Methods and apparatus for control using control devices that provide a virtual machine environment and that communicate via an ip network

Abstract

The invention provides improved methods and apparatus for control using field and control devices that provide a virtual machine environment and that communicate via an IP network. By way of non-limiting example, such field device can be an “intelligent” transmitter or actuator that includes a low power processor, along with a random access memory, a read-only memory, FlashRAM, and a sensor interface. The processor can execute a real-time operating system, as well as a Java virtual machine (JVM). Java byte code executes in the JVM to configure the field device to perform typical process control functions, e.g., for proportional integral derivative (PID) control and signal conditioning. Control networks can include a plurality of such field and control devices interconnected by an IP network, such as an Ethernet.

In view of the foregoing, what I claim is: 
     
         1 - 228 . (canceled) 
     
     
         229 . A device for use in a control system, comprising:
 a controller having a powered Ethernet connection and at least one communication connection; and   a virtual machine environment that executes a byte code therein, the byte code configuring the controller to execute a control program for controlling filed devices within a control network;   wherein the powered Ethernet connection is adapted to provide power to the controller from the control network, and the at least one communication connection is adapted to provide for communication with at least one field device.   
     
     
         230 . The device of  claim 229 , wherein the communication connection is a bus connection. 
     
     
         231 . The device of  claim 230 , wherein the bus connection is adapted to provide for communication with a field device via a bus operating in substantial accord with a protocol selected from the group consisting of: Foundation Fieldbus, Foxcomm, Profibus, ControlNet, Modbus, Devicenet, HART, NodeBus, and LonWorks. 
     
     
         232 . The device of  claim 229 , wherein the communication connection is an Ethernet connection. 
     
     
         233 . The device of  claim 229 , wherein the controller further comprises a processor adapted to execute a control algorithm to control the at least one field device. 
     
     
         234 . The device of  claim 229 , further comprising a first I/O card comprising the powered Ethernet connection and a second I/O card comprising the at least one communication connection. 
     
     
         235 . The device of  claim 229 , wherein the device is coupled for communication with a control device adapted to monitor and control aspects of a process. 
     
     
         236 . The device of  claim 229 , wherein the device functions at the direction of a plant-level processor. 
     
     
         237 . The device of  claim 229 , wherein the at least one communication connection provides power to the at least one field device. 
     
     
         238 . The device of  claim 237 , wherein the at least one field device includes a sensing element and the device includes a pair of wires providing excitation to the sensing element. 
     
     
         239 . The device of  claim 229 , wherein the field device obtains power via the at least one communication connection and via the powered Ethernet connection. 
     
     
         240 . The device of  claim 229 , wherein the device is coupled for communication via one or more networks. 
     
     
         241 . The device of  claim 240 , wherein the device further comprises a device integrator adapted to provide communication between a plurality of the one or more networks. 
     
     
         242 . The device of  claim 240 , wherein the controller is coupled for communication with one or more control devices disposed on the one or more networks and adapted to monitor and control aspects of a process. 
     
     
         243 . The device of  claim 229 , further comprising one or more networked I/O modules for providing interoperability between control systems. 
     
     
         244 . The device of  claim 229 , wherein the at least one communication connection comprises at least two communication connections operating according to different protocols from one another. 
     
     
         245 . A device for a process control system, comprising:
 a powered Ethernet connection adapted to provide power to the device and a communication connection adapted to provide for communication with a field device via a communication link that provides power to the field device; and   a virtual machine environment that executes a byte code therein, the byte code configuring the controller to execute a control program for controlling filed devices within a control network.   
     
     
         246 . The device of  claim 245 , wherein the device further includes a first network I/O card for providing the powered Ethernet connection and a second network I/O card for providing the communication connection. 
     
     
         247 . The device of  claim 245 , wherein the device further comprises:
 a processor for implementing station management software and for communicating with a control device adapted to monitor and control aspects of a process and a field device; and   a memory for storing data.   
     
     
         248 . A control device for a system, comprising:
 a powered Ethernet connection for communicating with a control network, the powered Ethernet connection providing power to the control device;   a processor that executes a control algorithm to control one or more field devices associated with the control device; and   a virtual machine environment that executes a byte code therein, the byte code configuring the controller to execute a control program for controlling filed devices within a control network.   
     
     
         249 . The control device of  claim 248 , wherein the field devices are sensing devices adapted to sense any of (i) an environmental condition and (ii) a physical condition, the physical condition comprising any of temperature, pressure, flow, and position. 
     
     
         250 . The control device of  claim 248 , wherein the field devices are actuators adapted to control a mechanism affecting a physical condition of an environment. 
     
     
         251 . The control device of  claim 250 , wherein the mechanism comprises any of a valve, paddle, inlet, and outlet. 
     
     
         252 . The control device of  claim 248 , wherein the processor further executes another control algorithm that at least one of (i) maintains the system at a desired level, and (ii) drives it to that level as a function of one or more measured values and one or more setpoints. 
     
     
         253 . The control device of  claim 248 , wherein the processor further executes station management software adapted to allow the control device to report on any of health information, performance information, and status information. 
     
     
         254 . The control device of  claim 248 , further comprising:
 a bus connection for communicating with one or more field devices via a bus operating in substantial accord with a protocol selected from the group consisting of: Foundation Fieldbus, Foxcomm, Profibus, ControlNet, Modbus, Devicenet, HART, NodeBus, and LonWorks.