Field-mounted process device

• US 20050288799A1
• Filed: 07/19/2005
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Rotvold, Eric D., Karschnia, Robert J., Peluso, Marcos, Brewer, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,844,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/05 Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/05 Digital input using the sampling of an analogue quantity at regular intervals of time , input from a/d converter or output to d/a converter
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1472 Bus coupling modules, e.g. bus distribution modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1484 Electrical diagrams relating to constructional features, e.g. signal routing within PLC; Provisions for disaster recovery, e.g. redundant systems

Abstract

A field-mounted process device with multiple isolated connections includes a connection that can be an input or an output. The given input or output can couple to multiple sensors or actuators, respectively. The process device can be wholly powered through its communication I/O port. The process device includes a controller adapted to measure one or more characteristics of sensors coupled to an input connection and to control actuators coupled to an output connection. The controller can be further adapted to execute a user generated control algorithm relating process input information with process output commands.

Claims

1. A field-mountable process device comprising:

a power over Ethernet module coupled to a port, the module being adapted to wholly power the process device with power received through the port, and to communicate in accordance with Ethernet communication;

a controller coupled to power over Ethernet module;

a first connection operably coupled to the controller and the power over Ethernet module and electrically isolated from the process device, the first connection configured to couple to at least a first process interface element through a plurality of first terminals; and

a second connection operably coupled to the controller and the power over Ethernet module and electrically isolated from the process device, the second connection being configured to couple to at least a second process interface element through a plurality of second terminals.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first process interface element is a sensor, and the device further includes:

a first multiplexer coupled to the plurality of first terminals;

a first analog-to-digital converter coupled to the controller and the first multiplexer, the first converter being adapted to convert an analog signal from one of the plurality of first terminals, into a digital value and to convey the digital signal to the controller.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the second process interface element is a sensor, and the device further includes:

a second multiplexer coupled to the plurality of second terminals;

a second analog-to-digital converter coupled to the controller and the second multiplexer, the second converter being adapted to convert an analog signal from one of the plurality of second terminals, into a digital value and to convey the digital signal to the controller.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the second process interface element provides a digital output, and the process device further includes a second multiplexer coupled to the plurality of second terminals to receive a plurality of digital inputs and convey signals to the controller based upon at least one of the digital inputs.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the second process interface element is an actuator, and the process device further includes a second multiplexer coupled to the controller and the second plurality of terminals to provide a plurality of digital outputs on the plurality of second terminals based upon a command signal from the controller.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first process interface element provides a digital output, and the process device further includes a first multiplexer coupled to the controller and the plurality of first terminals to receive a plurality of digital inputs and convey signals to the controller based upon at least one of the digital inputs.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the second process interface element provides a digital output, and the process device further includes a second multiplexer coupled to the controller and the plurality of second terminals to receive a plurality of digital inputs and convey signals to the controller based upon at least one of the digital inputs.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the second process interface element is an actuator, and the process device further includes a second multiplexer coupled to the controller and the plurality of second terminals to provide a plurality of digital outputs on the second plurality of terminals based upon a command signal from the controller.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is a microprocessor.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the microprocessor is a low-power microprocessor.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the microprocessor has a clock speed that is user selectable.

12. The device of claim 1, and further comprising memory coupled to the controller and adapted to store a user-generated control algorithm.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the control algorithm comprises a sequence of logic conditions.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the memory is low-power memory.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the memory is stacked memory.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the controller is adapted to continuously execute the control algorithm.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is housed within an explosion-proof enclosure.

18. The field-mounted process device of claim 1, wherein the port is an RJ-45 port.

19. The field-mounted process device of claim 18, wherein the port is adapted for field mounting.