METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING CONTROL USING A MULTIPLE REDUNDANT PROCESSOR CONTROL SYSTEM

摘要

Described herein is a control system for executing application programs and monitoring and controlling control system elements. The control system includes triplicated main processor modules (1) which communicate, via a communication system module (3), with a number of selective field I/O modules (2) which interface with the control system elements. The control system further includes a common enclosure structure for separately housing each of the main processor modules, I/O modules and communication modules, and a mounting apparatus for securing various modules to a rail system. A plurality of different face plate covers permit selective display of face plate indicators. The control system further includes a time synchronization system for ensuring the main processor modules. The control system also includes a voting mode selection system. Finally, the control system includes a loop-back system to check transfers across a bus system in the control system.