AUTOMATIC PARAMETERIZATION OF A SENSOR BY MEANS OF A VIRTUAL TWIN

Abstract

A control device for parameterizing a sensor of a measuring system that determines, at least via a virtual twin of the measuring system, a target position of the sensor in a site. Furthermore, the control device transmits the determined target position to the measuring system and/or to a user. The control device furthermore parameterizes the sensor in the measuring site.

Claims

1. A control device configured to parameterize a sensor of a measuring system, comprising: processing circuitry configured to: determine, at least via a virtual twin of the measuring system, a target position of the sensor in a measuring site, transmit the determined target position to the measuring system and/or to a user, and parameterize the sensor in the site.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: determine a current position of the sensor to perform an alignment with the target position.

3. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine the current position of the sensor based at least in part on being configured to determine signal strengths from further sensors; and wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to the current position of the sensor based at least in part on current positions of the further sensors known from the virtual twin.

4. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the current position and/or the target position includes a position, an orientation, one or more position parameters, and/or a setting angle.

5. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: transmit, by the sensor and/or by the user, the current position of the sensor to the measuring system, and match the current position of the sensor with the target position of the sensor.

6. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: transmit, by the sensor, sensor-specific information to the measuring system; and/or match the sensor-specific information with sensor-specific information of the virtual twin.

7. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: request, via a user interface, position information that at least partially defines the target position and/or the current position, and/or verify the current position of the sensor.

8. The control device according to claim 6, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to, when matching: determine a deviation between the current position of the sensor and the determined target position of the sensor, query, via an interface of the sensor and/or the measuring system, based on the determination of the deviation, position information that at least partially defines the target position and/or the current position, and/or parameterize and/or attach the sensor to the target position based on interrogation.

9. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the virtual twin is a virtual twin of a site having a plurality of sensors.

10. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to, when parameterizing the sensor: retrieve, via the measuring system and/or via the virtual twin, sensor-specific data for parameterizing, calibrating and/or controlling the sensor, and/or match, via the measuring system and/or via the virtual twin, sensor-specific data for parameterizing, calibrating and/or controlling the sensor.

11. A measuring system, comprising: a virtual twin; a sensor; and a control device configured to parameterize a sensor of a measuring system, including processing circuitry configured to determine, at least via a virtual twin of the measuring system, a target position of the sensor in a measuring site, transmit the determined target position to the measuring system and/or to a user, and parameterize the sensor in the site, wherein the control device is configured to control communication, transmission and/or retrieval of data between, from or via the sensor and/or the virtual twin.

12. The measuring system according to claim 11, wherein the control device and/or the sensor includes an interface.

13. The measuring system according to claim 11, further comprising: a user interface configured to communicate and/or interact with the virtual twin, with the sensor, and/or with the control device.

14. A sensor which is configured to be parameterized by the control device according to claim 1.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a program element which, when executed by a control device of a measuring system, causes the control device to implement a control method, comprising: determining, at least via a virtual twin of the measuring system, a target position of a sensor in a site; transmitting the determined target position to the sensor and/or to a user; and parameterizing the sensor in the site.

16. The control device according to claim 3, wherein the current position and/or the target position includes a position, an orientation, one or more position parameters, and/or a setting angle.

17. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: transmit, by the sensor and/or by the user, the current position of the sensor to the measuring system, and match the current position of the sensor with the target position of the sensor.

18. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: transmit, by the sensor, sensor-specific information to the measuring system; and/or match the sensor-specific information with sensor-specific information of the virtual twin.

19. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: request, via a user interface, position information that at least partially defines the target position and/or the current position, and/or verify the current position of the sensor.

20. The measuring system according to claim 12, further comprising: a user interface configured to communicate and/or interact with the virtual twin, with the sensor, and/or with the control device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a measuring system with a control device according to a first embodiment.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a measuring system with a control device according to a further embodiment.

[0053] FIG. 3 shows a measuring system with a control device according to a further embodiment.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram of the use of a control device according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0055] FIG. 1 shows a measuring system 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The measuring system 100 of FIG. 1 has three sensors 104, 104′, 104″, which may be based on different or the same measurement principles. The sensors 104, 104′, 104″ are attached or mounted to a container 118. The sensors 104, 104′, 104″ together with the container 118 may constitute a measuring site 108. In addition, the measuring system 100 of FIG. 1 includes a virtual twin 102 of the measuring system 100. In particular, the virtual twin 102 may be a virtual twin 102 of the site 108 or measuring site 108. It should be noted that the virtual twin 102 may be stored locally in a computer, for example, or may be retrievable via the Internet of Things. Alternatively or additionally, the virtual twin of the measuring system 100 may be printable on paper.

[0056] The measuring system 100 also includes a control device 200. The control device 200 may be stored, for example, in a cloud or in a higher-level system. The control device 200 is arranged to determine S1 of a target position of the sensor 104, in particular a target position of the sensor 104 in the measuring site 108, at least via the virtual twin 102 of the measuring system 100. Thereupon S2 the determined target position of the sensor 104 is transmitted to the measuring system 100, such as to the sensor 104, and/or to a user 110, for example by means of an operating device 112 of the user. Further, the control device 200 is arranged S3 to parameterize the sensor 104 of the measuring site 108.

[0057] From the virtual twin 102, such as a 3D drawing, the control device 200 can determine what information, in particular sensor-specific information, may be necessary for parameterization or commissioning.

[0058] For example, when parameterizing the sensor 104, a zero point correction can be evaluated as necessary information. Also, the density can be used for the adjustment. The TAG name of the sensor 104 may be automatically drawn from the virtual twin 102. This information may be processed and/or analyzed by the control device 200 to parameterize the sensor 104 accordingly based thereon. The sensor 104 may be put into operation in the field, i.e., powered, and subsequently function properly.

[0059] FIG. 2 shows a measuring system 100 according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure. Unless otherwise described, the measuring system 100 of FIG. 2 has the same elements and/or components as the measuring system of FIG. 1. The measuring system 100 of FIG. 2 comprises a plurality of sensors 104, 104′, 104″ arranged or connected to different containers 118, 118′, 118″. The control device 200, 200′ of the measuring system 100 of FIG. 2 is arranged in part in a control unit. The sensor 104 may further include an interface 114. The interface 114 may be used, for example, to allow the user 110 to enter or adjust settings, information, and/or parameters. The interface 114 may likewise serve to communicate with the operator interface.

[0060] The control device 200 of FIG. 2 is further configured S4 to determine the current position of the sensor 104 to perform a match with the target position. In other words, the control device 200 can retrieve, determine, or calculate the exact current location of the sensor 104 and/or the container 118 on which it is located and/or the physical quantity it could or can currently measure. A target position of the sensor 104 is known from the virtual twin 102. Ideally, the current position of the sensor 104 should correspond to the target position of the sensor 104. By knowing both positions to the control device 200, an alignment between the two positions can be guided or performed based thereon.

[0061] However, it may not be possible to accurately determine the current position of the sensor 104. In other words, the control device 200 may not be able to infer a single target position known from the virtual twin. For example, the sensor 104 may communicate its geographic position to the control device 200. Based on this, two or more possible current positions may be inferred by means of the control device via the virtual twin. However, information may also be missing to infer a single one of the two or more possible positions. In this regard, the user 110 may be presented with a selection of the corresponding possible current positions of the sensor 104 in the control device 200, such as via a user interface 112, or at the sensor. Thereupon, the user 110 may select the correct position, that is, the one corresponding to the target position.

[0062] Alternatively or additionally, the sensor 104 may determine the signal strengths of the surrounding sensors 104′, 104″, such as the other sensors attached to the same container 118, using a radio module or the like. The current positions of the further sensors 104′, 104″ may already be accurately associated with the virtual twin so that the current position of the sensor 104 can be determined or better determined based on the radio strengths and/or signal strengths of the surrounding sensors 104′, 104″.

[0063] In addition, the control device S5 may serve to transmit, by the sensor 104 and/or by the user 110, the current position of the sensor 104 to the measuring system 100. After the current position of the sensor 104 has been transmitted, an S6 matching of the current position of the sensor 104 with the target position of the sensor 104 can now be performed.

[0064] Further, the control device 200 may determine what information may be necessary for matching the target position and the current position of the sensor 104. For example, it may be necessary for the type of process connection of the sensor 104 to the target position and the current position to be known, so that the matching may be based not only on the geographic position of the sensor 104, but may also be based on the physical and mechanical setting of the sensor. If a discrepancy is detected during the alignment of the target position and the current position, the discrepancy may be within a predefined tolerance range, for example, so that the alignment may still result from a basic match between the two positions.

[0065] During adjustment, sensor-specific information, such as TAG name, bus address, min-max adjustment, linearization, and/or scaling, may be written to the sensor 102 from a higher-level system, i.e., from a cloud, from the measuring system 100, and/or from the control device 200.

[0066] The control device 200, which is stored in a cloud, for example, or the sensor 104 can also derive further information or data from the virtual twin 102. In the case of a level measurement with radar, for example, a high frequency and a particularly precise focusing may be required, as this means that there are few interfering reflections from fixtures or the tank wall. However, difficulties can arise at the bottom of the tank because the signal only reaches the sensor via detours. Thanks to the virtual twin 102 having information about the position, location and/or orientation of the sensor 104, i.e. position information or position parameters, it may be conceivable that interfering reflections that may occur can already be simulated and/or calculated in the control device 200. For example, the control device itself can determine the end of a measuring range depending on the tank geometry or container geometry. The measurement reliability and commissioning of the sensor 104 can thus be kept high and simple.

[0067] Furthermore, based on the knowledge of the exact tank geometry, for example, an echo curve in a radar level measurement can be accurately interpreted, especially in the case of multiple echoes. The control device shown in FIG. 2 can be used to precisely parameterize the sensor 104, in particular a level measurement sensor. Additionally, however, information about the container 118 and the installation can be copied from the virtual twin 102 and written to the sensor 102. This allows the sensor 104 itself to best interpret the echo curve.

[0068] FIG. 3 shows a measuring system 100 according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure. Unless otherwise described, the measuring system 100 of FIG. 3 has the same elements and/or components as the measuring system of FIGS. 1 and 2. The measuring system 100 of FIG. 3 comprises a measuring site 108, which still has to be equipped with sensors 104, 104′, 104″. The measuring site 108 has three containers 118, 118′, 118″. Using the virtual twin 102, which can be shown in a computer, for example, each sensor 104, 104′, 104″ can be told which is its associated target position. In other words, the control device 200 can communicate to the sensor, by means of the virtual twin 102, where it belongs and what size it is to measure, for example. The user 110 may then, for example, place the sensors in the corresponding target positions. The user 110 may be instructed, for example, via a control device 112, where and how to mount the sensor 104. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor 104 itself may provide the user 110 with the necessary information to mount the sensor 104 to the container 118. The sensor 104 may have received this information in advance from the control device 200. The information may be an orientation, a location, a particular container, an embodiment, a connection, a bus address, and/or a setting angle. For example, the control device 200 knows the embodiments of the sensor or has access to them via the virtual twin 102 of the measuring site 108.

[0069] Once the sensor 104 is attached to the container 118 based on the virtual twin 102 of the measuring site 108, commissioning of the sensor 104 may be automatic. Once the sensor 104 is powered, it can determine its position, such as via a navigation satellite system, its orientation and location, and communicate this to the measuring system 100, a cloud, a higher-level system, the control device 200, and/or the user. For example, the measuring system 100 has access to the virtual twin 102 of the measuring system 100, in particular the measuring site 108, via an interface. The position and orientation of the sensor can be used to assign it to the respective tank or container 118. Additionally or alternatively, the system may know which embodiments the sensor 104 has, such as sensor type, measurement principle or process connection. Thus, the system 100 or the control device 200 can independently, automatically and reliably determine on which of the possible nozzles or process connections the sensor 104 must or should be installed or mounted.

[0070] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the use of a control device 200 according to one embodiment. In other words, the flowchart of FIG. 4 shows the steps that can be performed by a control device 200. For example, these steps may be performed by a control device 200 of FIG. 1, 2, or 3, or when using a control device 200 of FIG. 1, 2, or 3.

[0071] In a first step S1, a target position of the sensor, in particular a target position of the sensor in a measuring site 108 is determined via a virtual twin 102 of the measuring system 100. Thereby, it can be determined where exactly in the measuring site 108 and/or at a container 118 the sensor 104 must or should be arranged. Thereupon, in a next step S2, the target position is transmitted to the measuring system 100 and/or to a user 110 by the control device 200. Alternatively or additionally, the target position may be transmitted from a higher-level system, a cloud, and/or from the virtual twin 102. In a third step S3, the sensor 104 is parameterized. Here, part of parameterizing the sensor 104 may include retrieving data from a database, such as a database of the control device 200 and/or the virtual twin 102. In particular, the sensor 104 may be parameterized, calibrated and/or commissioned in the measuring site 108.

[0072] Supplementally, it should be noted that “comprising” and “having” do not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite articles “a” or “an” do not exclude a plurality. It should further be noted that features or steps that have been described with reference to any of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be regarded as limitations.