# US 2009/0260438 A1 · Industrial process device utilizing piezoelectric transducer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260438 A1 - Document ID: US20090260438A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/107,225 - Filed: 2008-04-22 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-22 - Assignees: Rosemount Inc. - Inventors: Robert C. Hedtke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260438A1 ## CPC - G01L 9/00: Measuring steady of quasi-steady pressure of fluid or fluent solid material by electric or magnetic pressure-sensitive elements {(G01L11/004 takes precedence)}; Transmitting or indicating the displacement of mechanical pressure-sensitive elements, used to measure the steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluid or fluent solid material, by electric or magnetic means (measuring differences of two or more pressure values G01L13/00; measuring two or more pressure values simultaneously G01L15/00) - G01H 11/08: using piezoelectric devices - G01L 9/0008: {using vibrations} - G01L 9/0022: {of a piezoelectric element} - G05B 11/01: electric - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) - G01H: MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC OR INFRASONIC WAVES - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## Abstract A process device for coupling to an industrial process for use in monitoring or controlling the process includes a device housing configured to physically couple to the industrial process. A process variable sensor is configured to measure a process variable and measurement circuitry coupled to the process variable sensor provides an output related to the sensed process variable. A piezoelectric transducer provides an electrical output related to pressure pulsations in the industrial process. Electrical circuitry in the housing includes an input configured to receive the electrical output from the piezoelectric sensor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process device for coupling to an industrial process for use in monitoring or controlling the process, comprising: a device housing configured to physically couple to the industrial process; a process variable sensor configured to measure a process variable; measurement circuitry coupled to the process variable sensor having an output related to the sensed process variable; a piezoelectric transducer having an electrical output related to pressure pulsations in the industrial process; and electrical circuitry in the housing having an input configured to receive the electrical output from the piezoelectric sensor, the electrical output used to provide power to the process device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrical circuitry is configured to diagnose operation of the industrial process based upon the electrical output. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 including an analog to digital converter having a digital output related to digitize the electrical output. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 including a microcontroller configured to perform diagnostics. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the diagnostics are based upon an amplitude of pulsations in the industrial process. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the diagnostics are based upon a frequency of pulsations in the industrial process, ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the diagnostics are based upon a signature in the pulsations in the industrial process. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the electrical circuitry provides a diagnostic output based upon the pulsations and data stored in a memory. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric transducer is configured to receive a control signal which causes movement of the piezoelectric transducer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein movement of the piezoelectric transducer induces pressure pulsations in the process fluid which are sensed by the process variable sensor, the electrical circuitry further configured to diagnose transmitter operation based upon the sensed pressure pulsations. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrical circuitry includes power storage circuitry configured to store power from the piezoelectric transducer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the power storage circuitry comprises a capacitor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the capacitor comprises a supercapacitor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric transducer is mounted in the housing of the process device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric transducer is mounted in a sensor module of the process device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric transducer is carried on a mounting flange used to couple the process device to the industrial process. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric transducer is positioned at a location which is spaced apart from the device housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric transducer couples to the process fluid through a resonant pipe. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric transducer couples to process fluid through a diaphragm. ### Claim 20 A method for sensing pulsations in a process device coupled to an industrial process of the type used in monitoring a process variable of industrial process, the method comprising: physically coupling a piezoelectric transducer to the industrial process; receiving pressure pulsations from the industrial process through the physical coupling; sensing a process variable with a process variable sensor; providing a process variable output based upon the sensed process variable; coupling the pressure pulsations to the piezoelectric transducer and providing an electrical output from the piezoelectric transducer in response to the pressure pulsations; and providing the electrical output to electrical circuitry of the process device, the electrical output for providing power to the electrical circuitry. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 including diagnosing operation of the industrial process based upon the electrical output. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 including digitizing the electrical output. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein the diagnosing is based upon an amplitude of pulsations in the industrial process. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein the diagnosing is based upon a frequency of pulsations in the industrial process. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein the diagnosing is based upon a signature in the pulsations in the industrial process. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 including providing a diagnostic output based upon the pulsations and data stored in a memory. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 including providing a control signal to the piezoelectric transducer which causes movement of the piezoelectric transducer. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the movement of the piezoelectric transducer induces pressure pulsations in the process fluid and sensing the pressure pulsations with the process variable sensor, the method further including diagnosing transmitter operation based upon the sensed pressure pulsations. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein the piezoelectric transducer is mounted in the housing of the process device. ### Claim 30 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein the piezoelectric transducer is mounted in a sensor module of the process device. ### Claim 31 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein the piezoelectric transducer is carried on a mounting flange used to couple the process device to the industrial process. ### Claim 32 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein the piezoelectric transducer is positioned at a location which is spaced apart from the device housing. ### Claim 33 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein the piezoelectric transducer couples to process fluid through a resonant pipe. ### Claim 34 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein the piezoelectric transducer couples to process fluid through a diaphragm.