Method for start-up and/or reconfiguration of a programmable field-device

• US 8,819,656 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endress + Hauser Messtechnik GmbH + Company KG
• Original Assignee: Endress+Hauser Ag+Company KG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Inventors: Budmiger, Thomas, Kirst, Michael, Drahm, Wolfgang, Stingelin, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): ORTIZ, DERIC OMAR
• Application Number:
  US12/149,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20080288933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,309 Days
• Field of Search: 717/168
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/8431 electronic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/10 of flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21092 At start up, autoconfigure module for proper I-O execution, bootstrap
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23307 Initial program loader, ipl, bootstrap loader
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23336 Identification of program, application, device to be controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25014 Fieldbus general name of bus connected to machines, detectors, actuators
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25428 Field device

Abstract

An installed hardware of a measuring field device includes at least one transducer reacting during operation to a chemical and/or physical, measured variable of a pourable and/or flowable medium, especially a pourable or flowable bulk good, liquid, gas or the like, as well as a microcomputer communicating during operation with the transducer. The field device is first installed by means of the transducer on, and/or in a process vessel serving for conveying and/or holding pourable and/or flowable media for forming a process measuring point. Thereafter, the microcomputer is booted and a basic software held in a memory provided within the field device for providing, at least in part, basic functionalities of the field device is activated in such a manner that the basic software is executable by means of the microcomputer so that, in the interaction of basic software and hardware installed in the field device, the basic functionalities of the field device are available. Additionally, at least one initial identification parameter set held at least temporarily in the field device and at least approximately identifying the process measuring point is transferred, with application of basic software executed in the microcomputer, to a data processing system superordinated externally of the field device, and at least one upgrade software providing custom functionalities for the field measuring device going beyond the basic functionalities and held in a second memory, is selected from an ensemble of software products, taking into consideration the at least one, initial identification parameter set. A selected upgrade software fitted to the process measuring point is then transferred into a third memory provided within the field measuring device and then activated in such a manner that it is executable by means of the microcomputer, so that, in interaction of upgrade software and hardware installed in the field device, custom functionalities of the field measuring device are available.

Claims

1. A method for start-up and/or reconfiguration of a programmable, measuring field-device, whose installed hardware includes at least one measuring transducer reacting during operation to a chemical and/or physical, measured variable of a pourable and/or flowable medium and a microcomputer communicating with said measuring transducer during operation, said method comprising:

installing the field device by means of the measuring transducer at a process vessel for conveying and/or holding pourable and/or flowable media for providing a process measuring point;

booting the microcomputer and activating basic software held in a first memory provided within the field device and at least partially providing basic functionalities of the field device, in such a manner, that the basic software is executable by means of the microcomputer, so that the basic functionalities of the field device are available on the basis of interaction of basic software and hardware installed in the field device;

executing the basic software in the microcomputer for determining at least one initial identification parameter set, said initial identification parameter set at least approximately identifying the process measuring point including an instantaneous installation situation of the field device and/or a medium located in the process vessel;

and said initial identification parameter set being held at least temporarily in the field device;

transferring said initial identification parameter set to a superordinated, electronic data processing system external to the field device;

selecting from an ensemble of software products, taking into consideration said initial identification parameter set at least one upgrade software providing custom functionalities for the field device going beyond the basic functionalities, said upgrade software being held in a second memory located externally of the field device;

transferring selected upgrade software, matched to the process measuring point, into a third memory provided within the field device; and

activating upgrade software in such a manner that at least the transferred upgrade software is executable by means of the microcomputer, so that, with interaction of the upgrade software and hardware installed in the field device, custom functionalities of the field device are available.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the second memory, especially a non-volatile second memory, holding the upgrade software is arranged externally of the field measuring device, especially remotely therefrom and/or internally of the data processing system.

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

connecting the field device to the superordinated electronic data processing system in such a manner that data are communicable between field device and the electronics data processing system, especially by wire and/or wirelessly by radio.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a communications connection between the field device and the electronic data processing system for transmission of said initial identification parameter set and/or for transmission of said upgrade software.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

the communications connection is formed, at least sectionally, by means of a digital data line, especially one embodied as a two-wire line also feeding the field device electrical energy or power, and/or, at least sectionally, by means of a radio connection.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the second memory holding the upgrade software is provided in a host computer provided in the electronic data processing system, especially a host computer located in a control room.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the second memory holding the upgrade software is formed by means of a hard disk, a CD-ROM, a diskette, a DVD, a magnetic tape or another form of mass storage.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the microcomputer is formed by means of at least one microprocessor and/or by means of a signal processor.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the microcomputer has at least one volatile memory, especially a memory serving as working memory for a microprocessor and/or a signal processor provided in the microcomputer.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the first memory for basic software provided in the field device is formed as a non-volatile, especially persistent, memory.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the third memory for custom software provided in the field device is embodied as volatile memory.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

the step of activating the basic software includes a step of loading at least parts of the basic software into the volatile working memory and/or wherein said step of activating the upgrade software includes a step of loading at least parts of the upgrade software into the volatile working memory.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

inputting a start command, which initiates said transferring of said initial identification parameter set to the data processing system.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

producing at least one measurement signal by means of the measuring transducer.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

determining the initial identification parameter set including taking into consideration application parameters input by a user in dialog with the field device by means of a human-machine interface, especially a human-machine interface provided directly in the field device.

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

the initial identification parameter set is determined in such a manner that it represents instantaneously, at least in part;

an installation situation of the field device, especially its installed position, its proximity to a disturber, such as a valve, a pump, a stirrer or the like; and

/or a medium present in the process vessel, especially its type of flow, its composition or the like.

17. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the upgrade software delivers at least one data set of setting parameters to be changed in the field device.

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

the setting parameters to be changed have been generated at least in part by means of calibration measurements performed earlier on said field device and/or on a field device of equal type.

19. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

determining, with application of upgrade software and/or basic software executed in the microcomputer, at least one refined identification parameter set, which represents instantaneously, especially more accurately than the initial identification parameter set, the process measuring point formed by interaction of the field device and process vessel, especially also an instantaneous installation situation of the field device and/or a medium present in the process vessel.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising:

transferring, with application of upgrade software and/or basic software, the refined identification parameter set to the superordinated data processing system.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

selecting from a plurality of software products stored in the data processing system, with application of the transferred, refined identification parameter set, at least one upgrade software, which goes beyond the basic functionalities of the field device and provides custom functionalities for the field device supplementing or replacing custom functionalities currently available in the field device.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

transferring the selected, especially hardware near, upgrade software into the third memory provided within the field device and/or into a fourth memory, especially a non-volatile memory, provided within the field device.

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

the refined identification parameter set is determined also with application of the measurement signal and/or the initial parameter set.

24. The method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising:

applying the measurement signal for producing a start command, which initiates the determining of the refined identification parameter set.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising:

applying the measurement signal for producing a start command, which initiates, at least mediately the step of transferring of the refined identification parameter set to the data processing system.

26. The method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising:

producing a start command, which initiates, at least mediately the determining of the refined identification parameter set.

27. The method as claimed in claim 26, further comprising:

applying, especially in dialog with the field device, a human-machine interface communicating with the field device, especially a human-machine interface connected electrically thereto and/or provided therein, for producing the start command.

28. The method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

producing a start command, which initiates, at least mediately the transferring of the at least one initial identification parameter to the host computer.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28, further comprising:

applying, especially in dialog with the field device, a human-machine interface communicating with the field device, especially a human-machine interface connected electrically thereto and/or provided therein, for producing the start command.

30. The method as claimed in claim 29, further comprising:

producing at least one discrete signal sequence corresponding with sections of the measurement signal, especially a signal sequence held in an internal memory of the field device.

31. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

the producing of the identification parameter set further comprises steps of applying the discrete signal sequence.

32. The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein:

the basic functionalities of the field device include calculating routines for comparing discrete signal sequences corresponding with sections of the measurement signal with earlier determined and classified, signal prototypes for different applications, especially for different installation situations and/or for different media.

33. The method as claimed in claim 32, wherein:

the step of producing the identification parameter set further includes steps of comparing discrete signal sequences with one or more signal prototypes.

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

the basic functionalities of the field device include calculating routines for spectral analysis at least of the measurement signal, especially based on a discrete Fourier transformation of the measurement signal and/or a discrete autocorrelation of the measurement signal.

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

the basic functionalities of the field device include calculating routines for spectral analysis at least of the measurement signal, and wherein the step of producing the identification parameter set includes steps of determining a discrete amplitude spectrum.

36. The method as claimed in claim 35, wherein:

the step of producing the identification parameter set further includes a step of applying at least one spectral amplitude value of the measurement signal, especially one selected at a predetermined signal frequency and/or at a predetermined signal amplitude.

37. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the upgrade software provides setting parameters for installed hardware and/or calculating algorithms representing digital filters, especially adaptive digital filters.

38. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the upgrade software provides an expanded diagnosis function.

39. The method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising:

determining at least one digital measurement value, which represents instantaneously the measured variable, based on the measurement signal and upgrade software executed in the microcomputer.

40. The method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising:

determining at least one digital, measurement value, which represents instantaneously a measured variable, based on the measurement signal and basic software executed in the microcomputer.

41. The method as claimed in claim 29, further comprising:

determining at least a first digital measurement value representing instantaneously the measured variable based on the measurement signal and basic software executed in the microcomputer; and

determining at least a second digital measurement value representing instantaneously the measured variable based on the measurement signal and upgrade software executed in the microcomputer.

42. The method as claimed in claim 41, wherein:

the first digital measurement value and the second digital measurement value are of equal type in so far as they represent the same measured variable, especially with an equal unit of measurement.

43. The method as claimed in claim 39, further comprising:

establishing a communications connection between the field device and the superordinated electronic data processing system for transmitting the digital measurement value.

44. The method as claimed in claim 43, wherein:

the communications connection is formed at least sectionally by means of a digital data line, especially a data line in the form of a two-wire line also providing energy, or power, to the field device, and/or at least sectionally by means of a radio connection.

45. The method as claimed in claim 43, further comprising:

transferring the measurement value to the electronic data processing system.

46. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

storing within the superordinated electronic data processing system at least one identification parameter set produced by means of the field device and identifying at least approximately the process measuring point.

47. The method as claimed in claim 46, further comprising:

adding at least one further upgrade software to the ensemble of software products and applying the identification parameter set stored in the data processing system for generating a report signaling the addition of the at least one further upgrade software to the ensemble.

48. The method as claimed in claim 47, wherein:

said generating the report is performed, when the added upgrade software fits the process measuring point.

49. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the field device includes a measuring transducer housing, in which the transducer is at least partially accommodated, as well as an electronics housing, in which at least the microcomputer is accommodated.

50. The method as claimed in claim 49, wherein:

the transducer housing and electronics housing are connected together, especially essentially rigidly connected together.

51. The method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising:

comparing the refined identification parameter set with a predetermined device parameter representing the hardware of the field device and/or the software momentarily executable in the field device.

52. The method as claimed in claim 51, further comprising:

generating a report signaling whether the identification parameter set and the device parameter agree.

53. The method as claimed in claim 51, further comprising:

generating a report signaling whether the identification parameter set and the device parameter deviate from one another.

54. A method for start-up and/or reconfiguration of a programmable, measuring field-device, whose installed hardware includes at least one measuring transducer reacting during operation to a chemical and/or physical, measured variable of a pourable and/or flowable medium and a microcomputer communicating with said measuring transducer during operation, said method comprising:

installing the field device by means of the measuring transducer at a process vessel for conveying and/or holding pourable and/or flowable media for providing a process measuring point;

booting the microcomputer and activating basic software held in a first memory provided within the field device and at least partially providing basic functionalities of the field device, in such a manner, that the basic software is executable by means of the microcomputer, so that the basic functionalities of the field device are available on the basis of interaction of basic software and hardware installed in the field device;

producing at least one measurement signal by means of the measuring transducer and digitizing said measurement signal for producing a digital measurement signal corresponding with the at least one measurement signal;

applying said digital measurement signal for producing at least one initial identification parameter set, said initial identification parameter set at least approximately identifying the process measuring point, and said initial identification parameter set being held at least temporarily in the field device;

transferring to a superordinated, electronic data processing system external to the field device said initial identification parameter set;

selecting from an ensemble of software products, taking into consideration said initial identification parameter set at least one upgrade software providing custom functionalities for the field device going beyond the basic functionalities, said upgrade software being held in a second memory located externally of the field device;

transferring selected upgrade software, matched to the process measuring point, into a third memory provided within the field device; and

activating upgrade software in such a manner that at least the transferred upgrade software is executable by means of the microcomputer, so that, with interaction of the upgrade software and hardware installed in the field device, custom functionalities of the field device are available.