Intrinsically safe field maintenance tool with removable battery pack

• US 6,925,419 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company), R. STAHL Schaltgeräte GmbH
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company), R. STAHL Schaltgeräte GmbH
• Inventors: Düren, Joachim, Kämper, Günter, Mathiowetz, Brad N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cherry, Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US10/440,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 702/6, 702/188, 702/184, 702/183, 701/23, 700/9, 700/51, 370/241
• US Class Current: 702/184
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34481 EFC explosion free control, intrinsically safe

Abstract

An intrinsically safe field maintenance tool includes terminals selectably coupleable to a process communication loop having a process industry standard communication protocol. At least one media is configured to communicate in accordance with a process industry standard communication protocol. A battery pack connector is adapted to removably couple to an intrinsically safe removable battery pack and provide power to circuitry in intrinsically safe field maintenance tool. An intrinsically safe battery pack is also provided.

Claims

1. An intrinsically safe field maintenance tool comprising:

terminals selectably coupleable to a process communication loop having a process industry standard communication protocol;

a first media access unit coupled to the terminals, wherein the first media access unit is configured to communicate in accordance with a first process industry standard communication protocol;

a second media access unit coupled to the terminals, the second media access unit configured to communicate in accordance with a second process industry standard communication protocol

a processor coupled to the first media access unit and the second media access unit;

a keypad coupled to the processor to receive user input;

a display coupled to the processor to display data; and

a battery pack connector adapted to removeably couple to a removable battery pack and provide power to circuitry in the intrinsically safe field maintenance tool and provide power to circuitry in the intrinsically safe field maintenance tool.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including a plurality of power islands and wherein the battery pack connector includes electrically isolated connections to at least two of the power islands.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to provide a output indicative of a condition of a battery in the battery pack.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 including a removable battery pack having a connector configured to couple to the battery pack connector.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the removable battery pack includes a battery.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the removable battery pack includes a current limiter.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the removable battery pack includes a DC to DC converter.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the removable battery pack includes electrical circuitry configured to provide an electrical short circuit to power supplied from the removable battery pack to the battery pack connector.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the electrical short circuit is triggered in response to a voltage exceeding a voltage threshold.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the electrical short circuit is triggered in response to a current exceeding a current threshold.

11. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the removable battery pack including an electrical resistor configured to electrically couple the removable battery pack to the connector.

12. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the removable battery pack including an electrical Zener diode configured to electrically couple the removable battery pack to the connector.

13. The apparatus of claim 4 including a connector configured to couple to a charger.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 the charger is configured to charge a battery of the battery pack.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein circuitry in the removable battery pack is configured to reduce electrical arcing between pins of the connector.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 including a memory module connector configured to receive a removable memory module, wherein the removable memory module is enclosed within the intrinsically safe field maintenance tool when the removable battery pack is connected to the battery pack connector.

17. A removable battery pack configured to couple to an intrinsically safe field maintenance tool in accordance with claim 1.