Method for extending the operating functionality of a field device in the field of automation technology from one operating device to at least one other operating device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for extending the operating functionality of a field device (FG) in the automation technology field from one operating device (BG1) to at least one other operating device (BG2), comprising the following steps: establishing a wireless communication link between the operating device (BG1) and the field device (FG) via a first communication interface (KS1) of the operating device (BG1), wherein the operating device (BG1) executes at least one operating program with a plurality of display elements (AE1, AE2) and operating functions (BF), via which the field device (FG) is operated; initiating a search for other operating devices located in the area of the operating device (BG1) and known to the operating device (BG1) via the first communication interface (KS1) or a second communication interface (KS2); in the event that at least one other operating device (BG2) known to the operating device (BG1) is found, establishing a wireless communication link between the operating device (BG1) and the other operating device (BG2) via the first communication interface (KS1) or the second communication interface (KS2), wherein a further operating program is running on the other operating device (BG2); transferring at least a portion of the display elements (AE1, AE2) and / or operating functions (BF) to the further operating program of the other operating device (BG2); and operating the field device (FG) via the display elements (AE1, AE2) and operating functions (BF) transferred to the further operating program by means of the other operating device (BG2).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a method for extending the operating functionality of a field device of automation technology from one operating device to at least one other operating device. BACKGROUND

[0002] Field devices for industrial plants are known from the prior art. In process automation technology and in manufacturing automation technology, field devices are frequently applied. In principle, all devices which are applied in the vicinity of a process and which deliver or process process-related information are referred to as field devices. Field devices serve for registering and / or influencing process variables. For registering process variables, there are measuring devices or sensors. Such measuring devices or sensors are used, for example, for pressure and temperature measurement, conductivity measurement, flow measurement, pH measurement, filling level measurement, etc., and register the corresponding process variables, pressure, temperature, conductivity, pH value, filling level, flow, etc. For influencing process variables, there are actuators. For example, pumps or valves can influence the flow of a liquid in a pipe or a filling level in a container. In addition to the measuring devices and actuators mentioned above, remote I / Os, radio adapters and devices which are usually arranged at the field level are also referred to as field devices.

[0003] The Endress+Hauber Group produces and sells a large number of such field devices.

[0004] In modern industrial plants, field devices are usually connected with superordinate units via a communication network, such as, for example, a field bus (PROFIBUS, HART®, Fieldbus, etc.). Fieldbus, etc. In general, the superordinate units are control systems or control units, such as, for example, PLCs (programmable logic controllers). Among other things, the superordinate units are responsible for process control, process visualization, process monitoring and commissioning of the field devices. The measured values registered by the field devices, in particular by their sensors, are transmitted to one or more superordinate units via a specific bus system. In addition, data transmission from the superordinate units to the field devices is also required via the bus system, in particular for the configuration and parameterization of the field devices and for the operation of the actuators.

[0005] The servicing of the field devices can be carried out via a suitable operating device or via the control system on the field bus. In addition, modern field devices have a radio interface via which the field devices can be serviced by means of a mobile terminal device (smartphone, tablet, etc.) or via a wearable device, such as smart glasses, for example via the wireless protocol Bluetooth LE or via WiFi. For this purpose, an application program is installed in the mobile terminal device or the wearable device by means of which the user can carry out the servicing. Such an application program is offered by the applicant under the designation "SmartBlue".

[0006] By means of an application, display elements are displayed on a mobile terminal device. Such display elements comprise, for example, an operating interface, a menu structure or a button with an input field via which an operating input can be entered or a graphic which visualizes data of a field device, for example a measured value or status information. The size limitation of the display of such a mobile terminal device, in particular in the case of a smartphone, means that sometimes not all display elements relevant to the user can be displayed, so that in the given case the user has to scroll through several views or continuously rearrange the display elements. For reasons of size and weight, the use of larger devices, for example of a tablet computer with a larger display, is not always practical.

[0007] It is also known to service a field device with the aid of smart glasses, in which case the display elements are mixed into the field of view and the execution of an operating function is carried out in the field of view, for example via gestures. The disadvantage in such a case is that the positioning of the gestures and the selection, for example in poor lighting conditions in a factory, and the positioning of the user are correct. SUMMARY

[0008] It is an object of the present application to provide a method which enables simple and reliable service of a field device by means of an operating device with a limited display size and / or in poor environmental conditions.

[0009] The object is achieved by a method for extending the operating functionality of a field device of an automation technology from one operating device to at least one other operating device, comprising:

[0010] establishing a wireless communication connection between the operating device and the field device via a first communication interface, wherein the operating device executes at least one operating program with a plurality of display elements and operating functionalities, via which the field device is serviced;

[0011] initiating a search for other operating devices located in the vicinity of the operating device and known to the operating device via the first communication interface or via a second communication interface;

[0012] in the event that at least one other operating device known to the operating device is found, establishing a wireless communication connection between the operating device and the other operating device via the first communication interface or via the second communication interface, wherein a further operating program is running on the other operating device;

[0013] sending at least part of the display elements and / or operating functionalities to the further operating program of the other operating device; and

[0014] - via the display elements and operating functions transmitted to the other operating program, the field device is serviced by means of the other operating device.

[0015] The method according to the application is advantageous in that parts of the display elements and / or operating functions provided by the operating program can be transmitted to another operating device which also executes the operating program. In other words, two operating devices can be used, which in each case display parts of the display elements or in each case with which parts of the operating functions can be executed.

[0016] To this end, the other operating device is coupled to the operating device by means of a wireless communication connection. The display elements and operating functions are transmitted to the other operating device, depending on the type of the other operating device known and the type of the coupled other operating device. This means that the operating software knows which display elements and how many display elements can and should be transmitted to the other operating device for display on the other operating device and knows which operating functions the other device can execute. If more display elements are available for transmission than the other operating device can display, a list of all display elements available for transmission can be presented to the user, whereby the user can select those display elements to be transmitted.

[0017] The term "servicing" is to be interpreted broadly here. Servicing includes parameterization of the field device, setting of a measurement mode of the field device, however, also manipulation through menus and selection of data of the field device to be displayed, for example measurement values or status / diagnosis information.

[0018] The field devices suitable for the method according to the application have already been indicated by way of example in the introductory part of the description.

[0019] In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the application, it is provided that the Bluetooth LE protocol or the WiFi protocol is used for the wireless communication connection between the operating device and the field device and / or between the operating device and the other operating device and / or for the search. However, other suitable wireless protocols can also be used.

[0020] In an advantageous embodiment of the method of the application, it is provided that when two or more other operating devices are discovered which are known to the operating device, the user of the operating device selects one or more other operating devices which are to be used in the following method steps. Depending on the purpose, the user can carry a number of devices. After the search, the operating program provides a list which shows the discovered and compatible operating devices for selection. It can also be provided that the operating device sends display elements and / or operating functionalities to two or more suitable other operating devices. To this end, it can be provided that a unique display element and operating functionality is sent to each other operating device, so that after the transmission, the given display element and operating functionality are not present on more than one operating device.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment of the method of the application, it is provided that when at least one other operating device is discovered which is not known to the operating device, the operating device performs an applicability test of the other operating device. The applicability test identifies, inter alia, the type of the operating device and the operating program which is running in the operating device. If these two factors are compatible for the operating device and for the operating program, it is checked which display elements and which operating functionalities can be sent to the other operating device. To this end, for example, the operating device sends an online query to a database of the manufacturer of the operating program and retrieves the result. Alternatively, the operating program requests this information from the other operating device. In both cases, the result of these queries is stored in the operating program of the operating device together with the name of the other operating device. The other operating device is then available for the method of the application. When only the display of display elements is provided for the other operating device, it can be provided that no operating program or only a reduced range of operating programs needs to be present.

[0022] In an advantageous first variant of the method of the application, it is provided that the operating device and the other operating device are in each case a mobile end device, wherein the operating device and the other operating device have in each case a touch screen.

[0023] In an advantageous embodiment of the first variant of the method of the application, it is provided that one or more display elements are displayed by means of the touch screen of the first operating device, wherein one or more transmitted display elements, in particular measurement value time functions of field devices, menu elements and / or buttons, are displayed by means of the touch screen of the other operating device. In this way, the screen area for displaying display elements can be enlarged or expanded.

[0024] In an advantageous embodiment of the first variant of the inventive method, it is provided that one or more of the transmitted operating functions, in particular the selection of menu elements and / or buttons displayed on the touchscreen, are executed by means of the touchscreen of the further operating device. Thus, not only can buttons and / or menu elements be displayed on the further operating device, but they can also be operated. To this end, the further operating device does not need its own communication connection to the field device. The service is carried out via the operating device, which receives the operating commands from the further operating device and forwards them to the field device.

[0025] In an advantageous second variant of the inventive method, it is provided that smart glasses are used as the operating device, and wherein a mechanical input element, in particular a mechanical input element with at least one acceleration sensor, such as a smart glove, a gamepad or a touch / motion-sensitive clothing, is used as the further operating device. What can be used as smart glasses is any suitable VR ("Virtual Reality") smart glasses, such as Oculus "Rift" or AR ("Augmented Reality") / MR ("Mixed Reality"), such as Microsoft "Hololens" or Google "Glass". Furthermore, a smart helmet also belongs to this concept. A smart glove is a glove-shaped input device, which has a plurality of position sensors (for example, embodied for gesture control) and a plurality of operating elements (for example, in the fingers) which are actuated by finger movement. A gamepad has a plurality of operating elements in the form of keys and joysticks as well as a plurality of acceleration sensors.

[0026] In an advantageous embodiment of the second variant of the inventive method, it is provided that one or more display elements are displayed by means of the smart glasses, and wherein at least one of the transmitted operating functions is executed by means of the smart glove. Since, depending on the type, the smart glasses only enable limited operability, the operating functions are outsourced to the smart glove.

[0027] In an advantageous embodiment of the second variant of the inventive method, it is provided that navigation through the display elements displayed on the smart glasses is used as a transmitted operating function. The navigation is carried out, for example, by means of gesture control by the smart glove. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0028] The application will now be explained in more detail on the basis of the drawings, in which:

[0029] Figure 1 is an example of an embodiment of the inventive method; and

[0030] Figure 2 is a second example of an embodiment of the inventive method. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In both examples of the embodiment, the field device FG is being serviced. In such a case, it is a fill level measuring device, for example, which determines the fill level of a medium being measured in a container, for example, a tank or a silo, by means of radar technology. However, the application can be applied to other types of field devices. Examples of these are given in the introductory part of the description.

[0032] In both examples of the embodiment, the servicing is carried out via an operating device BG1. The operating device BG1 comprises a first communication interface KS1 via which the operating device BG1 establishes a communication connection with the field device FG, in particular via Bluetooth LE. An operating program is executed in the operating device BG1 via which the user BF can service the field device.

[0033] In the first example of the embodiment, the operating device BG1 is a mobile terminal device, in this case a smartphone. The operating program is an application program, for example, the applicant's "SmartBlue" application program. Via this application program, the field device FG can be serviced after the communication connection has been established. For this purpose, a display element AE1 is displayed on the user interface together with an operating function BF in the form of a button. By entering a parameter value into an input field, the operating function BF influences a parameter change in the field device FG. In addition, a connected visualization is displayed as a display element AE1 together with the parameter value, for example, for the parameter "full", the maximum value of the fill level in the container, and for "empty", the minimum value of the fill level, and for "block", the blocking distance, after which the envelope curve is recorded.

[0034] Since the operating device BG1 only has a small display, in order to display further operating functions and display elements, the buttons and the display element AE1 have to be moved continuously. In order to increase the operating comfort, the operating device BG1 starts to search for other operating devices via a second communication interface, in particular also using Bluetooth LE. During the search, the operating device BG2 is found, also a mobile terminal device, for example, a tablet computer or another smartphone. Since the other operating device BG2 is already known to the operating program of the operating device BG1, this other operating device BG2 is automatically coupled to the operating device BG1 via its communication interface KS3.

[0035] The display element AE2 is then transmitted to the other operating device BG2 and displayed there. In this example, the display element AE2 is the envelope curve registered by the field device FG, which was changed during parameterization by means of the first operating device BG1.

[0036] Figure 2A second example of an embodiment is shown. In this case, the operating device BG1 is a smart glass, for example the Microsoft® HoloLens®. This visualizes display elements, for example menus or buttons. In order to service the field device, the operating device BG1 is coupled to a smart glove, which is a further operating device BG2. After the coupling, the operating functionality is transmitted to the smart glove, which enables, for example, the selection of an entry displayed in a menu in the smart glass using gesture control by means of the smart glove to service the field device. As an alternative to the smart glove, a game pad or a touch / motion-sensitive garment can be used, for example a material glove with proximity sensors and / or position sensors.

[0037] In both examples of the embodiment, a plurality of further operating devices can be coupled with the operating device BG1, so that the display elements AE1, AE2 and / or the operating functionality can be transmitted to the plurality of further operating devices. In the case of a further operating device that is not known to the operating device BG1, an applicability test is carried out. In the case of a successful applicability test, the identification information of the further operating device is stored in the operating program of the operating device BG1.

[0038] List of reference signs

[0039] AE1, AE2 display element

[0040] BE user

[0041] BF operating functionality

[0042] BG1 operating device

[0043] BG2 further operating device

[0044] FG field device

[0045] KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4 communication interface

Claims

1. A method for extending the operational functionality of a field device (FG) of automation technology from one operating device (BG1) to at least one other operating device (BG2), comprising: - A wireless communication connection is established between the operating device (BG1) and the field device (FG) via the first communication interface (KS1) of the operating device (BG1), wherein the operating device (BG1) executes at least one operating procedure having multiple display elements (AE1, AE2) and operating functions (BF), and the field device (FG) is served via the at least one operating procedure. - Initiate a search for other operating devices located near the operating device (BG1) and known to the operating device (BG1) via the first communication interface (KS1) or the second communication interface (KS2); - In the event that at least one other operating device (BG2) known to the operating device (BG1) is discovered, a wireless communication connection is established between the operating device (BG1) and the other operating device (BG2) via the first communication interface (KS1) or the second communication interface (KS2), wherein another operating program is running on the other operating device (BG2). - Send at least a portion of the display elements (AE1, AE2) and / or the operating functions (BF) to other operating procedures of the other operating device (BG2); and -The field device (FG) is served by means of the other operating device (BG2), via the display elements (AE1, AE2) and the operating function (BF) sent to the other operating procedures. When at least one other operating device unknown to the operating device (BG1) is discovered, the operating device (BG1) performs a suitability test on the other operating device, wherein during the suitability test, it checks which of the display elements (AE1, AE2) and the operating functions (BF) can be sent to the other operating procedures.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, Bluetooth LE protocol or WiFi protocol is used for wireless communication connection between the operating device (BG1) and the field device (FG) and / or for wireless communication connection between the operating device (BG1) and the other operating device (BG2), and / or for the search.

3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, When two or more other operating devices (BG2) known to the operating device (BG1) are discovered, the user of the operating device (BG1) selects one or more other operating devices (BG2) to be used for the next method steps.

4. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, The operating device (BG1) and the other operating device (BG2) are mobile devices in each case, wherein the operating device (BG1) and the other operating device (BG2) have a touch screen in each case.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, One or more display elements (AE1, AE2) are displayed by means of the touch screen of the operating device (BG1), wherein one or more sent display elements (AE1, AE2) are displayed by means of the touch screen of the other operating device (BG2).

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein, The touchscreen of the other operating device (BG2) displays the measurement time function, menu elements, and / or buttons of the field device (FG).

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein, One or more transmitted operation functions (BF) are executed by means of the touchscreen of the other operation device (BG2).

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein, Selection of menu elements and / or buttons displayed on the touchscreen is performed using the touchscreen of the other operating device (BG2).

9. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, The smart glasses are used as an operating device (BG1), and the mechanical input element is used as another operating device (BG2).

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein, Mechanical input elements with at least one acceleration sensor are used as other operating devices (BG2).

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein, Smart gloves, game boards, or contact / motion-sensitive clothing are used as other operating devices (BG2).

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein, One or more display elements (AE1, AE2) are displayed by means of the smart glasses, and wherein at least one of the sent operation functions is performed by means of a smart glove.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein, Navigation across the display elements (AE1, AE2) shown on the smart glasses is used as the sent operation function (BF).

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