U.S. patent application number 14/009349 was filed with the patent office on 2014-01-30 for apparatus and system for determining, optimizing or monitoring at least one process variable.
This patent application is currently assigned to Endress + Hauser BmbH + Co. KG. The applicant listed for this patent is Matthias Altendorf, Marc Bret. Invention is credited to Matthias Altendorf, Marc Bret.
Application Number | 20140032177 14/009349 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45937240 |
Filed Date | 2014-01-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140032177 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Altendorf; Matthias ; et
al. |
January 30, 2014 |
APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING, OPTIMIZING OR MONITORING AT
LEAST ONE PROCESS VARIABLE
Abstract
An apparatus for determining or monitoring at least one process
variable which comprises a sensor element, measuring electronics,
at least one control/evaluating/calculating unit arranged removed
from the measuring unit and/or an in/output unit arranged removed
from the measuring unit and the control/evaluating/calculating
unit. The control/evaluating/calculating unit and the in/output
unit are connected with the measuring unit via a first interface,
respectively a second interface, wherein the measuring electronics
operates the sensor element and forwards the measurement signals
via the interfaces to the control/evaluating/calculating unit as
unprocessed, raw, measured values, and wherein the
control/evaluating/calculating unit arranged removed from the
measuring unit determines, improves and/or monitors the process
variable based on the raw, measured values and makes such available
via the in/output unit.
Inventors: |
Altendorf; Matthias;
(Lorrach, DE) ; Bret; Marc; (Kembs, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Altendorf; Matthias
Bret; Marc |
Lorrach
Kembs |
|
DE
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Endress + Hauser BmbH + Co.
KG
Maulburg
DE
|
Family ID: |
45937240 |
Appl. No.: |
14/009349 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
March 15, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP12/54533 |
371 Date: |
October 2, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
702/189 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G05B 19/0425 20130101;
G05B 19/042 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
702/189 |
International
Class: |
G05B 19/042 20060101
G05B019/042 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 7, 2011 |
DE |
102011006989.5 |
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. An apparatus for determining or monitoring at least one process
variable, comprising: a sensor element; measuring electronics; at
least one control/evaluating/calculating unit arranged removed from
said measuring unit; and/or an in/output unit arranged removed from
said measuring unit and said control/evaluating/calculating unit,
wherein: said control/evaluating/calculating unit and said
in/output unit are connected with said measuring unit via a first
interface, respectively a second interface; said measuring
electronics operates said sensor element and forwards the
measurement signals via said interfaces to said
control/evaluating/calculating unit as unprocessed, raw, measured
value; and said control/evaluating/calculating unit arranged
removed from said measuring unit determines, improves and/or
monitors the process variable based on the raw, measured values and
makes such available via said in/output unit.
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein: said measuring
electronics is implemented on an FPGA chip or on a dynamically
reconfigurable FPGA chip or on an ASIC or on a memory chip.
13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein: said
control/evaluating/calculating unit is implemented on an FPGA chip
or on a dynamically reconfigurable FPGA chip or on an ASIC or on a
memory chip.
14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein: in the case of
application of a dynamically reconfigurable FPGA chip a permanently
configured region is provided, in which a microprocessor is
permanently configured.
15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein: said
control/evaluating/calculating unit is implemented as one of: a
handheld device, or a computer and a transportable service
unit.
16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said handheld
device is a smart phone or a smart pad or a transportable service
unit; and the software for said control/evaluating/calculating unit
is downloadable from a server as a function of said respective
measuring unit as apps or as an application oriented, software
unit.
17. A system, comprising: a plurality of apparatuses for
determining or monitoring at least one process variable,
comprising: a sensor element; measuring electronics; at least one
control/evaluating/calculating unit arranged removed from said
measuring unit; and/or an in/output unit arranged removed from said
measuring unit and said control/evaluating/calculating unit,
wherein: said control/evaluating/calculating unit and said
in/output unit are connected with said measuring unit via a first
interface, respectively a second interface; said measuring
electronics operates said sensor element and forwards the
measurement signals via said interfaces to said
control/evaluating/calculating unit as unprocessed, raw, measured
value; and said control/evaluating/calculating unit arranged
removed from said measuring unit determines, improves and/or
monitors the process variable based on the raw, measured values and
makes such available via said in/output unit; wherein: a plurality
of measuring units are connected with said
control/evaluating/calculating unit via corresponding communication
connections and said control/evaluating/calculating unit, using
corresponding evaluating hardware and/or evaluating software,
further processes raw, measured values delivered from said
different measuring units and determines, improves and/or monitors
the corresponding process variable.
18. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein: said communication
connections are wired connections and/or wireless connections.
19. The system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising: a
database, in which are stored a plurality of data sets with raw,
measured values of different measuring units and/or with further
processed, raw, measured values of the different measuring units;
the data sets reflect raw, measured values and/or further
processed, raw, measured values, which have been ascertained as a
function of different process- and/or device conditions in
different applications directly or by simulation; and associated
with each data set with raw, measured values and/or further
processed, raw, measured values is a parameter set, which provides
an optimized adjusting of the corresponding measuring unit and/or
said control/evaluating/calculating unit as a function of defined
process- and/or device conditions.
20. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein: added value is
achieved in the form of an enrichment of information, know how and
measurement data; the added value rests on the information
delivered from said transportable service units based on the
software for said control/evaluating/calculating unit as a function
of said individual measuring units, on which the apps, respectively
the application oriented, software units, work.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus for determining,
optimizing or monitoring at least one process variable.
Furthermore, a system is presented, which, among other things,
preferably comprises a plurality of the aforesaid apparatuses.
[0002] In automation technology, especially in process automation,
field devices are often applied, which serve for determining,
optimizing and/or influencing process variables. Serving for
registering process variables are sensors, such as, for example,
fill level measuring devices, flow measuring devices, pressure- and
temperature measuring devices, pH-redox potential measuring
devices, conductivity measuring devices, etc., which register the
corresponding process variables, fill level, flow, pressure,
temperature, pH-value, and conductivity. Serving for influencing
process variables are actuators, such as, for example, valves or
pumps, via which the flow of a liquid in a section of pipeline or
the fill level in a container can be changed. Referred to as field
devices are, in principle, all devices, which are applied near to
the process and deliver or process information relevant to the
process. In connection with the invention, field devices thus
include also remote I/Os, radio adapters, or, generally, devices,
which are arranged at the field level. A large number of such field
devices are produced and sold by the firm, Endress+Hauser.
[0003] Known from EP 1 629 331 A1 is a variable field device for
process automation technology. The individual functions of this
field device are distributed. The actual field device provides only
a few basic functions, e.g. the measured value production, while
application-specific functionalities, such as e.g. frequency- or
pulse outputs, are embodied as separate functional units, which are
arranged spatially separated from the field device. Field devices
and functional units are connected to a corresponding
communications medium for the purpose of data exchange. The
communications medium is a two-conductor supply line.
Alternatively, a number of data channels are provided on the
communications medium, so that multiple access to the connected
units is possible. In this way, the field device is variably and
application-specifically configurable.
[0004] Known from DE 10 2006 016 381 A1 is a measuring apparatus
for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable,
wherein the measuring apparatus includes as integral components a
sensor unit, an in/output unit and a display unit. The sensor unit
produces raw, measured values, wherein from the raw, measured
values the information concerning the process variable is
producible. Data are received or forwarded via the in/output unit.
Presented on the display unit is the information representing the
process variable, as provided by a control unit. Communication
between the sensor unit, the in/output unit and the display unit,
on the one hand, and the control unit, on the other hand, occurs
via one of the fieldbusses customary in automation technology.
[0005] An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and a
system for determining, optimizing or monitoring at least one
process variable simply and therewith cost effectively.
[0006] The apparatus of the invention includes the following
components:
[0007] A measuring unit, respectively a measuring module, having a
sensor element and a measuring electronics, at least one
control/evaluating/calculating unit arranged removed from the
measuring unit and/or an in/output unit arranged removed from the
measuring unit and the control/evaluating/calculating unit. The
control/evaluating/calculating unit and/or the in/output unit
communicate with the measuring apparatus of the invention via a
first interface and a second interface. The measuring electronics
operates the sensor element and forwards the measurement signals as
unprocessed, raw, measured values via the interfaces to the
control/evaluating/calculating unit. Based on the raw, measured
values, the control/evaluating/calculating unit arranged removed
from the measuring unit determines, improves and/or monitors the
process variable. Information concerning the process variable is
made available via the in/output unit.
[0008] Integrated in the measuring unit are, thus, only the
functional components necessarily required on-site for the measured
value registering, such as, for instance, in the case of a
fill-level measuring device, the signal producing unit and the
transmitting- and receiving unit for the ultrasound- or microwave
measurement signals. The conditioning- and further processing
functions, same as the in- and output functions, are outsourced to
a "central" control/evaluating/calculating unit, respectively a
"central" in/output unit. The control/evaluating/calculating unit
is preferably so embodied that the raw, measured values delivered
from the most varied of measuring units can be conditioned and
further processed with appropriate soft- and/or hardware.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention,
the measuring electronics is implemented on an FPGA chip or on a
dynamically reconfigurable FPGA chip or on an ASIC or on a memory
chip. Moreover, it is provided that the
control/evaluating/calculating unit is implemented on an FPGA chip
or on a dynamically reconfigurable FPGA chip or on an ASIC or on a
memory chip.
[0010] If a dynamically reconfigurable FPGA chip is used, then, for
example, the functional soft- and/or hardware components can be
configured in real time for the measuring unit, which is just
delivering the raw measurement signals. In this way, the
control/evaluating/calculating unit is, in high measure, flexibly
adaptable to the respective requirements.
[0011] Furthermore, it is advantageous in connection with the
apparatus of the invention when, in the case of application of a
dynamically reconfigurable FPGA chip, a permanently configured
region is provided, in which a microprocessor is permanently
configured.
[0012] Preferably, the control/evaluating/calculating unit is
implemented in a handheld device or computer or--generally
stated--in a transportable service unit. For example, a smart phone
or a smart pad or other transportable service unit can be used.
Preferably, the software for the control/evaluating/calculating
unit is downloaded from a server, as a function of the respective
measuring unit, as apps, respectively as an application oriented,
software unit.
[0013] The server is, for example, made available by the device
manufacturer. This solution has the advantage that always the
current version of the software is available to the
control/evaluating/calculating unit.
[0014] Preferably, the server is, moreover, a web server, so that
the accessing can occur via the browser of a computer. Of course,
the server can, however, be any server. Thus, also an OPC-US server
can be applied.
[0015] With regard to the system of the invention, the object is
achieved by features including that a plurality of measuring units
are connected with the control/evaluating/calculating unit via
suitable communication connections. The
control/evaluating/calculating unit processes the raw, measured
values delivered from the different measuring units further by
using the corresponding evaluating hardware and/or evaluating
software and determines, improves and/or monitors the corresponding
process variable, concerning which the measuring unit is to deliver
information.
[0016] The system of the invention includes, among other things,
elements of a computer network. Included in this network are
measuring devices 1 for process variables, such as was already
described above. Through the solution of the invention, the
customer does not need on-site display infrastructure, thus the
so-called HMI (Human Machine Interface), nor does it need the
corresponding infrastructure concerning in- and outputs. Besides
the on-site infrastructure for the hardware, moreover, also the
on-site infrastructure for the software can be omitted. This means
considerable savings.
[0017] The networking of the individual system components occurs
advantageously via suitable communication connections. The
communication connections include wired connections or wireless
connections. Preferably used in the system of the invention are
already present network infrastructures, thus especially Internet
or intranet structures. Thus, the control/evaluating/calculating
unit, which, among other things, provides the information
concerning the process variable by application of suitable
algorithms, can be part of a usual PC or laptop. Since
corresponding PCs and laptops are available worldwide, the
information delivered from the measuring units and then further
processed is, in principle, available at any site at any time. The
same holds for the in/output unit, since any PC or laptop as well
as any handheld device comes equipped with display and with input
means.
[0018] Furthermore, by means of the control/evaluating/calculating
unit, for example, an alarm management based on diagnostic programs
for the individual measuring units or parts of the system of the
invention, or the configuring or parametering of the measuring
units and/or of the system can be performed. Of course,
responsibilities for the aforesaid functionalities can also be
distributed to a number of control/evaluating/calculating units,
which can be at different locations. Likewise an option is to link
the information delivered from different measuring units in desired
manner, in order to generate added value for the customer or also
the device manufacturer.
[0019] Thus, according to the invention, a transmitter, which is
associated physically with a given measuring unit, can become a
virtual transmitter, which is also quite able to supplement a
plurality, and even a large number, of measuring units in desired
type and manner. Moreover, an option is to access the measuring
units from quite different locations. This means that, in given
cases, measures for assuring authorized accessing of the measuring
units or the system must be included. The same holds as regards the
safety of the data transmission.
[0020] Especially advantageous is, moreover, when a database is
provided, in which a plurality of data sets with raw, measured
values of different measuring units and/or with further processed,
raw, measured values of different measuring units are stored,
wherein the data sets reflect raw, measured values and/or further
processed, raw, measured values, which have been ascertained as a
function of different process- and/or device conditions in
different applications directly or by simulation. Associated with
each data set with raw, measured values and/or further processed,
raw, measured values is a parameter set, which provides an
optimized adjusting of the corresponding measuring unit and/or the
control/evaluating/calculating unit as a function of defined
process- and/or device conditions. For example, the parameters can
be filter settings.
[0021] As already mentioned above, it is, moreover, provided that
an added value in the form of an enrichment of information, know
how and/or measurement data is provided for the user. This added
value rests on the information delivered from, in given cases,
different transportable service units based on the software for the
control/evaluating/calculating unit. In such case, the information
is normally referenced to the individual measuring units and is
simultaneously available in real time.
[0022] Installed in the control/evaluating/calculating unit, or
units, are corresponding apps, respectively application oriented,
software tools.
[0023] Alternatively, the control/evaluating/calculating unit, or
units is/are installed in at least one computer. The accessing
occurs then, for example, via Java or HTML. Furthermore, it is
provided that the at least one control/evaluating/calculating unit
obtains the suitable software from a server via web services.
[0024] As already mentioned above, it is especially advantageous in
connection with the solution of the invention, when the virtual
transmitter, thus the control/evaluating/calculating unit, is
implemented on an iPhone, an iPad or other handheld computer.
[0025] The invention will now be explained in greater detail based
on the appended drawing, the figures of which show as follows:
[0026] FIG. 1 a schematic representation of a measuring apparatus
known from the state of the art,
[0027] FIG. 2 a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment
of the measuring apparatus of the invention,
[0028] FIG. 3 a schematic representation of an advantageous
embodiment of the system of the invention, and
[0029] FIG. 4 a flow diagram of a method for changing the
configuration of the measuring apparatus of the invention.
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a measuring
apparatus 1, such as known from the state of the art. Measuring
apparatus 1 is composed of a sensor element 4, which is so embodied
that it can determine a desired physical, chemical or biological
process variable, and a transmitter 9, which in the shown case
includes a measuring electronics 5, a
control/evaluating/calculating unit 3, a first interface 7 and a
second interface 8. Via the interfaces 7, 8, transmitter 9 is
connected with a local service unit, for example, a handheld device
10. Furthermore, a control/evaluating/calculating unit 3 is
associated with the handheld device 10 in the illustrated case.
Often, the local service unit 10 in the case of known solutions is
an integral component of the measuring apparatus 1.
[0031] Via the second interface 8, the transmitter 9 is connected
with a remotely arranged computer 11. Associated with the computer
11 is--same as in the case of the handheld device 10--an in/output
unit 6 and a control/evaluating/calculating unit. The communication
connection 13 between the transmitter 9 and the local service unit
10, respectively the computer 11, occurs either wired or
wirelessly, e.g. via wireless HART, for instance, one of the
fieldbusses (HART, Fieldbus Foundation, Profibus, etc.) established
in automation technology.
[0032] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a preferred
embodiment of the measuring apparatus 1 of the invention for
determining, optimizing or monitoring at least one process
variable.
[0033] Measuring apparatus 1 includes a sensor element 4 and a
measuring electronics 5. Both together form the measuring unit 2,
respectively the measuring module 2. The
control/evaluating/calculating unit 3 is arranged removed from the
measuring unit 2 and/or the in/output unit is arranged removed from
the measuring unit 2 and, in given cases, from the
control/evaluating/calculating unit 3. Communication between the
measuring electronics 5, respectively the measuring apparatus 1,
and the control/evaluating/calculating unit 3 and/or the in/output
unit 6 occurs via the interfaces 7, 8. Measuring electronics 5
operates the sensor element 4 such that the measurement signals
present as raw, measured values and representing the process
variable are forwarded via the interfaces 7, 8 to the
control/evaluating/calculating unit 3. Only in the
control/evaluating/calculating unit 3 arranged removed from the
measuring unit 2 is the corresponding process variable determined,
improved and/or monitored based on the raw, measured values.
Information concerning the process variable is made available via
the in/output unit 6.
[0034] As already mentioned above, the measuring electronics 5 is
implemented, for example, on an FPGA chip, a dynamically
reconfigurable FPGA chip, an ASIC or a memory chip. Likewise the
control/evaluating/calculating unit 3 can be implemented on an FPGA
chip, a dynamically reconfigurable FPGA chip, an ASIC or a memory
chip.
[0035] From corresponding applications of the assignee, it is
already known that, in the case of application of a dynamically
reconfigurable FPGA chips, a permanently configured region is
provided, in which a microprocessor is permanently configured.
[0036] Control/evaluating/calculating unit 3 can be installed both
in a manually operated device 10 as well as also in a computer 11.
In general, the control/evaluating/calculating unit 3 can be
located in any transportable service unit. The handheld device 10
can be, for example, a laptop, an iPhone or an iPad. The computer
11 can be e.g. a PC or an iPad. In such case, it is especially
advantageous when the software for the
control/evaluating/calculating unit 3 is downloadable from a server
12 as an app or as an application oriented, software unit as a
function of the measuring unit 2 being used. In this way, it is
assured that always the current version of the software is
available. The identification of the measuring apparatus 1,
respectively the measuring electronics 4, occurs e.g. via an RF-ID
tag.
[0037] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of an advantageous
embodiment of the system of the invention, in the case of which a
plurality of the measuring units 2.1, . . . , 2.n described with
respect to FIG. 2 transmit their raw, measured values to one or a
few remotely arranged control/evaluation unit/s. The measuring
units 2.1, . . . , 2.n are, for example, integrated in an automated
plant; they can, however, likewise be arranged at remote locations
far from one another. Wireless communication connections 13 are
preferably utilized for the purpose of data exchange. Using the
corresponding evaluating hardware and/or evaluating software, the
control/evaluating/calculating unit 3, which is associated either
with a handheld device 10 or a computer 11, processes the raw,
measured values delivered from the different measuring units 2.1, .
. . , 2.n and determines, improves and/or monitors the
corresponding process variable.
[0038] Via a server 12, which is preferably a web server (this is
advantageous, since thereby the widely distributed computer
infrastructures can be utilized), the current evaluation software
can be downloaded.
[0039] Furthermore, at least one database 16 is provided, in which
a plurality of data sets with raw, measured values of the different
measuring units 2.1, . . . , 2.n and/or with further processed,
raw, measured values of the different measuring units (2.1, . . . ,
2.n) are stored, wherein the data sets reflect raw, measured values
and/or further processed, raw, measured values, which have been
ascertained as a function of different process- and/or device
conditions in different applications directly or by simulation.
Preferably there is associated with each data set with raw,
measured values and/or further processed, raw, measured values a
parameter set, which reflects an optimized adjusting of the
corresponding measuring unit 2.1, . . . , 2.n and/or the
control/evaluating/calculating unit 3 as a function of the defined
process- and/or device conditions. Further information for this
solution is set forth in the not pre-published German patent
application DE 10 2010 044 182.1 (US 2012/0130509 A1) of the
assignee. The corresponding passages are an integral part of the
present application.
[0040] Moreover, the system of the invention provides the
opportunity of achieving added value in the form of enrichment of
information, know how and measurement data. The added value rests
on the information delivered from the transportable service units
10, 11 based on the software for the control/evaluating/calculating
unit 3 as a function of the individual measuring units 2.1, . . . ,
2.n units, on which the apps, respectively the application oriented
software, work. This added value can exist, for example, in the
performing of advanced diagnostic functions. Furthermore, an
optimizing of the energy consumption in the automated plant can
represent an important added value for the user, respectively plant
operator. Maintenance information represents important information
for the device manufacturer and the plant operator.
[0041] FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram, which illustrates a preferred
method for changing the configuration data set for the measuring
electronics 5 of the measuring apparatus 1 of the invention.
[0042] The program starts at program point 20. At program point 21,
it is checked whether the communication connection to the server
12, here a license server, is in order. As soon as the
communication connection is established (program point 22), it is
checked at the program point 23 whether authorization for accessing
the license server 12 exists. For example, is the license and/or
the number of the downloadable configuration data sets for the
measuring electronics 5 of the measuring apparatus 1 associated
with the serial number of the measuring apparatus 1? Of course, the
license can also be granted with reference to the user. The license
is preferably granted, in each case, for a certain number of
accesses to the license server 12. So long as the maximum number of
allowed accesses is not exceeded, an attempt is made to establish
the connection to the computer 11, which is preferably a
configuration server 11. These steps appear at program points 24,
25.
[0043] If the maximum number of allowed, licensed accesses is
exceeded, then the measuring apparatus 1 works further with the
current configuration of the measuring electronics 5 associated
with the measuring apparatus 1, until a corresponding license is
present (program point 26). For the case, in which communication
connection to the configuration server 11 cannot be established,
the measuring apparatus 1 likewise operates further with the
present configuration data set. This step appears at program point
27.
[0044] If the communication connection to the configuration server
11 can be produced, then at program point 28 a changed
configuration data set is downloaded for the measuring electronics
5 from the configuration server 11 and then utilized for operating
the measuring apparatus 1. The configuration data set serves, for
example, for programming the FPGA chips. As soon as the measuring
apparatus 1 is to be utilized for a changed measuring point (e.g.
pressure measuring point instead of a fill level measuring point),
the program jumps back to the program point 21. If at program point
29 no change of the measuring point is needed, then the program
jumps back to the program point 27.
LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS
[0045] 1 measuring apparatus of the invention
[0046] 2 measuring unit
[0047] 3 control/evaluating/calculating unit
[0048] 4 sensor element
[0049] 5 measuring electronics
[0050] 6 in/output unit
[0051] 7 first interface
[0052] 8 second interface
[0053] 9 transmitter
[0054] 10 handheld device
[0055] 11 computer
[0056] 12 server
[0057] 13 communication connection
[0058] 14 RF-ID tag
[0059] 15 permanently configured region
[0060] 16 database
* * * * *