23 results about "In process control" patented technology

The embodiment of the invention discloses a quality data evaluation method for a multi-variety small-batch manufacturing process, and the method comprises the steps: 1, employing a tolerance coefficient method as a data conversion algorithm, and obtaining a tolerance utilization rate of a single monitoring characteristic; step 2, performing process capability evaluation on each monitoring characteristic, combining standardized data of multiple monitoring characteristics for single monitoring characteristics capable of accumulating the total sample number N and single monitoring characteristics incapable of accumulating the total sample number N so as to perform control process capability evaluation, and performing process control in an auxiliary single-value monitoring mode; and step 3, evaluating the control process capability in the step 2, and formulating a quality state evaluation criterion of multi-variety small-batch process control. According to the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the invention, the problems of low accuracy of quality evaluation, difficulty in establishing an effective control model and control limit and the like of a quality control mode of multi-variety and small-batch products are solved.

A Multi-Purpose Dynamic Simulation and run-time Control platform includes a virtual process environment coupled to a physical process environment, where components / nodes of the virtual and physical process environments cooperate to dynamically perform run-time process control of an industrial process plant and / or simulations thereof. Virtual components may include virtual run-time nodes and / or simulated nodes. The MPDSC includes an I / O Switch which delivers I / O data between virtual and / or physical nodes, e.g., by using publish / subscribe mechanisms, thereby virtualizing physical I / O process data delivery. Nodes serviced by the I / O Switch may include respective component behavior modules that are unaware as to whether or not they are being utilized on a virtual or physical node. Simulations may be performed in real-time and even in conjunction with run-time operations of the plant, and / or simulations may be manipulated as desired (speed, values, administration, etc.). The platform simultaneously supports simulation and run-time operations and interactions / intersections therebetween.

A process plant and industrial control system architecture includes a generalized compute fabric that is agnostic or indifferent to the physical location at which the compute fabric is implemented, includes one or more physical control or field devices located at one or more specific sites at which a product or process is being manufactured and further includes a transport network that securely provides communications between the compute fabric and the pool of physical devices. The compute fabric includes an application layer that includes configured containers or containerized software modules that perform various control, monitoring and configuration activities with respect to one or more devices, control strategies and control loops, sites, plants, or facilities at which control is performed, and includes a physical layer including computer processing and data storage equipment that can be located at any desired location, including at or near a site, plant, or facility at which control is being performed, at a dedicated location away from the location at which control is being performed, in re-assignable computer equipment provided in the cloud, or any combination thereof. This control architecture enables significant amounts of both computer processing and IT infrastructure that is used to support a process plant, an industrial control facility or other automation facility to be implemented in a shared, in an offsite and / or in a virtualized manner that alleviates many of the communications and security issues present in current process and industrial control systems that attempt to implement control with shared or virtualized computing resources set up according to the well-known Purdue model.The industrial control system architecture is protected via more secure and customizable techniques as compared to those used in Purdue model-based control systems. For example, communications between any (and in some cases, all) endpoints of the system may be protected via one or more virtual private networks to which authenticated endpoints must be authorized to access. Endpoints may include, for example, containerized components, physical components, devices, sites or locations, the compute fabric, and the like, and the VPNs may include mutually-exclusive and / or nested VPNs. External applications and services, whether automated or executing under the purview of a person, may access information and services provided by the system via only APIs, and different sets of APIs may be exposed to different users that have been authenticated and authorized to access respective sets of APIs.A configuration system operates within the compute fabric to enable a user to easily make configuration changes to the compute fabric as the user does not generally need to specify the computer hardware within the compute fabric to use to make the configuration changes, making it possible for the user to deploy new configuration elements with simple programming steps, and in some cases with the push of a button.

To communicatively couple field devices to process controllers in a process control system using multiple physical layers that support different communication protocols.SOLUTION: A process control input / output (I / O) device 26, 28, 29 in a field environment 122 of a process control system 5 provides traditional I / O support with direct physical layers or interfaces associated with traditional process control communication protocols while at the same time supporting an advanced physical layer (APL physical layer) or other IP based physical layer and the communication protocols that run on top of them in order to perform communications with field devices 15 to 24. In addition, the new I / O device nests protocols inside of other protocols for use when protocols, such as safety protocols, require additional handshaking, confirmations, etc.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

To provide a user interface environment for enabling creation and configuration of a process plant display.SOLUTION: A display configuration system can create a process display called a dashboard in the same interface to be used to allow a plant operator to browse operation of a process plant. The operator is more productive because the operator can more quickly create an own specialized dashboard when determining that the dashboard is necessary. The dashboard has a defined arrangement for designating a place at which a display element can be shown in the dashboard. The operator can easily create content on the own dashboard by using a display formation unit called a gadget defined in advance to be configurable so as to be able to be stored in a library in advance and so as to be usable by the operator during dashboard creation activity.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

To provide techniques for utilizing distributed ledgers in process control systems in order to provide a trusted, secure and immutable record of transactions within a process plant.SOLUTION: The distributed ledgers are maintained by nodes which receive transactions broadcasted from field devices, controllers, operator workstations, or other devices operating within a process plant 10. The transactions include process plant data, such as process parameter data, product parameter data, configuration data, user interaction data, maintenance data, and commissioning data. The distributed ledgers are also utilized to execute smart contracts to allow machines such as field devices to transact by themselves without human intervention, so that recorded process parameter values and product parameter values are retrieved to verify the quality of products.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to managing introduction of updates in a process control function. A method for managing the introduction of updates in a process control function in a network centric process control system (10) wherein a first version of the process control function is being run in a controller node (12) and has a plurality of original states; and a second version of the process control function is provided in the process control system (10), at least a first portion of which is provided in the process control function processing node (14), the second version having a plurality of new states corresponding to the original state. The method includes testing the second version with respect to the run of the first version, the testing including comparing a new state of the second version with a corresponding original state of the run of the first version, and switching to use the second version instead of the first version after the second version has been found to be satisfactory, the discovery is made based on a comparison of states of the first and second versions of the process control function.

Systems, apparatus, articles of manufacture, and methods are disclosed for license management of field devices in process control systems. An example apparatus includes interface circuitry; instructions; and processor circuitry to be programmed by the instructions to: identify a field device of a plurality of field devices in a process control system; determine a first version of a license of the field device; and in response to a request to change the first version of the license to a second version of the license: compare the second version of the license to a current version of the license; enable: (1) transmission of the second version of the license to the field device when (a) the second version of the license matches the current version of the license and (b) the field device is communicatively coupled to the processor circuitry; or (2) download of the second version of the license to a transportable memory device when (a) the second version of the license matches the current version of the license and (b) the field device is air-gapped relative to the processor circuitry; and deny either transmission of the second version of the license to the field device or download of the second version of the license to the transportable memory device when the second version does not match the current version.

A process control or automation system configured to control a plurality of process control or automation field devices in a process, includes a compute fabric executing a plurality of instantiated micro-encapsulated execution environments (MEEEs) that cooperate to control the process. Each of the plurality of field devices operates to sense a parameter of the process and output the sensed parameter of the process to an input of the compute fabric and / or to affect a parameter of the process according to an input received from the compute fabric. The system also includes a plurality of digital twin services, each instantiated as one or more of the plurality of instantiated MEEEs, each having an associated one or group of field devices, and each operable to mimic non-physical operation of the one or group of field devices.

A method (40) for setting process control for manufacturing a device in production comprises the steps of: obtaining (S1) measurements (MET, ART) characterizing the device; specifying (S2) a process step (14) that should be used to process the component; a parameterization of the process step (14) is determined (S3) for the process step (14) by means of an R2R controller on the basis of the measurement results (MET, ART). The method (40) is characterized in that the measurement result is either a virtual measurement result (ART), or a virtual measurement result (ART) and a physical measurement result (MET).

To provide a method for presenting a user interface in operation environment of a process plant by use of a plurality of graphical display themes.SOLUTION: Configuring a display theme object to indicate a plurality of themes via which a display view can be presented at the user interface is included. The display theme object has a parameter value which is changeable, within an operating environment, to indicate a desired theme and the display theme object is downloaded from a configuration environment into the operating environment. Thus, during runtime, changing the theme via which the graphical display view is presented is achieved without any additional downloads or communications with the configuration environment. User controls may be provided to an operator to select different themes, and / or to override various visual aspects of themes to achieve optimum visibility. Themes may be automatically changed on the basis of sensed conditions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2A

1. The name of the design product: heat exchanger (heat transfer process experimental device). 2. The use of the design product: used in process control, industrial manufacturing field, and used for heat transfer experimental test. 3. The design points of the design product: in the combination of shape and pattern. 4. The picture or photo that best indicates the design points: perspective view 2.

Methods, systems, and devices for event-based control in a process plant include storing in a field device a default update period for a process variable, a deadband for the process variable, and a setpoint tolerance for the process variable. The method also includes receiving, from a controller implementing a control strategy or from a second field device that receives the setpoint from the controller, a setpoint corresponding to the process variable. The method includes periodically determining a current value of the process variable, and transmitting to the controller the value of the process variable if any one of the following conditions is met: an amount of time elapsed since a most recent transmitted value was transmitted exceeds the default update period value; a difference between the current value and a most recent value exceeds the deadband value; a difference between the current value and the setpoint exceeds the setpoint tolerance.

To provide a verification network node in a process plant on a distributed ledger network.SOLUTION: A verification network node 500 includes at least one processor 502, a memory 504, a communication module 506, an application 508 set, an external port 510, a block chain manager 514, a smart contract, and an operating system. A transaction may be broadcast to another network node by generating a new transaction block or using the block chain manager 514. The node 500 also uses the block chain manager 514 together with the smart contract stored in the memory 504. The memory 504 contains chain data 524 including a state database of a block chain storing a state of the smart contract expanded thereon.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

1. The name of the design product: digital display indicating signal lamp. 2. The use of the design product: used in line for indicating signal, converting analog signal in process control system into digital display, and measuring and monitoring voltage, current, temperature, frequency and other parameters in system. 3. The design points of the design product: in shape. 4. The picture or photo that can best show the design points: perspective view 1.

This paper describes techniques for configuring voting blocks used in process control systems in process plants. Depending on certain aspects, the voting block can have a voting scheme that specifies the output based on a set of inputs, wherein the voting block can be parametrically configured using various control options that guide the behavior of the voting scheme. Specifically, bypass degradation options can be specified for one or more inputs, controlling whether a "bypass" input degrades the voting scheme; state degradation options can be specified for one or more inputs, controlling whether a "bad" input degrades the voting scheme; and trip enable options can be specified, controlling whether tripping occurs automatically under certain conditions. These control options allow the voting block to be configured to conform to various specifications and other requirements.

A valve system 350 for facilitating triple redundancy that is based on three pilot operated 5X2 solenoid valves (SOVs) incorporates isolation valves 500 to individually isolate any of the three SOVs 302 without affection functioning of the valve system 350, and visual indicator valves (VIVs) 400 to indicate true state of the corresponding solenoid valve 302. The isolation valves 500 include six valve side ports coupled to the ports of the corresponding SOV, and six line side ports coupled to fluid lines. VIVs 400 receive pressure signals from more than one fluid lines fluidically coupled to the corresponding SOV 302, and processes the pressure signals to move to an open position for providing an output pressure signal indicative of an energized state of The SOV 302.

The present invention relates to a method for laser processing of a workpiece (1) with a laser processing device (100), wherein the laser processing device (100) comprises a laser beam generating source (2), a processing head (4) and a spectrometer (5). The spectrometer (5) enables monitoring of plasma radiation (6) generated during laser processing, which offers advantages in process control.

Systems, apparatus, articles of manufacture, and methods are disclosed for license management of field devices in process control systems. An example apparatus includes interface circuitry; instructions; and processor circuitry to be programmed by the instructions to: identify a field device of a plurality of field devices in a process control system; determine a first version of a license of the field device; and in response to a request to change the first version of the license to a second version of the license: compare the second version of the license to a current version of the license; and deny either transmission of the second version of the license to the field device or download of the second version of the license to the transportable memory device when the second version does not match the current version.

The application relates to the technical field of industrial automation, and particularly discloses a layered data interaction industrial measurement and control method, which binds field sensors and actuators through an embedded control module, collects equipment operation data, and executes local autonomous process control logic. When communication is abnormal or interrupted, the embedded control module stores event data and a consistency identifier in a local cache unit to maintain autonomous operation, thereby avoiding system shutdown caused by communication interruption; after communication is restored, breakpoint continuation and integrity check are completed based on the consistency identifier, so that data integrity and business continuity are guaranteed. The layered architecture of software and hardware decoupling provides a standardized data interface to one or more upper software platforms through a data interaction and distribution mechanism, the upper platforms are only used for data display, analysis, reporting or business integration, do not participate in process control, stability, expansibility and adaptability are improved, and the method is suitable for various industrial measurement and control scenes.

Methods for semantic integration of OPC UA information models in a process control system, and corresponding systems and computer readable media. A method (300) performed by a federated information system (200) includes receiving (306), by a first node (202a) of the federated information system (200), a query for desired information from a calling process. The method includes propagating (308), by the first node (202a), a query to a plurality of other nodes (202b, 202c) of the federated information system (200). The method includes identifying (310), by each of the plurality of other nodes (202b, 202c), response information corresponding to the query, and aggregating (312) the response information from each of the plurality of other nodes (202b, 202c). The method comprises: storing (312) the aggregated response information in a mapping knowledge domain of the first node (202a); and returning (314), by the first node (202a), the aggregated response information to the calling process.

Methods, systems, and devices for event-based control in a process plant include storing in a field device a default update period for a process variable, a deadband for the process variable, and a setpoint tolerance for the process variable. The method also includes receiving, from a controller implementing a control strategy or from a second field device that receives the setpoint from the controller, a setpoint corresponding to the process variable. The method includes periodically determining a current value of the process variable, and transmitting to the controller the value of the process variable if any one of the following conditions is met: an amount of time elapsed since a most recent transmitted value was transmitted exceeds the default update period value; a difference between the current value and a most recent value exceeds the deadband value; a difference between the current value and the setpoint exceeds the setpoint tolerance.

An automated spraying method for manufacturing thermal barrier coatings on multi-dimensional complex components is disclosed, relating to the field of thermal barrier coating preparation technology. This invention addresses the problems of existing methods, such as reliance on manual intervention in process transitions and lack of real-time feedback in process control. The invention involves pre-blasting protection of the component's film pores: a Teflon wire of a first diameter is inserted into the film pores, with a first length reserved on the inside; the component's spraying area is roughened by sandblasting; the pre-blasting protective material is removed, and pre-coating protection is applied: a Teflon wire of a second diameter is re-inserted into the film pores, with a second length reserved on the inside; an automated spraying program is used for the undercoat spraying, during which the workpiece temperature is monitored in real time and controlled within a predetermined temperature range, and the undercoat spraying is completed in one pass; after the undercoat spraying is completed, the thickness is measured; an automated spraying program is used for the topcoat spraying; and both the undercoat and topcoat coatings are heat-treated. This invention is used for thermal barrier coating spraying.