Field device configured for wireless data communication
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A field device comprising:
- at least one actuator and/or sensor configured to alter and/or sense a control and/or process variable in a manufacturing field;
a wireless transmitter and/or receiver configured for wireless data communication between the field device and a remote device when activated;
an interface configured to receive operating power and to provide energy to the wireless transmitter and/or receiver during wireless data communication;
an energy buffer configured to store energy from the operating power and to supply the stored energy to the wireless transmitter and/or receiver during wireless data communication concurrently with the energy provided by the interface; and
a controller configured to evaluate the stored energy available in the energy buffer prior to activation of the wireless transmitter and/or receiver and delay activation of the wireless transmitter and/or receiver when the evaluation indicates that the stored energy in the energy buffer plus the energy provided by the interface is insufficient to sustain operation of the wireless transmitter and/or receiver during wireless data communication.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Field devices comprising a transmitter and/or receiver for wireless data communication are provided. The energy available for wireless data communication in data transmitting or data receiving field devices is evaluated prior to activation of the transmitter and/or receiver of the field device.
27 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A field device comprising:
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at least one actuator and/or sensor configured to alter and/or sense a control and/or process variable in a manufacturing field; a wireless transmitter and/or receiver configured for wireless data communication between the field device and a remote device when activated; an interface configured to receive operating power and to provide energy to the wireless transmitter and/or receiver during wireless data communication; an energy buffer configured to store energy from the operating power and to supply the stored energy to the wireless transmitter and/or receiver during wireless data communication concurrently with the energy provided by the interface; and a controller configured to evaluate the stored energy available in the energy buffer prior to activation of the wireless transmitter and/or receiver and delay activation of the wireless transmitter and/or receiver when the evaluation indicates that the stored energy in the energy buffer plus the energy provided by the interface is insufficient to sustain operation of the wireless transmitter and/or receiver during wireless data communication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 7, 8)
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4. The field device of claim I wherein the wireless transmitter and/or receiver comprises an infrared transmitter, the infrared transmitter comprising:
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a light emitting unit connected to a power supply line and to ground and emitting infrared waveforms according to driving pulses outputted by a coder unit; and wherein the energy buffer is coupled across the light emitting unit to supply energy to the light emitting unit. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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9. A method for exchanging data in a manufacturing plant control system using wireless data communication, the method comprising:
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receiving operating power at an interface of a field device that includes a wireless transmitter and/or receiver, the interface being configured to provide energy to the wireless transmitter and/or receiver during wireless data communication; storing, at an energy buffer associated with the field device, energy from the operating power, the energy buffer being configured to supply the stored energy to the wireless transmitter and/or receiver during wireless data communication concurrently with the energy provided by the interface; evaluating the stored energy prior to activation of the wireless transmitter and/or receiver; and delaying activation of the wireless transmitter and/or receiver when the evaluation indicates that the stored energy in the energy buffer plus the energy provided by the interface is insufficient to sustain operation of the wireless transmitter and/or receiver during wireless data communication. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A tangible computer-useable storage medium storing a program that is loadable into a memory of a field device that includes a wireless transmitter and/or receiver, wherein the field device further includes an interface configured to receive operating power and to provide energy to the wireless transmitter and/or receiver during wireless data communication and an energy buffer configured to store energy from the operating power and to supply the stored energy to the wireless transmitter and/or receiver during wireless data communication concurrently with the energy provided by the interface, the program including software code for exchanging data in a manufacturing plant control system using the wireless transmitter and/or receiver by causing a controller of the field device to:
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evaluate the stored energy prior to activation of the wireless transmitter and/or receiver; and delay activation of the wireless transmitter and/or receiver when the evaluation indicates that the stored energy in the energy buffer plus the energy provided by the interface is insufficient to sustain operation of the wireless transmitter and/or receiver during wireless data communication. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification