Power management system for a field device on a wireless network
First Claim
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1. A field device comprising:
- a network interface module for communicating over a wireless network;
a device interface module for operating a transducer;
a power control for determining how available electrical power is shared by the network interface module and the device interface module, wherein the power control is configured to monitor a network state of the network interface module and independently control allocation of power between the network interface module and the device interface module, wherein a portion of the available electrical power allocated to one of the network interface module and the device interface module is not available to the other of the network interface module and the device interface module; and
software or firmware utilized by the power control that provides a power allocation priority sequence as a function of the monitored network state of the network interface module, wherein the power allocation priority sequence prioritizes allocation of power by the power control to the network interface module when the network interface module is not connected to the wireless network, regardless of status of the device interface module, and the device interface module has an increased share of available electrical power after the network interface module has joined the wireless network.
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Abstract
A field device includes a power control module, a network interface module that communicates over a wireless network, and a device interface module for operating transducers, such as a sensor or an actuator. The power control module controls distribution of electrical power so that the network interface module receives electrical power while it is attempting to join the wireless network. Once the network interface module has joined the wireless network, the power control module allows the network interface module and the device interface module to share electrical power.
22 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A field device comprising:
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a network interface module for communicating over a wireless network; a device interface module for operating a transducer; a power control for determining how available electrical power is shared by the network interface module and the device interface module, wherein the power control is configured to monitor a network state of the network interface module and independently control allocation of power between the network interface module and the device interface module, wherein a portion of the available electrical power allocated to one of the network interface module and the device interface module is not available to the other of the network interface module and the device interface module; and software or firmware utilized by the power control that provides a power allocation priority sequence as a function of the monitored network state of the network interface module, wherein the power allocation priority sequence prioritizes allocation of power by the power control to the network interface module when the network interface module is not connected to the wireless network, regardless of status of the device interface module, and the device interface module has an increased share of available electrical power after the network interface module has joined the wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A field device comprising:
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a wireless transceiver for transmitting messages to and receiving messages from a wireless network; a network interface module for controlling operation of the wireless transceiver; a transducer; a device interface module for controlling operation of the transducer; a power source; a power control module configured to monitor a network state of the network interface module and independently control allocation of power between the network interface module and the device interface module; software or firmware utilized by the power control module that provides a power allocation priority sequence as a function of the monitored network state of the network interface module, wherein the power allocation priority sequence prioritizes allocation of power by the power control module to the network interface module when the network interface module is not connected to the wireless network, regardless of status of the device interface module. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of operating a field device including a power source, a wireless transceiver, a transducer, a network interface module and a device interface module, the method comprising:
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determining whether the network interface module is connected to a wireless network through the wireless transceiver; monitoring the determination of whether the network interface module is connected to the wireless network through the wireless transceiver with a power control module that governs power allocation between the network interface module and the device interface module; establishing a power allocation priority schedule as a function of the monitored determination of whether the network interface module is connected to the wireless network through the wireless transceiver, wherein the power allocation priority schedule prioritizes allocation of power to the network interface module when the network interface module is not connected to the wireless network, regardless of status of the device interface module; and allocating available power from the power source independently between the network interface module and the device interface module with the power control module based upon the monitored determination of whether the network interface module is connected to the wireless network and the power allocation priority schedule, wherein a portion of the available electrical allocated for one of the network interface module and the device interface module is not available to the other of the network interface module and the device interface module. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification