Field device search system

• US 8,086,175 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2008
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Nakagawa, Shinya
• Primary Examiner(s): TAKAOKA, DEAN O
• Application Number:
  US12/316,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20090170544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 455/39, 455/500, 455/507, 455/517, 455/456, 701/207, 701/221, 340/539.13, 342/357.2
• US Class Current: 455/39
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25062 Detect physical location of field device

Abstract

The field device search system is composed of a plurality of field devices having a wireless transmitting/receiving capability and an information terminal having a receiving capability to receive radio waves from a field device, wherein the information terminal includes a radio wave receiver, a CPU (arithmetic means), a display part, a memory, and member for identifying one of the plurality of field devices.

Claims

1. A field device search system comprising:

a plurality of field devices, installed in a plant, having a wireless transmitting/receiving capability, and an information terminal having a receiving capability to receive radio waves from the plurality of field devices, wherein the information terminal includes a radio wave receiver, a CPU, a display part, a memory, and a member for identifying one of the plurality of field devices, the memory comprising machine executable instructions stored in a computer readable medium, comprising, a device position checker that checks a position information of the information terminal;

a radio wave sensitivity checker that checks a sensitivity of radio waves of the plurality of field devices;

a position order logger that logs travel information of the information terminal;

a route operator that determines a search route to one of the plurality of field devices; and

a position guide viewer and a radio wave sensitivity viewer, wherein as an operator of the information terminal advances in the plant in accordance with the display part, the radio waves of the field device to receive maintenance appear at a maximum level.

2. The field device search system according to claim 1, wherein

the display part of the information terminal displays strength of radio waves received from the plurality of field devices and a detection result including at least a tag number of the device, estimates the position of the information terminal, and displays the search route from an estimated position to the one of the field devices to be searched for.

3. The field device search system according to claim 1, wherein

the memory stores program software operating on the information terminal and a list of information on the plurality of field devices installed in the plant.

4. The field device search system according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of field devices are connected to a distributed control system via communication cables, and originate an ID signal from the information terminal or a transmitter held by a worker to the plurality of field devices.

5. A method of operating an information terminal, comprising:

receiving radio waves of a field device from a plurality of field devices by a radio wave receiver;

checking sensitivities of the received radio waves by a radio wave sensitivity checker;

identifying a position of the information terminal with a device position checker based on information on the field device from which radio waves are being received, a radio wave sensitivity and a device position information;

storing a locus on which the information terminal has traveled by a position order logger;

calculating a direction the information terminal is traveling with a route operator based on the stored locus;

calculating, based on the device position checker and the position and the direction, a route to the device to be searched for by using the position order logger and the route operator; and

displaying a list of radio wave sensitivities of the field devices from which radio waves are being received and a route guidance to the target device on a display screen in the information terminal with a position guide viewer and a radio wave sensitivity viewer, wherein as an operator of the information terminal advances in a plant in accordance with the display screen, the radio waves of the field device to receive maintenance appear at a maximum level.