Apparatus, system, and method for wireless diagnostics
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of first interfaces configured to receive signals sent from a plurality of field devices to a process controller when electrically connected in parallel to a plurality of field device protocol communication links coupling the field devices and the process controller without preventing delivery of the signals to the process controller, each of the signals comprising a first signal representing primary process variable information and a second signal representing field device diagnostic information;
a controller configured to extract the field device diagnostic information from the signals and to generate messages containing the field device diagnostic information but not the primary process variable information; and
a common second interface configured to transmit the messages containing the field device diagnostic information to an external destination over a distinct communication path that does not include the field device protocol communication links.
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Abstract
A diagnostic concentrator includes a first interface that is capable of receiving a signal sent from a field device to a process controller. The signal includes a primary process variable and additional information. The diagnostic concentrator also includes a controller that is capable of generating a message corresponding to the received additional information and a second interface that is capable of transmitting the generated message. The first interface may be a HART interface. The second interface may be a wireless interface or a network interface. The message may be transmitted to a diagnostic monitor or a process controller. The first interface may receive a plurality of signals sent from a plurality of field devices to the process controller. The controller may generate a plurality of messages corresponding to the plurality of additional information in the signals and transmit the messages via the second interface.
83 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of first interfaces configured to receive signals sent from a plurality of field devices to a process controller when electrically connected in parallel to a plurality of field device protocol communication links coupling the field devices and the process controller without preventing delivery of the signals to the process controller, each of the signals comprising a first signal representing primary process variable information and a second signal representing field device diagnostic information; a controller configured to extract the field device diagnostic information from the signals and to generate messages containing the field device diagnostic information but not the primary process variable information; and a common second interface configured to transmit the messages containing the field device diagnostic information to an external destination over a distinct communication path that does not include the field device protocol communication links. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system, comprising:
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a plurality of field devices; a process controller configured to communicate with the field devices via a plurality of field device protocol communication links coupling the field devices and the process controller; and a diagnostic concentrator comprising; a plurality of first interfaces configured to receive signals sent by the field devices to the process controller when electrically connected in parallel to the field device protocol communication links without preventing delivery of the signals to the process controller, each of the signals comprising primary process variable information and field device diagnostic information, the primary process variable information traversing first paths that include the field device protocol communication links from the field devices to the process controller; a controller configured to extract the field device diagnostic information from the signals and to generate messages containing the field device diagnostic information but not the primary process variable information; and a common second interface configured to transmit the messages containing the field device diagnostic information from the plurality of field devices to an external destination over a second and distinct path that does not include the field device protocol communication links. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method, comprising:
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receiving signals sent by a plurality of field devices to a process controller at a diagnostic concentrator having a plurality of first interfaces electrically connected in parallel to a plurality of field device protocol communication links coupling the field devices and the process controller without preventing delivery of the signals to the process controller, each of the signals comprising primary process variable information and field device diagnostic information; extracting the field device diagnostic information from the signals; generating messages containing the field device diagnostic information but not the primary process variable information; and transmitting the messages containing the field device diagnostic information from the plurality of field devices to an external destination using a common second interface of the diagnostic concentrator, the messages transmitted along a distinct communication path that does not include the field device protocol communication links. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification