Method for field programming an industrial process transmitter
First Claim
1. In an industrial process transmitter used in an industrial process to collect, manipulate and transmit signals representing the state of said industrial process, said industrial process transmitter connected to a communication channel used in the transmission of output signals from the industrial process transmitter, said industrial process transmitter further including at least one alterable storage device having a first set of operating instructions stored therein, a controller device connected to said alterable storage device and receiver/transmitter means connected between said controller device and said communications channel and in accordance to said first set of operating instructions said controller device controls said industrial process transmitter to collect, manipulate and transmit signals representing the state of the industrial process, and a configuration device arranged to receive a user-defined second set of operating instructions and to establish a communications link between said configuration device and said controller device over said communication channel, a method for altering the character of said industrial process transmitter comprising the steps of:
- a) entering a second set of operating instructions in said configurations device;
b) translating said second set of operating instructions into a format readable by said receiver/transmitter means;
c) establishing a communications link between said configuration device and said controller device via said receiver/transmitter means and said communications channel;
d) transferring said second set of operating instructions from said configuration device to said industrial process transmitter responsive to the establishment of said communications link; and
e) storing said second set of operating instructions in said alterable storage device, replacing said first set of operating instructions, whereby said controller device controls said industrial process transmitter to collect, manipulate and transmit signals representing the state of said industrial process in accordance to said second set of operating instructions, altering the character of said industrial process transmitter.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is disclosed for altering in the field the operating instructions used by an industrial process transmitter to collect, manipulate and transmit output signals representing the state of an industrial process. The method is used with an industrial process transmitter that includes at least one alterable storage device that has a first set of operating instructions stored therein. A controller device is connected to the alterable storage device and a configuration device is connectable to the industrial process transmitter via a communication link. The method includes entering a user-defined second set of operating instructions in the configurations device and then translating the second set of operating instructions into a format readable by the controller device. A communications link between the configuration and controller device is next established. On establishment of the communications link, the second set of operating instructions is transferred from the configuration device to the industrial process transmitter where they are stored in the alterable storage device, replacing the first set of operating instructions. The controller device then uses the second set of operating instructions to collect, manipulate and transmit output signals representing the state of the industrial process. Alternatively, the method can be used to alter in the field functional process routines or instructions that are used in the calculation of a derived output signal from the collected process signals. The functional process routines that are programmed into the alterable storage device can either replace previously-stored routines or add new functional routines to a previously-stored set.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. In an industrial process transmitter used in an industrial process to collect, manipulate and transmit signals representing the state of said industrial process, said industrial process transmitter connected to a communication channel used in the transmission of output signals from the industrial process transmitter, said industrial process transmitter further including at least one alterable storage device having a first set of operating instructions stored therein, a controller device connected to said alterable storage device and receiver/transmitter means connected between said controller device and said communications channel and in accordance to said first set of operating instructions said controller device controls said industrial process transmitter to collect, manipulate and transmit signals representing the state of the industrial process, and a configuration device arranged to receive a user-defined second set of operating instructions and to establish a communications link between said configuration device and said controller device over said communication channel, a method for altering the character of said industrial process transmitter comprising the steps of:
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a) entering a second set of operating instructions in said configurations device; b) translating said second set of operating instructions into a format readable by said receiver/transmitter means; c) establishing a communications link between said configuration device and said controller device via said receiver/transmitter means and said communications channel; d) transferring said second set of operating instructions from said configuration device to said industrial process transmitter responsive to the establishment of said communications link; and e) storing said second set of operating instructions in said alterable storage device, replacing said first set of operating instructions, whereby said controller device controls said industrial process transmitter to collect, manipulate and transmit signals representing the state of said industrial process in accordance to said second set of operating instructions, altering the character of said industrial process transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In an industrial process transmitter used in an industrial process to collect, manipulate and transmit signals representing the state of said industrial process, said industrial process transmitter connected to a communication channel used in the transmission of output signals from the industrial process transmitter, said industrial process transmitter further including at least one alterable storage device having a first set of instructions stored therein, a controller device connected to said alterable storage device and receiver/transmitter means connected between said controller device and said communication channel and in accordance to said first set of instructions said controller device is arranged to manipulate and transmit the signals collected by said industrial process transmitter in accordance to said first set of instructions, and a configuration device arranged to receive a user-defined second set of instructions and to establish a communications link between said configuration device and said controller device, a method for altering the manipulation of the signals collected comprising the steps of:
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a) entering a user-defined second set of instructions in said configurations device; b) translating said second set of instructions into a format readable by said receiver/transmitter means; c) establishing a communications link between said configuration device and said controller device via said receiver/transmitter means and said communications channel; d) transferring said second set of user-defined instructions from said configuration device to said industrial process transmitter responsive to the establishment of said communications link; and e) storing said second set of instructions in said alterable storage device, whereby said controller device controls the manipulation of the signals collected by said industrial process transmitter in accordance to said second set of instructions. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification