Variable power control for process control instruments
First Claim
1. A process control instrument comprising:
- a sensor/actuator portion;
a transmitter portion connected to the sensor/actuator portion and operable to communicate with other process variable transmitters through a communication network, wherein the transmitter portion includes;
a processing module; and
a power module operable to generate a power output supplied to at least the transmitter portion, wherein the power module is operable to adjust the power output based on a power control signal.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A process control instrument includes a sensor/actuator portion and a transmitter portion connected to the sensor/actuator portion. The transmitter portion is operable to communicate with other process variable transmitters through a communication network. The transmitter includes a processing module and a power module operable to generate a power output supplied to at least the transmitter portion, wherein the power module is operable to adjust the power output based on a power control signal. Moreover, the power control signal may be generated by a controller device remote from the process control instrument and communicated to the process control instrument over the communication network. Additionally, the power module includes a power control module for adjusting the power output. This power control module includes an amplitude limiter operable to limit a power input to the process control instrument according to a controllable amplitude limit, and a power rate of change unit operable to limit a rate of change of the power input to the process control instrument according to a controllable adjustment rate limit.
-
Citations
66 Claims
-
1. A process control instrument comprising:
-
a sensor/actuator portion;
a transmitter portion connected to the sensor/actuator portion and operable to communicate with other process variable transmitters through a communication network, wherein the transmitter portion includes;
a processing module; and
a power module operable to generate a power output supplied to at least the transmitter portion, wherein the power module is operable to adjust the power output based on a power control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
-
-
18. A process control system comprising:
-
process control instruments, each of which includes a power control module that controls an available power level for the process control instrument, wherein the power control module is operable to adjust the available power level based on a power control signal;
a communication network electrically connected to the process control instruments and operable to conduct communication signals among the process control instruments; and
a power supply operable to supply power to the process control instruments through the communication network.
-
-
37. A process control system power management method, comprising:
-
determining initial power requirements of power-consuming functions distributed among process control instruments which are electrically connected together by a network;
determining initial power loads of the process control instruments;
determining an available power level supplied by a power supply connected to the network; and
distributing the power-consuming functions among the process control instruments, based on at least one of the initial power requirements, the initial power loads, and the available power level, to balance power loads among the process control instruments.
-
-
44. A process control system power management method comprising:
-
determining initial power requirements of power-consuming functions distributed among process control instruments which are electrically connected together by a network;
determining initial power loads of the process control instruments;
determining an available power level supplied by a power supply connected to the network; and
controlling power control modules associated with the process control instruments, based on at least one of the initial power requirements, the initial power loads, and the available power level, to adjust a power level available to individual process control instruments and balance power loads among the process control instruments. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
-
-
51. A process control system power management method, comprising:
distributing power-consuming functions among process control instruments, based on at least one of initial power requirements, initial power loads, and an available power level, to balance power loads among the process control instruments. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
-
59. A process control system power management method comprising:
controlling power control modules associated with process control instruments, based on at least one of initial power requirements, initial power loads, and an available power level, to adjust a power level available to each of the process control instruments and balance power loads among the process control instruments.
Specification