# US 2013/0278395 A1 · Wireless field device having discrete input/output > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0278395 A1 - Document ID: US20130278395A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/450,955 - Filed: 2012-04-19 - Published: 2013-10-24 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-19 - Assignees: Rosemount Inc. - Inventors: James Johnson; Richard Nelson; Robert Michael Weinberger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130278395A1 ## CPC - G05B 19/0423: {Input/output} - G05B 19/048: Monitoring; Safety - G05B 19/054: {Input/output} - 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 wireless field device for use in an industrial process includes input/output terminals configured to couple to a process interface element. A discrete input/output channel is configured to receive a discrete input from the process interface element through the input/output terminals when configured as a discrete input channel. The discrete input/output channel is further configured to provide a discrete output to the process interface element through the input/output terminals when the discrete input/output channel is configured as discrete output channel. Wireless communication circuitry is configured to transmit and receive information. A controller communicates information through the wireless communication circuitry and operates in accordance with configuration information to configure the input/output channel as an input channel when the input/output terminals are connected to a discrete process variable sensor, and further configure the discrete input/output channel as a discrete output channel when the input/output terminals are coupled to a discrete control element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wireless field device for use in an industrial process, comprising: input/output terminals configured to couple to a process interface element; a discrete input/output channel configured to receive a discrete input from the process interface element through the input/output terminals when configured as a discrete input channel, the discrete input/output channel further configured to provide a discrete output to the process interface element through the input/output terminals when wirelessly configured as discrete output channel; wireless communication circuitry configured to transmit and receive information; a controller configured to: transmit information through the wireless communication circuitry based upon a process variable sensed using the process interface element; provide a discrete control output to the process interface element to control a process variable in response to information received by the wireless communication circuitry; and the controller further configured to operate in accordance with configuration information to configure the input/output channel as an input channel when the input/output terminals are connected to a discrete process variable sensor, and further configured to configure the discrete input/output channel as a discrete output channel when the input/output terminals are coupled to a discrete control element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the discrete input/output channel includes a switch configured to be actuated by the controller, the switch configured to selectively electrically couple the discrete input/output terminals together. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 including a fuse connected in series with the switch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the discrete input/output channel includes a comparator coupled to the input/output terminals, the comparator configured to provide a signal to the controller based upon whether a switch connected to the discrete input/output terminals is open or closed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 including a counter coupled to the output of the comparator, the counter configured to count closures of the switch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 including a filter connected to the input/output terminals and wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate the filter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 including at least two diodes connected in series with the input/output terminals to provide protection to circuitry of the wireless field device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 including a watchdog circuit configured to cause circuitry of the wireless field device to enter a safe state if a component of the wireless field device fails. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2, 8) The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the watchdog circuit is configured to cause the switch of claim 2 to open if a power supply voltage of the wireless field device is less than a threshold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2, 8) The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the watchdog circuit is configured to cause the switch of claim 2 to open if the watchdog circuit does not receive periodic “kick” signals from the controller. ### Claim 11 A method of coupling to a process interface element using a wireless field device in an industrial process, comprising: coupling the process interface element to input/output terminals of the wireless field device; configuring a discrete input/output channel as a discrete input channel if the process interface element comprises a discrete process variable sensor configured to provide a discrete output; configuring the input/output channel as a discrete output channel and providing a discrete control output to a process interface element if the process interface element comprises a discrete control element; transmitting information related to a sensed process variable to a remote location using wireless communication circuitry if the input/output channel is configured as a discrete input channel; and providing the discrete control output to the process interface element based upon information through the wireless communication circuitry if the discrete input/output channel is configured as a discrete output channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the discrete input/output channel includes a switch configured to be actuated by the controller, and further configuring the switch to selectively electrically couple the discrete input/output terminals together. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 including providing a fuse connected in series with the switch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the discrete input/output channel includes a comparator coupled to the input/output terminals, and further configuring the comparator to provide a signal to a controller based upon whether a switch connected to the discrete input/output terminals is open or closed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 including providing a counter coupled to the output of the comparator, the counter configured to count closures of the switch. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 including providing a filter connected to the input/output terminals and wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate the filter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 including providing at least two diodes connected in series with the input/output terminals to provide protection to circuitry of the wireless field device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 including providing a watchdog circuit configured to cause circuitry of the wireless field device to enter a safe state if a component of the wireless field device fails. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the watchdog circuit is configured to cause a switch to open if a power supply voltage of the wireless field device is less than a threshold. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the watchdog circuit is configured to cause a switch to open if the watchdog circuit does not receive periodic “kick” signals from a controller.