METHOD FOR MAINTAINING AT LEAST ONE FIELD DEVICE OF PROCESS AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses a method for maintaining at least one field device of process automation technology, comprising the steps of connecting a smart device to the field device via a data connection and maintaining the field device via the smart device.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining a field device of process automation technology, comprising: connecting a smart device to the field device via a data connection; and maintaining the field device via the smart device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: connecting the smart device to a smartphone, tablet, or phablet; and connecting the smartphone, tablet, or phablet to the field device.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: connecting the smart device to a switching system or a cloud infrastructure; and relaying the connection between the smart device and the switching system or the cloud infrastructure to the field device.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: outputting via the smart device a message when a service measure is due for the field device.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: showing operating steps of a service measure of the field device on the smart device.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: outputting via the smart device a list of field devices that can be connected within a wireless connection range of the smart device.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein the smart device, smartphone, tablet, or phablet includes a module for position determination, the method further comprising: outputting via the smart device a message when a field device within a wireless connection range of the smart device does not establish a connection to the smart device.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising: outputting via the smart device a message when a field device located within the wireless connection range of the smart device requires an action of the user.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising: requiring a user to confirm the message; and opening on the smart device an operating menu relating to the required action.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: showing via the smart device main properties of the field device after connecting the smart device to the field device.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the smart device is a smartwatch.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the smart device is a miniature computer worn on a head, having an optical display mounted on eyeglass frames in a periphery of a field of vision.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the smart device is integrated into safety glasses.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: showing via the optical display insets regarding the field device.

15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: acknowledging messages via user gestures or user voice control.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the smart device includes a camera, the method further comprising: providing images from the camera to a remotely located service technician for remote maintenance.

17. The method according to claim 3, further comprising: synchronizing a list of remaining and completed service measures between several service technicians via the switching system or the cloud infrastructure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] This will be explained in more detail with reference to the following figures. Shown are:

[0045] FIGS. 1A-1D show field device and smart device,

[0046] FIG. 2 shows a screenshot of a smart device of a list of devices,

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a screenshot of a smart device of an overview of a field device,

[0048] FIGS. 4A and 4B show screenshots of a smart device in case of error, and

[0049] FIG. 5 shows a smart device during an adjustment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] In the figures, the same features are identified with the same reference symbols.

[0051] FIGS. 1A-1D show field devices FG of process automation technology, e.g., a sensor. In particular, two field devices FG1 and FG2 are shown. The sensor is, for example, a pH, redox potential, or ISFET, ion-selective, turbidity, or oxygen sensor. Other possible sensors are temperature sensors or flow sensors according to the principles of Coriolis, magnetic induction, vortex, and ultrasound. Further possible sensors are sensors for measuring the fill-level according to the principles of guided and freely-radiating radar, as well as ultrasound, also for detection of limit level, wherein capacitive methods can also be used to detect the limit level.

[0052] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1D show a pH sensor, and FIG. 1B shows a fill-level sensor according to the radar principle. In FIG. 1C, a pH sensor is shown on the left side, and a fill-level sensor according to the radar principle is shown on the right side. The field device FG determines a measurand of a medium 1in the example, in a beaker, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1D or on the left side in FIG. 1C. Other containers, such as lines, reservoirs (as shown in FIG. 1B or on the right side in FIG. 1C), tanks, vessels, pipes, pipelines, or the like, are also possible.

[0053] The field device FG communicates with a control unit, e.g., directly with a control system 5 or with an interconnected transmitter. The transmitter can also be part of the field device, e.g., in the case of the fill-level sensor. The communication to the control system 5 takes place via a bus 4, e.g., via a two-wire bus, such as HART, PROFIBUS PA, or FOUNDATION Fieldbus. Additionally or alternatively, it is also possible to design the interface 6 to the bus as a wireless interface, e.g., according to the WirelessHART standard (not shown), wherein a direct connection to a control system via a gateway is established via WirelessHART. In addition, a 4 . . . 20 mA interface (not shown) is provided, optionally or additionally, in the case of the HART protocol. If, instead of directly to the control system 5, the communication is, additionally or alternatively, carried out to a transmitter, either the aforementioned bus systems (HART, PROFIBUS PA, or FOUNDATION Fieldbus) can be used for communication, or, for example, a proprietary protocol, e.g., of the Memosens type, is used. The respective field devices as described above are marketed by the applicant.

[0054] As mentioned, at the bus-side end of the field device FG, an interface 6 is provided for the connection to the bus 4. Shown is a wired variant for connection to the bus by means of the interface 6. The interface 6 is, for example, designed as a galvanically-isolating interfaceespecially, as an inductive interface. This is shown in a pH sensor. The interface 6 then consists of two parts, with a first part on the field device side and a second part on the bus side. They can be joined via a mechanical plug connection. Data (bi-directionally) and energy (uni-directionally, i.e., in the direction from the control unit 5 to the field device FG), are transmitted via the interface 6. Alternatively, an appropriate cable, with or without galvanic isolation, is used. Possible embodiments include a cable with an M12 or plug. This is, for example, shown in a fill-level measuring device according to the radar principle.

[0055] The field device FG comprises a wireless module 2 for wireless communication 3. This wireless communication 3 does not serve the connection to the bus 4.

[0056] The wireless module 2 is designed as a Bluetooth module, for example. The Bluetooth module satisfies, in particular, the low energy protocol stack as Bluetooth Low Energy (also known as BTLE, BLE, or Bluetooth Smart). Where appropriate, the wireless module 2 comprises an appropriate circuit or components. The field device FG therefore at least satisfies the Bluetooth 4.0 standard. The communication 3 takes place from the field device FG to a smart device SD. The smart device SD is, for example, a smartwatch (FIGS. 1A and 1D, FIG. 1C) or glasses, the inner surfaces of which serve as a display screen (FIG. 1B). The smart device of FIG. 1B is thus a miniature computer worn on the head, with an optical display that is mounted on eyeglass frames in the periphery of the field of vision. These glasses can also be designed as safety glasses.

[0057] A data connection is, in general, established between the field device FG and the smart device SD. In one embodiment, this is a direct wireless connection; see, for example, FIG. 1A or FIG. 1B.

[0058] In FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the field device FG communicates directly with the smart device SD. In FIG. 1C, the field device FG communicates via a mobile device M with the smart device SD via the wireless connection 7. The mobile device M is a smartphone, tablet, or phablet. The wireless connections 3, 7 are of the same type; in this case, they are thus designed as Bluetooth connections, as described above. They can, however, deviate from one another. The wireless connections 3, 7 can basically be designed as a Bluetooth connection or WLAN (standard of the IEEE-802.11 family). The field device FG, mobile device M, and smart device SD respectively comprise the appropriate interfaces for the wireless communication 3, 7.

[0059] If a user A with a smart device SD is within range of a field device FG, a connection 3 is established. The field devices FG are in broadcast mode.

[0060] FIG. 1D shows an embodiment as an alternative or in addition to a direct data connection between the smart device SD and the field device FG. In this case, the field device FG has a data interface that is first connected to a superordinate switching system 8. The switching system 8 can in this case take shape as a server system installed at the user's, as well as in the form of an internet-based cloud infrastructure. The smart device SD does not connect in this case directly to the field device FG; rather, the field device FG or the smart device SD establishes the data connection 3 via a communication network available at the user's, e.g., WLAN (standard of the IEEE-802.11 family) or a mobile radio standard, such as GSMin particular, UMTS or 5G. The connection can also be carried out from the field device via the bus 4 via the control system 5 to the switching system 8. This connection from the control system 5 takes place in a wireless or wired manner.

[0061] Via the switching system 8 or the cloud, the data connection to the respective field device FG is then relayed. In this case, an additional communications system (such as the previously described wireless module 2), for the field device FG, is no longer required.

[0062] In the case of field devices FG that have an Ethernet-based communication interface and are connected to the control system 5 via the field bus protocols PROFINET, Ethernet/IP, ModbusTCP, or OPC UA, an additional communication connection, e.g., via the HTTPS protocol, can be realized via the same communication interface to the described switching system or to a cloud infrastructure, whereby the smart device SD can obtain access to the field device FG.

[0063] The described switching system 8 can even be integrated into the field device FG itself. In this case, the smart device SD establishes a connection to the local network (LAN) via an existing local WLAN infrastructure, for example. In the LAN, the field device FG can be reached via its communication interfacein particular, an Ethernet interface. If LAN and WLAN are connected to each other, the smart device SD can also in this case communicate with the field device FG without an additional communication system (as the previously described wireless module 2) and, in this case, does not depend upon a separate switching system 8 or a cloud infrastructure.

[0064] The smart device SD supports the user in a service measure, such as an adjustment, calibration, cleaning, parameterization, or diagnosis.

[0065] FIGS. 2-4 respectively show screenshots of a smartwatch SD.

[0066] FIG. 2 shows a list of devices that are within range of the wireless connection 3. Shown here are the name N (also called device tag), status S, primary measured value MW1, such as pH or conductivity (unit: mS/cm), and the secondary measured value MW2 of all field devices FG. The status S can have different values, such as F for failure or OK. Where appropriate, the field device FG with an error message is highlighted with color on the display. Where appropriate, touching the touch surface of the smart device SD can switch to the next page with more field devices FG within range. The field devices in the example are called Outlet 3, pH neutralization, and Forebay. By a corresponding touch of these areas, more detailed information about the field device FG can be retrieved; see FIG. 3 or FIG. 4A. In this case, a point-to-point connection is established to the field device FG.

[0067] FIG. 3 shows more detailed information about the field device FG, such as status, output current, primary measured value, secondary measured value, next calibration time, etc. FIG. 3 shows the first page of this more detailed information of an individual field device. Where appropriate, the page must be turned, e.g., by swiping the display.

[0068] FIG. 4A shows an error message; FIG. 4B shows a note for an individual field device FG. The error message or the note can be displayed when the user A clicks on the respective area in the overview (see FIG. 2), or the error/note is automatically displayed when the user is within range of the radio connection 3. Alternatively, a small distance to the field device FG in the form of a location determination, e.g., by means of GPS, can be used as a trigger for displaying the error/note. Attention can be drawn to this message by appropriate acoustic or optical indications, or by vibration.

[0069] FIG. 5 shows a smartwatch during an adjustment process. Shown are the configured buffer, the current measured value, and the message that a stable measured value is awaited. Interaction of the user A to the effect that the adjustment process can be continued is awaited. This interaction takes place, for example, by pressing a key or by touching the touch surface of the smart device SD.