Field device for automation technology

• US 8,988,896 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2012
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endress + Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft Fur Mess- Und Regeltechnik Mbh + Co. Kg
• Original Assignee: Endress + Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft Fur Mess- Und Regeltechnik Mbh + Co. Kg
• Inventors: Wittmer, Detlev, Kaiser, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Sinclair, David M
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, ROBERT D
• Application Number:
  US13/686,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20130141888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 361/800, 361816-818, 174/350
• US Class Current: 361/818
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14 Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1462 for programmable logic controllers [PLC] for automation or industrial process control

Abstract

A field device for automation technology, wherein the field device has a metal housing for accommodating a field device electronics, an RFID chip and a first RFID antenna for wireless communication and/or energy transmission between an RFID reading device arranged outside of the field device. The first RFID antenna is spaced from a neighboring wall of the metal housing, wherein shielding is provided between the first RFID antenna and the neighboring wall of the metal housing. The separation between the first RFID antenna and the wall of the metal housing and the shielding between the first RFID antenna and the neighboring wall of the metal housing are so dimensioned, that the metal housing does not prevent wireless communication and/or energy transmission between the RFID reading device and the field device.

Claims

1. A field device for automation technology, comprising:

field device electronics;

a metal housing for accommodating said field device electronics;

an RFID chip;

an external RFID reading device arranged outside of the field device and

a first RFID antenna for wireless communication and/or energy transmission between said RFID reading device and the field device, wherein;

said first RFID antenna is spaced of a neighboring wall of the metal housing;

shielding is provided between said first RFID antenna and said neighboring wall of the metal housing;

the separation between said first RFID antenna and said neighboring wall of said metal housing and said shielding between said first RFID antenna and said neighboring wall of said metal housing are so dimensioned, that said metal housing does not prevent wireless communication and/or energy transmission between said external RFID reading device and the field device.

2. The field device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said metal housing has an opening, which is closable via a cable guide, and wherein said first RFID antenna is integrated into said cable guide.

3. The field device as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said RFID chip is integrated into said cable guide.

4. The field device as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

communication and/or energy transmission between said first RFID antenna integrated into said cable guide and said field device electronics occurs by wire.

5. The field device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a second RFID antenna arranged in said cable guide in such a manner that it enables wireless communication with said field device electronics.

6. The field device as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

the frequency used for communication, or energy transmission between said first RFID antenna and said external reading device is higher than the frequency used between said second RFID antenna and said field device electronics.

7. The field device as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said cable guide is connected with the field device via a Pg screw connection or via a nut.

8. The field device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said metal housing has a recess in a housing region, in which said RFID antenna is arranged.

9. The field device as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said recess is dimensioned in such a manner that the surfaces of said metal housing and said first RFID antenna, or a coating arranged on said RFID antenna terminate essentially flushly with one another.

10. The field device as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

a third RFID antenna provided on an inner side of said recess facing said field device electronics.

11. The field device as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

a company identifier embodied in the form of a relief is arranged on said metal housing, or in said recess of said metal housing; and

said first RFID antenna is arranged in said relief of the company identifier or under the company identifier.

12. The field device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said RFID chip supplementally performs the task of a gateway.

13. The field device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

there is associated with said RFID chip a non volatile memory region, in which relevant field device data are stored, wherein these field device data, in a case, in which the energy supply to the field device is interrupted, can be read out via said external reading device.