Patent ID: 7496041

Claim:
An auto-tuner for use in a distributed process control network to tune a process control loop having a control entity that controls a first field device within a process and a measurement entity disposed in a field device that measures a process variable associated with the process, the auto-tuner comprising: a first tuning element configured to generate a tuning control signal for use by the control entity within the process control loop during a tuning procedure; a first data collection entity disposed within the first field device that collects and stores a plurality control data signals associated with the control entity during the tuning procedure and a time indication associated with one or more of the control data signals; a second data collection entity disposed within the same field device as the measurement entity that collects and stores a plurality of measurement data signals associated with the measurement entity during the tuning procedure and a time indication associated with one or more of the measurement data signals; and a second tuning element configured to receive the plurality of control data signals and the plurality of measurement data signals and to determine a tuning parameter for use in tuning the control entity from the plurality of control data signals and the plurality of measurement data signals.