阅读说明：本技术 自动地判定用于检测过程变量的测量速率 (Automatically determining a measurement rate for detecting a process variable ) 是由 胡安·加西亚 拉尔夫·霍尔 于 2020-04-06 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提出了一种用于确定过程变量的现场设备(100)。所述现场设备具有被配置为检测过程变量的测量值的传感器单元(102)、被配置为将测量值传输到接收器的通信单元(110)以及被配置为确定现场设备的地理位置的位置判定单元(108)。此外,所述现场设备还具有控制单元(106),所述控制单元被配置为根据现场设备的当前地理位置指定传感器单元(102)在检测所述过程变量的所述测量值时的前当测量速率,且/或指定通信单元(110)在向所述接收器传送所述测量值时的当前数据传输速率。(The invention relates to a field device (100) for determining a process variable. The field device has a sensor unit (102) configured to detect a measured value of a process variable, a communication unit (110) configured to transmit the measured value to a receiver, and a location determination unit (108) configured to determine a geographic location of the field device. Furthermore, the field device has a control unit (106) which is configured to specify, depending on a current geographical position of the field device, a current measurement rate of the sensor unit (102) when detecting the measured value of the process variable and/or a current data transmission rate of the communication unit (110) when transmitting the measured value to the receiver.)

1. A field device (100) for determining a process variable, the field device having:

a sensor unit (102) configured to detect a measured value of the process variable;

a communication unit (110) configured to communicate the measurement values, in particular wirelessly, to a receiver;

a location determination unit (108) configured to determine a geographic location of the field device; and

a control unit (106) configured to specify a current measurement rate of the sensor unit (102) when detecting the measured value of the process variable and/or to specify a current data transmission rate of the communication unit (110) when transmitting the measured value to the receiver, depending on a current geographical position of the field device.

2. The field device (100) of claim 1,

wherein the field device is a fill-level measuring device, a radar-based fill-level measuring device, a temperature measuring device, a pressure measuring device and/or a flow measuring device.

3. The field device (100) of any preceding claim,

wherein the field device is a mobile field device configured to be secured to a mobile vessel (202) to determine the process variable.

4. The field device (100) of any preceding claim,

wherein the control unit (106) is configured to determine and/or specify the current measurement rate and/or the current data transmission rate based on a remote query.

5. The field device (100) of any preceding claim, further comprising:

a data storage (105) configured to store location data for one or more areas (A-E), wherein each of said areas (A-E) represents a desired rate of change of said process variable in the respective area (A-E),

wherein in the data memory a measurement rate and/or a data transmission rate is assigned to each of the regions (A-E) and

wherein the control unit (106) is configured to determine and/or specify the current measurement rate and/or the current data transmission rate based on a comparison of the current geographical location with the location data stored in the data storage (105).

6. The field device (100) of any preceding claim,

wherein the control unit (106) is configured to determine a transmission rate for transmitting diagnostic values and/or for transmitting status information of the field device to the receiver depending on the current geographical position.

7. The field device (100) of any preceding claim,

wherein the control unit (106) is configured to recognize a change in position and/or movement of the field device, and

wherein the control unit (106) is configured to initiate a system start-up of the field device, determine the current measurement rate, determine the current data transmission rate, and/or initiate a system stop, a system shut-down, and/or a system deceleration of the field device in response to the identification of the change in position and/or the motion of the field device.

8. The field device (100) of any preceding claim, further comprising:

a motion sensor (107),

wherein the control unit is configured to identify a change in position and/or a movement of the field device based on a movement signal of the movement sensor of the field device.

9. The field device (100) of any preceding claim,

wherein the control unit (106) is configured to determine a first geographical position of the field device at a first point in time and a second geographical position at a second point in time different from the first point in time, and

wherein the control unit (106) is configured to identify a change in position and/or a movement of the field device based on a comparison of the first position and the second position.

10. The field device (100) of any preceding claim,

wherein the control unit (106) is configured to determine the current geographical position of the field device based on position data received via the communication unit (110) and/or

Wherein the position determination unit (108) is at least partially integrated in the control unit.

11. The field device (100) of any preceding claim,

wherein the field device (100) further comprises a housing (114) which completely and/or permanently encloses the sensor unit (102), the control unit (106), the position determination unit (108) and the communication unit (110).

12. The field device (100) of any preceding claim,

wherein the field device (100) is designed to be completely wireless to the outside.

13. The field device (100) of any preceding claim, further comprising:

a power supply unit (112) arranged in a housing (114) of the field device (100) and configured to supply power to the sensor unit (102), the control unit (106), the position determination unit (108) and the communication unit (110).

14. The field device (100) of any preceding claim,

wherein the field device is configured to transmit the current measurement rate and/or the current data transmission rate to another field device via the communication unit (110).

15. A method for operating a field device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of:

determining, with the location determination unit (108), a current geographic location of the field device; and

determining, with the control unit (106), a current measurement rate and/or a current data transmission rate based on the determined current geographic location of the field device.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to field devices for detecting process variables and/or for measuring measured values of process variables in the field of process automation, factory automation and/or the process industry. The invention also relates to a method for operating such a field device.

Background

In the process automation, factory automation and/or process industry, modern field devices are increasingly networked and can communicate with one another on the one hand and with superordinate receivers and/or systems on the other hand. For example, measurement data, measured values, parametric data and/or diagnostic data of the detected field devices can be transmitted to the respective receivers, systems and/or gateways via wireless communication paths such as bluetooth, WLAN, LoRa, LPWAN, GSM, GPRS, UMTS, LTE, etc. In this case, the communication is in principle divided into two different ranges, namely a long-range and a short-range.

Wireless communication over long distances is usually carried out when a field device with radio support is located within the range of the respective radio unit. In this case, the actual communication over a long distance range may be performed, for example, over a mobile network (e.g., GSM, GPRS, UMTS, LTE, 5G, or future standards, etc.) and/or over an internet connection. Data may be transmitted over almost any distance through such communication paths and/or communication networks.

In contrast, wireless communication within a short range is typically performed using a radio-based communication connection, such as a bluetooth connection or a bluetooth LE connection (LE: Low Energy). For example, if a receiver, such as a mobile wireless operating device (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, etc.), is in proximity to a field device having a wireless radio interface, data can be exchanged with the operating device via the radio interface of the field device. A typical distance for wireless transmission of data over a short range may be in the range of about 25m to 50 m.

Disclosure of Invention

Embodiments of the present invention may advantageously provide an improved field device. In the context of the present disclosure, a field device may be a measurement device and/or a sensor for detecting a process variable.

This object is achieved in particular by the subject matter of the independent claims. Further developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims and the following description.

A first aspect of the present disclosure relates to a field device for determining a process variable in, for example, process automation, factory automation and/or process industry. The field device includes a sensor unit configured to detect, determine, measure, and/or determine a measured value of a process variable. Furthermore, the field device comprises a communication unit configured to communicate, transmit and/or send the measurement values to a receiver. In particular, the communication unit may be configured to communicate, transmit and/or send the measurement values to the receiver wirelessly and/or over a wireless network. Furthermore, the field device has a position determination unit which is configured to determine and/or determine a geographical position and/or orientation of the field device. Furthermore, the field device has a control unit which is configured to specify a current measurement rate of the sensor unit when detecting the measured values of the process variable and/or to specify a current data transmission rate of the communication unit when transmitting data to the receiver as a function of and/or on the basis of a current geographical position and/or orientation of the field device. In this case, in particular, the control unit can automatically and/or automatically specify the measurement rate and/or the data transmission rate based on the current geographical position of the field device.

Here and in the following, the measurement rate may represent the frequency and/or number of measurements performed and/or to be performed per time unit. Thus, the measurement rate may specify how often the field device detects and/or measures measurements per unit of time. Similarly, the data transmission rate may represent the frequency and/or number of measurements transmitted to the receiver per unit of time. Thus, the data transmission rate may specify the frequency at which measurements are communicated and/or sent to the receiver per unit of time.

The field device according to the invention can be configured to adjust, change, set and/or change the current measurement rate and/or the current data transmission rate as a function of the current geographical position of the field device, in particular as a function of need. In such a case, the current geographic location may indicate and/or represent a field device location and/or position at which the field device is currently located. By adjusting the measurement rate and/or the data transmission rate, it can be advantageously ensured that the measurement is carried out only when required, the measured value is detected and/or transmitted to the receiver. In particular, the energy consumption of the field device for performing the measurement and/or data transmission can thereby be significantly reduced. This is particularly advantageous for battery-powered field devices, so that, for example, the time interval for replacing the battery can be extended.

Here and in the following, the "assignment" of the measurement rate by the control unit may be understood as that the control unit is configured to determine, determine and/or set the measurement rate based on the current geographical location. The control unit may be further configured to instruct the sensor unit to determine a measured value of the process variable from the current measurement rate. To this end, the control unit may specify and/or adjust, for example, the point in time at which the measured value is to be determined next and/or the time interval between two successive measurements (or determinations of measured values) based on the current geographical position.

Similarly, herein and hereinafter, "assignment" of a data transmission rate by a control unit may be understood as the control unit being configured to determine, determine and/or set the data transmission rate based on the current geographical location. The control unit may be further configured to instruct the communication unit to transmit, send and/or transmit the one or more determined measurement values to the receiver in dependence of the current data transmission rate. For this purpose, the control unit can specify and/or adjust a time point of the next transmission of data, for example a (next) measured value, and/or a time interval of two temporally successive data transmissions, for example two measured values measured in succession, on the basis of the current geographical position.

For example, the measurement rate may be related to and/or correspond to a data transmission rate. Thus, the point in time at which the measurement value is next determined may be related to and/or correspond to the point in time at which the data is next transmitted and/or the measurement value is next transmitted to the receiver. However, the measurement rate and the data transmission rate can also be determined, adjusted, set and/or specified by the control unit independently of one another.

The sensor unit may generally represent a sensor system and/or sensor circuitry configured to determine one or more, any number of process variables, such as determining a filling level of a medium in the container and/or tank, a filling level of a filling material on the stock pile, a temperature of the medium (e.g. in the container and/or tank), a pressure of the medium (e.g. in the container and/or tank) and/or a flow rate of the medium. The process variable may also represent an analytical parameter of the medium, such as the color of the medium, the degree of foaming of the medium, the density of the medium, the pH of the medium, and/or any other analytical parameter.

According to an embodiment, the field device may be a level gauge device, a radar-based level gauge device, a temperature gauge device, a pressure gauge device, and/or a flow meter device. Alternatively or additionally, the field device may be designed to determine an analytical parameter such as the color of the medium, the degree of foaming of the medium, the density of the medium, the pH of the medium, and/or any other analytical parameter.

The receiver may in principle be any type of receiver. In the context of the present disclosure, a receiver may for example represent a superordinate system of the field device and/or a receiving device which can receive and/or collect data, in particular measured values, from the field device. For example, the receiver may be an operating device, a smartphone, a laptop, a PC, a computer, a tablet, a control center, a controller, a data management system, a database, a server, and/or a visualization system that may collect data from one or more field devices.

Any communication standard for short-range communication and/or long-range communication may be used for field device communication with the receiver. The communication unit may particularly be configured for wireless communication with a receiver. For example, the communication unit may include a WLAN (wireless local area network) module, a GPRS (general packet radio service) module, a cellular network module, an LTE (long term evolution) module, a 3G module, a 4G module, a 5G module, or a future standard module, an NBIoT module, a Zigbee module, a Sigfox module, an LPWAN module, a LoRa module, a bluetooth-LE module, a radio module, and/or an infrared module. The communication unit can also have a plurality of such communication modules in order to transmit data, in particular measured values, to the receiver (or receivers) via different communication standards. Alternatively or additionally, the communication unit may also be configured for wired communication with the receiver. For example, the communication unit may include an ethernet module and/or a LAN module (local area network). The communication unit may also communicate with the receiver via a field bus, such as a HART bus, Profibus, foundation fieldbus, Modbus, SDI-12 bus, ethernet IP bus, Profinet bus, IP-based bus, ethernet IP bus, serial bus and/or parallel bus. Other communication connections, for example via an IO-Link, a 4 … 20mA/HART interface and/or a USB connection, are also conceivable.

In particular, the present invention can be considered to be based on the knowledge described below. Field devices with (e.g. wireless) communication units and/or radio interfaces in process and/or plant automation are increasingly used in many industrial fields. Typically, field devices are configured for a particular application or use upon which they are installed and/or secured. In some cases, the application runs with the field device(s) installed. Such applications are, for example, filling level measurements of media on and/or in mobile, mobile and/or non-stationary containers and/or tanks. The field device with the wireless communication interface transmits the data wirelessly to a cloud-based receiver and/or to a superordinate system, such as a controller (PLC, PCS, SCADA system, etc.), a server and/or a visualization system. Such receivers and/or systems may, for example, centrally collect data from the field devices, which data may be transmitted on a line basis (e.g., via ethernet, Profibus, foundation fieldbus, Modbus, ethernet, Profinet, HART, etc.) and/or wirelessly (e.g., via bluetooth, WLAN, LoRa, GSM, GPRS, UMTS, LTE, 5G, or future standards, etc.). In the case of line-based communication, the data may be accessed locally and/or over the internet. In the case of wireless communication, a radio system may be used, which may transmit data wirelessly (in particular over a long distance) to the receiver and/or system. According to the invention, in particular in mobile and/or mobile applications, the measurement rate of the field device can be determined, specified and/or set as a function of the position and/or orientation of the field device. For example, for field devices in mobile applications, manufacturing, production and/or industrial equipment (e.g., in the chemical, food, pharmaceutical, petroleum, paper, cement, marine or mining fields) may have dynamically and/or actively different ranges and/or regions. Different dynamics and/or activities of such areas may be accompanied by different rates of change of the process variable, i.e., different changes of the process variable per unit time. For example, a manufacturing, production and/or industrial plant may have a storage area in which, for example, the medium is stored in a container and/or a tank and a production area in which the medium is processed. In this case, the activity and/or dynamics in the production area is significantly higher than in the storage area. Accordingly, the rate of change of the process variable in the production area is higher than the rate of change of the process variable in the storage area. Thus, it may be advantageous to increase the measurement rate and/or data transfer rate when the field device is in the production area, and to decrease the measurement rate and/or data transfer rate when the field device is in the storage area accordingly. In this way it is ensured that the measurement rate and/or the data transmission rate are adjusted as required. On the one hand, this may increase the efficiency of the production process, since more measurements are determined and/or transmitted via the communication unit in areas where the process variable may change in a shorter time interval or where more measurements per unit of time are advantageous. On the other hand, too frequent determination and/or transmission of measured values in regions in which the process variable has hardly or not changed at all can be avoided. This may also save power and/or reduce the amount of data to be transmitted. Radio load and radio coexistence in the radio room can also be improved.

This may be advantageous in particular for mobile applications or uses, such as mobile field devices on mobile containers and/or tanks, since the field devices are here usually powered by autonomous power sources, such as batteries, accumulators and/or solar power sources, and/or by energy harvesting. By adjusting the measurement rate and/or the data transmission rate as required, a wired power supply for the field device can also be dispensed with, which is particularly advantageous in mobile applications, since a wired power supply is sometimes difficult to implement here. Here, such mobile applications may be located, for example, within a factory lobby (e.g., lobby area and/or production area) and/or in outdoor equipment. Thus, by adjusting the measurement rate and/or the data transmission rate of the field device according to the invention, the measured values and information of the field device can be transmitted to the receiver in suitable quantities and at suitable points in time depending on the location. The measured values can therefore be determined and/or transmitted in a reasonable number and/or at location-dependent time intervals. This may save energy since the right amount of energy may always be used at the right point in time. The amount of data to be transmitted can also be reduced in an advantageous manner.

According to the disclosure, the measurement rate and/or the data transmission rate can be determined, adjusted and/or specified automatically by the control unit of the field device as a function of the current position and/or orientation. In other words, the measurement rate and/or the data transmission rate can be automatically set. Therefore, manual setting of the field device is not necessary. Furthermore, the advantages summarized below can also be provided. The measured values can be transmitted in suitable quantities at the correct points in time depending on the position and the service life of the battery and/or the accumulator of the field device can be extended, for example, since energy can be saved at low measurement rates and/or low data transmission periods. Unnecessary data transmission can also be avoided. For example, multiple determinations and/or transmissions of the same measurement value may be avoided, for example, when the process variable has not changed over a period of time. Coexistence of radio systems may also be improved, for example, because potentially limited radio space is not continuously used and carried at full load. In particular, container management or tank management may also be improved in applications with mobile containers, for example, due to the fact that information such as location, ceiling reports, empty reports, inventory management, etc. can be present in an optimized manner. For example, the fill volume and number of fill operations of the container may also be determined, replacement of the container may be better planned, the media in the container may be identified as desired, and the location determination of the field device may be used locally, but also globally. Automatic reordering of highly automated systems may also be optimized. Furthermore, the field devices can be installed in a "safe area", for example on a container, for example, for the initial installation, and can thus be moved with the container, wherein the measurement rate and/or the data transmission rate can be automatically adjusted as a function of the position. For example, the distinction between empty and full containers, for example in terms of logistics processes (e.g. picking up an empty tank or triggering a reservation of a new tank or content) can also be improved and/or optimized, which is almost a synonym for cost optimization. Inventory determination, assembly stage identification, production area identification, etc. may also be simplified. Furthermore, an optimized positioning and/or sorting of the containers may be improved and/or optimized, for example at the factory site (e.g. from full containers, partially filled containers and/or empty containers). Furthermore, production may be better monitored, controlled, checked and/or assured by current data of one or more field devices. In other words, the automation process can also be optimized in mobile use by adjusting the measurement rate and/or the data transmission rate as a function of the position. For example, by transmitting position or location related, metered data, measurements, and/or other information from a field device with a communication interface to a receiver, the logistics of the entire plant may be optimized. This may reduce costs by avoiding plant downtime (e.g., due to lack of materials/media), optimize delivery flow (transportation from order to delivery), and improve planning of business sessions by, for example, receiving data and/or diagnostic information at the correct time to perform preventative, predictive maintenance on field devices.

According to one embodiment, the field device is a mobile field device configured to be secured to a mobile vessel to determine a process variable. The field devices and/or containers can be mounted in a removable, transportable and/or non-fixed manner. A field device mounted and/or secured to a container may, for example, be subject to production of a product with the container, wherein a medium for producing the product may be stored in the container. The field device may be configured to determine a measured value of the medium in the tank, for example a filling level of the medium. The field device may be particularly configured for autonomous, wireless, and/or non-wired operation.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the position determination unit has a position sensor for determining the current geographical position of the field device. The position sensor may be satellite based, for example, the position sensor may be designed as a GPS sensor. This is advantageous in particular in applications external to the field device and/or enables a reliable position determination.

According to an embodiment, the control unit is configured to determine a current geographical position of the field device based on the position data received by the communication unit. Alternatively or additionally, the position determination unit is at least partially integrated in the control unit. In other words, the position determination unit may be part of the control unit. The location data may be obtained, for example, via the communication network itself, for example, via a dial-in node, a radio unit and/or by providing geographical information via the communication network. The location data may also be provided by any receiver and/or communication partner, such as a gateway, one or more radios, one or more beacons, one or more radio transmitters, a server, a controller, other field devices, and so forth.

For example, the communication unit may have a Bluetooth (-LE) module. In particular in interior areas such as factory shops, production shops etc., the determination of the position of a field device can be achieved by means of e.g. bluetooth and field-mounted beacons and/or radio units. The control unit may determine the location of the field device based on signals from three or more beacons and/or radios, for example, by trilateration. Alternatively or additionally, a field-installed bluetooth gateway (e.g., an internet of things gateway) may be used to determine location via the communication unit. However, any other type of communication connection may be used to determine location.

According to an embodiment, the control unit is configured to determine and/or specify the current measurement rate and/or the current data transmission rate based on a remote query (e.g. by transmitting the current geographical position of the field device to the receiver). For example, the field device may transmit its current geographic location to a receiver, where the receiver then transmits the current measurement rate and/or data transmission rate to the field device. Thus, the field device may be configured to receive and/or query the current measurement rate and/or data transmission rate from the receiver. The remote query may include short-range communications and/or long-range communications between the field device and the receiver.

According to an embodiment, the field device also has a data store configured to store position data for one or more regions, each region representing a desired process variable and/or rate of change in time in the respective region. Each area is assigned a measurement rate and/or a data transmission rate, wherein the control unit is configured to determine and/or specify the current measurement rate and/or the current data transmission rate based on a comparison of the current geographical position and the position data stored in the data storage. The area may be, for example, an area of a production and/or manufacturing facility. At least some of the regions and/or ranges may differ in dynamic, activity, and/or (e.g., expected) rates of change of process variables. Such differences in the rate of change of dynamic, activity and/or process variables may be accounted for by the measurement rates and/or data transmission rates assigned to the various regions. The measurement rate and/or data transmission rate assigned to a region may thus represent and/or indicate the dynamics and/or activity of the respective region. Also, the measured rate and/or data transmission rate assigned to a region may represent and/or indicate a (e.g., expected) rate of change of a process variable in that region. The position data of the regions and the measurement rates and/or data transmission rates assigned to them can be stored in the data memory, for example in the form of look-up tables (look-up tables).

The position data of the areas and the measurement rates and/or data transmission rates assigned to them may be specified and/or defined by the user, for example. The data can also be called up by the communication unit of the field device, for example from a server, other field devices, a controller or any other communication partner. The field devices may also be configured to communicate the location data of the zones and the measurement rates and/or data transmission rates assigned to them to other field devices.

The position data of the respective areas can also be determined, for example, by patrolling the boundaries of the respective areas with the field devices and storing the position data while walking. This may significantly simplify programming and/or storing location data for regions in the field device.

According to one embodiment, the control unit is configured to determine the transmission rate at which the diagnostic value is transmitted and/or at which the status information of the field device is transmitted to the receiver, depending on the current geographical position. In other words, the transmission and/or rate of transmission of diagnostic values and/or status information may also be adjusted and/or performed based on location. Similar to the data transmission rate of the measured values, the transmission rate of the diagnostic value and/or status information may represent the frequency and/or number of times the diagnostic value and/or status information can be transmitted to the receiver per unit time. Thus, the transmission rate may specify the frequency with which diagnostic values and/or status information is transmitted and/or transmitted from the field device to the receiver per time unit.

According to an embodiment, the control unit is configured to identify a change in position and/or movement of the field device. Furthermore, the control unit is configured to start a system start-up of the field device in response to the identification of a change in position and/or movement of the field device, to determine (set and/or specify) a current measurement rate, to determine (set and/or specify) a current data transmission rate and/or to start a system stop of the field device. Thus, movement and/or changes in position of the field device may trigger adjustments in the measurement rate and/or data transmission rate. System startup may include activating a power supply for the sensor unit, the location determination unit, and/or other components. At the same time, the system shutdown may include disabling the energy supply to the sensor unit, the position determination unit, and/or other components. Alternatively or additionally, the measurement rate and/or the data transmission rate may also be varied as desired. To prevent measurement and/or data transmission, the measurement rate and/or data transmission rate may be set to zero, for example. In order to perform measurements and/or data transmission at fixed time intervals, the measurement rate and/or data transmission rate may be set to a non-zero value, such as a value assigned to the current location of the field device.

According to an embodiment, the field device has a motion sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to recognize a change in position and/or a motion of the field device on the basis of a motion signal of the motion sensor of the field device. The motion sensor may be, for example, a doppler sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a vibration sensor, and/or a geomagnetic field sensor. This allows a quick and reliable determination of the change in position and/or movement.

According to an embodiment, the control unit is configured to determine a first geographical position of the field device at a first point in time and a second geographical position at a second point in time different from the first point in time, wherein the control unit is configured to identify a change in position and/or a movement of the field device based on comparing the first position and the second position. In other words, changes in position and/or movement may also be determined based on the position of the field device determined at different times.

According to one embodiment, the field device also has a housing which completely and/or permanently encloses the sensor unit, the control unit, the position determination unit and the communication unit. The housing of the sensor may in particular be designed so as not to be openable. For example, the housing may be completely enclosed, dust-proof, water-proof, and/or air-tight. This allows the field device to be used as a compact device in the field or in a factory.

According to an embodiment, the field device is designed to be completely wireless to the outside. Alternatively or additionally, the housing does not have a cable sleeve. This means that the field device can be operated completely autonomously at least temporarily and is not connected to a cable. This also enables efficient and flexible connection of the field device to any, for example, transportable, container and/or tank. This may also greatly reduce the installation effort required to install the field device. The field device may, for example, be screwed, glued and/or welded to the container and/or the tank.

According to an embodiment, the field device further has a power supply unit arranged in the housing of the field device and configured to supply power to the sensor unit, the control unit, the position determination unit and the communication unit. The power supply unit can have at least one battery and/or at least one energy store for this purpose. The power supply unit may also have a charging unit for charging the accumulator, for example by induction, energy harvesting and/or solar panels.

According to an embodiment, the field device is configured to transmit and/or send the current measurement rate and/or the current data transmission rate to other field devices via the communication unit. For example, the field device may communicate and/or send the measured rate and/or the data transmission rate to one or more additional field devices in the vicinity of the field device. This makes it simple and reliable to optimize the entire production facility.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for operating a field device as described above and below. The process comprises the following steps:

-determining and/or deciding a current geographical position of the field device using a position decision unit; and

-determining, adjusting, altering, specifying, setting and/or changing the current measurement rate and/or the current data transmission rate using the control unit in dependence on the determined current geographical position of the field device.

Features, elements and/or functions of a field device as described above and below may be features, elements and/or steps of a method as described above and below and vice versa.

Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings.

Drawings

FIG. 1A schematically illustrates a sensor device having a field device, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 1B illustrates a detailed view of the field device of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a manufacturing process having a plurality of sensor devices, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method of operating a field device in accordance with one embodiment.

Similar, similarly acting, identical or identically acting elements have similar or identical reference numerals in the drawings. The figures are merely schematic and not drawn to scale.

Detailed Description

FIG. 1A illustrates a sensor apparatus 200 having a field device 100, according to an embodiment. FIG. 1B illustrates a detailed view of the field device 100 of FIG. 1A.

For example, the field device 100 of fig. 1A and 1B is designed as a radar-based level gauging device 100. Alternatively or additionally, however, the field device 100 can also be designed as an ultrasonic-based fill-level measuring device, a temperature measuring device, a pressure measuring device, a flow measuring device and/or as a measuring device for detecting any other process variable.

Sensor device 200 has field device 100 and container 202 and/or tank 202. The container 202 is at least partially filled with a medium 206 and has a container wall 204. Field device 100 is externally secured to a vessel wall 204 of vessel 202. For example, field device 100 may be bonded, welded, and/or secured to container 202 via a mechanical connection (e.g., via a bolted connection).

The container 202 and/or the field device 100 are mobile, movable, and/or transportable. For example, the container 202 may be an Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC), which may be constructed at least partially of plastic.

The field device 100 includes a sensor unit 102 having an antenna 104 for transmitting and/or receiving measurement signals and/or radar signals. In particular, a transmission signal may be transmitted through the antenna 104, and a portion of the transmission signal reflected on the medium 206 may be received as a reception signal. The sensor unit 102 may determine the measured value of the filling level of the medium 206, for example, based on a time-of-flight measurement between the transmission and reception of the measurement signal.

Furthermore, the field device 100 has a control unit 106. The sensor unit 102 can be controlled, for example, by the control unit 106 to perform filling level measurements and/or to determine (filling level) measurement values.

Furthermore, the field device 100 has a position determination unit 108, which is configured to determine a current geographical position and/or orientation of the field device 100. For this purpose, the position determination unit 108 may have a position sensor, which may be satellite-based, for example. For example, the position sensor may be designed as a GPS sensor.

Alternatively or additionally, the location determination unit 108 may be at least partially integrated in the control unit 106, as described above and below, and may determine the current location of the field device 100 from location data that may be received by the communication unit 110 of the field device 100.

In fig. 1A and 1B, the communication unit 110 of the field device 100 is illustratively configured for wireless data transmission and/or communication with a receiver. For example, the communication unit may have a WLAN (wireless local area network) module, a GPRS (general packet radio service) module, a cellular network module, an LTE (long term evolution) module, a 3G module, a 4G module, a 5G module, and/or other future wireless communication standard modules, a NBIoT module, a Zigbee module, a Sigfox module, an LPWAN module, a LoRa module, a bluetooth LE module, a radio module, and/or an infrared module. However, alternatively or additionally, the communication unit 100 may also be configured for wired data transmission and/or communication.

For example, measurement values, diagnostic information and/or status information may be transmitted to the receiver via the communication unit 110. Data, such as parametric data, diagnostic data, status data, position data and/or any other data, may also be received from the receiver via the communication unit 110.

Furthermore, the field device 100 has a power supply unit 112, which can supply power to the sensor unit 102, the antenna 104, the control unit 106, the position determination unit 108, the communication unit 110, and/or other components. For example, the power supply unit 112 has at least one battery and/or accumulator. The power supply unit 112 may also have a charging unit for charging the accumulator, e.g. by means of a power supply unit, induction, energy harvesting and/or solar panels.

Furthermore, the field device 100 has a housing 114 which surrounds the sensor unit 102, the antenna 104, the control unit 106, the position determination unit 108, the communication unit 110 and the power supply unit 112, in particular completely surrounds and/or is hermetically sealed, so that the use of the field device in field conditions and/or in a plant is ensured. The housing 114 may be made at least partially, in particular completely, of plastic. Further, the housing 114 may be completely closed. Thus, field device 100 can be designed to be completely wireless with respect to the outside, such that housing 114 does not have a cable sleeve.

The location determination unit 108 is configured to determine and/or determine a current geographic location and/or orientation of the field device 100. For example, the current position may be determined based on sensor signals of position sensors of the position determination unit 108. Alternatively or additionally, the control unit 106 may determine the current location of the field device 100 based on location data, and/or signals received through the communication unit 110, for example, from one or more radios (funkzellens), one or more beacons, one or more gateways (also referred to as IOT gateways), one or more servers, one or more field devices, one or more controllers, and/or any other communication partners.

The communication unit 110 may, for example, have a bluetooth (-LE) module and be coupled to one or more radios and/or beacons within the transmission range of the communication unit 110. For example, through trilateration, the control unit 106 may determine the current geographic location of the field device 100 based on location data, data and/or signals from multiple radios and/or beacons. For example, position data representing the current position of the field device 100 may also be received by a dial-in node (Einwahlknoten) that may be coupled to the communication unit 110. The location data may also be provided by any receiver and/or communication partner, such as one or more gateways, one or more radio transmitters, servers, controllers, other field devices, and so forth.

The control unit 106 is further configured to determine, adjust, change, vary and/or set the measurement rate of the sensor unit 102 when detecting the measurement values based on the current geographical location. Alternatively or additionally, the control unit 106 is configured to determine, adjust, set, change, vary and/or specify a data transmission rate of the communication unit 110 when transmitting the measurement values to the receiver depending on the current geographical location.

Alternatively, the transmission rate at which the diagnostic values and/or status information of the field device 100 are transmitted can also be determined, adjusted, set, changed and/or specified by the control unit 106 on the basis of the current geographical position.

The measurement rate suitable for or assigned to the respective current geographical position of the field device 100 for making the measurement, the data transmission rate for transmitting the measurement values, the transmission rate for transmitting the status information and/or the transmission rate for transmitting the diagnostic value can be determined, for example, by remote interrogation from the field device 100 and/or be called up by the communication partner. For example, the field device 100 may transmit its current geographic location to a receiver, such as a server, where the receiver may send and/or transmit one or more signals to the field device 100 to determine a measurement rate for performing measurements, determine a data transmission rate for transmission of measurement values, determine a transmission rate for transmission of status information, and/or determine a transmission rate for transmission of diagnostic values.

Alternatively or additionally, the field device 100 has a data memory 105, in which position data of one or more positions, areas and/or ranges of a production and/or manufacturing plant, for example, can be stored. The position data for the position, area and/or range can in turn be assigned a measurement rate, a data transmission rate, a transmission rate of status information and/or a transmission rate of diagnostic values, respectively, and stored in the data memory 105. Based on the current geographical position of the field device 100, the control unit 106 can determine the position data which is closest to the current position of the field device 100 in order to determine, specify and/or set in this way the measurement rate, the data transmission rate, the transmission rate for status information and/or the transmission rate for diagnostic values.

When the control unit 106 recognizes a change in position and/or a movement of the field device 100, (re) setting and/or specifying of the measurement rate, the data transmission rate, the transmission rate for status information and/or the transmission rate for diagnostic values can be carried out, triggered and/or initiated by the control unit 106. The change in position and/or movement can be determined, for example, based on a plurality of temporally consecutively determined positions of the field device 100. Alternatively or additionally, a change in position and/or movement of field device 100 may be determined based on a movement signal of a movement sensor 107 of field device 100. The motion sensor 107 may be, for example, a doppler sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a vibration sensor, and/or a geomagnetic field sensor.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a logistics and/or manufacturing process having a plurality of sensor devices 200a-200n, according to an embodiment. Unless otherwise noted, each of the sensor devices 200a-200n in FIG. 2 has the same elements and features as the sensor device 200 in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

In particular, fig. 2 illustrates a typical logistics and/or manufacturing process of a production and/or manufacturing plant. Each sensor apparatus 200a-200n has a transportable container 202a-202n (e.g., an IBC container) to which the transportable field devices 100a-100n are secured. For clarity, only some of the sensor devices 200a-200n in FIG. 2 are labeled with reference numbers. Each field device 100a-100n may be designed as a radar-based level gauging device 100a-100 n. Alternatively, however, the field devices 100a-100n may be designed to measure another process variable. For example, some or all of the field devices 100a-100n may be designed as ultrasonic-based level gauging devices, temperature gauging devices, pressure gauging devices, flow gauging devices and/or measuring devices for sensing any other process variable.

Fig. 2 therefore shows an exemplary mobile application with field devices 100a to 100n, which are each equipped with a wireless communication unit 110 and are designed as fill-level measuring devices 100a to 100n and are fastened to mobile containers 202a to 202n (for example IBC containers here).

In FIG. 2, sensor devices 200a-200n are run through an exemplary manufacturing process in a manufacturing facility, or sensor devices 200a-200n are each located within a particular area and/or a particular area of a manufacturing facility. The production plant has, for example, areas and/or areas a-E. For example, areas a and E may be storage areas (and/or sites for containers and/or tanks). The areas B and D may represent transportation areas within the production plant, respectively. Region C represents a production region. The individual regions a-E may differ here in the dynamics and/or activity of the manufacturing process taking place. Thus, the rate of change of the process variable (i.e. the medium filling level in the tank in the example of fig. 2) may differ at least in part regions and/or ranges a-E. In other words, the fill levels in the respective containers 202a-202n of the respective regions A-E may vary to different degrees per unit of time. The individual mobile containers 202a-202n may be used in a production plant for storing and/or transporting various substances and/or media, wherein such containers 202a-20n may be emptied or also filled at different locations of the production plant. The individual areas a-E may thus correspond to the production areas a-E of the production plant.

For example, sensor devices 200a-200e having mobile receptacles 202a-202e and field devices 100a-100e secured thereto may be transported into area A. For the area A and/or the field devices 100a-100e located therein, a smaller or no measurement rate may be required, because the filling level of the individual tanks 202a-202e in the area A changes less or not at all, for example, because the sensor arrangement 200a-200e of the area A is not actually involved in the production process, or because no filling or emptying takes place in this area. The field devices 100a-100e are each configured to determine their current geographic location. Based on this, the field devices 100a-100e may, for example, determine that they are within region A, and thus determine the (lower or even zero) measurement rate assigned to region A, so that no energy is unnecessarily consumed for filling level measurement. As described above, the field devices 100a-100e may also set the data transmission rate at which measurement values are transmitted, the transmission rate at which status information is transmitted, and/or the transmission rate at which diagnostic values are transmitted accordingly.

As the containers move from area a in the direction of the production process, they pass through the transport area (referred to as area B in fig. 2). In the example of fig. 2, sensor devices 200f, 200g with containers 202f, 202g and field devices 100f, 100g are located in region B. For these field devices 100f, 100g, which are triggered, for example, by an identified new position, a change in position, and/or a movement, system start-up can be carried out and/or the measurement rate can be increased, for example, compared to the area a. For example, the measurement rates of the field devices 100f, 100g in zone B may be several times the measurement rates of the field devices 100a-100e in zone A. The same applies to the data transmission rate and/or the transmission rate of the status information and/or the diagnostic value.

As the containers are transported in the direction of continuing the production process, they reach the production area (labeled as area C in the example of fig. 2). In fig. 2, sensor devices 200h, 200i with containers 202h, 202i and field devices 100h, 100i are located in region C. The field devices 100h, 100i also determine their current geographic location and automatically set the measurement rate and/or the data transmission rate assigned to the region C. The same applies to the transmission rate of the status information and/or the diagnostic value. Since the manufacturing or production area (i.e. area C) has the highest activity and/or dynamics of the manufacturing process, for example, due to the filling and/or emptying of the containers 202h, 202i, the field devices 100h, 100i here automatically set a higher or highest measurement rate and/or a higher or highest data transmission rate.

After the production process is complete, the container again passes through the transport area (referred to as area D in the example of fig. 2). The sensor devices 200j, 200k with the mobile containers 202j, 202k and the field devices 100j, 100k are currently located here. Similar to zone B and possibly triggered by the identified new position, change in position, and/or motion, a system shutdown or system reduction and/or system shutdown procedure for the field devices 100j, 100k may be performed in zone D. Alternatively or additionally, the measurement rate, data transmission rate and/or transmission rate of status information or diagnostic values may be reduced as desired. For example, since the probability of occurrence of the emptying or filling in the region D is low, a measurement rate lower than that in the region C can be set in the region D.

When reaching the area E, which may be a storage area (train station), the measurement rate may be further reduced, or set to zero. In the region E, a measurement rate (data transmission rate, transmission rate of status information and/or diagnostic values) as low as zero may be required, since the sensor devices 200l to 200n located there with the receptacles 202l to 202n and the field devices 100l to 100n do not participate in the production process or are not filled or emptied. Sensor devices 200l-200n of zone E may be in a "standby" mode of operation (similar to zone a).

In general, depending on the location of the containers, field devices and/or sensor devices, suitable, optimized measurement rates, data transmission rates, status information transmission rates and/or diagnostic value transmission rates for the respective zones a-E may be used, specified and/or set.

Fig. 3 shows a flow chart for explaining the steps of a method of operating field device 100 according to an embodiment. The field device 100 in fig. 3 may be one of the field devices described with reference to the preceding figures.

In step S1, the current geographical position of the field device 100 is determined by the position determination unit 108.

In a further step S2, the control unit 106 is used to determine, specify and/or set a current measurement rate and/or a current data transmission rate depending on the current geographical position determined by the field device.

In addition, it should be noted that "comprising" and "having" do not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

It should also be pointed out that characteristics or steps which have been described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments can also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps of other exemplary embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting.