Method for updating device descriptions for field devices in process automation technology

Translation of description of equivalent WO 2004013712 A1

A method of updating device descriptions for field devices of process automation technology

The invention relates to a method for updating device descriptions for field devices of process automation technology in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

In process automation technology, field devices are used for detecting and influencing process variables. Examples of field devices are temperature gauges that detect the temperature of a process medium, flow meters that detect the flow of a process fluid in a section of pipeline or level meters that detect the level of a liquid or bulk material in a container.

The field devices are usually via a data bus with higher-level controllers z. B. Process Control Systems DCS or engineering system connected, one of which is controlled and monitored from the process flow and also allows direct access to individual field devices is possible. With direct access to the field device can from the control unit settings on the field device be changed or diagnostic functions of the field device are called. In the control unit the measured values ​​of the various sensors are evaluated or monitored and activated the corresponding actuators for process control. The data transmission between field devices and control units by known international standards for field buses such. B. HART, Foundation Fieldbus®, Profibus® or CAN Bus® etc.

In process automation technology, field devices are often used differently by the manufacturer. The operation of the field devices by means of PC-based applications, in particular the Parametrization and support commissioning and diagnostics of individual field devices partly graphically.

Examples of such display and control programs are AMS® of Fisher-Rosemount, Simatic PDM® Siemens Smart Vision® ABB WO® of Vega or Commuwin® II from Endress + Hauser.

To facilitate the operation of various field devices from a control unit, the control unit must be the functionality of the respective field device known. The functionality of the field device is using so-called device description (Device Descriptions DDs) described. For this purpose there is a special language, the Device Descriptions Language DDL available. With this standardized language can the control system or another operating device (handheld) the necessary information about the functionality of a particular field device are provided other bus in particular. In general, the device descriptions are created by the field device manufacturer and delivered to the respective field device z. B. by diskette.

During commissioning of the field device then the corresponding device description will be installed from the application program.

The problem here is that device descriptions are partially updated by the manufacturer. Then the appropriate users have the latest device descriptions (updates) will be sent and then subsequently to install manually by means of the application program.

In this method there is no guarantee that the user has the most current device description in use. Particularly in safety-related process applications, it is imperative that the user the latest device description, particularly when Programming error (bug fixing) have occurred in a device description version is available.

Object of the present invention is to provide a method for updating device descriptions for field devices in process automation, which does not have the drawbacks mentioned above, which allows particularly simple and risk update.

This object is achieved by the method defined in claim. 1

The essential idea of ​​the invention is to save device descriptions for field devices on a central server and that an application program, which loads in a control unit, which requires an appropriate device information for operating a field device to query the device type of the field device from the server.

Advantageous further developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The invention of an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing is explained in more detail. Show it:

FIG. 1 process automation system in schematic representation.

In Fig. 1 is a process automation system with a plurality of field devices F1, F2, F3, which are connected via a data bus and a gateway G with a corporate network. The field devices F1, F2, F3 can be etc. z. B. to pressure gauge, temperature gauge or flow meter. In addition to the field devices, a remote lO is connected to the data bus. About the Remote lO HART® can - field devices are connected to the data bus D. The data bus D may be a Foundation Fieldbus® eg - act H1 bus.. The company network F z. B. operates according to the Ethernet standard (TCP / IP protocol). At the corporate network F is for control units of two computers (such as workstations or PCs) PC1 and PC2 connected which are used to control, engineering and monitoring of the process plant. Furthermore, the corporate network F is connected to a firewall IS, which communicates via the Internet to a remote server I S.

The inventive method is explained in more detail. Runs example in a control unit such. As computer PC1 a specific application such. As to service, configuration, parameterization or diagnosis of a field device F1, F2, F3, which for its operation

Device descriptions required (device descriptions) to field devices, the application sends a request to the field device to use as F1 and interrogates the device type of this field device. Does the application program in the controller, the required information on this particular field device F1 is not or not in the current version, so are the necessary device descriptions via the Internet from the server S, on which the current device descriptions are stored, loaded.

Thus there is always in the application program, the latest device information available. To avoid unnecessary data transfer, the current device information is loaded only by the server S, when the information stored in the control unit PC1 device information differs from the data stored in the field device F1. This is especially in the commissioning of the field device of the case, because at this time in the control unit PC1 is no information yet saved to this field device.

Because device descriptions may change as updates and bug fixes (bug fixing) over time, directed the application program periodically requests to the server S, whether amended device descriptions exist. In the simplest manner, the connection between control unit PC1 or PC2 and server S via the Internet through the firewall I IS occurs.

The connection between control unit PC1 and field device F1 via a data bus D. The display and operating program of the company. Endress + Hauser CommuWin II® allows a graphical device configuration, device diagnostics with error code and text explaining and device operation provides. For this application as device descriptions Device Descriptions DDs are needed.

Advantageously, therefore, it is in the device descriptions to device descriptions DD to the field devices F1, F2, F3

Because not only device descriptions can change over time, but also to certain firmware field devices, it makes sense to load the latest firmware from the server S.

By request of the application program to the server S, specific information of different field devices and field devices of different users to the server S are transmitted. These can be stored in the server S for statistical purposes. For the user, it is certainly very advantageous if the updated device description and the latest firmware is installed automatically.

Another advantage of the method is that pre-configured device descriptions for specific applications of a field device in the server S are stored and loaded from the application program, if selected by the user. This parameterization of field devices is made much easier. Partial use application programs (such as ToF-Tool® Endress + Hauser) and the respective local language.

In a simple way the device descriptions are stored in the local language. Thus the information needed for the user to put in his local language and translation errors can be easily corrected. With the help of the inventive method ensures that an application program always have the latest device descriptions.