Field device with dynamically adjustable power consumption radio frequency communication
First Claim
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1. A field device comprising:
- a plurality of electrical terminals coupled to conductors of a process control loop;
field device circuitry including a digital modem allowing the field device to communicate digitally over the process control loop;
a shunt control module operably coupled between the plurality of electrical terminals and configured to control amount of current flowing therethrough;
a communication power limit module operably coupled to the shunt control module to limit power provided to a digital communication bus based on the amount of current;
wherein the digital communication bus is operably coupled between the field device circuitry and wireless communication circuitry, the wireless communication circuitry being configured to operate at varying power levels based upon excess power available from the field device, wherein operation of the wireless communication circuitry is configured to be modified based upon the excess power available from the field device to dynamically change a power consumption rate of the wireless communication circuitry; and
wherein the wireless communication circuitry goes to a sleep mode for a period of time when excess power available from the field device is at a minimum.
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Abstract
A field device for use in an industrial process control or monitoring system includes terminals configured to connect to a two-wire process control loop configured to carry data and to provide power. In one embodiment, RF circuitry in the field device is configured for radio frequency communication having variable power consumption. In another embodiment, the RF circuitry is coupled to the field device through a separate digital communication bus. A method of modulating the power of RF communication based upon a process communication signal is also provided.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A field device comprising:
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a plurality of electrical terminals coupled to conductors of a process control loop; field device circuitry including a digital modem allowing the field device to communicate digitally over the process control loop; a shunt control module operably coupled between the plurality of electrical terminals and configured to control amount of current flowing therethrough; a communication power limit module operably coupled to the shunt control module to limit power provided to a digital communication bus based on the amount of current; wherein the digital communication bus is operably coupled between the field device circuitry and wireless communication circuitry, the wireless communication circuitry being configured to operate at varying power levels based upon excess power available from the field device, wherein operation of the wireless communication circuitry is configured to be modified based upon the excess power available from the field device to dynamically change a power consumption rate of the wireless communication circuitry; and wherein the wireless communication circuitry goes to a sleep mode for a period of time when excess power available from the field device is at a minimum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification