Wireless industrial process field device with imaging
First Claim
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1. A wireless field device for use in an industrial process control or monitoring system, comprising:
- a controller configured to control operation of the field device;
wireless communication circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote location using a communication protocol which has bandwidth limitations;
an internal power source configured to wholly power the field device; and
an image capture device coupled to the controller configured to capture an image of an environment of the field device, the image comprising process elements proximate the field device;
a memory configured to store image information from images captured by the image capture device, the image information comprising a reference image;
wherein the controller is adapted to retrieve the stored reference image from the memory, transmit the reference image to the remote location, detect changes between the image and the reference image, and transmit the compressed image information comprising a difference between the image captured by the image capture device and the stored image information, thereby reducing communication bandwidth used to transmit image information to the remote location and reduce power consumed by the wireless field device from the internal power source.
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Abstract
A wireless field device for use in an industrial process control or monitoring system includes a controller configured to control operation of the wireless field device. Wireless communication circuitry is configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote location. An internal power source powers the wireless field device. An image capture device is coupled to the controller and configured to capture an image of an environment of the wireless field device. The controller is adapted to receive image information from the image capture device and transmit compressed image information to the remote location.
96 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A wireless field device for use in an industrial process control or monitoring system, comprising:
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a controller configured to control operation of the field device; wireless communication circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote location using a communication protocol which has bandwidth limitations; an internal power source configured to wholly power the field device; and an image capture device coupled to the controller configured to capture an image of an environment of the field device, the image comprising process elements proximate the field device; a memory configured to store image information from images captured by the image capture device, the image information comprising a reference image; wherein the controller is adapted to retrieve the stored reference image from the memory, transmit the reference image to the remote location, detect changes between the image and the reference image, and transmit the compressed image information comprising a difference between the image captured by the image capture device and the stored image information, thereby reducing communication bandwidth used to transmit image information to the remote location and reduce power consumed by the wireless field device from the internal power source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22)
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20. A method in a wireless field device in an industrial process control or monitoring system, comprising:
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receiving an image from an image capture device, the image of an environment of the field device, the image comprising process elements proximate the field device; storing image information from the captured image into a memory, the image information comprising a reference image; processing the stored image information with a controller in the wireless field device, detecting a difference between an image captured by the image capture device and the reference image; wholly powering the field device with an internal power source which is internal to the field device; wirelessly communicating the reference image to the remote location, and the detected differences between the captured image and the reference image to the remote location using wireless communication circuitry in the wireless field device, thereby reducing communication bandwidth used to transmit image information to the remote location and reduce power consumed by the wireless field device from the internal power source. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification