Generating of a Device Description for a Measuring Device

• US 20100121999A1
• Filed: 10/26/2009
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG (Grieshaber Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Original Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG (Grieshaber Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Inventors: Lienhard, Juergen, Laun, Robert, Metzger, Manfred, Auber, Harald, Isenmann, Andreas, Faist, Fridolin, Schaetzle, Ralf, Kopp, Manfred, Gaiser, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 8,205,022 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/105
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40006 Architecture of a communication node current supply arrangements H04L12/10; intermediate storage or scheduling H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play

Abstract

A method for generating a device description for a measuring apparatus in a target field bus protocol is described. The method comprises the reception of a first device description of the apparatus. The first device description of the apparatus comprises at least one variable. The at least one variable is related to a storage cell of the apparatus. The target field bus protocol is selected from a plurality of field bus protocols, and at least one block is formed from the at least one variable. The at least one block has a maximum block size that corresponds to the smallest maximum block size of at least two field bus protocols of the plurality of field bus protocols. The maximum block size can be transmitted via a field bus with a single request when the respective field bus protocol is used. Subsequently, the at least one block is provided as device description for the apparatus in the target field bus protocol.

Claims

1. A method for generating a device description for a measuring apparatus in, a target field bus protocol, comprising:

receiving a first device description of the apparatus, the first device description including at least one variable, the at least one variable being related to a storage cell of the apparatus;

selecting the target field bus protocol from a plurality of field bus protocols;

forming at least one block from the at least one variable, the at least one block having a maximum block size that corresponds to a smallest maximum block size of at least two field bus protocols of the plurality of field bus protocols, the maximum block size being transmitted via a field bus with a single request when the respective field bus protocol is used; and

providing the at least one block as a second device description of the apparatus in the target field bus protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the target field bus protocol is at least one target field bus protocol that is selected from the group of target field bus protocols consisting of a HART field bus protocol;

a Profibus field bus protocol;

a Foundation Fieldbus Protocol;

a Modbus protocol;

an IO-Link protocol;

a FDI protocol and a CAN protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one block is provided in a device description language that is selected from the group of device description languages consisting of DDL;

EDDL;

DTM, and FDI.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one block is addressed by an Object-ID.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device description is uniformly addressed by projecting the second device description on a device-specific area in a field bus protocol.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device description is provided such that different blocks is addressed by at least one of a command number and a transaction number.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device description is provided such that different blocks is addressed using at least one of a slot number and an index.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a measuring apparatus that is selected from the group of measuring apparatuses consisting of a sensor;

a level sensor;

a pressure sensor, and a limit level sensor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the least one variable corresponds to a value for setting parameter.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

combining at least two blocks into one joint block, the block size of which being smaller or equal to the maximum block size.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device description is an XML file.

12. A computer-readable storage medium comprising a program code which, when it is executed by a processor, performs the following steps:

receiving a first device description of the apparatus, the first device description including at least one variable, the at least one variable being related to a storage cell of the apparatus;

selecting the target field bus protocol from a plurality of field bus protocols;

forming at least one block from the at least one variable, the at least one block having a maximum block size that corresponds to a smallest maximum block size of at least two field bus protocols of the plurality of field bus protocols, the maximum block size being transmitted via a field bus with a single request when the respective field bus protocol is used; and

providing the at least one block as a second device description for the apparatus in the target field bus protocol.

13. A device for generating a device description for a measuring apparatus, comprising:

a receiving device receiving a first device description of the apparatus, the first device description includes at least one variable, the at least one variable being related to a storage cell of the apparatus;

a selecting device selecting a target field bus protocol from a plurality of field bus protocols; and

a providing device forming at least one block from the at least one variable, the at least one block having a maximum block size that corresponds to a smallest maximum block size of at least two field bus protocols of the plurality of field bus protocols, the maximum block size being transmitted via a field bus with a single request when the respective field bus protocol is used, the providing device providing the at least one block as a second device description of the apparatus in the target field bus protocol.

14. An arrangement, comprising:

at least one storage cell related to at least one variable,

wherein a block is formed from the at least one variable, the at least one block having a maximum block size, the maximum block size corresponding to a smallest maximum block size of a plurality of field bus protocols, the maximum block size being transmitted via a field bus with a single request when the respective field bus protocol is used.

15. A measuring sensor, comprising:

an arrangement including at least one storage cell related to at least one variable,

wherein a block is formed from the at least one variable, the at least one block, having a maximum block size, the maximum block size corresponding to a smallest maximum block size of a plurality of field bus protocols, the maximum block size being transmitted via a field bus with a single request when the respective field bus protocol is used.