Verification of process variable transmitter

• US 20080180276A1
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Dobrowski, Patrick M., Sigtermans, Walter H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,768,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.16
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/00 Testing or calibrating apparatus or arrangements provided for in groups G01D1/00 - G01D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes

Abstract

A method and apparatus for verifying operation of process variable transmitters in process control or monitoring systems is provided. A process variable is measured with a process variable transmitter to verify operation of the process variable transmitter by comparing the process variable with a reference. A data entry is placed in a database which indicates operation of the process variable transmitter has been verified.

Claims

1. A method for verifying operation of process variable transmitters in process control or monitoring systems, comprising:

measuring a process variable with a process variable transmitter;

verifying operation of the process variable transmitter by comparing the process variable with a reference; and

placing a data entry in a database indicating operation of the process variable transmitter has been verified based upon the step of verifying.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the reference comprises an output from another process variable transmitter.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of verifying includes providing a pass/fail determination.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the reference comprises a known process variable value.

5. The method of claim 1 including receiving information related to the reference over a process control loop.

6. The method of claim 1 including transmitting the process variable over a process control loop.

7. The method of claim 1 including receiving a user input which identifies the process variable transmitter.

8. The method of claim 1 including receiving a user input which identifies the process variable.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the input comprises units.

10. The method of claim 1 including receiving information from a user related to the reference.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the information comprises units of the reference.

12. The method of claim 1 including receiving information from a user which relates the process variable to the reference.

13. The method of claim 1 including receiving information from a user related to a test fluid.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the data entry includes information which identifies the process variable transmitter.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the data entry includes information related to a date of the step of verification.

16. The method of claim 1 including securing the date entry to prevent tampering.

17. The method of claim 1 including recovering the data entry.

18. The method of claim 17 including proving the step of verifying was performed based upon the step of recovering.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of verifying includes calculation of percent error of the process variable transmitter.

20. The method of claim 19 including placing the calculated percentage in the database.

21. A computer system including software configured to implement the method of claim 1.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the computer system couples to a two wire process control loop.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the computer system includes a user input.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the computer system includes a display.

25. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the computer system includes a memory for storing the database.