NETWORKED SERIES OF SENSORS HAVING DISTRIBUTED MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL FOR USE IN A HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENT
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- an intrinsically safe barrier (“
ISB”
) having a safe side and a hazardous side;
a first device located on the hazardous side of the ISB and coupled to a network, wherein the first device comprise a first functionality;
a second device located on the hazardous side of the ISB and coupled to the network, wherein the second device comprises a second functionality, wherein the second device receives data from the first device; and
a third device located on the hazardous side of the ISB and coupled to the network, wherein the third device comprises a third functionality, wherein the third device comprises a master device and the second device comprises a slave device to the master device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is a networked system of devices positioned in a hazardous environment to monitor/control process conditions. The devices include sensors and controls such as valves. The sensors detect process conditions/control device settings and are monitored by a slave devices having, generally microprocessor controlled and having associated memory to receive and record the sensor/control device data. The network includes master devices, each master device may be associated with one or more slaved devices and associated sensors, where the master device communicates to is associated slave devices through a digital communication bus. The master device can automatically detect its associated slave devices and detect the communication and data characteristics of the slave devices. The master may also set parameters for detected slave devices, such as needed for computations performed by the master (using its own microprocessor) using data received form the slave device(s). The master device receives slave device data by requesting or polling the data from the slave device over a digital communication bus.
65 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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an intrinsically safe barrier (“
ISB”
) having a safe side and a hazardous side;a first device located on the hazardous side of the ISB and coupled to a network, wherein the first device comprise a first functionality; a second device located on the hazardous side of the ISB and coupled to the network, wherein the second device comprises a second functionality, wherein the second device receives data from the first device; and a third device located on the hazardous side of the ISB and coupled to the network, wherein the third device comprises a third functionality, wherein the third device comprises a master device and the second device comprises a slave device to the master device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system, comprising:
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an intrinsically safe barrier (“
ISB”
) having a safe side and a hazardous side;a plurality of slave devices located on the hazardous side of the ISB and coupled to a network, wherein the plurality of slave devices receive data from at least one sensor located on the hazardous side of the ISB and coupled to the network; and a plurality of master devices located on the hazardous side of the ISB and coupled to the network, wherein a first set of the plurality of slave devices communicate with a first one of the plurality of master devices, and a second set of the plurality of slave devices communicate with a second one of the plurality of master devices. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of operating a network of devices in a hazardous environment, comprising:
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automatically detecting parameters of at least one slave device located on a hazardous side of an intrinsically safe barrier (“
ISB”
) via a master device located on the hazardous side of the ISB; andreceiving data from the at least one slave device via the master device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of operating a network of devices in a hazardous environment, comprising:
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automatically configuring at least one slave device located on a hazardous side of an intrinsically safe barrier (“
ISB”
) via a master device devices located on the hazardous side of the ISB; andrequesting recorded data from the at least one slave device via the master device. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification