Configurable hardware platform for measurement or control
First Claim
1. A configurable interface circuit supporting selectable operational modes, including modes for analog measurement and analog output on a configurable channel, including a configurable drive circuit and a configurable measurement circuit, coupleable to at least one field device that is external to an integrated circuit, the interface circuit comprising:
- the integrated circuit including;
the configurable drive circuit including a current mode of operation, wherein a resistor is coupled to the configurable drive circuit and to the at least one field device that is external to the integrated circuit, the resistor to provide a current measurement element and a current control element; and
the configurable measurement circuit coupled to the resistor and configured to monitor, using the resistor, a current forced through the configurable drive circuit, via the resistor, by the at least one field device.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems for monitoring or control can include reconfigurable input and output channels. Such reconfigurable channels can include as few as a single terminal and a ground pin, or such channels can include three or four terminal configuration such as for use in four-terminal resistance measurements. Channel reconfiguration can be accomplished such as using software-enabled or firmware-enabled control of channel hardware. Such channel hardware can include analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion capability, including use of a digital-to-analog converter to provide field power or biasing. In an example, the interface circuit can provide a selectable impedance.
24 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A configurable interface circuit supporting selectable operational modes, including modes for analog measurement and analog output on a configurable channel, including a configurable drive circuit and a configurable measurement circuit, coupleable to at least one field device that is external to an integrated circuit, the interface circuit comprising:
the integrated circuit including; the configurable drive circuit including a current mode of operation, wherein a resistor is coupled to the configurable drive circuit and to the at least one field device that is external to the integrated circuit, the resistor to provide a current measurement element and a current control element; and the configurable measurement circuit coupled to the resistor and configured to monitor, using the resistor, a current forced through the configurable drive circuit, via the resistor, by the at least one field device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A configurable interface system supporting selectable operational modes, including modes for analog measurement and analog output on a configurable channel coupleable to at least one field device that is external to an integrated circuit, the modes including an unpowered current mode of operation in which a current is supplied from a separate power supply associated with the at least one field device, and the modes including a powered current mode of operation in which the current is supplied from a power supply node of the interface system such that a current path traversing a configurable drive circuit is established to carry a forced current having a value orders of magnitude higher than a measurement current coupled to a configurable measurement circuit, the interface system comprising:
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a resistor; and the integrated circuit including; the configurable drive circuit including a current mode of operation, wherein the resistor is coupled to the configurable drive circuit and to the at least one field device that is external to the integrated circuit, the resistor to provide a current measurement element and a current control element, and the configurable measurement circuit coupled to the resistor and configured to monitor, using the resistor, a current forced through the configurable drive circuit, via the resistor, by a the at least one field device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for configuring an interface circuit supporting selectable operational modes, including modes for analog measurement and analog output on a configurable channel coupleable to at least one field device, the method comprising:
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receiving configuration information using a digital interface included as a portion of the interface circuit; in response to receiving the configuration information, selecting a current mode of operation for the interface circuit from amongst two or more modes of operation including at least a powered current mode of operation wherein a current is supplied from a power supply node of the interface circuit and an unpowered current mode of operation wherein the current is supplied from a separate power supply associated with the at least one field device; and in response to receiving the configuration information and using the interface circuit, monitoring, using a resistor, a current forced through the interface circuit by the at least one field device, wherein the at least one field device is external to the interface circuit and is coupled to the resistor to force the current through the interface circuit via the resistor. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification