Radio Module for Field Devices of Automation Technology

• US 20080211664A1
• Filed: 03/23/2005
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Company KG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Original Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Company KG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Inventors: Seiler, Christian, Springmann, Thorsten, Griech, Reinhard
• Granted Patent: US 10,725,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25187 Transmission of signals, medium, ultrasonic, radio
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25289 Energy saving, brown out, standby, sleep, powerdown modus for microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25428 Field device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A radio module RM for field devices of automation technology is connectable with a field device, e.g. F1, via a field device interface. The radio module RM includes a microcontroller μC for function control, a radio unit RF for data communication with a superordinated unit, and an energy supply unit ESU. With the help of the radio module RM, conventional field devices can be adapted simply to become radio-capable field devices, in order that they can then also be used in radio networks.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A radio module for field devices of automation technology, comprising:

a field device interface, wherein a radio module (RM) is connectable with a field device (e.g. F1) via said field device interface and that the radio module includes a microcontroller (μ

C) for function control;

a radio unit (RF) for data communication with a superordinated unit; and

an energy supply unit (ESU).

19. The radio module as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

energy transmission to, and data communication with, the field device (F1) occurs via a common connection.

20. The radio module as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

energy transmission to, and data communication with, the field device occurs over separate connections.

21. The radio module as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

an energy control unit is provided in the radio module, which controls the energy supply to the individual components of the radio module (RM) as well as to the field device (F1).

22. The radio module as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

the radio module (RM) includes a real-time clock (RTC).

23. The radio module as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

the radio module (RM) employs, as transmission technology, a Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum FHSS, or Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum DSSS, method.

24. The radio module as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

an Ultra Wide Band (UWB) method is employed as transmission technology.

25. The radio module as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

the radio unit works according to IEEE Standard 802.15.4.

26. The radio module as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

said interface between the radio module (RM) and the field device (F1) is intrinsically safe.

27. The radio module as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

said interface between the radio module (RM) and said energy supply unit (ESU) is intrinsically safe.

28. The radio module as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

status and configurable limit values of the field device (F1) are monitored and independently reported via its standard interface.

29. The radio module as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

measured values are recorded over a certain period of time and are transmitted together upon demand or independently as a series of measurements.

30. The radio module as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

the radio module enables an essentially transparent transmission of a bus protocol via a utilized radio protocol (tunneling) and, in doing so, takes into consideration especially also specific timing requirements of the transmitted bus protocol.

31. The radio module as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

the radio module automatically recognizes a fieldbus protocol and adjusts itself correspondingly to communication meeting the specific requirements of the recognized fieldbus protocol.

32. The radio module as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

the radio module, in addition to wireless communication based on a simple fieldbus protocol, includes an Internet protocol interface (e.g. TCP/IP), and, thereby, supports Internet applications, such as e.g. web-server, file-transfer or email-transmission.

33. The radio module as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

the radio module serves as a repeater for increasing range of a radio network.

34. A method of data transmission for a plurality of field devices, each of which contains a radio module comprising:

a radio module for field devices of automation technology, comprising;

a field device interface, wherein a radio module (RM) is connectable with a field device (e.g. F1) via said field device interface and that the radio module includes a microcontroller (μ

C) for function control;

a radio unit (RF) for data communication with a superordinated unit; and

an energy supply unit (ESU) wherein;

data communication occurs between the field devices according to mesh technology.