Field transmitter

• US 7,120,391 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2001
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endress+Hauser GmbH+Co (ENDRESS)
• Original Assignee: Endress+Hauser GmbH+Co (ENDRESS)
• Inventors: Krause, Michael, Stengele, Florian, de Groot, Vincent, Lütke, Wolfram
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US09/899,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20020004370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,922 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/67.11, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 34087002-87004
• US Class Current: 455/41.3
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25186 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/02 in which the signal transmitted is magnitude of current or voltage G08C19/36, G08C19/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks

Abstract

A field transmitter F, a control device B is in the form of a separately portable unit linked to a field transmitter S1 by radio over short ranges. This eliminates the need to make a direct visit to an inaccessible field transmitter S1 for control purposes. In addition, one control device B can be used to control a plurality of field transmitters S1, S2, S3, A1, A2 by radio. In situ control, which is normally permanently integrated into the field transmitters S1, S2, S3, A1, A2, can be dispensed with.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a field transmitter S1 for process automation having in combination therewith a control device B for input and display, comprising at least one of the following steps:

transmitting software changes (up dates/up grades) to the field transmitter S1 using the control device B;

initiating a recurrent test on the field transmitter S1 using the control device B;

making a status query for the purpose of predictive maintenance of the field transmitters S1 using the control device B; and

executing said steps of transmitting, initiating and making by a radio link on the basis of the Bluetooth standard between the field transmitter S1 and the control device B.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing the field transmitter S1 with a microprocessor P connected to a Bluetooth chipset SE; and

providing the control device with a microprocessor P1 which is connected to a corresponding Bluetooth chipset SE1.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing an antenna connection on the housing of the field transmitter S1.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the field transmitter S1 is used for recording a process variable.

5. The method as fined in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

connecting the field transmitter S1 to a central control unit PLS by means of a field bus FB.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the control device B is a portable computer (laptop).

7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the control device B is a portable miniature computer (palmtop).

8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the control device B is a portable handheld appliance.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the control device B is a portable radio telephone (mobile).