Intrinsically safe field maintenance tool
First Claim
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1. An intrinsically safe field maintenance tool comprising:
- terminals selectably coupleable to a process communication loop having a process industry standard communication protocol;
first and second media access units coupled to the terminals, wherein the first media access unit is adapted to communicate in accordance with a first process industry standard communication protocol, and wherein the second media access unit is adapted to communicate in accordance with a second process industry standard communication protocol;
a processor coupled to the first and second media access units;
a keypad coupled to the processor to receive user input;
a display coupled to the processor to display data; and
an infrared port coupled to the processor to wirelessly communicate with an external device.
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Abstract
An improved intrinsically safe field maintenance tool is provided. The tool is operable with process communication loops in accordance with a plurality of process industry standard protocols. Aspects of the invention include hardware features such as an infrared port; removable memory module; and an expansion memory module. Additional aspects of the invention include protocol-specific diagnostic methods executable with the improved intrinsically safe field maintenance tool.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An intrinsically safe field maintenance tool comprising:
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terminals selectably coupleable to a process communication loop having a process industry standard communication protocol;
first and second media access units coupled to the terminals, wherein the first media access unit is adapted to communicate in accordance with a first process industry standard communication protocol, and wherein the second media access unit is adapted to communicate in accordance with a second process industry standard communication protocol;
a processor coupled to the first and second media access units;
a keypad coupled to the processor to receive user input;
a display coupled to the processor to display data; and
an infrared port coupled to the processor to wirelessly communicate with an external device.
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2. An intrinsically safe field maintenance tool comprising:
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terminals selectably coupleable to a process communication loop having a process industry standard communication protocol;
first and second media access units coupled to the terminals, wherein the first media access unit is adapted to communicate in accordance with a first process industry standard communication protocol, and wherein the second media access unit is adapted to communicate in accordance with a second process industry standard communication protocol;
a processor coupled to the first and second media access units;
a keypad coupled to the processor to receive user input;
a display coupled to the processor to display data; and
a removable memory module removably coupled to the processor. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An intrinsically safe field maintenance tool comprising:
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terminals selectably coupleable to a process communication loop having a process industry standard communication protocol;
first and second media access units coupled to the terminals, wherein the first media access unit is adapted to communicate in accordance with a first process industry standard communication protocol, and wherein the second media access unit is adapted to communicate in accordance with a second process industry standard communication protocol;
a processor coupled to the first and second media access units;
a keypad coupled to the processor to receive user input;
a display coupled to the processor to display data; and
an expansion memory module coupled to the processor via a connector disposed on a mainboard. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of diagnosing a fieldbus process communication loop with an intrinsically safe field maintenance tool, the method comprising:
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identifying devices on the loop;
comparing a list of identified devices on the loop with a live list; and
generating a diagnostic output based upon the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method of diagnosing a fieldbus process communication loop with an intrinsically safe field maintenance tool, the method comprising:
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communicating, in turn, rapidly with each device on the loop;
recording a list of communication errors for each device on the loop; and
communicating data indicative of communication errors. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method of diagnosing a HART process communication loop with an intrinsically safe field maintenance tool, the method comprising:
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attempting to communicate with a HART device on the loop in a normal communication mode;
observing whether a response is received from the HART device relative to the attempted normal communication;
attempting to communicate with the HART device in an enhanced communication mode;
observing whether a response is received from the HART device relative to the attempted enhanced communication; and
generating diagnostic information based upon at least one of observed normal responses, observed enhanced responses, and observed non-responses. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification