Michael R Ott

US Patent:

6868538, Mar 15, 2005

Filed:

May 2, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/563212

Inventors:

Mark J. Nixon - Round Rock TX, US
Dennis L. Stevenson - Round Rock TX, US
Michael G. Ott - Austin TX, US
Stephen G. Hammack - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc. - Austin TX

International Classification:

G06F009/44
G05B015/00

US Classification:

717100, 700 83

Abstract:

An apparatus having a programmable processor and a memory for performing a plurality of user-selectable control functions includes a database for storing a plurality of items associated with each of the control functions. The items include, for each function, at least one procedure for performing an action associated with the control function and a specification of at least one state associated with the control function. The apparatus further includes software routines stored on the memory and adapted to be executed by the processor that facilitate selection of a procedure in the database, that access the database and cause performance of the selected procedure to achieve the state specified therein, and that monitor at least one resource associated with the action of the procedure and, based thereon, determine whether the specified state has been achieved.

US Patent:

6975966, Dec 13, 2005

Filed:

Sep 26, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/672000

Inventors:

Cindy Scott - Georgetown TX, US
Gary Law - Georgetown TX, US
Michael G. Ott - Austin TX, US
Godfrey Sherriff - Austin TX, US
Robert Havekost - Elgin TX, US

Assignee:

Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc. - Austin TX

International Classification:

G06F011/30
G06F015/16
G05B009/02

US Classification:

702183, 700 4, 700 79, 709233

Abstract:

A process plant includes a safety system that is physically and logically integrated with a process control system such that the safety system and the process control system can use common communication, diagnostic and display hardware and software within the process plant while still providing functional isolation between the safety system controllers and the process control system controllers. This integrated process control and safety system uses a common data communication structure for both the safety system and the process control system so that applications can send data to and receive data from devices in either system in the same manner, e. g. , using the same communication hardware and software. However, the common data communication structure is set up to distinguish process control system devices from safety system devices using tags, addresses or other fields within the messages sent to or received from the devices, which enables data associated with the process control system to be distinguishable from data associated with the safety system, thereby enabling a diagnostic application within a user interface to automatically treat this data differently depending on the source (or destination) of the data.

US Patent:

7010450, Mar 7, 2006

Filed:

Sep 22, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/668013

Inventors:

Gary Law - Georgetown TX, US
Michael G. Ott - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc. - Austin TX

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

702108, 714 25

Abstract:

A process control or safety instrumented system uses function block logic to coordinate the logic within the process control or safety instrumented system with operational states of field devices, even when these operational states are initiated externally to the process control or safety system. Logic within input or voter function blocks associated with field devices may monitor and determine when the associated field devices are being put into testing or calibration modes and may automatically initiate appropriate bypass or override functionality in response to such detected field device configuration states. Likewise, the function block logic may automatically remove the bypass or override functionality when the field devices are placed back into their normal operational configuration states. This automatic initiation of bypasses and overrides helps to prevent a safety system within a process plant from initiating a shut-down procedure as a result of a device test initiated manually by, for example, a hand-held device attached to a field device. Likewise, the automatic removal of bypasses and overrides helps to prevent a safety system within a process plant from failing to operate properly because a user forgot to manually remove a bypass or override that was set up to allow a device test.

US Patent:

7043311, May 9, 2006

Filed:

Feb 18, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/368151

Inventors:

Mark Nixon - Round Rock TX, US
Michael Lucas - Broughton Astley, GB
Arthur Webb - Loughborough, GB
Herschel Koska - San Marcos TX, US
Jian Li - Austin TX, US
Larry Jundt - Round Rock TX, US
Dennis Stevenson - Round Rock TX, US
Robert Havekost - Austin TX, US
Michael Ott - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc. - Austin TX

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

700 83, 700 28, 705401

Abstract:

A configuration system for a process plant uses module class objects to assist in configuring, organizing and changing the control and display activities within the process plant. Each module class object generically models or represents a process entity, such as a unit, a piece of equipment, a control activity, etc. , and may be used to create instances of the object, called module objects, which represent and are tied to specific equipment within the process plant. The module class objects may represent process entities of any desired scope, which means that a single module class object may be used to configure the control and display activities of process entities of any desired scope within the process plant, instead of just at a control module level. In particular, module class objects of a large scope may be used to configure large sections or portions of the process plant, which makes configuration of the process plant easier and less time consuming. A module class object may be a unit module class object reflecting a physical unit within the process plant, an equipment module class object reflecting a physical piece of equipment within the process plant, a control module class object reflecting a control module or scheme within the process plant, or a display module class object reflecting a display routine that provides information to a user within the process plant.

US Patent:

7117052, Oct 3, 2006

Filed:

May 25, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/853668

Inventors:

J. Michael Lucas - Leicestershire, GB
Arthur Webb - Manila, PH
Mark J. Nixon - Round Rock TX, US
Larry O. Jundt - Round Rock TX, US
Jian Li - Austin TX, US
Dennis L. Stevenson - Round Rock TX, US
Michael G. Ott - Austin TX, US
Herschel O. Koska - San Marcos TX, US
Robert B. Havekost - Elgin TX, US

Assignee:

Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc. - Austin TX

International Classification:

G05B 9/02

US Classification:

700 83, 700 28, 719315, 707103 Y

Abstract:

A version control system helps to keep track of versions of process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant. The process plant items may comprise, for example, module objects which may be capable of specifically representing process entities of the process plant. These module objects may be created from module class objects which may be capable of generically representing process entities of the process plant. Version data is stored and associated with a module object. The version data may comprise data indicative of a version of a module class object that was used to create the module object. The version data may also comprise data indicative of a version of the module object. Configuration systems, version control systems, viewing systems, debugging systems, run-time monitoring systems, asset management systems, etc. , may examine or permit viewing of the version control data associated with an item.

US Patent:

7237109, Jun 26, 2007

Filed:

Sep 26, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/672549

Inventors:

Cindy Scott - Georgetown TX, US
Gary Law - Georgetown TX, US
Michael G. Ott - Austin TX, US
Godfrey Sherriff - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

Fisher- Rosemount Systems, Inc. - Austin TX

International Classification:

G06F 1/24

US Classification:

713164, 713166, 713168, 713193

Abstract:

A process plant includes a safety system that is physically and logically integrated with a process control system such that the safety system and the process control system can use common security, communication and display hardware and software within the process plant while still providing functional isolation between the safety system controllers and the process control system controllers. This integrated process control and safety system uses a common data communication structure for both the safety system and the process control system so that applications can send data to and receive data from devices in either system in the same manner, e. g. , using the same communication hardware and software. However, the common data communication structure is set up enable a security application to distinguish process control system devices from safety system devices using tags, addresses or other fields within the messages sent to or received from the devices, which enables data associated with the process control system to be distinguishable from data associated with the safety system, thereby enabling the security application within a user interface to automatically treat this data differently depending on the source (or destination) of the data.

US Patent:

7289861, Oct 30, 2007

Filed:

Jan 28, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/352396

Inventors:

Tom Aneweer - Round Rock TX, US
Kent A. Burr - Round Rock TX, US
Larry O. Jundt - Round Rock TX, US
Gary K. Law - Georgetown TX, US
Marty J. Lewis - Cedar Park TX, US
Julian K. Naidoo - Cedar Park TX, US
Michael G. Ott - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc. - Austin TX

International Classification:

G06F 19/00
G06F 11/00

US Classification:

700110, 714 24, 714 31

Abstract:

A process plant includes a process control system having a safety system embedded therein. The integrated process control and safety system includes a host computer arranged to send and receive process level messages and safety level messages, a controller operatively connected to the host computer by a first communication network, at least one first input/output device adapted for operative communication with at least one process control field device, and at least one second input/output device adapted for operative communication with at least one safety-related field device. The first and second input/output devices are operatively connected to the controller via a second communication bus. The second input/output device includes a processor programmed to monitor both the process level messages and the safety level messages, to distinguish the process level messages from safety level messages, to select the safety level messages and to communicate with the safety-related field device based on the safety level messages.

US Patent:

7330768, Feb 12, 2008

Filed:

Sep 26, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/672548

Inventors:

Cindy Scott - Georgetown TX, US
Julian Naidoo - Cedar Park TX, US
Gary Law - Georgetown TX, US
Michael G. Ott - Austin TX, US
Deeann Gates Del Guzzi - Pflugerville TX, US

Assignee:

Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc. - Austin TX

International Classification:

G05B 9/02

US Classification:

700 79, 700 21

Abstract:

A process plant includes a safety system that is physically and logically integrated with a process control system such that the safety system and the process control system can use common communication, configuration hardware and software within the process plant while still providing functional isolation between the safety system controllers and the process control system controllers. This integrated process control and safety system uses a common data communication structure for both the safety system and the process control system so that the configuration application can send data to and receive data from devices in either system in the same manner, e. g. , using the same communication hardware and software. However, the common data communication structure is set up to distinguish process control system devices from safety system devices using tags, addresses or other fields within the messages sent to or received from the devices, which enables data associated with the process control system to be distinguishable from data associated with the safety system, thereby enabling a configuration application within a user interface to automatically treat this data differently depending on the source (or destination) of the data.