Field device and method for transferring the field device's signals
First Claim
1. A field device installed in a plant, factory, or the like, connected to a higher-order distributed control system through a signal line, and configured to receive or transmit analog signals, comprising:
- an RF unit for transmitting or receiving radio signals; and
a power supply block for accumulating extra electric currents when said RF unit is neither transmitting nor receiving radio signals;
wherein electric power accumulated in said power supply block are supplied to said RF unit so as to be used as electric power for transmitting or receiving radio signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a field device whereby the device'"'"'s additional information can be transmitted wirelessly without the need for battery replacement or external wiring. The present invention also provides a field device whereby the firmware of a wireless module in the field device can be developed at minimum cost and whereby it can be made easy to link the firmware to applications, such as an asset management system, on the host system side. The field device in accordance with the present invention is installed in a plant, factory, or the like, connected to a higher-order distributed control system through a signal line, configured to input or output 4-20 mA signals, and comprised of: an RF unit for transmitting or receiving radio signals; and a power supply block for accumulating extra electric currents when the block is neither transmitting nor receiving radio signals; wherein electric currents accumulated in the power supply block are supplied to the RF unit so as to be used as electric power for transmitting or receiving radio signals.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A field device installed in a plant, factory, or the like, connected to a higher-order distributed control system through a signal line, and configured to receive or transmit analog signals, comprising:
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an RF unit for transmitting or receiving radio signals; and
a power supply block for accumulating extra electric currents when said RF unit is neither transmitting nor receiving radio signals;
wherein electric power accumulated in said power supply block are supplied to said RF unit so as to be used as electric power for transmitting or receiving radio signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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- 13. In a field device installed in a plant, factory, or the like, connected to a higher-order distributed control system through a signal line, configured to receive or transmit 4-20 mA signals, and comprised of an RF unit connected to a signal processing circuit to transmit or receive data using radio signals, a method for transferring signals of said field device wherein data is transmitted wirelessly from said RF unit using part of the frame of a digital communication protocol used for 4-20 mA field devices.
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18. A field device configured to input or output analog signals through a signal line, comprising:
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a charge control means for calculating a correlation between the electric current value of said signal line and the current consumption of internal circuitry involved in the processing of said analog signals;
a charging circuit for generating a specific electric current or voltage necessary for charging according to signals from said charge control means, using part of the electric current of said signal line;
an electric storage device to be charged by said charging circuit;
a state-of-charge detection means for detecting the degree to which said electric storage device is charged; and
an RF unit which is provided with electric power from said electric storage device and is enabled or disabled according to the output of said state-of-charge detection means. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification