Process measuring device having a plug-in memory unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11516029-B2
Application number	US-201716344709-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2017
Priority date	Oct 27, 2016
Publication date	Nov 29, 2022
Grant date	Nov 29, 2022

Abstract

Described is a process measurement device having an interface for connecting a plug-in memory, in which a processing measurement device includes a memory operating device that can switch the process measurement device into a memory access mode when the memory is connected to the process measurement device. Also described is a power supply that ensures that the energy demand required for read access or write access to the process measurement device is automatically covered after the connection of the memory by increasing the amount of electrical energy that is freely available in the process measurement device. Undesired undersupply of the process measurement device can thereby be effectively avoided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A process measurement device, comprising:
an interface configured to connect a plug-in memory to the process measurement device;
a memory operating device configured to transfer the process measurement device into a memory access mode, in which the process measurement device supplies the plug-in memory with electrical energy required for a read access or write access to the plug-in memory; and
a power supply configured to
determine an available power and a power required by a sensor of the process measurement device, peripherals connected to the process measurement device, and the plug-in memory in the write mode, and
if the available power is sufficient to provide the electrical energy required for the read access or the write access to the plug-in memory, provide the electrical energy required for the read access or the write access to the plug-in memory by increasing the electrical energy for the read access or the write access by increasing a supply of power transmitted, from a 4-20 mA two-wire loop, to the process measurement device,

wherein the increasing the electrical energy is performed in response to an instruction for the read access or the write access to the plug-in memory, and
wherein the power supply is configured to further provide the increase of electrical energy for the read access or the write access by decreasing electrical power used by the process measurement device.

2. The process measurement device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the power supply is configured to provide the electrical energy required for the read access or the write access to the process measurement device by increasing the power supply transmitted from an external energy source to the process measurement device.

3. The process measurement device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the power supply is configured to provide the electrical energy required for the read access or the write access to the process measurement device by reducing electrical power required by a peripheral device attached to and powered by the process measurement device.

4. The process measurement device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the external energy source is exclusively the 4-20 mA two-wire loop.

5. The process measurement device according to claim 1 ,
wherein power supply is further configured to continuously monitor electrical power required by the process measurement device and peripheral devices optionally connected thereto, as well as the electrical power required by the plug-in memory.

6. The process measurement device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the memory operating device is further configured to recognise from first data transmitted from the plug-in memory to the process measurement device whether a software update is to be imported, and if so, to increase electrical power transmitted from an external energy source to the process measurement device.

7. The process measurement device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the process measurement device is a level gauge, a pressure gauge or a flow meter.

8. The process measurement device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the interface is a multi-purpose interface, to which a peripheral device is connectable.

9. The process measurement device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the interface is further configured to receive the plug-in memory in the process measurement device.

10. The process measurement device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the power supply is configured to provide the electrical energy required for the read access or the write access to the process measurement device by decreasing electrical power required by the process measurement device.

11. The process measurement device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the power supply is configured to provide the electrical energy required for the read access or the write access to the process measurement device by reducing electrical power required by a peripheral device attached to and powered by the process measurement device.

12. The process measurement device according to claim 2 ,
wherein power supply is further configured to continuously monitor electrical power required by the process measurement device and peripheral devices optionally connected thereto, as well as electrical power required by the plug-in memory.

13. The process measurement device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the memory operating device is further configured to recognise from first data transmitted from the plug-in memory to the process measurement device whether a software update is to be imported, and if so, to increase electrical power transmitted from an external energy source to the process measurement device.

14. The process measurement device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the process measurement device is a level gauge, a pressure gauge or a flow meter.

15. The process measurement device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the interface is a multi-purpose interface, to which a peripheral device is connectable.

16. The process measurement device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the interface is further configured to receive the plug-in memory in the process measurement device.

17. The process measurement device according to claim 1 , wherein the power supply is further configured to provide the electrical energy required for read access or write access to the plug-in memory by increasing the electrical energy freely available in the process measurement device when it has been determined by the process measuring device that the energy freely available is smaller than the energy required by the process measurement device and the plug-in memory.

18. A method for writing and reading a plug-in memory by a process measurement device, the method comprising:
connecting a plug-in memory to an interface of the process measurement device;
determining an available power and a power required by a sensor of the process measurement device, peripherals connected to the process measurement device, and the plug-in memory in the write mode;
if the available power is sufficient to provide the electrical energy required for a read access or a write access to the plug-in memory, transferring the process measurement device into a memory access mode, in which the process measurement device is capable of supplying the plug-in memory with electrical energy required for the read access or the write access to the plug-in memory; and
providing the electrical energy required for the read access or the write access to the plug-in memory by increasing the electrical energy for the read access or the write access by increasing a supply of power transmitted, from a 4-20 mA two-wire loop, to the process measurement device,
wherein the increasing the electrical energy is performed in response to an instruction for the read access or the write access to the plug-in memory, and
wherein the power supply is configured to further provide the increase of electrical energy for the read access or the write access by decreasing electrical power used by the process measurement device.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a program that when executed by a processor causes the processor to implement a method for writing and reading a plug-in memory by a process measurement device, the method comprising:
connecting a plug-in memory to an interface of the process measurement device;
determining an available power and a power required by a sensor of the process measurement device, peripherals connected to the process measurement device, and

Assignees

• Grieshaber Vega Kg

Inventors

• Welle Roland
• Griessbaum Karl
• Boersig Joerg
• Staiger Holger
• Hengstler Clemens
• Oehler Thomas
• Harter Manuel

Classifications

• G06F3/0625

  Power saving in storage systems · CPC title

• H04L12/10 Primary

  Current supply arrangements · CPC title