Energy Saving Control for a Field Device

• US 20100298999A1
• Filed: 05/20/2009
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG (Grieshaber Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Original Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG (Grieshaber Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Inventors: ALLGAIER, Volker, ISENMANN, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 8,160,725 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/296
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

A control for a field device comprises a monitoring unit that is separate from a control unit for controlling the field device which monitoring unit, when the control unit is in a sleep mode, waits for an activation signal in order to switch the control unit to the operating mode.

Claims

1-14. -14. (canceled)

15. A control device for a field device, comprising:

a control unit controlling the field device, and

a separate monitoring unit,

wherein the control unit selectively switches to one of an operating mode and a sleep mode, wherein the control unit, before the sleep mode is assumed, transmits a deactivation signal to the monitoring unit, and wherein the monitoring unit, after an activation signal has been received, switches the control unit to the operating mode.

16. The control device according to claim 15, wherein the monitoring unit switches the control unit to sleep mode after the deactivation signal has been received.

17. The control device according to claim 15, further comprising:

a power supply supplying the control unit and the monitoring unit with power,

wherein the monitoring unit switches the control unit to operating mode in that it connects the control unit to the power supply.

18. The control device according to claim 15, wherein the power supply comprises an energy storage device.

19. The control device according to claim 18, further comprising:

an energy monitor transmitting the activation signal to the monitoring unit when a charge state of the energy storage device exceeds a predefined value, the energy monitor transmitting the activation signal to the monitoring unit when a discharge state of the energy storage device falls below a predefined value.

20. The control device according to claim 15, further comprising:

a timer transmitting the activation signal to the monitoring unit one of (a) at a predetermined time and (b) after a predetermined period of time has elapsed,

wherein the control unit provides the timer with the predefined time.

21. The control device according to claim 15, further comprising:

a switch,

wherein the activation signal is transmitted to the monitoring unit by manual triggering of the switch.

22. The control device according to claim 15, wherein the monitoring unit, after receiving the deactivation signal, switches further components of the field device off, and wherein the monitoring unit, after receiving the activation signal, switches the further components on.

23. The control device according to claim 15, wherein the control unit, prior to transmitting the deactivation signal, switches further components of the field device off and wherein the control unit, after activation of the control unit, switches the further components on.

24. A field device, comprising:

a control device including a control unit controlling the field device and a separate monitoring unit,

wherein the control unit selectively switches to one of an operating mode and a sleep mode, wherein the control unit, before the sleep mode is assumed, transmits a deactivation signal to the monitoring unit, and wherein the monitoring unit, after an activation signal has been received, switches the control unit to the operating mode.

25. A method for controlling a field device, comprising:

switching to a sleep mode by a control unit;

transmission of a deactivation signal from the control unit to a separate monitoring unit prior to switching to the sleep mode;

reception of an activation signal by the monitoring unit; and

switching of the control unit to an operating mode by the monitoring unit after receipt of the activation signal.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising:

switching the control unit to the sleep mode by the monitoring unit after receipt of the deactivation signal.

27. A program element for a control for a field device which, when executed by the control, carries out a method which comprises of the following steps:

switching to a sleep mode by a control unit;

transmission of a deactivation signal from the control unit to a separate monitoring unit prior to switching to the sleep mode;

reception of an activation signal by the monitoring unit; and

switching of the control unit to an operating mode by the monitoring unit after receipt of the activation signal.

28. A computer-readable medium on which a program element for a control for a field device is stored, the program element when executed by the control, carries out a method which comprises of the following steps:

switching to a sleep mode by a control unit;

transmission of a deactivation signal from the control unit to a separate monitoring unit prior to switching to the sleep mode;

reception of an activation signal by the monitoring unit; and

switching of the control unit to an operating mode by the monitoring unit after receipt of the activation signal.