Data transmission method for a multi-protocol handheld field maintenance tool
First Claim
1. A method of selectably communicating on a process communication loop with a multi-protocol handheld field maintenance tool having first and second sets of loop connection terminals, the method comprising:
- receiving a technician indication of a selected loop type corresponding to a loop type relative to the first set;
measuring a voltage across the second set;
providing a warning to the technician if a non-zero voltage is measured across the second set.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for preventing unsafe transmission on an incompatible network with a multi-protocol intrinsically safe handheld field maintenance tool as provided. The method preferably includes checking voltage levels on two sets of network connections when a network connection is detected or indicated on one set. If incompatible voltage levels are detected, the field technician is warned. If voltage levels are appropriate on a selected set of network terminals, the method continues by listening for network traffic of the selected network type. In this manner, a multi-protocol intrinsically safe handheld field maintenance tool is operable with multiple process control communication protocols while minimizing the risk of incompatible data/signal transmission upon process communication loops.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of selectably communicating on a process communication loop with a multi-protocol handheld field maintenance tool having first and second sets of loop connection terminals, the method comprising:
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receiving a technician indication of a selected loop type corresponding to a loop type relative to the first set;
measuring a voltage across the second set;
providing a warning to the technician if a non-zero voltage is measured across the second set. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 7)
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4. A method of selectably communicating on a process communication loop with a multi-protocol handheld field maintenance tool having first and second sets of loop connection terminals, the method comprising:
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receiving a technician indication of a selected loop type corresponding to a loop type relative to the first set;
measuring a voltage across the first set;
providing a warning to the technician if a substantially zero voltage is measured across the first set. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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8. A method of selectably communicating on a process communication loop with a multi-protocol handheld field maintenance tool having first and second sets of loop connection terminals, the method comprising:
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receiving a technician indication of a selected loop type corresponding to a loop type relative to the first set;
measuring a first voltage across the second set;
measuring a second voltage across the first set if the first voltage is substantially zero;
listening to loop traffic if the measured second voltage accords with the technician indication; and
communicating on the process control loop if network traffic is detected. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of selectably communicating on a process communication loop with a multi-protocol handheld field maintenance tool having first and second sets of loop connection terminals, the method comprising:
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receiving a technician indication of a selected loop type corresponding to a loop type relative to the first set;
measuring a first voltage across the second set;
measuring a second voltage across the first set if the first voltage is substantially zero;
listening to loop traffic if the measured second voltage accords with the technician indication; and
providing an error indication to the technician if no network traffic of the selected loop type is detected. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification