# US 7,609,660 B2 · Wireless transceiver pair disposed within a process control system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,609,660 B2 - Document ID: US7609660B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/961,171 - Filed: 2004-10-08 - Published: 2005-03-03 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 1994-10-24 - Assignees: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Gary Tapperson; Thomas A. Boyd - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609660B2 ## CPC - G05B 19/4185: {characterised by the network communication} - G05B 2219/31122: Bridge between networks - G05B 2219/31162: Wireless lan - G05B 2219/31251: Redundant access, wireless and hardware access to fielddevices - Y02P 90/02: Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] - 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) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A pair of wireless transceivers is disposed within a process control system to enable wireless communications between multiple devices within the process control system, such as between field devices, control units, user terminals, controllers, etc. In one embodiment, a process control system within an industrial process environment includes a process control field device that operates within the industrial process environment, a control unit adapted to provide control signals to the process control field device and a wireless transceiver pair including a first wireless transceiver connected to the process control field device and a second wireless transceiver connected to the control unit. The wireless transceiver pair wirelessly communicates one or more signals between the control unit and the process control field device to thereby provide wireless communications within the process environment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process control system within an industrial process environment, comprising: a process control field device that operates to perform a process control function within a controlled process within the industrial process environment; a process control unit for controlling at least a portion of the controlled process by providing control signals to or receiving control signals from the process control field device; and a radio frequency wireless transceiver pair including a first radio frequency wireless transceiver connected to the process control field device and a second radio frequency wireless transceiver connected to the process control unit, wherein the wireless transceiver pair wirelessly communicates radio frequency signals between the process control unit and the process control field device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process control system of claim 1, wherein the process control unit generates a control signal for causing the process control field device to perform a physical control function within the industrial process environment and wherein the radio frequency wireless transceiver pair wirelessly communicates the control signal from the process control unit to the process control field device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The process control system of claim 2, wherein the process control unit comprises a user terminal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The process control system of claim 3, wherein the process control unit further comprises a process controller coupled to the user terminal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process control system of claim 1, wherein the process control field device generates a sense signal indicative of a measured parameter within the controlled process and wherein the radio frequency wireless transceiver pair wirelessly communicates the sense signal from the process control field device to the process control unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process control system of claim 1, wherein the process control unit generates a control signal for causing the process control field device to perform a physical control function within the controlled process, wherein the process control field device generates a sense signal indicative of a measured parameter within the controlled process and wherein the radio frequency wireless transceiver pair wirelessly communicates the control signal from the control unit to the process control field device and the radio frequency wireless transceiver pair wirelessly communicates the sense signal from the process control field device to the controller. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The process control system of claim 6, wherein the process control field device generates a status signal and wherein the radio frequency wireless transceiver pair wirelessly communicates the status signal from the process control field device to the process control unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The process control system of claim 1, wherein the first radio frequency wireless transceiver receives operating power from the process control field device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The process control system of claim 1, wherein the process control unit is a further process control field device. ### Claim 10 A process control system within an industrial process environment, comprising: a first process control device located at a first location within the industrial process environment, for performing a process control function; a second process control device for making a process control decision relating to the process control function performed by the first process control device located at a second location within the industrial process environment, remote from the first location; and a radio frequency wireless transceiver pair including a first radio frequency wireless transceiver connected to the first process control device and a second radio frequency wireless transceiver connected to the second process control device, wherein the radio frequency wireless transceiver pair wirelessly communicates one or more real-time process control signals between the first location and the second location within the industrial process environment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The process control system of claim 10, wherein the first process control device comprises a field device for sensing or altering one or more parameters within the industrial process environment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The process control system of claim 11, wherein the second process control device comprises a process control unit for controlling a process control function by providing control signals to or receiving control signals from the field device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The process control system of claim 12, wherein the process control unit includes a user terminal coupled to a controller. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The process control system of claim 10, wherein the second process control device comprises an input/output device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The process control system of claim 10, wherein the first process control device comprises a communication bridge device disposed between a process control unit and one or more field devices. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The process control system of claim 10, wherein the first process control device comprises a first field device and wherein the second process control device comprises a second field device. ### Claim 17 A method of providing communications within an industrial process environment, comprising: placing a first radio frequency wireless transceiver at a first process control device for performing a process control function located at a first location within the industrial process environment; placing a second radio frequency wireless transceiver at a second process control device for controlling at least one process parameter related to the process control function performed by the first process control device located at a second location within the industrial process environment, remote from the first location; and wirelessly communicating one or more real-time process control signals between the first location and the second location within the industrial process environment using the first and second radio frequency wireless transceivers to control the process control parameter related to the process control function performed by the first process control device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of providing communications of claim 17, wherein wirelessly communicating one or more signals includes wirelessly communicating a sense signal indicative of a sensed parameter. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of providing communications of claim 17, wherein wirelessly communicating one or more signals includes wirelessly communicating a control signal for causing a field device to perform a physical control action. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of providing communications of claim 17, wherein wirelessly communicating one or more signals includes wirelessly communicating a status signal associated with a field device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of providing communications of claim 20, wherein the status signal includes at least one of a diagnostic signal, an identity signal, and a calibration signal. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The method of providing communications of claim 17, wherein placing a first radio frequency wireless transceiver at a first process control device for performing a process control function located at a first location within the industrial process environment includes placing the first radio frequency wireless transceiver at a first field device. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of providing communications of claim 22, wherein placing a second radio frequency wireless transceiver at a second process control device for controlling at least one process parameter related to the process control function performed by the first process control device located at a second location within the industrial process environment includes placing the second radio frequency wireless transceiver at a second field device. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method of providing communications of claim 22, wherein placing a second radio frequency wireless transceiver at a second process control device for controlling at least one process parameter related to the process control function performed by the first process control device located at a second location within the industrial process environment includes placing the second radio frequency wireless transceiver at a user terminal. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The method of providing communications of claim 22, wherein placing a second radio frequency wireless transceiver at a second process control device for controlling at least one process parameter related to the process control function performed by the first process control device located at a second location within the industrial process environment includes placing the second radio frequency wireless transceiver at a process controller. ### Claim 26 A process control system disposed within an industrial process environment, comprising: a process control unit for controlling a process parameter; a plurality of field devices disposed within the industrial process environment for performing process control functions; and a network of three or more radio frequency wireless transceivers disposed within the industrial process environment, wherein each of the three or more radio frequency wireless transceivers is disposed at a different one of the field devices and the process control unit and wherein each of the three or more radio frequency wireless transmitters communicates signals to each of the other of the three or more radio frequency wireless transceivers whereby the process control unit controls the process parameter based on the communicated signals. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The process control system of claim 26, wherein one or more of the plurality of field devices generate a sense signal indicative of a measured parameter within the industrial process environment, the process control unit generates a control signal based on the one or more sense signals for controlling one of the plurality of field devices to perform a physical control function within the industrial process environment and wherein the network of three or more radio frequency wireless transceivers transmit the control signal and the sense signal. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The process control system of claim 26, wherein at least three of the three or more radio frequency wireless transmitters are located at field devices. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The process control system of claim 26, wherein at least two of the three or more radio frequency wireless transmitters are located at field devices and at least one of the three or more radio frequency wireless transmitters is located at the process control unit. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The process control system of claim 29, wherein the process control unit includes a user terminal. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The process control system of claim 30, wherein the process control unit includes a process controller coupled to the user terminal.