MEASUREMENT ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR TEMPORARILY TRANSFERRING DIGITAL DATA FROM A SOURCE

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a measurement arrangement including: a first process automation technology field device, wherein the first field device includes a first inductive interface and a data processing unit, and wherein a second process automation technology field device can be connected to the first interface; and a data transfer device having a second inductive interface that is designed to complement the first interface, wherein the data transfer device can be connected via this to the first field device, wherein the data transfer device includes a data transfer module with which digital data can be transferred from a source to the data processing unit of the first field device via the data transfer device and the first or second inductive interface. The present disclosure likewise relates to a method for temporarily transmitting digital data from a source to a field device.

Claims

1. A measurement arrangement, comprising: a first process automation technology field device having a first inductive interface and a data processing unit, the first interface embodied to connect to a second process automation technology field device; and a data transfer device having a second inductive interface and a data transfer module, the second interface complementary to the first interface, wherein via the second interface the data transfer device can be connected to the first field device, wherein using the data transfer module digital data can be transferred from a source to the data processing unit of the first field device via the data transfer device and the first interface and the second interface.

2. The measurement arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the data transfer module is a Bluetooth Low Energy module.

3. The measurement arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the data transfer module is a 2-D barcode reader.

4. The measurement arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a second field device, wherein the second field device is a measuring transducer, and wherein the first field device is a sensor for measuring measurement values of at least one measurement variable.

5. The measurement arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a second field device, wherein the second field device is a sensor, and wherein the first field device is a measuring transducer.

6. A method for transferring digital data from a source to a data processing unit, comprising: providing a first process automation technology field device having a first inductive interface and a data processing unit, the first interface embodied to connect to a second process automation technology field device, and a data transfer device having a second inductive interface and a data transfer module, the second interface complementary to the first interface, wherein via the second interface the data transfer device can be connected to the first field device, wherein using the data transfer module digital data can be transferred from a source to the data processing unit of the first field device via the data transfer device and the first interface and the second interface; temporarily connecting the data transfer device to the first field device via the first interface and the second interface; transferring digital data from a source to the data transfer device using the data transfer module; transferring the digital data from the data transfer device to the data processing unit via the second interface and the first interface; and processing the digital data via the data processing unit.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the data transfer module is a Bluetooth Low Energy module, and the method further comprises: providing a mobile device; reading the digital data with the mobile device; transferring the digital data from the mobile device to the data transfer device using Bluetooth via the data transfer module; and transferring the digital data to the first field device via the second interface and the first interface.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the data transfer module is a 2-D barcode reader, and the method further comprises: reading the digital data with the barcode reader; transferring the digital data to the first field device via the second inductive interface and the first inductive interface.

9. The method according to claims 6, wherein the digital data include one or more of the following: an unlock code for unlocking additional functionalities of the first and/or second field device; device settings of the first and/or second field device; software modules of the first and/or second field device; data for modifying the firmware of the first and/or second field device; and calibration data of the first and/or second field device.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first field device is a measuring transducer and the method further comprises: disconnecting the data transfer device from the measuring transducer; connecting a second field device embodied as a sensor to the measuring transducer; transferring the digital data from the measuring transducer to the second field device; and processing the digital data via the second field device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The present disclosure is further explained in more detail by means of the following figures. Illustrated are:

[0021] FIG. 1 shows the measurement arrangement according to the present disclosure in a first embodiment; and

[0022] FIG. 2A/B shows the measurement arrangement according to the present disclosure in a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] In the figures, the same features are marked with the same reference symbols.

[0024] The measurement arrangement according to the present disclosure, in its entirety, has the reference symbol 31.

[0025] A first embodiment is depicted in FIG. 1. The first field device 1 therein is designed as a pH sensor. However, any other sensor—for instance, a conductivity sensor, a sensor for measuring a concentration such as nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, etc.—is likewise conceivable. The sensor 1 includes a data processing unit 3 for processing digital data. The sensor 1 includes a first interface 2—here, an inductive interface.

[0026] Connected to the sensor 1 is a data transfer device 11. This in turn includes a second interface 12 that is designed to complement the first interface 2. In the example, both interfaces 2, 12 are designed as inductive interfaces. The data transfer device 11 includes a data transfer module 13—here, a Bluetooth module 14. The Bluetooth module 14 is designed as a low energy Bluetooth module, for instance.

[0027] The source 4 includes digital data. These digital data are discussed in more detail further below. A mobile device 5 reads in the digital data from the source 4. If the data in the source 4 are present in the form of a barcode (in particular, a 2-D barcode), for instance, the mobile device 5 may take a photographic exposure 7 via the integrated camera of the mobile device 5, for instance. In general, a transfer 7 of the digital data to the mobile device 5 takes place. The mobile device 5 may be of varying design, such as a mobile telephone, tablet, smartphone, or any other mobile unit with corresponding reading capability. The mobile device 5 likewise includes a Bluetooth module. The digital data are transferred by means of a Bluetooth connection 6 to the data transfer device 11—more precisely, to the data transfer module 13. The data transfer device 11 in turn transfers the digital data to the first field device 1 via the interfaces 2, 12. The data processing unit 3 processes these data accordingly; this is likewise discussed in further detail below.

[0028] In one embodiment, the data transfer device 11 is powered by a battery or rechargeable cell. In a further embodiment, power is also transferred via the two interfaces 2, 12.

[0029] In a further embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, the first field device 1 is designed as a measuring transducer. The measuring transducer 1 includes a data processing unit 3. A cable 8 is connected to the measuring transducer—for instance, via a contact interface. Located at the other end of the cable 8 is the first interface 2, here designed as an inductive interface.

[0030] Connected to the first interface 2 is a data transfer device 11. The data transfer device 11 includes a second interface 12 that is complementary to the first. Interface 12 is thus likewise designed here as an inductive interface. The data transfer device 11 is here designed as a barcode reader 15—more precisely, as a 2-D barcode reader. The barcode reader 15 reads in the digital data from the source 4 by means of a connection 7. Via the connection 7 to the data transfer device 11, the digital data are transferred via the interfaces 2, 12 to the measuring transducer 1, and then to the data processing unit 3. There, they are accordingly processed further.

[0031] In the next step of the method according to the present disclosure (depicted in FIG. 2B), a second field device 21 is connected to the first interface 2. In the example, the second field device 21 is designed as a sensor. The second field device 21 includes a data processing unit 23. The field device 21 is connected via an interface 22 to the first interface 2, and thereby to the measuring transducer 1. The interface 22, also, is here designed as an inductive interface. The digital data that were transferred to the measuring transducer 1 (or to the data processing unit 3) by means of the data transfer device 11 are now transferred to the second field device 21 and its data processing unit 23.

[0032] The digital data may include an unlock code for unlocking additional functionalities of the first and/or second field device 1, 21; device settings of the first and/or second field device 1, 21; software modules of the first and/or second field device 1, 21; data for modifying the firmware of the first and/or second field device 1, 21; and/or calibration data of the first and/or second field device 1, 21.

[0033] A single-use case is, therefore, that a user has acquired a new functionality for this field device 1, 21, which—according to the present disclosure—he then may activate via the input of unlock codes. The data are provided in the form of barcodes (for example, QR code or data matrix code). For this, the codes may be sent simply via e-mail and subsequently printed out on paper, for example.

[0034] The data are transferred to the field device as follows: In a first variant, a barcode reader provided with an inductive interface, which barcode reader uses the same protocol as the sensor, is connected to the inductive interface of the field device. While the connection exists, the optically read-in barcodes are transferred directly to the field device. In a second variant, a Bluetooth module (in particular, Bluetooth Low Energy) is connected to the inductive interface of the field device with an inductive coupling (the same protocol as the sensor). A Bluetooth connection to the module is established by a mobile device with camera—for example, a smartphone or tablet. The connection may also already exist prior to the connection of the module to the field device. The barcodes are subsequently read in by the camera of the mobile device, decoded by a corresponding software on the mobile device, and transferred via the Bluetooth connection to the module, and from there to the field device.

[0035] A combination of the various embodiments of the first field device 1 and the data transfer device 11 is, of course, possible. For instance, a barcode reader 15 may also be connected to a sensor as a first field device 1, or a Bluetooth module 14 may be connected to a measuring transducer.