Brent A Larson

US Patent:

6850973, Feb 1, 2005

Filed:

Sep 29, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/408028

Inventors:

Brent Hans Larson - Marshalltown IA, US
Steve Allen Packwood - Marshalltown IA, US
Larry Keith Brown - Marshalltown IA, US

Assignee:

Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc. - Austin TX

International Classification:

G06F 15177

US Classification:

709221, 709203, 709208, 709220, 700 83, 700117, 713 1, 713 2, 713100

Abstract:

A method of reprogramming a field device in a process control network using the standard communications protocol for the network, and a reprogrammable field device in the process control network adapted for being reprogrammed using the standard communications protocol for the network. The method and device of the present invention use the standard communications protocol to transmit the downloaded code to the field device and store the downloaded code in the field device while the device is enabled to perform process control. Once the new code is downloaded and stored in the field device, the field device is disabled from performing process control, reprogrammed to execute the downloaded code, and reenabled to perform process control.

US Patent:

7580992, Aug 25, 2009

Filed:

Jul 6, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/886272

Inventors:

Clyde T. Eisenbeis - Marshalltown IA, US
Brent H. Larson - Dallas TX, US
Steve A. Packwood - Omaha NE, US
Larry K. Brown - Marshalltown IA, US

Assignee:

Fisher Controls International LLC - Marshalltown IA

International Classification:

G06F 15/177

US Classification:

709221, 709203, 709208, 709220, 700117, 700 83, 713 1, 713100, 713 2

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a method of reprogramming a field device in a process control network using the standard communications protocol for the network, and a reprogrammable field device in the process control network adapted for being reprogrammed using the standard communications protocol for the network. The method and device of the present invention use the standard communications protocol to transmit the downloaded code to the field device and store the downloaded code in the field device while the device is enabled to perform process control. Once the new code is downloaded and stored in the field device, the field device is set to a steady state condition and/or disabled from performing process control, reprogrammed to execute the downloaded code, and reenabled to perform process control.

US Patent:

61922811, Feb 20, 2001

Filed:

Dec 30, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/983017

Inventors:

Larry K. Brown - Marshalltown IA
Harry A. Burns - Marshalltown IA
Brent H. Larson - Marshalltown IA

Assignee:

Fisher Controls International, Inc. - Clayton MO

International Classification:

G05B 1500

US Classification:

700 2

Abstract:

An interface between a remote communications network and a process control system includes a storage device, a communication software stack and a user software layer. The user software layer enables interfacing between the remote communications network and the process control system by directing the communication software stack to operate in the process control system using a process communication protocol, by monitoring the message traffic on the communication software stack, and by copying requested message traffic to the storage device. The user software layer also includes media interface software that allows access to the storage device by the remote communications network to thereby deliver specific data to a device connected to the remote communications network.

US Patent:

60472227, Apr 4, 2000

Filed:

Dec 30, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/983019

Inventors:

Harry A. Burns - Marshalltown IA
Brent H. Larson - Marshalltown IA
Larry K. Brown - Marshalltown IA

Assignee:

Fisher Controls International, Inc. - Clayton MO

International Classification:

G05B 902

US Classification:

700 79

Abstract:

Functional elements within a two-wire, loop-powered, two-way digital communications environment are interconnected using selective redundant connections and selective redundant functional elements. The redundant functional elements and redundant connections provide a smooth transition from operation of a primary process loop element to a secondary process loop element in the event of a failure of the primary process loop element. Redundancy is selectively implemented using a redundant pair of field devices or a redundant bus pair having a primary bus and a redundant bus. In a first case, redundancy is selectively implemented using a single set of communication media, such as a single communication loop, but implementing redundant functional elements, such as field devices, so that recovery is achieved upon failure of a functional element but not upon failure of the communication media. In a second case, redundancy is selectively implemented using a redundant set of communication media in addition to use of redundant devices so that recovery is attained both for a failing device and a failing communication media. In a third case, redundancy is selectively implemented using a redundant set of communication media but using a single device so that recovery is attained for a failing communication media but not for a failing device.

US Patent:

6088665, Jul 11, 2000

Filed:

Nov 3, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/962630

Inventors:

Harry A. Burns - Marshalltown IA
Brent H. Larson - Marshalltown IA
Larry K. Brown - Marshalltown IA

Assignee:

Fisher Controls International, Inc. - Clayton MO

International Classification:

G06F 15173

US Classification:

702188

Abstract:

A schematic generator for use in a process control network, in which control functions are implemented by field devices interconnected at various and distributed locations on a bus, polls each of the field devices to retrieve information pertaining to the identity of the device, the identity of the control functions associated with the device, the manner in which the device communicates with other devices with respect to each of the control functions associated with that device, the timing associated with the execution of each of the control functions of that device and the timing of the communication activities associated with each of the control functions of that device. The schematic generator then analyses the retrieved data to identify the manner in which the devices are physically connected on the bus and the manner in which the different control functions are interconnected over the bus to perform process control loops within the process control network. Thereafter, the schematic generator creates one or more schematics, such a maintenance schematic illustrating the physical layout of the field devices in the process control network, a control loop schematic illustrating the interconnections between functions within one or more of the deceives that form a control loop, and a timing schematic illustrating the timing of or the amount of communications occurring on the bus.

US Patent:

62859668, Sep 4, 2001

Filed:

Jun 25, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/105333

Inventors:

Larry K. Brown - Marshalltown IA
Brent H. Larson - Marshalltown IA
Harry A. Burns - Marshalltown IA

Assignee:

Fisher Controls International, Inc. - Clayton MO

International Classification:

G06F 1500

US Classification:

702188

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a method of and a device for monitoring, from a central location, the current operating conditions (such as values of process parameters) in a process control network having distributed control functions. In one embodiment, the method and device of the present invention use scheduled periodic communications to send signals containing, for example, measured values of process parameters developed by field devices to a centralized viewing device. The viewing device receives the signals and stores at least one value of the process parameters, and maybe more values if necessary to monitor and control the process. To retrieve the stored process parameters for viewing, the viewing device processes messages from human interface devices requesting the stored values of one or more of the stored parameters and then transmits response messages containing the stored values. The human interface device may be the same device as the viewing device, or may be a separate device that communicates with the viewing device using either the same or a different communication protocol as that used by the field devices to communicate with the viewing device. Additionally, the request and response messages may be sent between the devices using unscheduled queued communications.

US Patent:

59704306, Oct 19, 1999

Filed:

Sep 3, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/922938

Inventors:

Harry A. Burns - Marshalltown IA
Brent H. Larson - Marshalltown IA
Larry K. Brown - Marshalltown IA

Assignee:

Fisher Controls International, Inc. - Clayton MO

International Classification:

G06F 1540
G06F 1130

US Classification:

702122

Abstract:

A field device for use in a process control network having a plurality of devices communicatively coupled by a two-wire, all-digital communication bus includes a connector that connects the field device to the two-wire, all-digital bus to enable all-digital communication over the bus, a memory that stores a diagnostic test routine having a series of device or process diagnostic test instructions, and a controller that performs the device or process diagnostic test instructions stored in the memory to implement a device or process diagnostic test using the field device. A data collection unit within the field device collects diagnostic data generated during the diagnostic test and a communication unit communicates the collected diagnostic data over the bus to a host device for processing. The controller may include a program language interpreter adapted to interpret the diagnostic test instructions which may be provided to the field device from another one of the devices via the bus.

US Patent:

60146125, Jan 11, 2000

Filed:

Oct 2, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/944088

Inventors:

Brent H. Larson - Marshalltown IA
Harry A. Burns - Marshalltown IA
Larry K. Brown - Marshalltown IA

Assignee:

Fisher Controls International, Inc. - Clayton MO

International Classification:

G06F 1130
G06F 1314
G21C 1700
G05B 1101

US Classification:

702183

Abstract:

A diagnostic system is adapted to perform device and process diagnostics in a process control network having a plurality of process control devices communicatively linked over a bus, wherein each of the devices is capable of preforming a process control function and of communicating over the bus using scheduled periodic communications. The diagnostic system is disposed in a first one of the devices and includes a signal generator that produces a diagnostic control signal, a communicator configured to deliver the diagnostic control signal to a second one of the devices using scheduled periodic communications, and an output signal receiver adapted to receive an output signal developed by the second device in response to the diagnostic control signal. The diagnostic system may use the received output signal to perform diagnostics or may send this signal to a host device for diagnostic analysis.