TRANSMITTER WITH A RELATIVE-TIME TIMER

• US 20110207417A1
• Filed: 11/13/2008
• Published: 08/25/2011
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 9,820,019 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/73
• 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;

processing system (110) for providing the data with a relative-time timestamp; and

a second communication interface (105) for outputting the relative-time timestamped data.

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

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

4. A control system (106), comprising:

a communication interface (109) for receiving data including a relative-time timestamp;

a real-time clock (108) for measuring a real-time; and

a processing system (111) for generating a real-time timestamp based on the relative-time timestamp.

5. The control system (106) of claim 4, further comprising a control system memory (107) adapted to store data received by the control system (106) along with the real-time timestamp provided by the processing system (111).

6. The control system (106) of claim 4, wherein the data comprises flow measurement information.

7. 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;

a processing system (110) for providing the data with a relative-time timestamp;

a second communication interface (105) for outputting the relative-time timestamped data; and

a control system (106) in communication with the transmitter (102), including;

a real-time clock (108) for measuring a real-time; and

a processing system (111) for generating a real-time timestamp based on the relative-time timestamp.

8. The data processing system (100) of claim 7, further comprising a transmitter memory (103) for storing the data along with the relative-time timestamp.

9. The data processing system (100) of claim 7, further comprising a control system memory (107) adapted to store data transmitted to the control system (106) along with the real-time timestamp provided by the control system (106).

10. The data processing system (100) of claim 7, further comprising a measuring device (101) in communication with the transmitter (102) and adapted to send the data to the transmitter (102).

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

measuring a relative-time;

receiving data; and

generating a relative-time timestamp for the data based on the measured relative-time.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of measuring a relative-time comprises resetting a timer to a baseline when power is provided to the timer.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of storing the data including the relative-time timestamp in a memory of a transmitter.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of receiving data comprises receiving flow measurement information.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

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

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

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of generating the real-time timestamp comprises recording a real-time start time of the relative-time and comparing the real-time start time to the relative-time timestamp.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of generating the real-time timestamp comprises:

measuring a current elapsed time, representing the length of time a transmitter has been powered;

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.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of storing the data including the real-time timestamp in a memory of a control system.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of transmitting the data to the control system comprises transmitting the data from a transmitter.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of compensating the real-time timestamp for a transmission delay.