Switch for selectively coupling a sensor or calibration element to a terminal block

• US 6,045,260 A
• Filed: 10/23/1998
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Schwartz, Bradley N., Kirkpatrick, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRUCHNIC, STANLEY J
• Application Number:
  US09/177,414
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 439/188, 200/51.09, 200/51.05, 374/208, 374/210, 374/1, 374/183
• US Class Current: 374/183
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 15/00 Testing or calibrating of thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/13 Circuits for cold-junction compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/20 in a specially-adapted circuit, e.g. bridge circuit

Abstract

A transmitter in a process control loop measures temperature. A calibrator includes a known calibration element which is connected to the transmitter. Software in the transmitter compares a measured value of the calibration element with the actual value of the calibration element and responsively calibrates the transmitter. The calibrator includes a temperature calibration sensor for coupling to a terminal block of the transmitter. The temperature calibration sensor provides an actual temperature input to the transmitter. The transmitter measures actual temperature of the terminal block and compares actual temperature with a temperature measured by an internal terminal block temperature sensor, and responsively calibrates the internal temperature sensor.

Claims

1. A system comprising a junction box coupled to a terminal block, a sensor, and a reference element, the junction box, comprising:

first connections configured to couple to four terminals of the terminal block of a transmitter in a process control system;

second connections configured to couple to four terminals of the sensor;

a calibration input configured to couple to four terminals of reference element;

the system further comprising a switch movable between a first position in which the first connections are coupled to the second connections through four separate parallel connections and a second position in which the first connections are coupled to the calibration input through four separate parallel connections.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the switch is configured to actuate when the reference element is connected to the calibration input.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the second connections and the calibration input include four connections for a four-wire resistance measurement.