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US 10,649,425 B2Granted
Smart integral field upgrade module
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsDenise Patricia George, Anant Vidwans
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system includes a control system and a field device. The control system is configured to communicate data with one or more field devices. The field device includes a sensor module configured to monitor a process in the control system. The field device also includes a communication module configured to detachably couple to both a display configured to display information related to the monitored process and an upgrade module configured to control a software or firmware upgrade process associated with the sensor module.
Claims14
A method for upgrading a sensor installed in a field device comprising:
- monitoring a process in the filed device by a sensor;
- removing a hardware display configured to display information related to the monitored process, detachably coupled to a communications hardware, wherein the communications hardware is connected to the sensor;
- attaching an upgrade module to the communications hardware having standardized power and communications connection such that the upgrade module is configured to be connected to the sensor through the communication hardware and control a software or firmware upgrade process associated with the sensor;
- upgrading the sensor using the software or firmware upgrade process controlled by the upgrade module;
- and
- removing the upgrade module and reattaching the hardware display to the communications hardware after completion of the upgrading of the sensor,
- wherein the upgrade module is configured to display progress information associated with the software or firmware upgrade process, and
- wherein the hardware display and the upgrade module each detachably connect to the communication hardware using a same power connection and communication connection.
5 more elements
A field device comprising:
- a sensor configured to monitor a process in the field device;
- and
- a communication hardware having standardized power and communications connection configured to detachably couple between:
- a hardware display configured to display information related to the monitored process;
- and
- an upgrade module configured to control a software or firmware upgrade process associated with the sensor;
- wherein the software or firmware upgrade process associated with the sensor comprising:
- removing the hardware display configured to display information related to the monitored process, detachably coupled to the communications hardware, wherein the communications hardware is connected to the sensor;
- attaching the upgrade module to the communications hardware having standardized power and communications connection such that the upgrade module is configured to be connected to the sensor through the communication hardware and control the software or firmware upgrade process associated with the sensor;
- upgrading the sensor using the software or firmware upgrade process controlled by the upgrade module;
- and
- removing the upgrade module and reattaching the hardware display to the communications hardware after completion of the upgrading of the sensor,
- wherein the upgrade module is configured to display progress information associated with the software or firmware upgrade process;
- wherein the hardware display and the upgrade module each detachably connect to the communication hardware using a same power connection and communication connection.
11 more elements
A system comprising:
- a control system configured to communicate data with one or more field devices;
- and
- a field device comprising:
- a sensor configured to monitor a process in the control system;
- and
- communication hardware having standardized power and communications connection configured to detachably couple between:
- a hardware display configured to display information related to the monitored process;
- and
- an upgrade module configured to control a software or firmware upgrade process associated with the sensor,
- wherein the software or firmware upgrade process associated with the sensor comprising:
- removing the hardware display configured display information related to the monitored process, detachably coupled to the communications hardware, wherein the communications hardware is connected to the sensor;
- attaching the upgrade module to the communications hardware having standardized power and communications connection such that the upgrade module is configured to be connected to the sensor through the communication hardware and control the software or firmware upgrade process associated with the sensor;
- upgrading the sensor using the software or firmware upgrade process controlled by the upgrade module;
- and
- removing the upgrade module and reattaching the hardware display to the communications hardware after completion of the upgrading of the sensor,
- wherein the upgrade module is configured to display progress information associated with the software or firmware upgrade process, and
- wherein the hardware display and the upgrade module each detachably connect to the communication hardware using a same power connection and communication connection.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.