zero value at the digitized PV, and a correction circuit (66) provides at least one correction value calculated from a compensation formula corresponding to a selected membership function. A weighting circuit (70) multiplies each correction value by its corresponding selected membership function, and combines the multiplicands to provide a compensated PV. The compensated PV is coupled to a control circuit (6) connecting the transmitter (2) to a control system (4).
Abstract:
A process device (40) couples to a process control loop (6). The process device (40) receives process signals. A memory (48) in the process device (40) contains a nominal parameter value (78) and a rule (80). Computing circuitry (46) calculates a statistical parameter of the process signal and operates on the statistical parameter and the stored nominal value (78) based upon the stored rule (80) and responsively provides an event output based upon the operation. Output circuitry (42) provides an output in response to the event output.
Abstract:
A device in a process control system (2) includes an electrical element (210) which has a resistance (212). Self heating circuitry (208) coupled to the element (210) provides a self heating signal related to the resistance (212) of the element (210). Diagnostic circuitry (202) provides a diagnostic output as a function of the self heating signal output.
Abstract:
A process device (40) couples to a process control loop (6). The process device (40) receives process signals. A memory (48) in the process device (40) contains a nominal parameter value (78) and a rule (80). Computing circuitry (46) calculates a statistical parameter of the process signal and operates on the statistical parameter and the stored nominal value (78) based upon the stored rule (80) and responsively provides an event output based upon the operation. Output circuitry (42) provides an output in response to the event output.