Field device in a process control system using wireless radio communications to transmit and receive sense and control signals

• US 7,602,741 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2004
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Boyd, Thomas A., Tapperson, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): LUU, LE HIEN
• Application Number:
  US10/961,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20050049727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,832 Days
• Field of Search: 700/241, 700/244, 340/870.02, 340/825.37, 340/825.23, 340/3.1, 345/169, 701/123, 370/347, 370/338, 370/310, 370/225, 219/445.1
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31122 Bridge between networks
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31162 Wireless lan
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31251 Redundant access, wireless and hardware access to fielddevices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

An apparatus provides wireless communication between multiple devices within a process control system, such as between field devices, control units, user terminals, controllers, etc., using a wireless bus protocol. In one embodiment, a process control system for use within a process control environment includes a plurality of process control field devices that operate within the process environment, and a control device adapted to receive a sense signal from or to provide a control signal to one or more of the plurality of process control field devices. First and second wireless transceivers are communicatively connected to different ones of the process control field devices and the control device and communicate with one another using a bus protocol, to thereby provide wireless communications within the process control system.

Claims

1. A process control system for use within a process control environment, comprising:

a process control field device;

a control device for receiving a sense signal from or providing a control signal to the process control field device;

a first wireless radio frequency transceiver communicatively connected to the process control field device; and

a second wireless radio frequency transceiver communicatively connected to a second process control field device or to the control device;

wherein the first wireless radio frequency transceiver communicates with the second wireless radio frequency transceiver using a bus protocol.

2. The process control system of claim 1, wherein the bus protocol is a standard bus protocol.

3. The process control system of claim 2, wherein the standard bus protocol is a fieldbus protocol.

4. The process control system of claim 1, wherein the bus protocol is an open communication protocol.

5. The process control system of claim 1, wherein the bus protocol is an SP50 communication protocol.

6. The process control system of claim 1, wherein the bus protocol is a digital communication protocol.

7. The process control system of claim 1, wherein the process control field device communicates with the control device via a hardwired communication path using the bus protocol.

8. The process control system of claim 7, wherein the control device includes a user terminal and a controller.

9. The process control system of claim 1, wherein the process control field device generates a sense signal indicative of a sensed parameter and a secondary signal and wherein the first wireless radio frequency transceiver communicates both the sense signal and the secondary signal.

10. The process control system of claim 9, wherein the secondary signal is a status signal indicating a status the process control field device.

11. The process control system of claim 10, wherein the status signal includes at least one of a diagnostic signal, an identity signal, and a calibration signal.

12. The process control system of claim 1, wherein the process control field device comprises a member of the group consisting of a valve positioner, a flow transmitter, a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor.

13. The process control system of claim 1, wherein the control device includes a user terminal.

14. The process control system of claim 13, wherein the control device further includes a controller.

15. A communication system for use in a process control system within a process control environment having a plurality of process control field devices that operate within the process control environment and a control unit for providing signals to or receiving signals from the plurality of process control field devices, the communication system comprising:

a first wireless radio frequency transceiver communicatively connected to a first one of the plurality of process control field devices; and

a second wireless radio frequency transceiver communicatively connected to a second one of the plurality of process control field devices or to the control unit;

wherein the first wireless radio frequency transceiver communicates signals to or receives signals from the second wireless radio frequency transceiver using a bus protocol.

16. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the bus protocol is a standard bus protocol.

17. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the standard bus protocol is a fieldbus protocol.

18. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the first wireless radio frequency transceiver communicates a sense signal indicative of a measured physical parameter to the second wireless transceiver using the bus protocol.

19. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the first wireless transceiver receives a control signal to cause one of the plurality of field devices to perform a physical action within the process control environment from the second wireless transceiver using the bus protocol.

20. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the first wireless radio frequency transceiver and the second wireless radio frequency transceiver communicate a secondary signal using the bus protocol.

21. The communication system of claim 20, wherein the secondary signal is a status signal indicating a status of one of the process control field devices.

22. A method of communicating within a process control environment having a plurality of process control field devices for sensing or altering parameters within the process control environment and a control unit for receiving a signal from or providing a signal to one or more of the plurality of process control field devices, the method comprising:

connecting a first wireless radio frequency transceiver to a first one of the plurality of process control field devices;

connecting a second wireless radio frequency transceiver to a second one of the plurality of process control field devices or to the control unit; and

wirelessly communicating a radio frequency signal between the first wireless radio frequency transceiver and the second wireless radio frequency transceiver using a bus communication protocol.

23. The method of communicating within a process control environment of claim 22, wherein wirelessly communicating a radio frequency signal between the first wireless radio frequency transceiver and the second wireless radio frequency transceiver includes using a standard bus communication protocol.

24. The method of communicating within a process control environment of claim 23, wherein the standard bus communication protocol is a fieldbus protocol.

25. The method of communicating within a process control environment of claim 22, wherein wirelessly communicating a radio frequency signal between the first wireless radio frequency transceiver and the second wireless radio frequency transceiver includes communicating a sense signal indicative of a sensed parameter.

26. The method of communicating within a process control environment of claim 22, wherein wirelessly communicating a radio frequency signal between the first wireless radio frequency transceiver and the second wireless radio frequency transceiver includes communicating a control signal to cause a process control field device to perform a physical control action.

27. The method of communicating within a process control environment of claim 22, wherein wirelessly communicating a radio frequency signal between the first wireless radio frequency transceiver and the second wireless radio frequency transceiver includes communicating a status signal.

28. The method of communicating within a process control environment of claim 27, wherein the status signal includes at least one of a diagnostic signal, an identity signal, and a calibration signal.