Handheld field maintenance tool with improved locational awareness functionality

• US 8,766,794 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2011
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Ferguson, Anthony D., Kantzes, Christopher P., Mathiowetz, Brad N., Toepke, Todd M., Yang, Kun, Lund, Adam E., Lattimer, Donald R., Franchuk, Brian A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/191,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20120040698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: 455/457, 370/310, 700/83, 273/148.B, 702/183, 463/37, 463/46, 340/539.13, 340/539.16, 34053922-53923, 340/539.1, 340/539.11
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 29/1518 one step being the formation of initial mixture of carbon oxides and hydrogen for synthesis
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4068 Verifying part programme on screen, by drawing or other means
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23018 Enter parameters by combinations of keys and duration of actuation of keys
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23054 Simulate response on entered parameters and display, quicker response
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23126 Display tree structure of whole system or relevant info after function selection
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23163 Display enlarged, zoomed detail and small overall schematic, plan
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23406 Programmer device, portable, handheld detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23445 Real time simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23446 HIL hardware in the loop, simulates equipment to which a control module is fixed
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24001 Maintenance, repair
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24012 Use camera of handheld device, head mounted display
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24028 Explosion free control, intrinsically safe
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24056 Portable, detachable module to input test signals, read test results
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25062 Detect physical location of field device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25428 Field device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31121 Fielddevice, field controller, interface connected to fieldbus
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31197 Near field communication nfc
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31475 : Zoom or pan display for flexible access to information
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32007 : Operator is assisted by expert system for advice and delegation of tasks
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32144 : Define device description using dd files
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32226 : Computer assisted repair, maintenance of system components
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33331 : Test, diagnostic of field device for correct device, correct parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35422 : Unit freely movable in space, detect its position, orientation by triangulation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35429 : Enter code number directly for function, no use of function keys
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36122 : Operator menu with submenu for each item
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36128 : Function menu, switches, keys replaced by menu
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50193 : Safety in general
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 : Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 : comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 : Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 : Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• 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: Y04S 10/50 : Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications

Abstract

A handheld field maintenance tool is provided. The tool includes, among other things, a wireless process communication protocol module configured to communicate in accordance with a wireless process communication protocol. The tool also includes a display and an input device. A controller is coupled to the wireless process communication protocol module, the display, and the input device. The controller is configured to generate a map on the display indicating a position of the handheld field maintenance device relative to at least one asset, such as a field device. The controller is further configured to determine a position of the handheld field maintenance device by triangulating using wireless process communication with a number of known, fixed-position wireless field devices.

Claims

1. A handheld field maintenance tool comprising:

a wireless process communication protocol module configured to communicate in accordance with a wireless process communication protocol;

a display;

an input device; and

a controller coupled to the wireless process communication protocol module, the display, and the input device, the controller being configured to generate a map on the display indicating a physical position of the handheld field maintenance device relative to a physical position of at least one asset, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a physical position of the handheld field maintenance device by triangulating using wireless process communication with a number of wireless field devices, each having a known, fixed physical position.

2. The handheld field maintenance tool of claim 1, wherein the at least one asset includes a field device.

3. The handheld field maintenance tool of claim 1, and further comprising a GPS module coupled to the controller, the GPS module configured to receive satellite GPS signals to determine a position of the handheld field maintenance tool.

4. The handheld field maintenance tool of claim 1, wherein the controller provides an indication of the asset in a center of the map.

5. The handheld field maintenance tool of claim 4, wherein the indication of the asset is an icon.

6. The handheld field maintenance tool of claim 5, wherein a parameter of the icon varies with a parameter known relative to the asset.

7. The handheld field maintenance tool of claim 6, wherein the parameter of the icon is transparency, and the parameter known relative to the asset is height relative to ground level.

8. The handheld field maintenance tool of claim 1, wherein the handheld field maintenance tool is intrinsically-safe.

9. A method of locating a field device using a handheld field maintenance tool, the method comprising:

selecting a field device to locate;

accessing position information relative to the selected field device;

determining a current physical position of the handheld field maintenance tool; and

generating a map on a display of the handheld field maintenance tool showing the current physical position relative to the accessed position information relative to the selected field device, wherein a physical position of the field device is centered on the map.

10. The method of claim 9, and further comprising updating the map as the current position changes, and determining if the current position is within a selected threshold of the field device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a close proximity location function of the handheld field maintenance tool when the selected threshold has been reached.

12. The method of claim 11, and further comprising verification of the field device by local access to the field device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein local access includes causing the field device to generate a signal over its process communication loop/segment and using the handheld field maintenance tool to verify the signal.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein an icon of the field device is displayed with a parameter that indicative of a known parameter of the field device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the parameter of the icon is transparency and the parameter of the field device is height relative to ground level.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the handheld field maintenance tool complies with an intrinsic safety specification.

17. A method of locating a field device using a handheld field maintenance tool, the method comprising:

selecting a field device to locate;

accessing position information relative to the selected field device;

determining a current physical position of the handheld field maintenance tool;

generating a map on a display of the handheld field maintenance tool showing the current physical position relative to the accessed position information relative to the selected field device;

updating the map as the current physical position changes; and

determining if the current physical position is within a selected threshold of the field device.

18. The method of claim 17, and further comprising executing a close proximity location function of the handheld field maintenance tool when the selected threshold has been reached.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the close proximity location function employs near-field communication.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the close proximity location includes providing relative location coordinates.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the handheld field maintenance tool complies with an intrinsic safety specification.

22. A method of determining a physical location an object using a handheld tool, the method comprising:

placing the handheld tool in proximity to the object;

causing the handheld tool to determine a current physical position of the handheld tool;

receiving a user input indicative of a physical position of the object relative to the current physical position of the handheld tool; and

storing physical position information relative to the object, wherein the physical position information is based on the current physical position of the handheld tool and the user input.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the object is an asset in a process installation.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the process installation asset is a field device.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the user input includes height of the process installation asset relative to ground level.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the user input includes height of the object relative to the handheld tool.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the handheld tool is a handheld field maintenance tool.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the handheld field maintenance tool complies with an intrinsic safety specification.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein causing the handheld tool to determine a current position includes using GPS signals.

30. A method of identifying a connection hub using a handheld field maintenance tool, the method comprising:

communicatively coupling the handheld field maintenance tool to a process communication loop or segment having a plurality of field devices coupled thereto;

using the handheld field maintenance tool to identify all field devices on the segment or loop;

using the handheld field maintenance tool to query each field device for location information of the connection hub and terminal number relative to the field device; and

locating a connection hub relative to at least one of the plurality of field devices using the handheld field maintenance tool.

31. A method of identifying a connection hub of a field device using a handheld field maintenance tool, the method comprising:

communicatively coupling the handheld field maintenance tool to the field device;

using the handheld field maintenance tool to query the field device for the location of the connection hub relative to the field device; and

locating a connection hub relative to the field device using the handheld field maintenance tool.

32. A method of indicating field devices using a handheld field maintenance tool, the method comprising:

receiving an input indicative of a selection of a process installation asset;

identifying at least one field device associated with the selected process installation asset; and

providing a map on the handheld field maintenance tool showing a physical location of the selected process installation asset and the at least one associated field device.