Energy saving operation of a hardwired communication interface and a function unit provided for the communication interface of a field device

• US 8,281,174 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2008
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endress+Hauser Process Solutions AG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Original Assignee: Endress+Hauser Process Solutions AG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Inventors: Seiler, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Cao, Chun
• Application Number:
  US12/451,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20100222895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 713/322, 713/320, 713/323
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31121 Fielddevice, field controller, interface connected to fieldbus
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34306 Power down, energy saving
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40039 Details regarding the setting of the power status of a node according to activity on the bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40221 Profibus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4026 Bus for use in automation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/10 Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A field device of process automation technology which includes a hardwire communication interface and a functional unit associated with the communication interface. The functional unit is embodied in such a manner, that it performs sending and/or receiving of digital signals via the communication interface. The field device is embodied in such a manner, that the functional unit is operable in a clocked manner, wherein, in the clocked operation, active time periods, in which the functional unit is activated, alternate with turned-off periods of time, in which the functional unit is switched off.

Claims

1. A field device of process automation technology, comprising:

a hardwire communication interface; and

a functional unit associated with said hardwire communication interface, said functional unit is embodied in such a manner, that it performs sending and/or receiving of digital signals via said hardwire communication interface, wherein;

the field device is embodied in such a manner, that said functional unit is operated in clocked operation at least when the field device is operated in a standby mode, wherein, in the clocked operation, active time periods, in which said functional unit is activated, alternate with turned-off periods of time, in which said functional unit is switched off.

2. The field device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said hardwire communication interface is formed by a fieldbus communication interface embodied preferably according to one of;

the Profibus standard, the Foundation Fieldbus-standard and the Hart standard.

3. The field device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a service unit connectable to said hardwire communication interface, wherein;

communication is conducted between said service unit and the field device via said hardwire communication interface.

4. The field device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said functional unit is implemented in layers 1 and 2 of the OSI reference model (open system interconnection reference model), preferably exclusively in layer 1 of the OSI reference model.

5. The field device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said functional unit is formed by one of;

an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) by an FPGA (field programmable gate array) and by an FPLA (field programmable logic array).

6. The field device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

functional unit includes a carrier detect logic, by which a digital signal incoming to said hardwire communication interface is registerable.

7. The field device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the field device supplementally has a wireless fieldbus communication interface, preferably embodied according to one of;

the Profibus standard, the Foundation Fieldbus-standard and the HART standard.

8. The field device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an autarkic electrical current source for supplying electrical power for the field device.

9. The field device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

during times in which the field device must not process measured value requests nor execute some other action, the field device can be operated in an energy saving, standby mode and the functional unit in energy saving, clocked operation.

10. The field device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the active time periods, in each case, are equally long and the turned-off time periods, in each case, are equally long, so that a periodic sequence results.

11. The field device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the active time periods are shorter than the turned-off time periods, so that the power consumption can be effectively reduced.

12. The field device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

when a digital signal is recognized at the functional unit, the field device is then switched into active operation and the functional unit is switched activated durably.

13. The field device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

a device connected to the communication interface and/or the a control unit provided in the field device, before performing a communication, send(s) a predetermined wake-up signal of a length, which is longer than a turned-off period of time of the functional unit.

14. A method for operating a field device of process automation technology, wherein the field device includes a hardwire communication interface and, a functional unit associated with the hardwire communication interface comprising the steps of:

the functional unit performs sending and/or receiving of digital signals via the communication interface, and

operating the functional unit in clocked operation, wherein;

in the clocked operation, active time periods, in which the functional unit is activated, alternate with turned-off periods of time, in which the functional unit is switched off, wherein;

the functional unit at least is operated in clocked operation, when the field device is operated in standby mode.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said active time periods and said turned-off time periods periodically follow one another; and

said active time periods are preferably shorter than said turned-off time periods.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

when a digital signal is recognized at the functional unit, the field device is switched into active operation and the functional unit is durably activated.

17. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

a device connected to the communication interface and/or a control unit provided in the field device, before performing a communication, sends a predetermined wake-up signal of a length, which is preferably longer than a turned off period of time of the functional unit.

18. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

the field device communicates via a wireless connection, preferably via radio, with a superordinated unit.

19. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

the field device is supplied autarkically with electrical power.