Method and Apparatus for Operating Field Devices via a Portable Communicator

• US 20100145476A1
• Filed: 12/04/2009
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Grumstrup, Bruce F., Junk, Kenneth W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,008,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/7
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23406 Programmer device, portable, handheld detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25274 Communication processor, link interface
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25428 Field device

Abstract

A portable communicator for operating a field device. The portable communicator is configured to communicate with the field device to configure and/or analyze performance of a field device in an efficient manner. In some embodiments, the portable communicator includes an intuitive user interface that allows the user to perform a relatively limited set of preconfigured procedures on a field device. The portable communicator may communicate with the field device via a wire and/or wirelessly. In one embodiment, the portable communicator is a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, a PDA, a pocket PC, or any Bluetooth-enabled generic mobile communication device. The portable communicator may communicate with the field device via a wireless communication unit (e.g., Bluetooth modem) coupled to the field device. In a process plant environment, in which the field device is coupled to a controller, the portable communicator may communicate with the field device without communicating with the controller.

Claims

1. A portable communicator for use in a process control system, the process control system including a controller coupled to a field device, the controller configured to communicate with the field device to control a physical process parameter or to measure a physical process control parameter in a process plant, the portable communicator comprising:

a processor;

a computer-readable memory having computer-readable instructions executable on the processor;

a communication interface configured to communicate wirelessly with the field device without communicating via the controller; and

a software application stored on the computer readable memory and configured to execute on the processor to send data to the field device or to receive data from the field device via the communication interface and not via the controller.

2. The portable communicator of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with the field device via Bluethooth protocol.

3. The portable communicator of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with the field device via a wireless communication unit coupled directly to the field device.

4. The portable communicator of claim 3, wherein the wireless communication unit coupled directly to the field device is a Bluetooth modem.

5. The portable communicator of claim 4, wherein the communication interface is configured to convert between Bluetooth protocol and HART protocol.

6. The portable communicator of claim 3, wherein the wireless communication unit is external to the field device.

7. The portable communicator of claim 3, wherein the wireless communication unit is internal to the field device.

8. The portable communicator of claim 3, wherein the wireless communication unit is coupled via a control loop associated with the field device.

9. The portable communicator of claim 1, wherein the field device is a valve, and wherein the software application stored on the computer readable memory is further configured to execute on the processor to stroke the valve.

10. The portable communicator of claim 9, wherein the software application stored on the computer readable memory is configured to execute on the processor to stroke the valve at two or more predetermined set points.

11. A portable communicator for use in a process control system, the process control system including a controller coupled to a field device, the controller configured to communicate with the field device to control a physical process parameter or to measure a physical process control parameter in a process plant, the portable communicator comprising:

a processor;

a computer-readable memory having computer-readable instructions executable on the processor;

a communication interface coupled to the field device and configured to communicate with the field device without communicating with the controller; and

a software application stored on the computer readable memory and configured to execute on the processor to perform a preconfigured routine on the field device, via the communication interface, using a preprogrammed set of conditions.

12. The portable communicator of claim 11, wherein the field device is a valve, and wherein the preconfigured routine is a stroke test on the valve using a preprogrammed set of set points for the stroke test.

13. The portable communicator of claim 12, where in the preprogrammed set of set points for the stroke test comprises 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%.

14. The portable communicator of claim 11, wherein the communication interface is coupled to the field device wirelessly and configured to communicate wirelessly with the field device without communicating with the controller.

15. The portable communicator of claim 11 further comprising a display, wherein the software application stored on the computer readable memory is further configured to present a result of the routine on the display.

16. A method of performing a routine on an entity in a process control system, the process control system including a controller coupled to a field device, the controller configured to communicate with the field device to control a physical process parameter or to measure a physical process control parameter in a process plant, the method comprising:

communicating wirelessly with the field device without communicating with the controller and using a portable communicator, the portable communicator having a processor and a computer-readable memory having computer-readable instructions executable on the processor;

providing a user interface on the portable communicator, wherein the user interface enables a user to initiate a preconfigured routine on the field device using a preprogrammed set of conditions;

receiving, via the user interface, a request from the user to initiate the preconfigured routine on the field device using the preprogrammed set of conditions; and

performing, via the portable communicator, the preconfigured routine on the field device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the portable communicator is a generic mobile communication device selected from a group comprising a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a pocket personal compute (PC).

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the a generic mobile communication device is a Bluethooth-enabled generic mobile communication device, and wherein communicating wirelessly with the field device comprises communicating with the field device via Bluetooth protocol.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein using the portable communicator to perform a preconfigured routine on the field device comprises using the portable communicator to perform a preconfigured diagnostic routine or a preconfigured calibration routine on the field device.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the field device is a valve, and wherein using the portable communicator to perform a preconfigured routine on the field device comprises using the portable communicator to perform a stroke test on the valve using a preprogrammed set of set points for the valve.

21. A process control system comprising:

a field device;

a controller coupled to the field device, the controller configured to communicate with the field device to control a physical process parameter or to measure a physical process control parameter in a process plant; and

portable communicator comprising;

a processor;

a computer-readable memory having computer-readable instructions executable on the processor;

a communication interface configured to communicate wirelessly with the field device without communicating via the controller; and

a software application stored on the computer readable memory and configured to execute on the processor to send data to the field device or to receive data from the field device via the communication interface and not via the controller.

22. A process control system comprising:

a field device;

a controller coupled to the field device, the controller configured to communicate with the field device to control a physical process parameter or to measure a physical process control parameter in a process plant; and

portable communicator comprising;

a processor;

a computer-readable memory having computer-readable instructions executable on the processor;

a communication interface coupled to the field device and configured to communicate with the field device without communicating with the controller; and

a software application stored on the computer readable memory and configured to execute on the processor to perform a preconfigured routine on the field device, via the communication interface, using a preprogrammed set of conditions.