Control system simulator and simplified interconnection control system

Abstract

A computer-based simulator, separate from a computer process control system, that simplifies the electrical interconnection of the computer-based simulator to the computer control system and reduces the number of hardware components required to effect a computer-based simulator. The invention also facilitates remote configuration and operation of the control and simulator systems.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process simulation system for a control system of a physical process comprising:
 (a) a configurable connector module including:
 (i) a device communication connector apparatus for connecting at least one conductor between said module and at least one control system input or output signal; and 
 (ii) interface apparatus for causing said module to place any of a plurality of signals on any of a plurality of contacts of said device communication connector apparatus, wherein said interface apparatus includes at least one electronic integrated circuit providing a selectable interconnection apparatus to a particular one of said contacts, one of said contacts connects to a sensor device, and said interface apparatus is configurable by a user of said system; and 
   (b) a simulator for managing signals corresponding to a simulated physical process,   
       whereby the operations of the control system during the physical process are simulated and the sensor device is controlled by said module. 
     
     
         2 . The process simulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the simulator is external to the module. 
     
     
         3 . The process simulation system of  claim 2 , wherein the simulator is connected to the module via a network connection. 
     
     
         4 . The process simulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the simulator is internal to the module. 
     
     
         5 . The process simulation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second configurable connector module, wherein the second module is configured to simulate the control system. 
     
     
         6 . A method of configuring simulator channels on a configurable connectorized system, said system comprising a module including (i) a device communication connector apparatus with a plurality of contacts and (ii) an interface apparatus including at least one electronic integrated circuit providing a selectable interconnection apparatus to a corresponding at least one of said contacts, said method comprising the steps of commanding said interface apparatus to place any of a plurality of signals on any of said plurality of contacts of said device communication connector apparatus wherein said commanding steps include a system controller commanding communication instructions to said module to simulate a plurality of steps in a physical process controlled by a control system.