Windows based network configuration and control method for a digital control system

摘要

A system for configuring a process control system, e.g., a Fieldbus network, having intelligent field mounted devices coupled to a data communications bus. A software representation of the process control system to be configured is first designed on a computer. Using the system, a user selects representations of the various field mounted devices to be included in the actual control system. The user then specifies which function blocks of each field mounted device are to be used and how those function blocks are to be linked. The computer is then coupled to the communications bus of the actual control system via an interface device and the configuration and link data are downloaded to the field mounted devices of the control system. The computer can act as a bus master of the communications bus of the control system with the field mounted devices acting as slaves. The computer can also be disconnected from the control system communications bus and the control system will operate with one of the field mounted devices acting as the bus master.