Verification of process variable transmitter

• US 7,768,530 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Sigtermans, Walter H., Dobrowski, Patrick M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sajous; Wesner
• Application Number:
  US11/698,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20080180276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 34087001-87007, 340/870.42, 345/619, 345/586, 345/606, 345/548, 345/501, 345/520, 345/689, 345/156, 700/1, 700/30, 700/67, 702/1, 702/33, 702/50, 702 45- 47, 702/82, 702/90, 702 98-100, 702/127, 702/130, 477/34, 477/37, 477/45, 477/78, 477/95, 477/156, 73/13.5, 73/614.7, 731/521.8, 731/525.1, 137 1- 2, 137/814, 137/100, 137/477, 707/1, 707/100, 707/200, 715/200, 715/700
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/00 Testing or calibrating apparatus or arrangements provided for in groups G01D1/00 - G01D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes

Abstract

A method and apparatus for verifying operation of process variable transmitters in process control or monitoring systems is provided. A process variable is measured with a process variable transmitter to verify operation of the process variable transmitter by comparing the process variable with a reference. A data entry is placed in a database which indicates operation of the process variable transmitter has been verified.

Claims

1. A method for verifying operation of process variable transmitters in process control or monitoring systems, comprising:

measuring a process variable with a process variable transmitter and provides a measured process variable output;

verifying operation of the process variable transmitter by comparing the measured process variable output with a reference;

using a computer system to receive the measured process variable output and the reference and responsively place a data entry in a database indicating operation of the process variable transmitter has been verified based upon the step of verifying; and

recovering the data entry to allow the indicated and verified operation to be subsequently retrieved and traced to a particular transmitter.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the reference comprises an output from another process variable transmitter.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of verifying includes providing a pass/fail determination.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the reference comprises a known process variable value.

5. The method of claim 1 including receiving information related to the reference over a process control loop.

6. The method of claim 1 including transmitting the measured process variable output over a process control loop.

7. The method of claim 1 including receiving a user input which identifies the process variable transmitter.

8. The method of claim 1 including receiving a user input which identifies the process variable.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the input comprises units.

10. The method of claim 1 including receiving information from a user related to the reference.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the information comprises units of the reference.

12. The method of claim 1 including receiving information from a user which relates the process variable to the reference.

13. The method of claim 1 including receiving information from a user related to a test fluid.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the data entry includes information which identifies the process variable transmitter.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the data entry includes information related to a date of the step of verification.

16. The method of claim 1 including securing the date entry to prevent tampering.

17. The method of claim 1 including proving the step of verifying was performed based upon the step of recovering.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of verifying includes calculation of percent error of the process variable transmitter.

19. The method of claim 18 including placing the calculated percentage in the database.

20. A computer system including software configured to implement the method of claim 1.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the computer system couples to a two wire process control loop.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the computer system includes a user input.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the computer system includes a display.

24. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the computer system includes a memory for storing the database.