Transmitter with a relative-time timer

• US 9,820,019 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2008
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micro Motion Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Micro Motion Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Hays, Paul J
• Primary Examiner(s): Hsieh, Ping
• Application Number:
  US13/124,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20110207417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,288 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411, 455 412, 455 413, 455 6711, 4551151, 4551154, 340637, 340606, 340618, 702 60, 702 61, 702 69, 702 78, 702 79, 702 89
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 1/005 using electronic timing, e.g. counting means pulse time delay arrangements H03K5/13; modifications of electronic switches for introducing a time delay before switching H03K17/28
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 5/00 Setting, i.e. correcting or changing, the time-indication radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/408 characterised by data handling or data format, e.g. reading, buffering or conversion of data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31126 Transmitter coupled to fieldbus and to sensor, a-d conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34413 Add time stamp to command message
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/04 Arrangements for synchronous operation

Abstract

A transmitter (102) is provided. The transmitter (102) comprises a first communication interface (112) for receiving data. The transmitter (102) also comprises a timer (104) for measuring a relative-time and a processing system (110) for providing the data with a relative-time timestamp. A second communication interface (105) is provided for outputting the relative-time timestamped data.

Claims

1. A transmitter (102), comprising:

a first communication interface (112) for receiving data;

a timer (104) for measuring a relative-time, the measuring the relative-time including resetting the timer (104) to a baseline time when power is provided to the transmitter (102), the baseline time comprising a non-zero predetermined time;

a processing system (110) for providing the data with a relative-time timestamp, the relative-time comprising an elapsed on-time of the transmitter (102), wherein the elapsed on-time is a length of time the transmitter (102) has been powered; and

a second communication interface (105) for outputting the relative-time timestamped data and the baseline time to convert the relative-time timestamp to a real-time timestamp.

2. The transmitter (102) of claim 1, further comprising a memory (103) for storing the data along with the relative-time timestamp.

3. The transmitter (102) of claim 2, wherein the data is timestamped as it is being stored in the memory (103).

4. The transmitter (102) of claim 1, wherein the data comprises flow measurement information.

5. The transmitter (102) of claim 1, wherein the processing system (110) timestamps the data when the data is received by the first communication interface (112).

6. A control system (106), comprising:

a communication interface (109) for receiving;

data including a relative-time timestamp, the relative-time comprising an elapsed on-time of a transmitter (102), wherein the elapsed on-time is a length of time the transmitter (102) has been powered wherein measuring the relative-time includes resetting a timer (104) to a baseline time when power is provided to the transmitter (102), the baseline time comprising a non-zero predetermined time; and

the baseline time to convert the relative-time timestamp to a real-time timestamp.

7. The control system (106) of claim 6, further comprising a control system memory (107) adapted to store data received by the control system (106).

8. The control system (106) of claim 6, wherein the data comprises flow measurement information.

9. A data processing system (100), comprising:

a transmitter (102), including;

a first communication interface (112) for receiving data;

a timer (104) for measuring a relative-time, the measuring the relative-time including resetting the timer (104) to a baseline time when power is provided to the timer (104), the baseline time comprising a non-zero predetermined time;

a processing system (110) for providing the data with a relative-time timestamp, the relative-time comprising an elapsed on-time of the transmitter (102), wherein the elapsed on-time is a length of time the transmitter (102) has been powered; and

a second communication interface (105) for outputting the relative-time timestamped data and the baseline time to convert the relative-time timestamp to a real-time timestamp.

10. The data processing system (100) of claim 9, further comprising a memory (103) for storing the data along with the relative-time timestamp.

11. The data processing system (100) of claim 10, wherein the processing system (110) timestamps the data when the data is received by the first communication interface (112).

12. The data processing system (100) of claim 9, further comprising a control system memory (107) adapted to store data transmitted to the control system (106).

13. The data processing system (100) of claim 12, wherein the data is timestamped as it is being stored in the memory (103).

14. The data processing system (100) of claim 9, further comprising a measuring device (101) in communication with the transmitter (102) and adapted to send the data to the transmitter (102).

15. A method for generating a timestamp for data, comprising steps of:

measuring a relative-time by resetting a timer to a baseline time when power is provided to a transmitter, the baseline time comprising a non-zero predetermined time for converting the relative-time timestamp to a real-time timestamp;

receiving data; and

generating a relative-time timestamp for the data based on the measured relative-time, the measured relative-time comprising an elapsed on-time of the transmitter, wherein the elapsed on-time is a length of time the transmitter has been powered without converting to a real-time.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising a step of storing the data including the relative-time timestamp in a memory of a transmitter.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the data is timestamped as it is being stored in the memory of the transmitter.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of receiving data comprises receiving flow measurement information.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising steps of:

transmitting the data and the baseline time to a control system, wherein the control system measures a real-time; and

generating a real-time timestamp based on the relative-time timestamp and the baseline time.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of generating the real-time timestamp comprises recording a real-time start time of the relative-time using the baseline time and comparing the real-time start time to the relative-time timestamp.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of generating the real-time timestamp comprises:

comparing the current elapsed time to a current real-time to generate a real-time start time; and

comparing the real-time start time to the relative-time timestamp to generate a real-time timestamp.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising a step of storing the data including the real-time timestamp in a memory of a control system.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of transmitting the data to the control system comprises transmitting the data and the baseline time from a transmitter.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising a step of compensating the real-time timestamp for a transmission delay.