# US 8,258,749 B2 · Power regulator for use with wireless communication device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,258,749 B2 - Document ID: US8258749B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/147,469 - Filed: 2008-06-26 - Published: 2009-06-11 - Granted: 2012-09-04 - Earliest claimed: 2007-06-26 - Inventors: Mark Sinreich - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8258749B2 ## CPC - G05B 19/0423: {Input/output} - G05B 2219/25006: Interface connected to fieldbus - G05B 2219/25359: Special power supply - G05B 2219/25361: DC-DC convertor on board - G05B 2219/25428: Field device - G05B 2219/33192: Radio link, wireless - G05B 2219/34313: Power supply for communication delivered by, derived from 4-20-mA current loop - 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 power regulator includes an initial input, an output, a feedback input, and a comparison circuit. The initial input is configured to receive loop current at an insertion voltage. The output is configured to deliver charging power. The charging power changes at least partially in response to a change in the loop current. The comparison circuit is in electrical communication with the feedback input and is configured to regulate the insertion voltage. A wireless communication device is in electrical communication with the output of the power regulator and is configured to be powered by the charging power. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power management circuit comprising: a power regulator comprising: an initial input configured to receive a loop current at an insertion voltage; an output configured to deliver charging power, wherein the charging power changes at least partially in response to a change in the loop current; a feedback input; and a comparison circuit in electrical communication with the feedback input and configured to regulate the insertion voltage; and a wireless communication device in electrical communication with the output of the power regulator and configured to be powered by the charging power. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power management circuit of claim 1 further comprising an electrical storage element in electrical communication with the output of the power regulator and configured to store the charging power and power the wireless communication device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The power management circuit of claim 2 further comprising a voltage regulator in electrical communication with the electrical storage element and configured to regulate the charging power delivered to the wireless communication device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The power management circuit of claim 2 further comprising a voltage shunting circuit in communication with the electrical storage element, the voltage shunting circuit being configured to prevent an over-voltage condition for the electrical storage element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The power management circuit of claim 2 wherein the electrical storage element comprises at least one of a capacitor and a battery. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The power management circuit of claim 1 wherein the comparison circuit comprises an amplifier, the amplifier comprises a first input and a second input, and the first input is configured to receive a reference voltage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The power management circuit of claim 6 further comprising a variable scaler in electrical communication with the second input of the amplifier and configured to facilitate selective control of the insertion voltage. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The power management circuit of claim 7 further comprising a microcontroller configured to control the variable scaler. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The power management circuit of claim 8 wherein the microcontroller is configured to operate in a fast-deployment mode and is further configured to increase the insertion voltage upon detecting that the loop current has reached a threshold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The power management circuit of claim 1 further comprising an over-current protection circuit that is configured to disable the power regulator if the loop current exceeds an over-current threshold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The power management circuit of claim 1 further comprising Highway Addressable Remote Transducer (“HART”) interface logic associated with the wireless communication device to facilitate communication according to a HART protocol. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The power management circuit of claim 1, wherein the power regulator is configured to maintain an insertion voltage of at least about 0.5 Volts Direct Current. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The power management circuit of claim 1, wherein the power regulator is configured to regulate the insertion voltage to between about 1 Volts Direct Current and about 2.5 Volts Direct Current. ### Claim 14 A process control apparatus comprising: a field device; a power supply in electrical communication with the field device, the power supply being configured to transmit loop current to the field device and the field device being configured to regulate the loop current; a power regulator comprising: an initial input configured to receive the loop current at an insertion voltage; an output configured to deliver charging power, wherein the charging power changes at least partially in response to a change in the loop current; a feedback input; and a comparison circuit in communication with the feedback input, the comparison circuit being configured to regulate the insertion voltage to a reference value; and a wireless communication device in electrical communication with the output of the power regulator and configured to be powered by the charging power. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The process control apparatus of claim 14 wherein the field device comprises a voltage transducer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The process control apparatus of claim 14 wherein the power management circuit is serially connected between the field device and the power supply. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The process control apparatus of claim 14 further comprising an electrical storage element in electrical communication with the output of the power regulator and configured to store the charging power and deliver the charging power to the wireless communication device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The process control apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a voltage regulator in electrical communication with the electrical storage element and configured to regulate the charging power delivered to the wireless communication device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The process control apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a voltage shunting circuit in communication with the electrical storage element and configured to prevent an over-voltage condition for the electrical storage element. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The process control apparatus of claim 17 wherein the electrical storage element comprises at least one of a capacitor and a battery. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The process control apparatus of claim 14 wherein the comparison circuit comprises an amplifier, the amplifier comprises a first input and a second input, and the first input is configured to receive a reference voltage. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The process control apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a variable scaler coupled with the second input of the amplifier and configured to facilitate selective control of the insertion voltage. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The process control apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a microcontroller control the variable scaler. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The process control apparatus of claim 23 wherein the microcontroller is configured to operate in a fast-deployment mode and is further configured to increase the insertion voltage upon detecting that the loop current has reached a threshold. ### Claim 25 (depends on 14) The process control apparatus of claim 14 further comprising an over-current protection circuit that is configured to disable the power regulator if the loop current exceeds an over-current threshold. ### Claim 26 (depends on 14) The process control apparatus of claim 14 further comprising Highway Addressable Remote Transducer (“HART”) interface logic associated with the wireless communication device to facilitate communication according to a HART protocol. ### Claim 27 (depends on 14) The process control apparatus of claim 14, wherein the power regulator is configured to maintain an insertion voltage of at least about 0.5 Volts Direct Current. ### Claim 28 (depends on 14) The process control apparatus of claim 14, wherein the power regulator is configured to regulate the insertion voltage to between about 1 Volts Direct Current (“VDC”) and about 2.5 VDC.