Automated field device

Abstract

The invention relates to a field device for automation technology (1), comprising: a field device housing (1.1) having an interior space (1.3); an interaction and / or display element (2) having a preferably circular, rectangular or square screen (2.1); -a mechanically actuatable system (3) adapted to mechanically specify a desired orientation of the image to be displayed on the screen (2.1) of the interaction and / or display element (2), preferably even in the electrically unpowered state of the field device; -an electronic circuit (4) arranged in the interior space (1.3), the electronic circuit (4) being adapted, preferably in the electrically powered state of the field device, to detect the orientation of the image specified by the mechanically actuatable system (3) and to drive the interaction and / or display element (2) such that the image on the screen (2.1) corresponds to the mechanically specified orientation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a field device for automation technology and to a method for servicing such a field device. Background Art

[0002] In process and production automation technology, field devices are often used, which are used to record and / or influence process variables. For recording process variables are sensors, such as, for example, fill level measuring devices, flow measuring devices, pressure and temperature measuring devices, pH-redox potential measuring devices, conductivity measuring devices, etc., which record the corresponding process variables, fill level, flow, pressure, temperature, pH value and conductivity. For influencing process variables are actuators, such as, for example, valves or pumps, via which the flow of a liquid in a pipeline section or the fill level in a container can be changed.

[0003] In principle, field devices are all devices that are used in the vicinity of a process and deliver or process relevant information. In addition to the above-mentioned sensors and actuators, field devices are also usually units that are directly connected to the fieldbus and are used to communicate with superordinate units (i.e. units such as remote I / Os, gateways, linking devices and wireless adapters, for example).

[0004] A large number of such field devices are manufactured and sold by the Endress+Hauser group of companies.

[0005] For example, in order to set and / or retrieve current measured values ​​in a field device, such a field device has an interactive and / or display element. This must be oriented according to the installation location of the field device. In some cases, it is necessary to orient mechanically, for example when power has not yet been supplied to the field device. Therefore, the current interactive and / or display element is formed on a separate circuit board or card and is electrically connected to the electronic device of the field device formed on at least one additional circuit board. In this case, the electrical connection between the circuit board with the interactive and / or display element and the electronic device of the field device usually occurs via a plug, a cable, a sliding contact, etc.

[0006] The disadvantage of this structure is that at least two circuit boards are used and that the circuit boards must also be electrically connected together via a corresponding connection technology. These two disadvantages lead to relatively high costs during the manufacture of the field device. Summary of the invention

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an easy and in particular cost-effective variant for realizing an orientation of an interaction and / or display element.

[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention by a field device for automation technology according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 10 .

[0009] The automation field device of the present invention comprises:

[0010] - a field device housing having an interior space;

[0011] - an interactive and / or display element with a preferably round, rectangular or square screen;

[0012] - a mechanically actuatable system adapted to mechanically specify, preferably even in an electrically unpowered state of the field device, a desired orientation of an image to be displayed on a screen of an interactive and / or display element;

[0013] - an electronic circuit arranged in the internal space, the electronic circuit being suitable, preferably in an electrically powered state of the field device, for detecting the orientation of the image specified by the mechanically actuatable system and for driving the interaction and / or display element so that the image displayed on the screen corresponds to the mechanically specified orientation.

[0014] According to the invention, a field device of automation technology is provided, in the case of which digital rotation of the screen is possible in the actual operating state of the field device by means of a mechanically actuatable system such as, for example, a cap and based on the orientation of the screen specified by the mechanically actuatable system, and in which actuation is possible, in particular even in the electrically unpowered state.

[0015] In this case, the power-unsupplied state refers to a state in which the field device is not supplied from an external power source. Typically, this state exists in the commissioning of the field device when the field device has been installed at the intended measurement point and is also electrically contacted in a given case, but no external power supply occurs at this point in time. However, the power-unsupplied state may also be, for example, a shutdown state of the field device, in which case the field device has fully entered operation but is not switched on at this time.

[0016] A favorable embodiment of the automation field device of the invention can provide that the mechanically actuatable system is implemented such that the mechanically actuatable system is capable of realizing a plurality of different, preferably discrete, particularly preferably at least two, particularly preferably four, particularly particularly preferably exactly four, mechanical setting positions, wherein each setting position corresponds to a specific desired orientation of an image on a screen of an interactive and / or display element.

[0017] Another advantageous embodiment of the automation field device of the invention can provide that the mechanically actuatable system comprises a cap, which is embodied such that the cap can be placed over at least a part of the electronic circuit, in particular can be inserted on top, and has a preferably circular, rectangular or square opening, which is embodied such that the opening can accommodate at least a part of the interactive and / or display element with a screen, and wherein the mechanically actuatable system is also adapted such that by placing the cap over at least a part of the electronic circuit in different placement positions, a mechanically specified desired orientation of the image on the screen of the interactive and / or display element can be set. In particular, this embodiment can provide that the field device also comprises an electronic can having a can opening and being arranged in the inner space of the field device, wherein the electronic circuit and the interactive and / or display element are at least partially arranged in the electronic can, and the interactive and / or display element is arranged in the electronic can in such a way that the screen faces the can opening, wherein the cap is embodied such that it can be placed on an edge of the electronic can forming the can opening, in particular pluggable or placed, in particular inserted thereon.

[0018] Alternative embodiments of the automation field device of the invention may provide that the mechanically actuatable system comprises a potentiometer, a mechanical selector switch, a joystick or the like.

[0019] A further advantageous embodiment of the inventive automation field device can provide that the screen of the interaction and / or display element is at least partially touch-sensitive.

[0020] Another advantageous embodiment of the automation field device of the invention can provide that the field device further comprises a sensor and / or actuator element for recording and / or setting at least one process variable, wherein the electronic circuit is also suitable for operating the sensor and / or actuator element. In particular, this embodiment can provide that the electronic circuit comprises no more than two circuit boards, preferably exactly one circuit board, for operating the sensor and / or actuator element and also for driving the interaction and / or display element.

[0021] A further advantageous embodiment of the inventive automation field device can provide that the electronic circuit is adapted to detect capacitively or electromechanically, in particular by means of a switch, a button, a short circuit or the like, the orientation of the image specified by the mechanically actuatable system.

[0022] The invention also relates to a method for servicing a field device of automation technology as defined in one of the above embodiments, comprising the following steps:

[0023] - actuating the mechanically actuatable system by an operator in such a way that the operator mechanically specifies a desired orientation of the image to be displayed;

[0024] - Switch on the field equipment so that the electronic circuit is powered;

[0025] - detecting the orientation of the image specified by the mechanically actuatable system, wherein this step is performed by an electronic circuit;

[0026] - Displaying the image on the screen of the interactive and / or display element according to the orientation of the image specified by the mechanically actuatable system.

[0027] An advantageous form of embodiment of the method of the invention may provide that actuation of the mechanically actuatable system takes place in an electrically unpowered state of the field device, in which the field device is not connected to a current or voltage source, in particular a measuring transmitter power supply.

[0028] A further advantageous form of embodiment of the method of the invention can provide that, after actuation of the mechanically actuatable system by an operator, the field device is connected to the current or voltage source. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The present invention will now be explained in more detail based on the accompanying drawings, which are as follows:

[0030] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the field devices of automation technology, and

[0031] Figure 2 is a mechanically actuatable system implemented according to the invention in an electrically unpowered state of a field device for specifying the orientation of a screen of an interactive and / or display element. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Figure 1 The typical construction of a field device of automation technology 1 is basically shown. The field device comprises a housing 1.1, which encloses an interior space 1.3. Typically, the housing comprises a housing cover 1.2, which is fixed to or to a housing base 1.4, for example by screws. The field device 1 also comprises a sensor and / or actuator element 5 arranged on the housing 1.1 for setting and / or recording a process variable and an electronic circuit 4 in the interior space 1.3 for operating the sensor and / or actuator element 5.

[0033] In order to service / parameterize the field device and / or to display information, for example with reference to a process variable to be recorded or set, the field device 1 comprises an interaction and / or display element 2. The interaction and / or display element 2 can be as follows: Figure 1As shown, it is installed in the housing wall of the field device, preferably in the housing cover 1.2 of the field device. Alternatively, the interactive and / or display element 2 can also be fixed on the outside of the housing wall. The interactive and / or display element 2 has a rectangular screen for viewing information in the form of an image, for example. Alternatively, the screen can also be circular. The screen 2.1 of the interactive and / or display element 2 can be at least partially touch-sensitive. The electronic circuit 4 is also suitable for driving the screen 2.1 of the interactive and / or display element 2 so that the desired information is displayed on the screen. This means that the electronic circuit can be suitable for operating both the sensor and / or actuator elements and driving the interactive and / or display elements. Preferably, the electronic circuit is formed in a manner consisting of exactly one circuit board filled with corresponding components, and the corresponding components include interactive and / or display elements, so that there is no need to use two circuit boards, such as is common in the art.

[0034] Figure 2 The mechanically actuatable system of the present invention for specifying the orientation of the screen of an interactive and / or display element when the field device has no power is shown. In order to be able to mechanically produce the desired orientation of the image shown on the screen of the interactive and / or display element, the mechanically actuatable system is implemented in a way that realizes a plurality of different discrete mechanically achievable setting positions. This can be realized in different ways.

[0035] exist Figure 2 In the specific example of the embodiment shown, the mechanically actuatable system comprises a mechanically coded circular cap, for example providing a display frame and an electronic tank. The electronic tank is used to accommodate electronic circuits and / or interactive and / or display elements and is placed in the internal space of the field device housing. In this case, the interactive and / or display element is oriented in the electronic tank so that the screen 2.1 of the interactive and / or display element faces the pot opening 6.1. The cap is implemented so that it can be inserted into the tank opening of the electronic tank. Alternatively, the mechanically actuatable system can also be implemented in the form of a mechanically operable potentiometer, a mechanically operable selector switch, a mechanically operable joystick, etc.

[0036] exist Figure 2 In the example of embodiment shown, the mechanically actuatable system 3 is implemented so that four discrete, mechanically settable positions are possible. To this end, the cap is implemented so that it can be rotated in 90° steps and can be placed at the corresponding setting positions (0°, 90°, 180°; 270°) on the opening of the electronics can, in particular it can be inserted. The cap is thus rotated around the rotation axis of the screen. In this case, each mechanically selectable setting position represents a specific desired orientation of the image on the screen. Figure 2 The example of embodiment shown in shows four discrete mechanically settable positions. However, the invention is also applicable in principle to any other number of discrete mechanically settable positions.

[0037] In order to record the different settable positions, the cap can be coded. For example, it can have a coding element, for example in the form of a nose or the like, on the side facing the opening (underside), which can be electromechanically recorded at different positions, for example by an electrical switch, a button or a short circuit caused by the nose. Alternatively, the recording of the nose can also take place using a capacitive evaluation unit, in which case the presence of the nose is capacitively sensed. The rotation of the cap preferably takes place when the field device is without power, thus, for example, at the installation / commissioning of the field device at the desired measuring point (e.g. on / at a tank).

[0038] Furthermore, the cap has a rectangular opening which corresponds to the geometry of the screen of the interactive and / or display element 2 and is intended to accommodate the screen in the inserted state. This means that the opening is dimensioned so that when the cap is arranged at the opening of the electronic can, at least a portion of the interactive and / or display element 2 with the screen 2.1 is not covered by the cap. In the case of an interactive and / or display element with a circular screen, the cap will of course also have a circular opening.

[0039] In order to place the cap on the opening of the electronics can, the cap 3.1 can be embodied so that it can be mounted on the edge 6.2 of the electronics can forming the can opening 6.1. This can occur, for example, using a correspondingly formed locking mechanism, in which the inwardly directed flange of the cap engages with the outwardly facing groove of the electronics can.

[0040] The field device of the invention with a mechanically actuatable system for specifying the orientation of the screen of the interactive and / or display elements allows the orientation of the image on the screen to be set in the electrically unpowered state of the field device before the actual device startup. Thus, at device startup, when the field device is supplied with power, the mechanically specified orientation of the image is detected and the image shown on the screen is oriented accordingly, for example rotated.

[0041] Reference Symbols List

[0042] 1. On-site equipment

[0043] 1.1 Field equipment housing

[0044] 1.2 Cover of field device housing

[0045] 1.3 Internal space of field equipment

[0046] 2Interactive and / or display elements

[0047] 2.1 Screen

[0048] 3 Mechanically actuable systems

[0049] 3.1 Cap

[0050] 3.2 Cap opening

[0051] 3.3 Setting the location

[0052] 4 Electronic Circuits

[0053] 4.1 Circuit boards for electronic circuits

[0054] 4.2 Switches, buttons, short circuits, etc.

[0055] 5 Sensor and / or actuator elements

[0056] 6 Electronic tank

[0057] 6.1 Tank opening

[0058] 6.2 The edge of the electronics tank

Claims

1. A field device of automation technology (1), include: - a field device housing (1.1), the field device housing (1.1) having an interior space (1.3); - an interactive and / or display element (2) having a preferably round, rectangular or square screen (2.1); - a mechanically actuatable system (3) adapted to mechanically specify a desired orientation of an image to be displayed on the screen (2.1) of the interactive and / or display element (2), preferably even in an electrically unpowered state of the field device; - an electronic circuit (4) arranged in the inner space (1.3) and adapted, preferably in an electrically powered state of the field device, to detect the orientation of the image specified by the mechanically actuatable system (3) and to drive the interaction and / or display element (2) so that the image displayed on the screen (2.1) corresponds to the mechanically specified orientation.

2. The field device of automation technology according to claim 1, in, The mechanically actuatable system (3) is embodied such that the mechanically actuatable system (3) is capable of realizing a plurality of different, preferably discrete, particularly preferably at least two, particularly preferably four, particularly particularly preferably exactly four, mechanical setting positions (3.3), wherein each setting position (3.3) corresponds to a specific desired orientation of the image on the screen (2.1) of the interaction and / or display element (2).

3. Field device for automation technology according to one or more of the preceding claims, in, The mechanically actuatable system (3) comprises a cap (3.1) which is embodied such that the cap (3.1) can be placed over at least a portion of the electronic circuit (4), in particular can be inserted on top, and has an opening (3.2) which is preferably circular, rectangular or square, the opening (3.2) being embodied such that the opening (3.2) can accommodate at least a portion of the interactive and / or display element (2) having the screen (2.1), and wherein the mechanically actuatable system (3) is also suitable for enabling a mechanically specified desired orientation of the image on the screen (2.1) of the interactive and / or display element (2) to be set by placing the cap (3.1) over the at least a portion of the electronic circuit (4) in different placement positions.

4. The field device of automation technology according to the preceding claim, further comprising an electronics tank (6) which has a tank opening (6.1) and is arranged in the interior space (1.3) of the field device (1), in, The electronic circuit (4) and the interactive and / or display element (2) are at least partially arranged in the electronic can (6), and the interactive and / or display element (2) is arranged in the electronic can (6) so that the screen (2.1) faces the can opening ( 6.1), wherein the cap (3.1) is embodied such that the cap (3.1) can be placed, in particular pluggably, on an edge (6.2) of the electronics can forming the can opening (6.1) or placed, in particular plugged thereon.

5. The field device of automation technology according to claim 1 or 2, in, The mechanically actuatable system (3) includes a potentiometer, a mechanical selector switch, a joystick, etc.

6. Field device for automation technology according to one or more of the preceding claims, in, The screen (2.1) of the interaction and / or display element (2) is at least partially touch-sensitive.

7. A field device for automation technology according to one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising a sensor and / or actuator element (5) for recording and / or setting at least one process variable, wherein the electronic circuit (4) is also suitable for operating the sensor and / or actuator element (5).

8. Field device for automation technology according to the preceding claim, in, The electronic circuit (4) comprises no more than two, preferably exactly one, circuit board (4.1) for operating the sensor and / or actuator elements and also for driving the interaction and / or display element.

9. Field device for automation technology according to one or more of the preceding claims, in, The electronic circuit (4) is suitable for detecting the orientation of the image specified by the mechanically actuatable system capacitively or electromechanically, in particular by means of a switch, a button, a short circuit or the like.

10. A method for servicing a field device of automation technology according to claim 1, The following steps are involved: - actuating the mechanically actuatable system (3) by an operator in such a way that the operator mechanically specifies the desired orientation of the image to be displayed; - turning on the field device (1) so that the electronic circuit (4) is in a power supply state; - detecting said orientation of said image specified by said mechanically actuatable system (3), wherein this step is performed by said electronic circuit (4); - displaying the image on the screen (2.1) of the interaction and / or display element (2) according to the orientation of the image specified by the mechanically actuatable system (3).

11. The method according to the preceding claim, in, Actuation of the mechanically actuatable system (3) takes place in an electrically unpowered state of the field device (1), in which the field device (1) is not connected to a current or voltage source, in particular a measuring transmitter power supply.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, in, After actuation of the mechanically actuatable system (3) by the operator, the field device (1) is connected to a current or voltage source.

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