阅读说明：本技术 自动化现场装置 (Automated field device ) 是由 哈拉尔德·朔伊布勒 西蒙·格尔维希 克里斯蒂安·施特里马特 沃尔夫冈·布鲁钦 于 2019-07-30 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种现场装置,包括：连接端子(2)；现场装置电子器件(4)；内部接口(5),用于连接电子模块(6)；所述电子模块(6)具有用于实现额外功能性的至少一个电子部件(7)；电容器(8),其被设计成如果电子模块(6)的部件(7)具有超过主要电力(Phaupt)的能量需求,那么将额外第一辅助能量的量(Ehilf1)提供到所述部件(7)；电池(9),其被设计成如果电子模块(6)的至少一个部件(7)具有超过主要电力(Phaupt)和第一辅助能量的量(Ehilf1)的能量需求,那么将第二辅助能量的量(Ehilf2)提供到所述至少一个部件,其中仅在所述主要电力(Phaupt)和第一辅助能量的量(Ehilf1)不足以用于所述部件(7)的能量供应,则所述电池(9)才将第二辅助能量的量(Ehilf2)提供到所述部件(7)。(The invention relates to a field device comprising: a connection terminal (2); field device electronics (4); an internal interface (5) for connecting an electronic module (6); the electronic module (6) has at least one electronic component (7) for implementing additional functionality; a capacitor (8) designed to provide an additional first auxiliary energy amount (Ehilf1) to a component (7) of the electronic module (6) if said component (7) has an energy requirement exceeding the main power (Phaupt); a battery (9) designed to provide a second amount of auxiliary energy (Ehilf2) to at least one component (7) of the electronic module (6) if said at least one component has an energy requirement that exceeds the amount of primary power (Phaupt) and first auxiliary energy (Ehilf1), wherein said battery (9) provides the second amount of auxiliary energy (Ehilf2) to said component (7) only if said amount of primary power (Phaupt) and first auxiliary energy (Ehilf1) is not sufficient for the energy supply of said component (7).)

1. An automated field device (1), in particular a Namur field device, comprising:

-a connection terminal (2) for connecting a two-wire line (3);

-field device electronics (4) provided with a maximum operating power (Pmax) via the connection terminal (2) over the two-wire line (3), wherein the field device electronics (4) is configured to perform a main functionality of the field device, in particular measurement or limit value detection; and

-an internal interface (5) provided by the field device electronics (4) for connecting an electronics module (6);

-the electronics module (6) having at least one electronic component (7) for implementing additional functionality, wherein the at least one electronic component (7) of the electronics module (6) is connected to the field device electronics (4) via the internal interface (5) for data transmission, and the internal interface (5) of the at least one electronic component (7) also provides primary power (Phaupt);

-a capacitor (8) associated with said electronics module (6) and configured such that said capacitor (8) is charged via said internal interface (5) and said at least one component (7) of said electronics module (6) provides additional first auxiliary energy (Ehilf1) in case said at least one component (7) has an energy requirement exceeding said main power (Phaupt);

-a battery (9) associated with said electronics module (6), designed such that said battery (9) provides a second auxiliary energy (Ehilf2) to said at least one component (7) of said electronics module (6) in case said at least one component requires an energy requirement that exceeds said main power (Phaupt) and said first auxiliary energy (Ehilf1), wherein said capacitor (8) and said battery (9) are coordinated such that said battery (9) provides said second auxiliary energy (Ehilf2) to said at least one component (7) only if said main power (Phaupt) and said first auxiliary energy (Ehilf1) are insufficient for the energy supply of said at least one component (7).

2. The automation field device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one component (7) comprises a radio module which is arranged to communicate data wirelessly, and wherein the at least second auxiliary energy (Ehilf2) supplies energy to the radio module preferably only in case of a transmission or reception process.

3. The automation field device according to claim 1 or 2, further having a current limiting circuit (10) connected at an input (10a) to the internal interface (5) and at an output (10b) to the at least one component (7) of the electronics module (6) and designed to limit the current flowing through the internal interface (5) to a certain current value (Imax).

4. The automated field device according to the preceding claim, wherein the capacitor (8) and the battery (9) are arranged between the output (10b) of the current limiting circuit (10) and the at least one component (7) and are coordinated with each other such that the battery (9) of the at least one component (7) provides the second auxiliary energy (Ehilf2) only when the output voltage (U) at the output (10b) of the current limiting circuit (10) drops below a certain value, preferably less than 3V, particularly preferably less than 2.75V, particularly preferably less than 2.5V.

5. The automated field device according to the preceding claim, wherein a regulator (11) is provided in the connection between the battery (9) and the output (10b) of the current limiting circuit (10), which regulates the battery voltage (Ubatterie) to a value less than the specific value at the output (10b) of the current limiting circuit (10).

6. Automated field device according to the preceding claim, wherein furthermore a blocking element (12), in particular a blocking element (12) in the form of a diode or as an integral component of the regulator, is provided in the connection between the battery and the output (10b) of the current limiting circuit (10), which blocking element is designed to prevent a current flow from the output (10b) of the current limiting circuit (10) to the battery (9).

7. The automated field device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the capacitor (8) comprises a plurality of ceramic capacitors, and the capacitor (8) preferably has a size in the range of 500 μ F to 2 mF.

8. The automated field device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the battery (9) and the capacitor (8) are connected in parallel to each other at the output (10b) of the current limiting circuit (10).

9. The automated field device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the battery (9) is designed according to the standard IEC 60086-4 with release date 2014, 9, 3 and/or the standard IEC 60079-11 with release date 2011, 6, 30, so that the battery (9) is designed for use in an explosion area.

10. The automation field device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the internal interface (5) for data transmission is designed as a UART interface.

11. The automated field device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the radio module (7) can be set up for wireless data transmission according to one of the following standards or protocols or modified variants thereof:

-bluetooth or bluetooth low energy;

-6LoWPAN；

-6 TiSCH; or

Wireless HART.

12. The automated field device according to one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising a field device housing (13) in which the field device electronics (4) and the electronics module (6) are arranged.

13. The automated field device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a field device housing (13) in which the field device electronics (4) are arranged, wherein the electronics module (6) is arranged outside the field device housing (13).

Technical Field

The invention relates to a field device, in particular to a Namur automatic field device.

Background

Field devices for acquiring and/or modifying process variables are commonly used in process automation technology. Sensors (such as fill level measuring devices, flow meters, pressure and temperature measuring devices, pH oxidation-reduction potentiometers, conductivity meters, etc.) are used to record corresponding process variables (such as fill level, flow, pressure, temperature, pH, and conductivity). In general, a field device refers to all devices that are process-oriented and that supply or process information related to a process. Various such field devices are manufactured and sold by endlesch + hauser corporation.

However, in addition to the field devices described above, so-called Namur field devices or switchgear (which can be designed, for example, as point-level switches) are also included in the list of field devices. These field devices designed as point level switches can, for example, have vibration sensors (which have at least one unit that can vibrate mechanically) or capacitive and/or conductive sensors. The basic principles and various embodiments are disclosed in various publications. Many corresponding field devices are produced by the applicant and are sold, for example, under the name LIQUIPHANT and/or SOLIPHANT in the case of a vibration point level switch and under the name LIQUIPHANT in the case of a capacitive and/or conductive point level switch.

In the case of a vibration point level switch for a liquid, it is to be distinguished whether the vibratable unit is covered by the liquid or is free to vibrate. The two states (free state and covered state) are distinguished according to different dwell frequencies (i.e., frequency offsets). The density and/or viscosity can then be determined with such a measuring device as long as it is at least partially covered by the medium.

However, in the case of a conductive point level switch, it can be recognized whether an electrical contact via the conductive medium is present between the probe electrode and the wall of the conductive container or the second electrode. In the capacitance measurement method, the filling level is comparatively determined from the capacitance of the capacitor formed by the probe electrode and the container wall or the second electrode. Depending on the conductivity of the medium, the medium itself or the probe insulator forms the dielectric of the capacitor.

The so-called Namur field device or switchgear is initially defined in Namur (chemical industry measurement and control engineering standardization association) worksheet NA 001, which extends to standard DIN EN60947-5-6 (release date: 12 months 2000). In this case, the field device or the switching device transmits only binary information in the form of a specific current signal. For example, the Namur field device indicates whether a particular limit level has been reached.

According to the standard DIN EN60947-5-6, it is provided that the field device operates with a current which is independent of the load, so that it is supplied with energy directly from the current loop. This is possible because the field device has a maximum power requirement during operation that is less than the value of the particular current signal. This is then also referred to as a so-called two-wire field device, since only one two-wire line (i.e. a line with two wires) is required to connect these devices. Binary information (e.g. reaching or not reaching a limit level) is always communicated from the field device to an (analog) evaluation unit, e.g. a PLC (programmable logic controller), via a corresponding specific current value. According to the above standard, a current value smaller than 1.2mA and a current value larger than 2.1mA are provided as the specific current values. In the case of a point level switch, this means that a specific current value smaller than 1.2mA indicates that the corresponding limit level is reached, and a specific current value larger than 2.1mA indicates that the limit level has not been reached yet.

Due to the fact that only a limited amount of power is available to the field device, the design and construction of the field device has the most stringent requirements. This applies in particular in the following cases: in addition to a purely internal evaluation unit, for example for determining the limit filling level, the field device also desirably has other functions which are implemented by corresponding electronic components.

In this case, the radio functionality of the field device can constitute the function by which, for example, the limit fill level can additionally be communicated via a corresponding radio signal. In this case, the radio system occasionally requires much more energy than the field device can provide via the two-wire line, for example in the corresponding radio interval of the communication measurement or limit value. However, not only in the case of transmission of measurements or limit values, but also in the case of software updates performed, for example, in the case of "over the air", much more energy is required in the short term than the field device can provide via a two-wire line.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an automated field device, in particular a Namur field device, with additional functionality, in particular radio functionality.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a field device, in particular a Namur automation field device, according to claim 1.

The automated field device according to the invention, in particular a Namur field device, comprises:

-a connection terminal for connecting a two-wire line;

-field device electronics provided with maximum operating power via the connection terminals over the two-wire line, wherein the field device electronics are configured to perform a primary functionality of the field device, in particular a measurement or a limit value detection; and

-an internal interface provided by the field device electronics for connecting an electronics module;

-the electronics module having at least one electronic component for implementing additional functionality, wherein the at least one electronic component of the electronics module is connected to the field device electronics via the internal interface for data transmission and the internal interface of the at least one electronic component also provides primary power,

-a capacitor associated with the electronics module and configured such that the capacitor is charged via the internal interface and at least one component of the electronics module provides additional first auxiliary energy in case the at least one component has an energy demand exceeding the primary power;

-a battery associated with the electronics module, designed such that the battery provides second auxiliary energy to at least one component of the electronics module in case the at least one component has an energy requirement that exceeds the primary power and the first auxiliary energy, wherein the capacitor and the battery are coordinated such that the battery provides the second auxiliary energy to the at least one component only if the primary power and the first auxiliary energy are insufficient for the energy supply of the at least one component.

In this case, a Namur field device is to be understood as a field device designed according to standard DIN EN60947-5-6 (release date: 12/2000), and therefore binary information is communicated via a two-wire line on the basis of two different specific current values, wherein a first information of the binary information, in particular an information that the limit fill level has been reached, is communicated via a first specific current value that is less than 1.2mA, and a second information of the binary information, in particular an information that the limit fill level has not yet been reached, is communicated via a second specific current value that is greater than 2.1 mA.

An advantageous embodiment of the field device provides that the at least one component comprises a radio module which is provided to communicate data wirelessly, and wherein the at least second auxiliary energy supplies energy to the radio module preferably only in the case of a transmission or reception process.

A further advantageous embodiment of the field device also proposes a current limiting circuit which is connected at an input to the internal interface and at an output to at least one component of the electronics module, the current limiting circuit being designed to limit the current flowing through the internal interface to a specific current value. In particular, the embodiment may provide that the capacitor and the battery are arranged between the output of the current limiting circuit and the at least one component and are coordinated with one another such that the battery of the at least one component supplies the second auxiliary energy only when the output voltage at the output of the current limiting circuit drops below a specific value, preferably less than 3V, particularly preferably less than 2.75V, particularly preferably less than 2.5V. In addition or alternatively, the embodiment may provide that a regulator is provided in the connection between the battery and the output of the current limiting circuit, which regulator regulates the battery voltage to a value that is smaller than a specific value at the output of the current limiting circuit, and/or that a blocking element, in particular in the form of a diode or as an integral part of the regulator, is provided in the connection between the battery and the output of the current limiting circuit, wherein the blocking element is designed to prevent a current flow from the output of the current limiting circuit to the battery.

A further advantageous embodiment of the field device provides that the capacitor has a plurality of ceramic capacitors, and that the capacitor preferably has a size in the range from 500 μ F to 2 mF.

A further advantageous embodiment of the field device provides that the battery and the capacitor are connected in parallel with one another at the output of the current limiting circuit.

A further advantageous embodiment of the field device provides that the battery is designed according to standard IEC 60086-4 with a release date of 2014, 9, 3 and/or according to standard IEC 60079-11 with a release date of 2011, 6, 30, so that the battery is designed for use in an explosion area. A further advantageous embodiment of the field device provides that the internal interface for data transmission is designed as a UART interface.

A further advantageous embodiment of the field device provides that the radio module is arranged for wireless data transmission according to one of the following standards or protocols or modified variants thereof:

-bluetooth or bluetooth low energy;

- 6LoWPAN；

-6 TiSCH; or

Wireless HART.

A further advantageous embodiment of the field device also proposes a field device housing in which the field device electronics and the electronics module are arranged.

An alternative embodiment of the field device also proposes a field device housing in which the field device electronics are arranged, wherein the electronics module is arranged outside the field device housing.

Drawings

The invention is explained in more detail on the basis of the following figures. As follows:

fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an automated field device according to the invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an automated field device 1 according to the invention. The field device 1 shown in fig. 1 is a Namur field device, which is designed, for example, as a limit level switch according to the standard DIN en60947-5-6 (release date: 12 months 2000). A Namur field device 1 of this type is supplied with energy via a two-wire line 3 by means of a loop current I which is independent of the load, so that, in addition to transmitting measured values, the two-wire line 3 also supplies power to the field device 1, i.e. no separate or additional power supply unit is provided for supplying energy.

In order to perform the main functionalities, for example, the detection of specific limit levels and the transmission of limit levels in the form of measured values, the field device has field device electronics 4 located inside a field device housing 13. For this purpose, the field device electronics 4 can have a sensor unit 14 for detecting a process variable, in particular for detecting a limit filling level.

The sensor unit 14 may measure at a rate f_MA process variable is sensed and a process variable signal dependent thereon is provided which is converted by the field device electronics into an output signal which can be output.

The process variable signal generated is only aware of the two states transmitted by the two-wire line 3; on the one hand, a state of limit level is reached and, on the other hand, (still) a state of limit level is not reached. Correspondingly, the field device electronics 4 are arranged to: outputting a current value greater than 2.1mA as an output signal via the two-wire line 3 if the measured value detected by the sensor unit indicates that the limit level has not been reached; and outputting a current value of less than 1.2mA as an output signal via the two-wire line if the detected measurement value indicates that the limit fill level is reached.

In order to enable the field device electronics 4 to communicate output signals via the two-wire line 3, the connection terminal 2 can be used to connect the two-wire line 3. Furthermore, the field device electronics 4 is supplied with a maximum operating power Pmax via the two-wire line 3 connected to the connection terminal 2, which is used for supplying energy to all components, in particular the sensor unit 14, which are required for performing the main functionality (in particular, detecting a limit level and communicating a corresponding current value).

Furthermore, the field device electronics 4 have an internal interface 5, which is designed such that an electronics module 7 can be connected to implement or perform additional functionality. In this case, the internal interface 5 can be configured as a UART interface (universal asynchronous receiver transmitter) with regard to the data transmission between the electronics module 7 and the field device electronics 4. In addition to data transmission, the internal interface 5 is also designed to provide the main power Phaupt to the electronics module 7. In this case, the field device electronics 4 are designed to provide an internal voltage Uintern and an internal current Imax at the internal interface for supplying the electronics module 7. The field device electronics 4 are preferably designed such that a maximum internal voltage Uintern of about 3V is available at the internal interface 5.

In order to implement the radio functionality as an additional functionality, the field device 1 has an electronics module 6 with a radio unit 7 arranged in a field device housing 13. In this case, the radio unit 7 may be arranged for wireless data transmission according to one of the following standards or protocols or modified variants thereof:

-bluetooth or bluetooth low energy;

- 6LoWPAN；

-6 TiSCH; or

Wireless HART.

In order to be able to provide sufficient energy to the transmission or reception process of the radio unit, the electronics module 6 also has a capacitor 8, which provides first auxiliary energy Ehilf1 to the radio unit 7. The capacitor 8 may for example have a value in the range of 800 μ F to 1.6 mF. Furthermore, the capacitor 8 is preferably in the form of a capacitor. The capacitor is connected in such a way that: so that it is charged by field device electronics 4 via internal interface 5 and, in the event that radio unit 7 has an energy requirement during the transmission or reception process that exceeds primary power Phaupt, first auxiliary energy philif 1 is additionally provided to radio unit 7. For example, the capacitor may be connected to the radio unit 7 through the first electrode 8a and to ground through the second electrode 8 b. It goes without saying that the capacitor 8 may also be formed by a plurality of capacitors connected accordingly. In order to minimize the space required for the capacitor 8 on the electronics module 6, the capacitor 8 is preferably formed by a plurality of ceramic capacitors, each having a single capacitance of 100 μ F, and connected in such a way that: so that a capacitance value in the range of 500 muf to 2mF, preferably in the range of 800 muf to 1.6mF is generated.

The electronics module 6 also has a current limiting circuit 10 which is arranged to limit the current flow via the internal interface 5 to a maximum current value Imax, for example about 0.8 mA. By limiting the current, the maximum main power provided by the field device electronics via the internal interface is limited to a maximum value, for example, about 2.4mW (3V 0.8 mA). The current limiting circuit 10 is also electrically connected in such a way: so that the input 10a is connected to the internal interface 5 and the output of the current limiting circuit 10b is connected to the first electrode 8a and the radio unit 7, so that a voltage U having a predetermined value (e.g. a value smaller than 3V, preferably a value from the range from 2.5V to less than 3V) is present at the output of the current limiting circuit 10 b.

According to the invention, a battery 9 is also provided, which is associated with the electronics module 6 and is preferably part of the electronics module 6. In this case, the battery 9 is designed such that it supplies a second auxiliary energy Ehilf2 to the radio module 7 in case the radio module 7 briefly has an energy requirement (e.g. during a transmission or reception process) that exceeds the main power Phaupt and the first auxiliary energy Ehilf 1. In this case, the electronics module 6 is designed such that the battery 9 supplies the radio module 7 with second auxiliary energy philif 2 only when the primary power Phaupt and the first auxiliary energy Ehilf1 are insufficient for supplying energy to the at least one component 7. This may be achieved, for example, by continuously connecting the battery 9 to the output of the current limiting circuit 10b by a regulator 11 which regulates the battery voltage Ubatterie to a value which is smaller than the voltage at the output of the current limiting circuit 10b, so that the battery 9 only supplies the second auxiliary energy Ehilf2 if the voltage U at the output of the current limiting circuit 10b drops due to the increased energy demand of the radio module. Due to the fact that the voltage of the radio module is set to a value higher than the battery voltage Ubatterie downstream of the regulator, the battery automatically supports the energy supply of the radio module when the output voltage U drops.

In order to prevent an undesired current flow in the direction of the battery 9, it may also be proposed to insert a blocking element 12, for example a diode, between the regulator 11 and the output of the current limiting circuit 10 b. Alternatively, the blocking element 12 can also be designed as an integral part of the regulator 11.

The wiring of the radio module according to the invention makes it possible to intercept energy peaks from a momentary or temporarily increased energy demand. In this case, the auxiliary energy Ehilf2 of the battery is used only when the internally required energy is larger than the energy provided by the two-wire line, or larger than the energy available or available to the capacitor, so that permanent drain of the battery is not caused.

List of reference numerals

1 automated field device

2 terminal

3 two-wire line

4 field device electronics

5 internal interface

6 electronic device module

7 electronic component, in particular radio unit

8 capacitor

8a first electrode

8b second electrode

9 batteries

10 current limiting circuit

Input terminal of 10a current limiting circuit

10b output terminal of current limiting circuit

11 regulator

12 blocking element

13 field device housing

14 sensor unit

Ehilf1 first auxiliary energy provided by a capacitor

Ehilf2 secondary auxiliary energy provided by a battery

I Current supplied to field device via two-wire line

Imax may be used to supply the maximum internal current for the electronics module

Output voltage at U current limiting circuit

U_{Inner part}Voltage at internal interface

U_{Battery with a battery cell}Voltage at the battery or optionally between the regulator and the blocking element

Pmax is the maximum operating power provided by the two-wire line to the field device

Phaupt Primary Power supplied via internal interface