Appendable system and devices for data acquisition, analysis and control

• US 8,538,732 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2010
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Keyes, Marion A. IV, Schleiss, Trevor D., Nixon, Mark J., Eddie, Ron, Belvins, Terrence L., Ramachandran, Ram
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNES-BULLOCK, CRYSTAL JOY
• Application Number:
  US12/958,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20110134973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 340/500, 340/531, 340/533, 340/539.1, 340/539.22, 340/870.01, 340/539.26, 340/540, 340/693.5, 340/693.9, 340/3.1, 340/3.32, 340/3.5, 340/3.9, 361/679.01, 361/679.02, 361/679.4, 702/33, 702/57, 702/127, 702/188, 702/182, 700/108
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4183 characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33192 Radio link, wireless
• 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: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

An appendable system includes a plurality of appendable devices that are adapted to interoperate with each other and/or a workstation via a communication network to monitor and/or control a process. Each of the appendable devices can communicate with one or more sensors and/or control outputs and includes a housing that facilitates mounting of the appendable device to a surface.

Claims

1. An appendable device, comprising:

an antenna;

a transceiver communicatively coupled to the antenna;

a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver, wherein the processor is programmed to perform one of a periodic data monitoring activity and a process control activity;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;

an input/output interface adapted to operatively couple the processor to one of a sensor and a control output; and

a housing that holds the transceiver, the processor, the memory, the sensor, the control output, and the input/output interface, wherein the housing is adapted to be attached to a surface of an entity in a process control system.

2. The device of claim 1, further including a power source disposed within the housing, wherein the power source provides power using one of a capacitor, a battery, vibrations, light and a magnetic field.

3. The appendable device of claim 1, further including a termination portion adapted to electrically couple wires to the input/output interface.

4. The appendable device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to communicate with another remotely situated device using a wireless communication technique.

5. The appendable device of claim 4, wherein the other remotely situated device is one of a controller, another appendable device and a workstation.

6. The appendable device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to perform one of a data monitoring activity, a data analysis activity and a control activity.

7. The appendable device of claim 1, wherein the input/output interface is adapted to communicate with a plurality of sensors.

8. An appendable device, comprising:

an antenna;

a transceiver communicatively coupled to the antenna;

a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver, wherein the processor is programmed to perform one of a periodic data monitoring activity and a process control activity;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;

an input/output interface adapted to operatively couple the processor to one of a sensor and a control output;

a housing that holds the transceiver, the processor, the memory, the sensor, and the input/output interface, wherein the housing is adapted to be attached to a surface of an entity in a process control system; and

an electrical conductor extending from the housing for communicatively coupling the control output to the input/output interface.

9. The device of claim 8, further including a power source disposed within the housing, wherein the power source provides power using one of a capacitor, a battery, vibrations, light and a magnetic field.

10. The appendable device of claim 8, further including a termination portion adapted to electrically couple wires to the input/output interface.

11. The appendable device of claim 8, wherein the processor is programmed to communicate with another remotely situated device using a wireless communication technique.

12. The appendable device of claim 11, wherein the other remotely situated device is one of a controller, another appendable device and a workstation.

13. The appendable device of claim 8, wherein the processor is programmed to perform one of a data monitoring activity, a data analysis activity and a control activity.

14. The appendable device of claim 8, wherein the input/output interface is adapted to communicate with a plurality of sensors.

15. An appendable device, comprising:

an antenna;

a transceiver communicatively coupled to the antenna;

a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver, wherein the processor is programmed to perform one of a periodic data monitoring activity and a process control activity;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;

an input/output interface adapted to operatively couple the processor to one of a sensor and a control output, and wherein the input/output interface is adapted to communicate with a plurality of control output devices; and

a housing that holds the transceiver, the processor, the memory, the sensor, and the input/output interface, wherein the housing is adapted to be attached to a surface of an entity in a process control system.

16. The device of claim 15, further including a power source disposed within the housing, wherein the power source provides power using one of a capacitor, a battery, vibrations, light and a magnetic field.

17. The appendable device of claim 15, further including a termination portion adapted to electrically couple wires to the input/output interface.

18. The appendable device of claim 15, wherein the processor is programmed to communicate with another remotely situated device using a wireless communication technique.

19. The appendable device of claim 18, wherein the other remotely situated device is one of a controller, another appendable device and a workstation.

20. The appendable device of claim 15, wherein the processor is programmed to perform one of a data monitoring activity, a data analysis activity and a control activity.

21. The appendable device of claim 15, wherein the input/output interface is adapted to communicate with a plurality of sensors.

22. An appendable device, comprising:

an antenna;

a transceiver communicatively coupled to the antenna;

a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver, wherein the processor is programmed to perform one of a periodic data monitoring activity and a process control activity, and wherein the processor is programmed to facilitate automatic configuration of a process control system;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;

an input/output interface adapted to operatively couple the processor to one of a sensor and a control output; and

a housing that holds the transceiver, the processor, the memory, the sensor, and the input/output interface, wherein the housing is adapted to be attached to a surface of an entity in a process control system.

23. The device of claim 22, further including a power source disposed within the housing, wherein the power source provides power using one of a capacitor, a battery, vibrations, light and a magnetic field.

24. The appendable device of claim 22, further including a termination portion adapted to electrically couple wires to the input/output interface.

25. The appendable device of claim 22, wherein the processor is programmed to communicate with another remotely situated device using a wireless communication technique.

26. The appendable device of claim 25, wherein the other remotely situated device is one of a controller, another appendable device and a workstation.

27. The appendable device of claim 22, wherein the processor is programmed to perform one of a data monitoring activity, a data analysis activity and a control activity.

28. The appendable device of claim 22, wherein the input/output interface is adapted to communicate with a plurality of sensors.