Portable device maintenance support apparatus, system, and method

• US 9,288,289 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2013
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Ikuhiko, Nakamura, Masafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Huy D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shao, Hong
• Application Number:
  US13/970,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20140056173A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25151 Check appropriate protocol voltage levels
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31129 Universal interface for different fieldbus protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36159 Detachable or portable programming unit, display, pc, pda
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0213 Modular or universal configuration of the monitoring system, e.g. monitoring system having modules that may be combined to build monitoring program; monitoring system that can be applied to legacy systems; adaptable monitoring system; using different communication protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A portable device maintenance support apparatus includes one set of terminals configured to connect to a hybrid communication network performed based on any one of a plurality of protocols, by a compound signal in which an analog signal is superimposed with a digital signal including at least device information, the hybrid communication network being performed between the portable device maintenance support apparatus and a field device, the one set of terminals being common to the plurality of protocols.

Claims

1. A portable device maintenance support apparatus used for a maintenance and an inspection of a hybrid communication network, a network communication of the hybrid communication network being performed based on a plurality of protocols, the network communication being performed by a compound signal in which a digital signal including at least a device information is superimposed with an analog signal, the network communication being performed between a field device and an upstream system, the portable device maintenance support apparatus comprising:

one set of terminals for connecting to the hybrid communication network, the one set of terminals being common to the plurality of protocols;

a plurality of communication modems configured to be used in the network communication with the field device;

a signal processing unit configured to analyze a frequency of the compound signal, and judge a standard type of at least one of the plurality of protocols, the judgement being made based on a result of the analysis;

a selector configured to switch a connection between the one set of terminals and the plurality of communication modems, the switch being made based on a result of the judgement by the signal processing unit; and

a barrier circuit configured to be connected to the one set of terminals and limit an input or output energy via the one set of terminals so as not to reach an ignition energy, the barrier circuit comprising first to fourth resistances and first and second diodes, the first and second resistances being connected in series with one of the one set of terminals, the third and fourth resistances being connected in series with another of the one set of terminals, the first and second diodes being connected in parallel, with mutually opposite orientations, between the first and second resistances and the third and fourth resistances.

2. The portable device maintenance support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of protocols include at least two of Foundation Fieldbus, Profibus, HART, and MODBUS.

3. The portable device maintenance support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the signal processing unit is configured so that, from the plurality of protocols, when a first network protocol that is initially connected is used, the signal processing unit is configured to control an input or output current via the one set of terminals to be smaller than that of the case in which a second network protocol other than the first network protocol is used.

4. The portable device maintenance support apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the signal processing unit is configured to analyze the frequency for a certain period of time and calculate a communication frequency having a spectral density higher than a prescribed value and, based on a result of the calculation, to judge the standard type of the plurality of protocols.

5. The portable device maintenance support apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a control unit configured to control the portable device maintenance support apparatus, wherein

the signal processing unit is configured to judge whether or not a first communication amplitude calculated from a maximum value and a minimum value of an input voltage to the one set of terminals is within a range of a second communication amplitude established by the standard type judged by the analysis of the frequency, and wherein

the control unit is configured so that, when the first communication amplitude is within the range of the second communication amplitude, a communication is established with the hybrid communication network connected to the one set of terminals.

6. The portable device maintenance support apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the signal processing unit is configured to judge whether or not a fluctuation of a signal input or output from the one set of terminals is larger than a prescribed value, and

the signal processing unit is configured to notify the control unit of the result of the judgment, when the fluctuation is larger than the prescribed value.

7. The portable device maintenance support apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the signal processing unit is configured to remove a noise component included in a signal input to the signal processing unit, to wave-shape the signal, and to output the signal to the control unit when the fluctuation is larger than the prescribed value.

8. The portable device maintenance support apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a manual switch configured to manually switch the connection of the one set of terminals to one of the plurality of communication modems.

9. The portable device maintenance support apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a measurement unit configured to detect whether or not a frame is input or output via the one set of terminals.

10. The portable device maintenance support apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a control unit configured to judge, based on the result of the analysis, whether or not a communication speed of the frame is larger than a prescribed value when the measurement unit detects the input or output of the frame.

11. The portable device maintenance support apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

the control unit is configured to select a protocol accommodating a high-speed communication from the plurality of protocols when the control unit judges that the communication speed is greater than the prescribed value, the selection being made so that the network communication is performed using the selected protocol via the one set of terminals.

12. The portable device maintenance support apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

the control unit is configured to select a protocol accommodating a low-speed communication from the plurality of protocols when the control unit judges that the communication speed is smaller than the prescribed value, the selection being made so that the network communication is performed using the selected protocol via the one set of terminals.

13. The portable device maintenance support apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

the control unit is configured to select a protocol accommodating a low-speed communication from the plurality of protocols, the selection being made so that the network communication is performed using the selected protocol via the one set of terminals, the selection being made when the measurement unit does not detect the input or output of the frame.

15. The portable device maintenance support apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the signal processing unit is configured to adjust a parameter of a digital filter so as to remove a noise component included in an output signal converted by an analog/digital converter which converts, to a digital signal, an analog signal of a line voltage and a line current of the communication network, and perform a wave-shaping.

16. The portable device maintenance support apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the signal processing unit is configured to analyze the frequency of the compound signal and, based on the result of the analysis, to judge the standard type of the plurality of protocols, and

the barrier circuit is connected between the one set of terminals and the signal processing unit.

14. A portable device maintenance support system, comprising:

a field device detecting a physical quantity; and

a portable device maintenance support apparatus used for a maintenance and an inspection of a hybrid communication network, a network communication of the hybrid communication network being performed based on a plurality of protocols, the network communication being performed by a compound signal in which a digital signal including at least a device information is superimposed with an analog signal, the network communication being performed between the field device and an upstream system, the portable device maintenance support apparatus comprising;

one set of terminals for connecting to the hybrid communication network, the one set of terminals being common to the plurality of protocols;

a plurality of communication modems configured to be used in the network communication with the field device;

a signal processing unit configured to analyze a frequency of the compound signal, and judge a standard type of at least one of the plurality of protocols, the judgement being made based on a result of the analysis;

a selector configured to switch a connection between the one set of terminals and the plurality of communication modems, the switch being made based on a result of the judgement by the signal processing unit; and

a barrier circuit configured to be connected to the one set of terminals and limit an input or output energy via the one set of terminals so as not to reach an ignition energy, the barrier circuit comprising first to fourth resistances and first and second diodes, the first and second resistances being connected in series with one of the one set of terminals, the third and fourth resistances being connected in series with another of the one set of terminals, the first and second diodes being connected in parallel, with mutually opposite orientations, between the first and second resistances and the third and fourth resistances.