Handheld field maintenance tool with simulation of field device for instruction or qualification

• US 10,268,180 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2011
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Mathiowetz, Brad N., Kantzes, Christopher P., Toepke, Todd M., Yang, Kun, Lund, Adam E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Musselman, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US13/191,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20120040316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,827 Days
• Field of Search: 434 1- 71
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 29/1518 one step being the formation of initial mixture of carbon oxides and hydrogen for synthesis
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4068 Verifying part programme on screen, by drawing or other means
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23018 Enter parameters by combinations of keys and duration of actuation of keys
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23054 Simulate response on entered parameters and display, quicker response
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23126 Display tree structure of whole system or relevant info after function selection
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23163 Display enlarged, zoomed detail and small overall schematic, plan
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23406 Programmer device, portable, handheld detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23445 Real time simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23446 HIL hardware in the loop, simulates equipment to which a control module is fixed
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24001 Maintenance, repair
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24012 Use camera of handheld device, head mounted display
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24028 Explosion free control, intrinsically safe
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24056 Portable, detachable module to input test signals, read test results
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25062 Detect physical location of field device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25428 Field device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31121 Fielddevice, field controller, interface connected to fieldbus
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31197 Near field communication nfc
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31475 : Zoom or pan display for flexible access to information
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32007 : Operator is assisted by expert system for advice and delegation of tasks
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32144 : Define device description using dd files
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32226 : Computer assisted repair, maintenance of system components
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33331 : Test, diagnostic of field device for correct device, correct parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35422 : Unit freely movable in space, detect its position, orientation by triangulation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35429 : Enter code number directly for function, no use of function keys
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36122 : Operator menu with submenu for each item
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36128 : Function menu, switches, keys replaced by menu
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50193 : Safety in general
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 : Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 : comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 : Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 : Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 : Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 : Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications

Abstract

A handheld field maintenance tool includes a training mode. The handheld field maintenance tool has a process communication module operably coupleable to a field device, a user interface, and a controller coupled to the process communication module and the user interface. The controller is configured to interact with a user through the user interface, and is configured to provide a simulation function where at least one characteristic of the field device, indicated through the user interface, is generated by the controller instead of the field device.

Claims

1. A training module for a handheld field maintenance tool, the training module comprising:

a first pair of terminals coupleable to a corresponding pair of terminals of a handheld field maintenance tool;

a second pair of terminals coupleable to a field device of the type which measures and/or controls an industrial process;

a process communication media access unit;

a switch having a first mode, wherein the first and second pair of terminals are coupled together, and a second mode where the first pair of terminals is coupled to the process communication media access unit; and

a controller physically coupled to the switch and the process communication media access unit, the controller being configured to control the switch to selectively simulate the field device, wherein selectively simulating the field device comprises presenting a user of the field device with at least one characteristic generated by the controller and at least one characteristic generated by the field device and communicated through the second pair of terminals when coupled to the field device, wherein the field device-generated characteristic and the controller-generated characteristic are presented to the user such that the user is unaware of which of the at least one characteristics is a simulated characteristic generated by the handheld field maintenance tool.

2. The training module of claim 1, and further comprising a wireless media access unit coupled to the controller to allow the controller to communicate with a remote wireless device.

3. The training module of claim 2, wherein selectively simulating the field device comprises:

generating, by the controller, an indication of at least one of the controller-generated characteristic and the field device-generated characteristic; and

providing, by the wireless media access unit, the indication to the remote wireless device.

4. The training module of claim 1, and further comprising a programming port coupled to the controller.

5. The training module of claim 4, wherein the programming port is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

6. The training module of claim 1, wherein the switch is electrically interposed between the first pair of terminals and the second pair of terminals.

7. The training module of claim 1, wherein the switch is selectively interposed at a communication connection between the field device and the handheld field maintenance tool.

8. The training module of claim 1, wherein the controller stores instructions that, when executed, selectively simulate the field device.

9. The training module of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the switch to enable communication, between the field device and the handheld field maintenance tool, upon entering the first mode.

10. The training module of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the switch to enable communication, between the process communication media access unit and the handheld field maintenance tool, upon entering the second mode.

11. The training module of claim 10, wherein enabling communication comprises enabling communication between the process communication media access unit of the training module and a process communication module of the handheld field maintenance tool.

12. The training module of claim 1, wherein the training module comprises an electrical interconnection configured to physically couple the training module to the handheld field maintenance tool.

13. The training module of claim 1, wherein the process communication media access unit is coupled to the switch.

14. The training module of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to identify an output of the handheld field maintenance tool.

15. The training module of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to store training information, based on the output of the handheld field maintenance tool.