SELF POWERED SON DEVICE NETWORK

• US 20080123581A1
• Filed: 08/03/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Wells, Christopher Ashley, Karschnia, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,385,503 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/315
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/02 Arrangements for preventing, or for compensating for, effects of inclination or acceleration of the measuring device; Zero-setting means for aneroid barometers G01L7/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/083 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 27/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus for measuring fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A network includes a plurality of wirelessly interconnected self-organizing network (SON) devices for relaying signals in a self-organizing network and a field device for originating output signals. The sensor is configured to transmit the output signals to at least one of the SON devices, and the SON devices do not originate signals but only relay signals originated externally. At least one of the SON devices is self-powered by harvesting energy from an adjacent energy source.

Claims

1. A network comprising:

at least one signal-originating self-organizing network device;

a plurality of wirelessly interconnected self-organizing network devices for relaying signals originated by the at least one signal-originating self-organizing network device in a self-organizing network, wherein at least one of the self-organizing network devices is self-powered by harvesting energy from an adjacent energy source that comprises waste energy from process operations at an industrial process facility, wherein the adjacent energy source comprises a nitrogen supply system, and wherein the self-organizing network devices do not originate signals but only relay signals originated externally; and

a field device located in the industrial process facility for originating process control output signals, wherein the field device is configured to transmit the process control output signals to at least one of the self-organizing network devices.

2. The network of claim 1 and further comprising:

a collection node transceiver capable of wirelessly receiving signals transmitted by at least one of the self-organizing network devices.

3. The network of claim 2 and further comprising:

a control system operably connected to the collection node transceiver for controlling operation of the field device using control signals relayed by at least one of the self-organizing network devices.

4. The network of claim 1, wherein the field device is a process sensor.

15. The network of claim 1, wherein the field device comprises a process actuator.

5. A network comprising:

a signal source for generating a process control output signal in an industrial process plant;

a collection node for receiving the process control output signal; and

one or more self-organizing network devices defining a wireless self-organizing network between the signal source and the collection node for relaying the process control output signal therebetween, wherein at least one of the self-organizing network devices is capable of harvesting electromagnetic or thermal energy from an energy source located in the industrial process plant to produce electrical power, and wherein the energy source comprises a nitrogen supply system is associated with an industrial process.

6. The network of claim 5, wherein a plurality of self-organizing network devices define the wireless self-organizing network, and wherein each self-organizing network device is capable of harvesting energy from the energy source located in the industrial process plant to produce electrical power.

7. The network of claim 5, wherein at least one of the self-organizing network devices is powered solely by harvesting energy. 8.(Original) The network of claim 5, wherein the signal source is a process sensor.

9. The network of claim 5 and further comprising:

a control system operably connected to the collection node for controlling operation of the field device by control signals relayed by at least one of the self-organizing network devices, wherein the collection node is capable of receiving and transmitting signals.

17. The network of claim 5, wherein the field device comprises a process actuator.

10. A method of signal transmission comprising:

generating a process control signal in an industrial process facility;

wirelessly transmitting the process control signal to a self-organizing network established by one or more self-organizing network devices;

harvesting energy from one of a nitrogen supply system and a power supply conduit system in the industrial process facility to provide power to at least one of the self-organizing network devices, wherein the harvested energy is derived from waste energy from industrial process facility manufacturing operations; and

relaying the process control signal through at least one of the self-organizing network devices in the self-organizing network to a collection node.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of relaying the process control signal through the self-organizing network to a collection node involves multi-hop transmission of the signal by a plurality of self-organizing network devices.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the self-organizing network is entirely powered by harvested energy collected in the industrial process facility.

13. (canceled)

14. A network comprising:

at least one signal-originating self-organizing network device;

a plurality of wirelessly interconnected self-organizing network devices for relaying signals originated by the at least one signal-originating self-organizing network device in a self-organizing network, wherein at least one of the self-organizing network devices is self-powered by harvesting energy from an adjacent energy source that comprises waste energy from process operations at an industrial process facility, wherein the adjacent energy source comprises a power supply conduit system, and wherein the self-organizing network devices do not originate signals but only relay signals originated externally; and

a field device located in the industrial process facility for originating process control output signals, wherein the field device is configured to transmit the process control output signals to at least one of the self-organizing network devices.

16. A network comprising:

a signal source for generating a process control output signal in an industrial process plant;

a collection node for receiving the process control output signal; and

one or more self-organizing network devices defining a wireless self-organizing network between the signal source and the collection node for relaying the process control output signal therebetween, wherein at least one of the self-organizing network devices is capable of harvesting electromagnetic energy from an energy source located in the industrial process plant to produce electrical power, and wherein the energy source comprises a power supply conduit system associated with an industrial process.