Method for operating a measuring transducer, and corresponding measuring transducer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10982983-B2
Application number	US-201715841699-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2017
Priority date	Dec 14, 2016
Publication date	Apr 20, 2021
Grant date	Apr 20, 2021

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a measuring transducer of process automation technology, comprising at least the following steps: starting the measuring transducer by starting its operating system, wherein the operating system provides at least one interface; starting at least one interpreter, wherein the interpreter accesses the interface; and executing an extension in the interpreter. The present disclosure further relates to a measuring transducer for implementing the method.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for operating a measuring transducer of process automation technology, wherein the measuring transducer includes:
a microcontroller and an associated memory;
a non-volatile memory;
an operating system, wherein the operating system provides at least one software interface;
a first communication interface embodied to communicate with a sensor; and
a fieldbus interface embodied to communicate with a process control system, the method comprising:
starting the measuring transducer and starting the operating system;
instantiating a first interpreter in the measuring transducer, wherein the first interpreter is configured to access the at least one software interface;
providing a first sensor, including:
a sensor element;
a microcontroller and an associated memory; and
a second communication interface;

connecting the first sensor to the measuring transducer by connecting the second communication interface with the first communication interface;
transferring a unique identification from the first sensor to the measuring transducer;
executing a first extension in the first interpreter, wherein the first extension includes first-sensor-specific software, and wherein the first-sensor-specific software is determined based on the unique identification of the first sensor;
performing a measurement with the first sensor to obtain a first measured value;
transferring the first measured value from the first sensor to the measuring transducer;
processing the first measured value in the measuring transducer using the first-sensor-specific software; and
transferring the processed first measured value from the measuring transducer to the process control system.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first interpreter is a software emulator.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first interpreter is a script language interpreter, wherein the first extension including the first-sensor-specific software is a first script language program embodied to be interpreted by the first interpreter.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein several interpreters can be executed per measuring transducer.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
the first sensor interacting with the measuring transducer via the at least one software interface.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring transducer further includes a memory card reader, the method further comprising:
transferring the first-sensor-specific software to the measuring transducer, if it is not yet located on the measuring transducer, from at least one of the following locations: the first sensor, a memory card, and a data connection of the measuring transducer.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein executing the first extension including the first-sensor-specific software includes:
executing a first sensor driver;
signal processing first sensor data;
executing one or more state machines;
parameterizing the first sensor;
installing a menu navigation of the first sensor; and
connecting the first sensor to a field bus.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein, by installing the menu navigation, settings, parameters, calibration processes, and adjustment processes required for the first sensor can be adjusted or carried out.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
connecting a second sensor to the measuring transducer;
instantiating a second interpreter in the measuring transducer; and
executing a second extension in the second interpreter, wherein the second extension includes second-sensor-specific software.

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:
instantiating a third interpreter in the measuring transducer;
executing a third extension in the third interpreter, wherein the third extension includes a data processing module;
reading input values with the data processing module via the at least one software interface;
processing the input values with the data processing module; and
outputting the processed input values as output values with the data processing module via the at least one software interface.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
instantiating a second interpreter in the measuring transducer;
executing a second extension in the second interpreter, wherein the second extension includes a data source;
generating data with the data source; and
outputting the generated data with the data source via the at least one software interface.

12. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
instantiating a second interpreter in the measuring transducer;
executing a second extension in the second interpreter, wherein the second extension includes a menu navigation adapted to a user.

13. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
instantiating a second interpreter in the measuring transducer;
executing a second extension in the second interpreter, wherein the second extension includes an interface by which a user is guided through one or more dialogs for an ergonomic data input.

14. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
instantiating a second interpreter in the measuring transducer;
executing a second extension in the second interpreter, wherein the second extension includes an illustration, adapted to a user, of a system.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor element includes one of the following:
a pH sensor;
an ion-selective sensor;
an opto-chemical sensor;
a conductivity sensor;
a turbidity sensor; and
a temperature sensor.

16. A measuring transducer, comprising:
a microcontroller and associated memory;
a non-volatile memory;
a first communication interface;
a fieldbus interface embodied to communicate with a process control system;
a sensor including a sensor element embodied to detect a physical measurand and to convert the physical measurand to an electrical signal, the sensor including a unique identification, wherein the sensor is connected with the measuring transducer via the first communication interface;
an operating system having at least one software interface for the exchange of information; and
at least one interpreter configured to access the at least one software interface,
wherein the measuring transducer is configured to:
transfer from the sensor the unique identification; and
transfer from the sensor sensor-specific software based on the unique identification,

wherein the at least one interpreter is embodied to execute an extension, wherein the extension includes the sensor-specific software.

17. The measuring transducer according to claim 16 , further comprising:
a memory card reader,
wherein the measuring transducer is further configured to transfer from a memory card sensor-specific software based on the unique identification.

18. The measuring transducer according to claim 16 ,
wherein the measuring transducer is further configured to transfer from a network location via the fieldbus interface sensor-specific software based on the unique identification.

Assignees

• Endress Hauser Conducta Gmbh Co Kg

Inventors

• Robl Stefan

Classifications

• G05B19/0426 Primary

  Programming the control sequence · CPC title

• G05B19/4183

  characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification · CPC title

• Y02P90/02

  Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] · CPC title

• G01D5/12 Primary

  using electric or magnetic means (G01D5/06 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01D18/00

  Testing or calibrating apparatus or arrangements provided for in groups G01D1/00 - G01D15/00 · CPC title