| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080211664 | Radio Module for Field Devices of Automation Technology - A radio module RM for field devices of automation technology is connectable with a field device, e.g. F1, via a field device interface. The radio module RM includes a microcontroller μC for function control, a radio unit RF for data communication with a superordinated unit, and an energy supply unit ESU. With the help of the radio module RM, conventional field devices can be adapted simply to become radio-capable field devices, in order that they can then also be used in radio networks. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20090217023 | Method for upgrading a microprocessor-controlled device with a new software code via a communication network - In a method for equipping a microprocessor-controlled device with new software code via a communication network, the device has a non-volatile program memory, with two memory areas, a first memory area and a second memory area. The first memory area (boot sector) is provided for a basic program, which provides a first operating system and first functionalities of the device, and the second memory area (update sector) is provided for the software code to be transferred. The first memory area is protected by hardware means against overwriting. The following method steps are performed. First, there is a system boot with the basic program from the first memory area. In such case, a system variable UPDATE is read. In case this has the value “perform update”, an invocation of a function “perform firmware update” occurs. Then this variable is set to the value “invalid firmware”. Next, a connection is established to a superordinated unit and the new software code is transferred into the device. Following storage of the new software code in the second memory area, a test of the new software code for bit error is performed. In case bit errors have occurred during the transfer, a new system boot is performed. If no bit errors have occurred, the new software code is executed from the second memory area and the system variable UPDATE is written with the value “valid firmware”. Through this method, a safe equipping of microprocessor-controlled devices with new software code via a communication network is possible. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20100161081 | Field device of automation technology - A field device of automation technology, is fed via a two-wire line or via an energy source of limited energy reserve associated with the field device. The field device includes: a hardwired communication interface having at least one communication channel; and, associated with the communication interface, a functional unit, which is embodied in such a manner, that it performs sending and/or receiving of digital communication signals via the communication interface. The functional unit, for the purpose of energy saving, is turned on only in active, operating phases, while it is switched off in inactive, resting phases; and a detection circuit is provided, which detects a communication signal applied to the communication interface and automatically activates the functional unit. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100222895 | ENERGY-SAVING OPERATION OF A HARD-WIRED COMMUNICATION INTERFACE ON A FIELD DEVICE - A field device of process automation technology which includes a hardwire communication interface and a functional unit associated with the communication interface. The functional unit is embodied in such a manner, that it performs sending and/or receiving of digital signals via the communication interface. The field device is embodied in such a manner, that the functional unit is operable in a clocked manner, wherein, in the clocked operation, active time periods, in which the functional unit is activated, alternate with turned-off periods of time, in which the functional unit is switched off. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100261044 | METHOD FOR MONITORING THE STATE OF CHARGE, OR REMAINING CAPACITY, OF A DISPOSABLE OR RECHARGEABLE BATTERY - A method for monitoring charge level or remaining capacity of a battery pack, a disposable battery or a rechargeable battery, which is used to supply energy for an automation technology, field device having a data storage unit associated with the battery pack, disposable battery or rechargeable battery. Specific information about the battery pack, disposable battery or rechargeable battery is stored in the data storage unit and process-specific and operation-specific information about energy consumption is written to the data storage unit. In the case of the battery pack, disposable battery or rechargeable battery being used in a second automation technology field device, remaining service life of the battery pack, the disposable battery or the rechargeable battery is calculated and output on the basis of the process- and operation-specific information. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100283472 | VERFAHREN ZUR UBERWACHUNG DER RESTSTANDZEIT EINER BATTERIE - A method for monitoring the remaining service life of a battery used for operating a field device in automation technology. The present power consumption of the battery is ascertained. Then, during a first phase of life, power consumption of the battery ascertained during operation of the field device is compared with a predetermined threshold value. In the case of exceeding the predetermined threshold value, during a second phase of life, the battery is exposed to defined load spikes at predetermined time intervals. Voltage collapses corresponding to the defined load spikes are detected, and a warning report is generated when the voltage collapses reach a predetermined maximum limit value. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100306567 | METHOD FOR OPERATION OF A FIELD DEVICE IN A MATCHED-POWER MODE - A method for operating a field device of process automation technology, wherein the field device features a fieldbus communication interface, to which a wireless adapter is connected. The field device can be supplied with electrical power by the wireless adapter via the fieldbus communication interface; and an electrical current flowing over the fieldbus communication interface is not limited, so that it can freely adjust corresponding to a respective power requirement. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20110148511 | AUTARKES FELDGERAT - An automation technology, autarkic, field device, which is connected via two connecting terminals to an I/O module. The I/O module is embodied as a 4-20 mA/HART I/O module. The I/O module is associated with a controllable energy source via which the field device is supplied with energy. An electrical current measuring unit is provided which ascertains the electrical current supplied by the energy source. In the I/O module, internal resistors are provided, across which occurs in each case a voltage drop dependent on the flowing electrical current. A control unit is provided, which operates the energy source in such a way that a predetermined terminal voltage is supplied on the connecting terminals for powering the field device. | 06-23-2011 |
