US 12,282,313 B2
Modular control network architecture
Harshal S. Haridas, Jamison, PA (US); and Angela Lee Lordi, Landsdale, PA (US)
Assigned to Honeywell International Inc., Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by Honeywell International Inc., Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on Feb. 23, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/678,976.
Prior Publication US 2023/0266748 A1, Aug. 24, 2023
Int. Cl. G05B 19/41 (2006.01); G05B 19/418 (2006.01)
CPC G05B 19/41855 (2013.01) [G05B 19/41835 (2013.01); G05B 2219/21015 (2013.01); G05B 2219/21098 (2013.01); G05B 2219/25174 (2013.01); G05B 2219/25339 (2013.01); G05B 2219/25428 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus connected to at least one input/output (I/O) module and to at least one controller of an industrial distributed control system comprising:
a control component including a processor that executes operating software that implements operating configurations for the apparatus;
at least one I/O port connected to the control component, the at least one I/O port configurable by the operating software to enable port configurations for connecting the at least one I/O module to the apparatus;
an expansion component connected to the control component having at least one expansion port connected to the at least one controller, the expansion port connecting the at least one controller to the control component for communicating data and control signals to and from the at least one controller to the at least one I/O module, wherein the control component is connected to the expansion component using a data plane connection and a separate control plane connection; and
a security component for regulating access to the apparatus based upon one or more security attributes.