Automation engineering field device with multiple parameter sets

Abstract

Disclosed is an automation engineering field device, comprising: a sensor unit for capturing a physical measured variable for a medium; a memory unit, wherein the memory unit stores at least one standard parameter set and further parameter sets; an electronic unit, wherein the electronic unit is configured so as, after the field device starts, to load the standard parameter set and to operate the field device on the basis of the standard parameter set and wherein the electronic unit is configured so as, when a signal is received, to take the configuration of the signal as a basis for loading one of the further parameter sets and to operate the field device, or components of the field device, on the basis of the further parameter set.

Claims

1. A field device of automation engineering, comprising: a sensor unit for detecting a physical measured variable of a medium; a memory unit, wherein at least one standard parameter set and a first further parameter set are stored in the memory unit, wherein each of the parameter sets contains application-specific or field device-specific information, and wherein the standard parameter set operates the sensor unit at a first measuring rate and the at first further parameter set operates the sensor unit at a second measuring rate lower than the first measuring rate; a real-time clock configured to generate a signal at one or more defined points in time; an electronic unit configured to: load the standard parameter set after the field device starts; operate the field device on the basis of the standard parameter set; receive a first signal from the real-time clock and take a configuration of the first signal as a basis for loading the first further parameter set; operate the field device, or components of the field device, on the basis of the loaded first further parameter set; receive a second signal from the real-time clock and take the configuration of the second signal as a basis for loading the standard parameter set; wherein the real-time clock is further configured to generate the first signal at first point in time to trigger the electronic unit to load the first further parameter set and thereby operate the sensor unit at the second measuring rate and to generate the second signal at a second point in time after the first point in time to trigger the electronic unit to load the standard parameter set and thereby operate the sensor unit at the first measuring rate.

2. The field device according to claim 1, further comprising: an interface for connection to a wireless or wired communication network, wherein the field device is configured to receive the signal via the communication network.

3. The field device according to claim 1, wherein the parameter sets have parameters with regard to the sensor unit, including with regard to the measurement principle and/or with regard to limit values.

4. The field device according to claim 1, further comprising: a display unit, wherein the parameter sets include parameters with regard to the display unit, including with regard to a menu representation on the display unit, a brightness level of the display unit, and/or a display format of information on the display unit.

5. The field device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic unit is further configured to request an access code when the field device is accessed, wherein a second further parameter set is stored in the memory unit and the second further parameter set contains application-specific or field device-specific information, wherein the standard parameter set includes a first access code and the second further parameter set includes a second access code different from the first access code, wherein the real-time clock is further configured to generate a third signal at third point in time to trigger the electronic unit to load the second further parameter set and thereby change an access code in the field device to the second access code, and wherein the real-time clock is further configured to generate a fourth signal at a fourth point in time to trigger the electronic unit to load the standard parameter set and thereby change the access code within the field device to the first access code.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The invention is explained in greater detail with reference to the following FIGURES. Illustrated are:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the field device according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(3) An example of a field device FG according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1. The field device is installed at a measuring point of an automation engineering plant and is used to determine a physical measured variable of a process medium. The field device FG has a sensor unit SE for detecting the physical measured variable. Examples of such sensor units SE and possible applications for the field device FG have already been mentioned by way of example in the introductory part of the description.

(4) For converting/further processing the detected measured variable and for controlling the measuring procedure, the field device FG has a main board MB with an electro unit EL, which electronic unit EL is configured, for example, in the form of a microcontroller or an ASIC. The detected measured variable is displayed by the field device FG via a display unit AE, e.g., in the form of an electronic display, and is output via a communication network KN. For connection to the communication network KN, which may be wired or wireless, the field device has an interface SN.

(5) The settings of the field device, or of the components AE, EL, SE, are defined in a parameter set. This parameter set defines a plurality of parameters, wherein each of the parameters defines a function of the field device FG and wherein a parameter value is assigned to each parameter.

(6) When the field device FG is started, a standard parameter set PS.sub.st is read from the memory SP of the electronic unit EL, e.g., an EEPROM, and loaded into the electronic unit EL. The field device FG is subsequently operated on the basis of the standard parameter set PS.sub.st.

(7) In addition to the standard parameter set PS.sub.st, a plurality of further parameter sets PS.sub.1, PS.sub.2 are stored in the memory unit. A specific signal is assigned to each of the parameter sets PS.sub.1, PS.sub.2. If the electronic unit EL receives such a signal, it loads the corresponding parameter set PS.sub.St, PS.sub.1, PS.sub.2 and operates the field device from now on with the newly loaded parameter set PS.sub.St, PS.sub.1, PS.sub.2.

(8) In principle, the signal can be generated, or transmitted to the electronic unit EL, in three ways:

(9) In a first case, the signal is transmitted via the communication network KN to the field device FG or to its electronic unit EL. The signal is transmitted to the field device FG, for example, from an operating unit BE, which is for example a laptop or a mobile terminal, or from a further network member.

(10) In a second case, the field device FG is connected to a further sensor unit or to a further field device, e.g., via the communication network KN. The further sensor unit, or the further field device, detects an environmental variable of the field device, in particular a temperature value and/or a brightness value. If at least one predetermined limit value is exceeded and/or undershot, the further sensor unit, or the further field device, generates a signal assigned to the limit value and transmits it to the electronic unit EL of the field device FG.

(11) In a third case, the field device comprises a timer, e.g., in the form of a real-time clock RTC. At one or more defined points in time, which comprise a date and/or a time, a signal assigned to the respective point in time is generated.

(12) The field device FG is operated on the basis of the newly loaded parameter set PS.sub.St, PS.sub.1, PS.sub.2 until a further signal is received by the electronic unit EL.

(13) Three examples of parameters and a respectively suitable application example are mentioned below:

(14) In a first application, the parameters represent settings for the sensor unit SE. By means of the parameters, a measurement mode of the sensor unit SE as well as limit values for the measurement can be defined. Settings with regard to warning messages (if the limit values are undershot or exceeded) and diagnostic messages are also included in this point. It is, for example, provided for the measuring point to be operated only on workdays. A process medium-filled container to which the field device FG is attached and whose fill level is determined by the sensor unit SE of the field device is not filled and/or emptied on the weekend, for example. At the beginning of the weekend, a signal is generated by the timer, whereupon the field device FG is operated on the basis of a newly loaded parameter set PS.sub.St, PS.sub.1, PS.sub.2. This parameter set determines that the measuring rate is set low so that a large time interval results between two measuring time points, whereby energy is saved. At the beginning of a new week, the timer RTC outputs a corresponding signal, whereupon a new parameter set PS.sub.St, PS.sub.1, PS.sub.2 is loaded, which defines a comparatively high measuring rate.

(15) In a second application, the parameters represent settings for the display unit AE, in particular with regard to a menu representation on the display unit, a brightness level of the display unit, and/or a display format of information on the display unit. For example, in the evening/at night, or upon detection of a change in the light conditions by means of an external sensor, the brightness of the display can be correspondingly adapted, e.g., increased.

(16) In a third application, the parameters represent security settings and define, for example, an access code which is requested when the field device FG is accessed. Operating access to the field device FG, or to components of the field device FG, is defined as access, for example. In such a case of access, entering the access code is required. If the access code is not entered or if an incorrect code is entered, access is denied. The change of the access code via the parameter set PS.sub.St, PS.sub.1, PS.sub.2 can be coupled to the shift times of the service personnel.

(17) It goes without saying that the invention is not restricted to the described applications and makes possible a plurality of further applications. In reality, a plurality of further parameters is also present which can be contained in the parameter sets PS.sub.St, PS.sub.1, PS.sub.2.