Diagnostics for industrial process control and measurement systems
First Claim
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1. A field device coupleable to a fieldbus process communication loop, the device comprising;
- a power module coupleable to the loop to power the device with energy received from the loop;
a loop communicator coupleable to the loop, and adapted to bi-directionally communicate over the loop;
a controller coupled to the loop communicator;
diagnostic circuitry coupled to the controller and operably coupleable to the loop, the diagnostic circuitry adapted to measure a loop-related parameter including long term variation of DC voltage; and
wherein the controller provides diagnostic information based upon the loop-related parameter.
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Abstract
A field device includes diagnostic circuitry adapted to measure a characteristic related to a process control and measurement system. The measured characteristic is used to provide a diagnostic output indicative of a condition of the process control and measurement system. The measured characteristic can be provided to a diagnostic module that operates upon the measured characteristic to predict, or otherwise model, a condition of the process control and measurement system.
130 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A field device coupleable to a fieldbus process communication loop, the device comprising;
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a power module coupleable to the loop to power the device with energy received from the loop;
a loop communicator coupleable to the loop, and adapted to bi-directionally communicate over the loop;
a controller coupled to the loop communicator;
diagnostic circuitry coupled to the controller and operably coupleable to the loop, the diagnostic circuitry adapted to measure a loop-related parameter including long term variation of DC voltage; and
wherein the controller provides diagnostic information based upon the loop-related parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of providing diagnostics on a fieldbus process communication loop, the method comprising:
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indirectly coupling diagnostic circuitry to the fieldbus process communication loop;
measuring a parameter of the loop; and
analyzing the parameter to provide a diagnostic output. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A field device coupleable to a fieldbus process communication loop, the device comprising;
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a power module coupleable to the loop to power the device with energy received from the loop;
a loop communicator coupleable to the loop, and adapted to bi-directionally communicate over the loop;
a controller coupled to the loop communicator;
diagnostic circuitry coupled to the controller and operably coupleable to the loop, the diagnostic circuitry adapted to measure a loop-related parameter including long term variation of current drawn by the field device; and
wherein the controller provides diagnostic information based upon the loop-related parameter.
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17. A field device coupleable to a fieldbus process communication loop, the device comprising;
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a power module coupleable to the loop to power the device with energy received from the loop;
a loop communicator coupleable to the loop, and adapted to bi-directionally communicate over the loop;
a controller coupled to the loop communicator;
diagnostic circuitry coupled to the controller and operably coupleable to the loop, the diagnostic circuitry adapted to measure a loop-related parameter including a lowest signal source on the loop and a device ID and address of the lowest signal source; and
wherein the controller provides diagnostic information based upon the loop-related parameter.
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18. A field device coupleable to a fieldbus process communication loop, the device comprising;
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a power module coupleable to the loop to power the device with energy received from the loop;
a loop communicator coupleable to the loop, and adapted to bi-directionally communicate over the loop;
a controller coupled to the loop communicator;
diagnostic circuitry coupled to the controller and operably coupleable to the loop, the diagnostic circuitry adapted to measure a loop-related parameter including a quiescent noise level on the loop; and
wherein the controller provides diagnostic information based upon the loop-related parameter.
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19. A field device coupleable to a fieldbus process communication loop, the device comprising;
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a power module coupleable to the loop to power the device with energy received from the loop;
a loop communicator coupleable to the loop, and adapted to bi-directionally communicate over the loop;
a controller coupled to the loop communicator;
diagnostic circuitry coupled to the controller and operably coupleable to the loop, the diagnostic circuitry adapted to measure a loop-related parameter;
wherein the controller provides diagnostic information based upon the loop-related parameter;
wherein the diagnostic information is indicated from the loop communicator to a computerized maintenance management system for work orders; and
wherein the diagnostic information is selected to alert an operator to change control strategies.
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Specification