US 6,959,356 B2 · Multi-protocol field device and communication method

Abstract

A multi-protocol smart field device uses a Fieldbus communication protocol to communicate process control information and uses a HART communication protocol to enable local configuration of the field device via a hand-held HART communicator. The multi-protocol smart field device includes a first communications interface communicatively coupled to a digital data bus that is adapted to process HART communications which are received from and which are sent to a HART hand-held communicator. The multi-protocol smart field device further includes a second communications interface communicatively coupled to the digital data bus that is adapted to process Fieldbus communications. Additionally, the multi-protocol smart field device includes a first filter coupled between the first communications interface and the digital data bus that substantially attenuates signals having frequencies associated with Fieldbus communications and a second filter coupled between the second communications interface and the digital data bus that substantially attenuates signals having frequencies associated with HART communications.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A field device for use in a process control system having a primary digital data bus, comprising:

a first communications interface communicatively coupled to the primary digital data bus, the first communications interface being adapted to process communications having a first protocol;
a second communications interface communicatively coupled to the primary digital data bus, the second communications interface being adapted to process communications having a second protocol different from the first protocol wherein the first and second communications interface are coupled in parallel on the primary data bus such that the first or the second communications protocol can communicate directly on the primary data bus;
a memory;
and
a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the first communications interface, and the second communications interface, wherein the processor is programmed to process the communications having the first protocol and the communications having the second protocol.

2 more elements

A method of communicating with a field device coupled to a primary digital data bus, comprising the steps of:

receiving communications having a first protocol in the field device via the primary digital data bus;
receiving communications having a second protocol different from the first protocol in the field device via the primary digital data bus;
processing the communications having the first protocol within a first communications interface communicatively coupled to the primary digital data bus;
and
processing the communications having the second protocol within a second communications interface communicatively coupled to the primary digital data bus wherein the first and second communications interface are coupled in parallel to the primary digital data bus such that the first or the second communication protocol can communicate directly on the primary data bus.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-protocol field device and communication method

Life of this patent

Multi-protocol field device and communication method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32