Appendable system and devices for data acquisition, analysis and control
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An appendable device, comprising:
- an antenna;
a transceiver communicatively coupled to the antenna;
a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver, wherein the processor is programmed to perform one of a periodic data monitoring activity and a process control activity;
a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;
an input/output interface adapted to operatively couple the processor to one of a sensor and a control output; and
a housing that holds the transceiver, the processor, the memory and the input/output interface, wherein the housing is adapted to be attached to a surface.
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Abstract
An appendable system includes a plurality of appendable devices that are adapted to interoperate with each other and/or a workstation via a communication network to monitor and/or control a process. Each of the appendable devices can communicate with one or more sensors and/or control outputs and includes a housing that facilitates mounting of the appendable device to a surface.
85 Citations
53 Claims
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1. An appendable device, comprising:
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an antenna;
a transceiver communicatively coupled to the antenna;
a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver, wherein the processor is programmed to perform one of a periodic data monitoring activity and a process control activity;
a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;
an input/output interface adapted to operatively couple the processor to one of a sensor and a control output; and
a housing that holds the transceiver, the processor, the memory and the input/output interface, wherein the housing is adapted to be attached to a surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An appendable system for controlling a process, comprising:
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a plurality of appendable devices, each of which includes an antenna, a transceiver, a processor, a memory, an input/output interface adapted to enable the processor to communicate with one of a sensor and a control output, and a housing adapted to facilitate surface mounting of the appendable device; and
a computer system adapted to communicate with one or more of the plurality of appendable devices so that a first one of the plurality of appendable devices senses a first parameter of the process and a second one of the plurality of appendable devices controls a second parameter of the process based on the first sensed parameter. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An appendable system for use with a process, comprising:
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a plurality of appendable devices, each of which includes an antenna, a transceiver, a processor, a memory, an internal power source, an input/output interface adapted to enable the processor to communicate with a sensor, and a housing adapted to enable mounting of the appendable device to a surface, wherein each of the processors is programmed to enable its respective appendable device to communicate with another one of the plurality of appendable devices; and
a workstation adapted to communicate with one or more of the plurality of appendable devices so that one of the plurality of appendable devices senses a parameter of the process and communicates information associated with the sensed parameter to the workstation. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A system for use with a process, comprising:
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a plurality of devices, each of which includes a processor, a memory, an internal power source, an input/output interface adapted to enable the processor to communicate with a sensor, and a housing adapted to enable mounting of the device to an equipment surface, wherein each of the processors is programmed to enable its respective device to communicate with another one of the plurality of devices; and
a workstation adapted to communicate with one or more of the plurality of devices so that one of the plurality of devices senses a parameter of the process and communicates information associated with the sensed parameter to the workstation. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. An appendable controller device for use in a process control system, comprising:
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a housing;
a memory disposed within the housing;
an input/output interface disposed within the housing, wherein the input/output interface is adapted to communicate directly via a wired communication connection with at least one of a sensor or a control output operatively coupled to the housing; and
a processor disposed within the housing and communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is programmed to communicate with the input/output interface to perform one or more process control functions using the at least one of the sensor or control output. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. An appendable communication device for use in a process control system, comprising:
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a housing;
a plurality of control entities directly coupled to the housing via one or more hardwired communication connections, each of the plurality of control devices comprising one of a sensor adapted to sense a process plant parameter or a control signal line adapted to be connected to a control device to control a process plant parameter; and
a wireless transceiver disposed within the housing and coupled to the processor and adapted to communicate via a wireless communication link one or more sensor signals to another device or to communicate one or more control signals received via the wireless communication link to the one or more control signal lines. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47)
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48. An appendable communication device for use in a process control system, comprising:
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a housing;
a plurality of sensors disposed within or on the housing, each of the sensors adapted to detect a process plant parameter to produce a sensor signal;
a wireless transceiver disposed within the housing and coupled to the sensors to communicate via a wireless communication link; and
a communications engine adapted to communicate with another device via the wireless transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification