Method and apparatus for operating field devices via a portable communicator

• US 9,008,804 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2009
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Junk, Kenneth W., Grumstrup, Bruce F.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNES-BULLOCK, CRYSTAL JOY
• Application Number:
  US12/631,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20100145476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,957 Days
• Field of Search: 700/2, 700/6, 700/7, 700/17, 700/19, 700/20, 700/275, 700/282, 702/85, 702/108, 702/122, 702/123, 702182-185, 702/188, 340/4.3, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/500, 340/501, 340/531, 340/533, 340/539.1, 34053922-53924, 455/41.2, 455/66.1, 455/73, 455/74, 455/74.1, 455/90.1, 455/90.3, 455/91, 455/95, 455418-420, 455/422.1, 455/423, 455/424
• US Class Current: 700/19
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23406 Programmer device, portable, handheld detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25274 Communication processor, link interface
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25428 Field device

Abstract

A portable communicator for operating a field device. The portable communicator is configured to communicate with the field device to configure and/or analyze performance of a field device in an efficient manner. In some embodiments, the portable communicator includes an intuitive user interface that allows the user to perform a relatively limited set of preconfigured procedures on a field device. The portable communicator may communicate with the field device via a wire and/or wirelessly. In one embodiment, the portable communicator is a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, a PDA, a pocket PC, or any Bluetooth-enabled generic mobile communication device. The portable communicator may communicate with the field device via a wireless communication unit (e.g., Bluetooth modem) coupled to the field device. In a process plant environment, in which the field device is coupled to a controller, the portable communicator may communicate with the field device without communicating with the controller.

Claims

1. A portable communicator for use in a process control system, the process control system including a controller coupled to a field device, the controller configured to communicate with the field device to control a physical process parameter or to measure a physical process control parameter in a process plant, the portable communicator comprising:

a processor;

a computer-readable memory having computer-readable instructions executable on the processor;

a communication interface configured to communicate wirelessly with the field device via a Bluetooth modem coupled directly to the field device and without communicating via the controller, wherein the communication interface is further configured to convert between Bluetooth protocol and HART protocol and to display a connection status between the portable communicator and the field device and/or the connection status of the field device itself; and

a software application stored on the computer readable memory and configured to execute on the processor to send data to the field device or to receive data from the field device via the communication interface and not via the controller, and configured to prevent a user of the portable communicator from overriding parameters of the field device through the portable communicator when the connection status of the field device displayed at the communication interface is in service.

2. The portable communicator of claim 1, wherein the Bluetooth modem is external to the field device.

3. The portable communicator of claim 1, wherein the Bluetooth modem is internal to the field device.

4. The portable communicator of claim 1, wherein the Bluetooth modem is coupled via a control loop associated with the field device.

5. The portable communicator of claim 1, wherein the field device is a valve, and wherein the software application stored on the computer readable memory is further configured to execute on the processor to stroke the valve.

6. The portable communicator of claim 5, wherein the software application stored on the computer readable memory is configured to execute on the processor to stroke the valve at two or more predetermined set points, wherein the communication interface further comprises a jogger that allows the user of the portable communicator to stroke the field device upward or downward.

7. The portable communicator of claim 1, wherein the software application stored on the computer readable memory is further configured to execute on the processor to provide a user with a preprogrammed limited set of conditions for performing a preconfigured routine on the field device via the communication interface.

8. The portable communicator of claim 7, wherein the field device is a valve, and wherein the preconfigured routine is a stroke test on the valve using a preprogrammed set of discrete set points for the stroke test.

9. The portable communicator of claim 8, wherein the preprogrammed set of discrete set points for the stroke test comprises 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%.

10. The portable communicator of claim 7, further comprising a display, wherein the software application stored on the computer readable memory is further configured execute on the processor to present a result of the routine on the display.

11. A process control system comprising:

a field device;

a controller coupled to the field device, the controller configured to communicate with the field device to control a physical process parameter or to measure a physical process control parameter in a process plant; and

a portable communicator comprising;

a processor;

a computer-readable memory having computer-readable instructions executable on the processor;

a communication interface configured to communicate wirelessly with the field device, via a wireless communication unit coupled directly to the field device, and without communicating via the controller, wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to operate according to a first communication protocol, and wherein the communication interface is further configured to convert between the first communication protocol and a second communication protocol, and to display a connection status between the portable communicator and the field device and/or the connection status of the field device itself; and

a software application stored on the computer readable memory and configured to execute on the processor to send data to the field device or to receive data from the field device via the communication interface and not via the controller, and configured to prevent a user of the portable communicator from overriding parameters of the field device through the portable communicator when the connection status of the field device displayed at the communication interface is in service.

12. The process control system of claim 11, wherein the wireless communication unit is external to the field device.

13. The process control system of claim 12, wherein the software application stored on the computer readable memory is configured to execute on the processor to stroke the valve at two or more predetermined set points.

14. The process control system of claim 12, wherein the portable communicator is a generic mobile communication device selected from a group comprising 1 smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a pocket personal computer (PC).

15. The process control system of claim 11, wherein the wireless communication unit is internal to the field device.

16. The process control system of claim 11, wherein the wireless communication unit is coupled via a control loop associated with the field device.

17. The process control system of claim 11, wherein the field device is a valve, and wherein the software application stored on the computer readable memory is further configured to execute on the processor to stroke the valve.

18. The process control system of claim 11, wherein the software application stored on the computer readable memory is further configured to execute on the processor to provide a user with a preprogrammed limited set of conditions for performing a preconfigured routine on the field device via the communication interface.

19. The process control system of claim 18, wherein the field device is a valve, and wherein the preconfigured routine is a stroke test on the valve using a preprogrammed set of discrete set points for the stroke test.

20. The process control system of claim 19, wherein the preprogrammed set of discrete set points for the stroke test comprises 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%.

21. The process control system of claim 18, wherein the portable communicator further comprises a display, and wherein the software application stored on the computer readable memory is further configured execute on the processor to present a result of the routine on the display.