MEASURING TRANSDUCER SUPPLY UNIT, SYSTEM FOR USE IN AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SUCH A SYSTEM

• US 20160043746A1
• Filed: 02/17/2014
• Published: 02/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endress + Hauser Wetzer GmbH + Company KG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Original Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Company KG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Inventors: Springmann, Thorsten, Zenuni, Amend, Schauble, Harald
• Granted Patent: US 10,116,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2219/25428 Field device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33192 Radio link, wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/006 using switches for selecting the desired band H04B1/0057 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections

Abstract

A measuring transducer supply unit for use in automation technology, which makes the connection of at least one field unit to a superordinate unit by means of a two-wire line possible, wherein the measuring transducer supply unit comprises at least a switch, a radio module, and a circuitry. The radio module can be activated or de-activated by means of the switch, and the circuitry realizes the conversion between signals of the two-wire line and signals of the radio module such that the at least one field unit connected to the measuring transducer supply unit via the two-wire line can be operated by wireless communications connection by means of the radio module.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A measuring transducer supply unit for use in automation technology that enables the connection of at least one field unit to a superordinate unit via a two-wire line, whereby the measuring transducer supply unit comprises at least:

one switch;

one radio module;

one circuit, wherein;

said radio module can be activated and de-activated by said switch;

said circuit realizes the conversion of signals between signals of the two-wire line and signals of said radio unit, so that the minimum of one field unit that is connected to the measuring transducer supply unit via a two-wire line can be operated by means of said radio module using a wireless communications connection.

10. The measuring transducer supply unit according to claim 9, wherein:

in the measuring transducer supply unit a galvanic isolation between the field unit and the superordinate unit is realized.

11. A measuring transducer supply unit according to claim 9, wherein:

said radio module is designed in such a way that said wireless communications connection is enabled via Bluetooth and/or near field communication.

12. A system for use in automation technology, that comprises at least the following:

a measuring transducer supply unit for use in automation technology that enables the connection of at least one field unit to a superordinate unit via a two-wire line, whereby the measuring transducer supply unit comprises at least;

one switch;

one radio module;

one circuit;

wherein;

said radio module can be activated and de-activated by said switch;

said circuit realizes the conversion of signals between signals of the two-wire line and signals of said radio unit, so that the minimum of one field unit that is connected to the measuring transducer supply unit via a two-wire line can be operated by means of said radio module using a wireless communications connection;

a superordinate unit that is connected through said measuring transducer supply unit to a field unit via a two-wire line; and

a mobile terminal having a unit that corresponds to said radio module for said wireless communications connection.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising:

a control cabinet, wherein;

the measuring transducer supply unit is mounted.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein:

the measuring transducer supply unit is fixed by means of a top hat rail in said control cabinet.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein:

said mobile terminal runs an operator software that enables the operation of a field unit.

16. A method for operating a system for use in automation technology, that comprises at least the following:

a measuring transducer supply unit for use in automation technology that enables the connection of at least one field unit to a superordinate unit via a two-wire line, whereby the measuring transducer supply unit comprises;

at least one switch;

one radio module;

one circuit;

wherein;

said radio module can be activated and de-activated by said switch;

said circuit realizes the conversion of signals between signals of the two-wire line and signals of said radio unit, so that the minimum of one field unit that is connected to the measuring transducer supply unit via a two-wire line can be operated by means of said radio module using a wireless communications connection;

a superordinate unit that is connected through said measuring transducer supply unit to a field unit via a two-wire line; and

a mobile terminal having a unit that corresponds to said radio module for said wireless communications connection, whereby the method comprises the following steps;

actuating said switch on the measuring transducer supply unit, thus activating said radio module;

establishing a wireless communications connection between said radio module of the measuring transducer supply unit and the corresponding unit of the mobile terminal;

operating a field unit connected to the measuring transducer supply unit by means of said wireless communications connection between the measuring transducer supply unit and said mobile terminal; and

actuating said switch on the measuring transducer supply unit, thus de-activating said radio module.