Wireless transceiver pair disposed within a process control system

• US 20050047330A1
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Tapperson, Gary, Boyd, Thomas Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,609,660 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/225
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31122 Bridge between networks
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31162 Wireless lan
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31251 Redundant access, wireless and hardware access to fielddevices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A pair of wireless transceivers is disposed within a process control system to enable wireless communications between multiple devices within the process control system, such as between field devices, control units, user terminals, controllers, etc. In one embodiment, a process control system within an industrial process environment includes a process control field device that operates within the industrial process environment, a control unit adapted to provide control signals to the process control field device and a wireless transceiver pair including a first wireless transceiver connected to the process control field device and a second wireless transceiver connected to the control unit. The wireless transceiver pair wirelessly communicates one or more signals between the control unit and the process control field device to thereby provide wireless communications within the process environment.

Claims

1. A process control system within an industrial process environment, comprising:

a process control field device that operates within the industrial process environment;

a control unit adapted to provide control signals to the process control field device; and

a wireless transceiver pair including a first wireless transceiver connected to the process control field device and a second wireless transceiver connected to the control unit, wherein the wireless transceiver pair wirelessly communicates one or more signals between the control unit and the process control field device.

2. The process control system of claim 1, wherein the control unit generates a control signal adapted to cause the process control field device to perform a physical control function within the industrial process environment and wherein the wireless transceiver pair wirelessly communicates the control signal from the control unit to the process control field device.

3. The process control system of claim 2, wherein the control unit comprises a user terminal.

4. The process control system of claim 3, wherein the control unit further comprises a controller coupled to the user terminal.

5. The process control system of claim 1, wherein the process control field device generates a sense signal indicative of a measured parameter within the industrial process environment and wherein the wireless transceiver pair wirelessly communicates the sense signal from the process control field device to the control device.

6. The process control system of claim 1, wherein the control unit generates a control signal adapted to cause the process control field device to perform a physical control function within the industrial process environment, wherein the process control field device generates a sense signal indicative of a measured parameter within the industrial process environment and wherein the wireless transceiver pair wirelessly communicates the control signal from the control unit to the process control field device and the wireless transceiver pair wirelessly communicates the sense signal from the process control field device to the controller.

7. The process control system of claim 6, wherein the process control field device generates a status signal and wherein the wireless transceiver pair wirelessly communicates the status signal from the process control field device to the control unit.

8. The process control system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless transceiver receives operating power from the process control field device.

9. The process control system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is a further process control field device.

10. A process control system within an industrial process environment, comprising:

a first process control device located at a first location within the industrial process environment;

a second process control device located at a second location within the industrial process environment, remote from the first location; and

a wireless transceiver pair including a first wireless transceiver connected to the first process control device and a second wireless transceiver connected to the second process control device, wherein the wireless transceiver pair wirelessly communicates one or more signals between the first location and the second location within the industrial process environment.

11. The process control system of claim 10, wherein the first process control device comprises a field device adapted to sense or alter one or more parameters within the industrial process environment.

12. The process control system of claim 11, wherein the second process control device comprises a control unit adapted to provide control signals to the field device.

13. The process control system of claim 12, wherein the control unit includes a user terminal coupled to a controller.

14. The process control system of claim 10, wherein the first process control device comprises an input/output device.

15. The process control system of claim 10, wherein the first process control device comprises a communication bridge device disposed between a control unit and one or more field devices.

16. The process control system of claim 10, wherein the first process control device comprises a first field device and wherein the second process control device comprises a second field device.

17. A method of providing communications within an industrial process environment, comprising:

placing a first wireless transceiver at a first process control device located at a first location within the industrial process environment;

placing a second wireless transceiver at a second process control device located at a second location within the industrial process environment, remote from the first location; and

wirelessly communicating one or more signals between the first location and the second location within the industrial process environment using the first and second wireless transceivers.

18. The method of providing communications of claim 17, wherein wirelessly communicating one or more signals includes wirelessly communicating a sense signal indicative of a sensed parameter.

19. The method of providing communications of claim 17, wherein wirelessly communicating one or more signals includes wirelessly communicating a control signal adapted to cause a field device to perform a physical control action.

20. The method of providing communications of claim 17, wherein wirelessly communicating one or more signals includes wirelessly communicating a status signal associated with a field device.

21. The method of providing communications of claim 20, wherein the status signal includes at least one of a diagnostic signal, an identity signal, and a calibration signal.

22. The method of providing communications of claim 17, wherein placing a first wireless transceiver at a first process control device located at a first location within the industrial process environment includes placing the first wireless transceiver at a first field device.

23. The method of providing communications of claim 22, wherein placing a second wireless transceiver at a second process control device located at a second location within the industrial process environment includes placing the second wireless transceiver at a second field device.

24. The method of providing communications of claim 22, wherein placing a second wireless transceiver at a second process control device located at a second location within the industrial process environment includes placing the second wireless transceiver at a user terminal.

25. The method of providing communications of claim 22, wherein placing a second wireless transceiver at a second process control device located at a second location within the industrial process environment includes placing the second wireless transceiver at a controller.

26. A process control system disposed within an industrial process environment, comprising:

a process control unit;

a plurality of field devices disposed within the industrial process environment; and

a network of three or more wireless transceivers disposed within the industrial process environment, wherein each of the three or more wireless transceivers is disposed at a different one of the field devices and the process control unit and wherein each of the three or more wireless transmitters communicates signals to each of the other of the three or more wireless transceivers.

27. The process control system of claim 26, wherein the process control unit generates a control signal adapted to control one of the plurality of field devices to perform a physical control function within the industrial process environment and wherein one or more of the plurality of field devices is adapted to generate a sense signal indicative of a measured parameter within the industrial process environment, and wherein the network of three or more wireless transceivers transmits the control signal and the sense signal.

28. The process control system of claim 26, wherein at least three of the three or more wireless transmitters are located at field devices.

29. The process control system of claim 26, wherein at least two of the three or more wireless transmitters are located at field devices and at least one of the three or more wireless transmitters is located at the process control unit.

30. The process control system of claim 29, wherein the process control unit includes a user terminal.

31. The process control system of claim 30, wherein the process control unit includes a controller coupled to the user terminal.