Field mounted control unit
First Claim
1. A smart field-mounted control unit for coupling to a two-wire process control loop comprising:
- a single enclosure;
input means carried in the single enclosure coupled to the two-wire process control loop for receiving power over the two-wire process control loop, the input means comprising;
receiving means for receiving process signals representative of more than one process variable sent by a master unit over the two-wire process control loop, and for sending information over the two-wire process control loop to the master unit;
means for storing process signals received from the master unit which are representative of more than one process variable; and
controlling means carried in the single enclosure coupled to the input means for providing a command output for controlling a process and for storing previous values of the command output where the command output is a function of the stored process signals and a stored previous value of the command output.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A smart field-mounted control unit, for controlling a process, receives signals and sends a command output over a two-wire circuit which powers the control unit. An input section receives the signal, which can be instructions representative of commands or instructions sets, process variables sensed by external control units or setpoints representative of a desired process state. The instructions are representative of a control requirement of the process and adjust a controlling section in the control unit to generate the command output in conformance with the control requirement. The command output can be a function of the difference between the process setpoint and a process variable, or a function of a linear combination of a process variable and its calculated time integral and time derivative functions. A sensing section in the control unit can sense and scale a process variable for generating the command output as well, The control unit can include a regulator section, controlled by the command output, which regulates application of a mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic or electromagnetic force applied to the process.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A smart field-mounted control unit for coupling to a two-wire process control loop comprising:
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a single enclosure; input means carried in the single enclosure coupled to the two-wire process control loop for receiving power over the two-wire process control loop, the input means comprising; receiving means for receiving process signals representative of more than one process variable sent by a master unit over the two-wire process control loop, and for sending information over the two-wire process control loop to the master unit; means for storing process signals received from the master unit which are representative of more than one process variable; and controlling means carried in the single enclosure coupled to the input means for providing a command output for controlling a process and for storing previous values of the command output where the command output is a function of the stored process signals and a stored previous value of the command output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A smart field-mounted control unit for controlling a process, communicating over a two-wire process control loop which powers the unit, comprising:
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a single enclosure; input means carried in the single enclosure coupled to the two-wire process control loop for receiving power over the two-wire process control loop, for receiving process signals over the two-wire process control loop from a master unit representative of more than one process variable, for sending information to the master unit over the two-wire process control loop, and for storing process signals; controlling means carried in the single enclosure coupled to the input means for providing a command output for controlling the process and for storing previous values of the command output, where the command output is a function of the stored process signals and a stored previous value of the command output; a source of energy capable of being regulated for controlling the process; and energy conversion means carried in the single enclosure coupled to the controlling means for regulating energy from the source and for applying the energy to the process as a function of the command output. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A smart field-mounted two-wire transmitter, comprising:
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a single enclosure; a sensing device carried in the single enclosure having means for sensing and scaling a first process variable; input means carried in the single enclosure coupled to a two-wire process control loop for receiving power over the two-wire process control loop, receiving process signals over the two-wire process control loop from a master unit, and for storing process signals; and controlling means carried in the single enclosure coupled to the sensing device and input means, for providing a command output to a remote device which controls a process and for storing the command output, where the command output is a function of the stored process signals, the scaled first process variable and a previously stored value of the command output. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for improving a smart transmitter which is powered by a two-wire process control loop and which is coupled to and communicates with a remote device which controls a process, the transmitter having sensing means for sensing a first process variable, scaling means coupled to the sensing means for scaling the sensed process variable, communications means coupled to the scaling means for coupling the sensed process variable to the two-wire process control loop, characterized in that the apparatus comprises:
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a single enclosure; input means carried in the single enclosure for input and storage coupled to the two-wire process control loop for receiving process signals from a master unit over the two-wire process control loop, and for receiving power over the two-wire process control loop; and controlling means carried in the single enclosure coupled to the input means for providing a command output to the remote device and storing the command output, where the command output is a function of the process signals, the scaled process variable and a previously stored value of the command output. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A smart field-mounted transmitter powered by a first two-wire circuit and sending an output onto a second two-wire circuit, comprising:
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a single enclosure; a sensing device carried in the single enclosure having means for sensing and scaling a first process variable; input means carried in the single enclosure coupled to the first two-wire circuit for receiving other process variables from a master unit over the first two-wire circuit, for transmitting information to the master unit over the two-wire circuit, and storing the other process variables; compensation means carried in the single enclosure coupled to the input means for compensating one of the process variables as a function of the other process variables; and output means carried in the single enclosure coupled to the compensation means for coupling the compensated process variable to the second two-wire circuit.
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Specification