Field maintenance tool

• US 7,117,122 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2004
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Vande Vusse, Daniel E., Russell, Alden C. III, Dewey, Alan R., Zielinski, Martin, Yang, Kun
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Carol S. W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desta, Elias
• Application Number:
  US11/007,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20050114086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 702/57, 702/59, 702/104, 702/116, 702182-185, 702/188, 370/465, 370/466, 370/188, 710/305, 710 8- 19, 709/230, 709/228, 700/51, 700/129
• US Class Current: 702/183
• 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 2219/24028 Explosion free control, intrinsically safe
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34481 EFC explosion free control, intrinsically safe
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36159 Detachable or portable programming unit, display, pc, pda
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric

Abstract

An improved field maintenance tool is provided. The tool is operable with process communication loops in accordance with a plurality of process industry standard protocols. Aspects of the invention include hardware features such as an infrared port; removable memory module; and an expansion memory module. Additional aspects of the invention include protocol-specific diagnostic methods executable with the improved field maintenance tool.

Claims

1. A method of diagnosing a fieldbus process communication loop with a field maintenance tool, the method comprising:

identifying devices on the loop;

comparing a list of identified devices on the loop with a live list; and

generating a diagnostic output based upon the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising updating the live list.

3. A method of diagnosing a fieldbus process communication loop with a field maintenance tool, the method comprising:

communicating, in turn, rapidly with each device on the loop;

recording a list of communication errors for each device on the loop; and

communicating data indicative of communication errors.

4. The method of claim 3, and further comprising updating a live list based upon the communication errors.

5. A method of diagnosing a HART process communication loop with a field maintenance tool, the method comprising:

attempting to communicate with a HART device on the loop in a normal communication mode;

observing whether a response is received from the HART device relative to the attempted normal communication;

attempting to communicate with the HART device in an enhanced communication mode;

observing whether a response is received from the HART device relative to the attempted enhanced communication; and

generating diagnostic information based upon at least one of observed normal responses, observed enhanced responses, and observed non-responses.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the diagnostic information is indicative of communication ability of the device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the diagnostic information is indicative of communication ability of the loop.

8. A field maintenance tool comprising:

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

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

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

a keypad coupled to the processor to receive user input;

a display coupled to the processor to display data; and

an infrared port coupled to the processor to wirelessly communicate with an external device.

9. A field maintenance tool comprising:

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

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

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

a keypad coupled to the processor to receive user input;

a display coupled to the processor to display data; and

a removable memory module removably coupled to the processor.

10. The tool of claim 9, wherein the memory module is adapted to be removable in hazardous environments.

11. The tool of claim 10, wherein the removable memory module has energy limiting circuits.

12. The tool of claim 9, wherein the removable memory module contains a software application executable on the processor.

13. The tool of claim 9, wherein the removable memory module provides storage for device configuration data.

14. A field maintenance tool comprising:

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

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

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

a keypad coupled to the processor to receive user input;

a display coupled to the processor to display data; and

an expansion memory module coupled to the processor via a connector disposed on a mainboard.

15. The tool of claim 14, wherein the expansion module contains data relative to protocol authorization.

16. The tool of claim 14, wherein the expansion module contains data that authorizes additional software applications.

17. The tool of claim 14, wherein the expansion module contains data relative to a plurality of device descriptions, wherein a first device description of the plurality is a fieldbus device description and a second device description of the plurality is a HART device description.