Fieldbus Connection Unit for Independent Process Data Offloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automation systems face challenges in efficiently connecting to external data infrastructures without diverting resources from process control, leading to potential safety issues and increased computational loads.
Innovation Solution
A connection unit comprising a fieldbus module, network module, and interface module, allowing for independent exchange of process data between the field level and external data infrastructure, decoupling data transmission from control processes and enabling platform-independent data exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the control unit forwards process data to external data infrastructure, then data transmission capability is improved, but computational load and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into control level (control unit) and field level (connection unit). The connection unit is a separate field device that handles data transmission to external infrastructure, while the control unit focuses on process control. This segmentation allows data forwarding functionality to be added without increasing the computational load of the control unit.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the control unit processes and forwards data, then data exchange functionality is improved, but process control safety may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the data transmission function into an independent connection unit at the field level, the control unit's responsibility for process control safety is preserved. The connection unit operates independently to handle external data communication, creating a functional separation that protects the control process from external communication disturbances.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection unit acts as an intermediary between the control system and external data infrastructure. It receives process data from signal units via fieldbus and forwards it to external systems, mediating the data exchange without requiring the control unit to directly handle external communications.
3Productivity
If control unit resources are used for data storage and analysis, then local processing capability is improved, but hardware resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The data storage and analysis functions are extracted from the control unit and relocated to external data infrastructure. The connection unit simply forwards data to external systems where storage and analysis occur, allowing the control unit to maintain focus on real-time process control without bearing the hardware resource burden of data management.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a connection unit (100) for transmitting process data of an automation process of an automation system (1) to an external data infrastructure (4), which is designed as a field device for arrangement in a field plane (20) of the automation system (1). The connection unit (100) comprises a field bus module (110), a network module (130) and an interface module (120). The field bus module (110) can be connected to a field bus (102) and is designed to exchange the process data via the field bus (102) with a signal unit (40, 41, 42, 43) that is connected to the automation process via a field connection (25). The network module (130) can be connected to an external data network (7) and is designed to exchange the process data via the external data network (7) with the external data infrastructure (4). The interface module (120) is connected to the network module (130) and the field bus module (110) for an exchange of the process data between the field bus module (110) and the network module (130), and is designed to independently permit the exchange of the process data between the network module (130) and the external data infrastructure (4).