Component type adaptation in a transducer assembly

• US 6,571,132 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2000
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Larson, Glen, Davis, Dale S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARNES-BULLOCK, CRYSTAL JOY
• Application Number:
  US09/520,292
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 700/2-3, 700/11, 700/282, 710/8, 710/11, 713/100
• US Class Current: 700/2
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 1/00 Measuring arrangements giving results other than momentary value of variable, of general application G01D3/00 takes precedence; in tariff metering apparatus G01D4/00; transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable G01D5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 13/026 involving double diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0084 to the outside of the housing other details about the housing see G01L19/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0663 Flame protection; Flame barriers
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/069 Protection against electromagnetic or electrostatic interferences
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/083 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/527 Flameproof cases H01R13/70 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/912 with testing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A transducer intraconnection bus connects a limited number of transducer components chosen from a larger number of types of transducer components. The transducer components include functional variations in plant communication protocol, fluid variable, operator control, embedded control and display functional variations. One transducer component is a sensor module that exchanges type data over the transducer intraconnection bus during an adaptation interval. At the end of the adaptation interval, a method of communication is selected that is adaptable to the types connected. During an operational interval following the adaptation interval, the selected method of communication is used on the transducer intraconnection bus.

Claims

1. A transducer assembly, comprising:

a transducer intraconnection bus;

a limited number of transducer components chosen from a larger number of interchangeable types of transducer components, the limited number of transducer components connecting to the transducer intraconnection bus and including at least one transducer component of a type having a functional variation selected from the group of plant communication protocol, fluid variable, operator control, embedded control and display functional variations;

one of the connected transducer components being a sensor module sensing a fluid variable and having an adaptation circuit that, during an adaptation interval, exchanges type data over the transducer intraconnection bus with other transducer components; and

, at the end of the adaptation interval, the sensor module stores data representing a selected method of communication that is adaptable to the types connected; and

the sensor module having a communication circuit coupled to the intraconnection bus, the communication circuit using the selected method of communication during an operational interval following the adaptation interval.

2. The transducer assembly of claim 1 wherein the sensor module automatically generates the adaptation interval after power is applied to the bus.

3. The transducer assembly of claim 2 wherein the sensor module automatically generates an operational interval after the end of the adaptation interval.

4. The transducer assembly of claim 1 having a plant communication bus connection connected to at least one of the connected transducer components, and the sensor module generates an adaptation interval after the plant communication bus generates a DEVICE RESET signal.

5. The transducer assembly of claim 1 wherein the sensor module'"'"'s adaptation circuit generates an ADAPTATION ADDRESS that includes a TYPE address component.

6. The transducer assembly of claim 5 wherein the ADAPTATION ADDRESS further has a PSEUDORANDOM address component sufficiently large to reduce the number of instances of two connected transducer components selecting the same ADAPTATION ADDRESS simultaneously to less than 1% of the transducer assembly'"'"'s adaptation intervals.

7. The transducer assembly of claim 6 wherein the adaptation circuit senses when two connected adaptation circuit have selected the same ADAPTATION ADDRESS during a first adaptation interval, and starts a second adaptation interval.

8. The transducer assembly of claim 1 wherein transducer components have MASTER LEVEL data stored therein and communicate MASTER LEVEL data to the transducer intraconnection bus during the adaptation interval.

9. The transducer assembly of claim 8 where the adaptation circuit adapts its selected method of communication during the adaptation interval as a function of MASTER LEVEL data communicated from other transducer components.

10. The transducer assembly of claim 1 wherein the selected method of communication during the operational interval includes a SHORT ADDRESS that is shorter than the ADAPTATION ADDRESS used during the adaptation interval.

11. The transducer assembly of claim 1 wherein the exchange of data over the transducer intraconnection bus during the adaptation interval comprises peer-to-peer communications.

12. The transducer assembly of claim 1 wherein the communication circuit in a first connected transducer component generates a message that is a broadcast message.

13. The transducer assembly of claim 12 wherein the communication circuit in a connected transducer component other than the first connected transducer component can receive the broadcast message.

14. The transducer assembly of claim 1 wherein the communication circuit in a first connected transducer component generates a READ REQUEST message identifying a second connected transducer component'"'"'s SHORT ADDRESS and selected current parameters.

15. The transducer assembly of claim 14 wherein the communication circuit of a second transducer component receives the READ REQUEST and generates a READ RESPONSE including the SHORT ADDRESS and the selected current parameters.