Methods for providing lifetime data

Abstract

The invention relates, inter alia, to a method (100) for providing lifetime data indicative of the lifetime of a replaceable and / or rechargeable power supply unit (20) in a field device (10) with a communication arrangement (14) for wireless communication with a data processing system (30), wherein the method (100) comprises: - Providing energy consumption data that are indicative of the energy consumption of the field device (10), wherein the energy consumption data have been determined by the field device (10), and - Providing lifetime data based on energy consumption data.

Description

Field of invention

[0001] The invention relates generally to the field of process automation. In particular, the invention relates to a method for providing lifetime data, a field device, a data processing system, a system comprising the field device and the data processing system, and at least one computer program product. Background to the invention

[0002] In industrial measurement technology, particularly in process automation and control, field devices are regularly used to acquire one or more process variables or process measurements. These field devices include, in particular, flow rate, flow velocity, pressure, differential pressure, temperature, and level measuring instruments. Using one or more sensors in a sensor array, the field devices typically acquire a measurement signal that correlates with one or more process measurements. A processing unit, a control unit, and / or an evaluation unit of the respective field device can then determine a measured value for the corresponding process measurement based on the measurement signal and / or an evaluation of the measurement signal.

[0003] Typically, such field devices also include communication arrangements for wireless communication with a data processing system, which may include one or more data processing devices in the form of servers or cloud-based computers. Through wireless communication with the data processing system, the field devices can transmit the acquired measurement signals and / or process parameters, also known as sensor data, to the data processing system, where they can then be used for process automation or process control of a higher-level process.

[0004] Field devices with such wireless communication capabilities or communication arrangements can also have a power supply arrangement for powering the sensor arrangement and the communication arrangement, wherein the power supply arrangement is designed to accommodate the power supply unit, for example, a battery. Such field devices can therefore be described as self-sufficient field devices because they can be used independently, in particular because they do not rely on wired connections for power supply and / or communication with a data processing system. Rather, they can supply themselves with power via the power supply unit and communicate independently with the data processing system via the communication arrangement.

[0005] The power supply unit used can be, for example, a primary or secondary battery, or the power supply arrangement can be designed to accommodate one. A primary battery must be replaced after its service life, i.e., when it no longer contains any or no significant electrical energy or capacity, in order to supply the field device with electrical energy and continue operating it. A secondary battery, on the other hand, can be recharged and reused. Therefore, one challenge with self-sufficient field devices is determining the optimal time for replacing or recharging the power supply unit.

[0006] Therefore, self-contained field devices typically include a pre-calculated lifetime, particularly the battery lifetime, of their power supply units. Alternatively or additionally, the data processing system can include and monitor these pre-calculated lifetimes of the field devices. For example, if a certain threshold regarding the pre-calculated lifetime is exceeded, a notification or signal can be sent to or from the data processing system to inform the user of the respective field device that a replacement or recharging of the power supply unit is now or will soon be necessary.

[0007] It has been observed that the previously calculated service life may not be accurate and can sometimes deviate significantly from the actual service life. In particular, the calculated service life may overestimate or underestimate the actual service life. This can lead to premature and therefore frequent replacement or recharging of power supply units for self-contained field devices, which is associated with high costs. Conversely, if replacement or recharging occurs too late, the field devices may fail, potentially having serious consequences for production facilities or other types of applications in which the field devices are used.

[0008] Accordingly, it would be desirable if the energy supply units were always replaced in a timely manner, i.e., neither too early nor too late. Summary of the invention

[0009] The present invention advantageously provides a method, a field device, a data processing system, a system and at least one computer program product that enables the timely replacement or recharging of energy supply units of field devices.

[0010] The invention is defined in the independent claims. Advantageous further developments and / or embodiments are specified in the dependent claims and in the preceding and following description and disclosure.

[0011] A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for providing lifetime data indicative of the lifetime of a replaceable and / or rechargeable power supply unit in a field device with a communication arrangement for wireless communication with a data processing system, wherein the method comprises: - Providing energy consumption data that is indicative of the energy consumption of the field device, wherein the energy consumption data has been determined from the field device, in particular the power supply arrangement, and - Providing lifetime data based on energy consumption data.

[0012] Advantageously, this provides a method for a field device, especially a self-contained field device as defined herein, which allows for an accurate determination of the service life of the power supply unit. This determination is not based, or at least not exclusively based, on a previously calculated service life, but rather on energy consumption data determined by the field device, particularly the power supply arrangement. This allows for the provision, and in particular the determination, of a service life based on energy consumption data that is significantly more accurate than a previously determined, especially theoretical, service life.

[0013] The accuracy of the service life provided in this way is increased by using energy consumption data determined by the field device itself. This data can include current and / or past energy consumption data of the field device. Specifically, the energy consumption data can be determined during actual use, which may include the deployment location or, in some cases, the place of operation of the field device. The deployment location refers specifically to the actual location of the field device, for example, in an automated process plant, and not a theoretically determined location that could theoretically be used in a prior service life calculation outside of the actual deployment location. In other words, the energy consumption data can be determined in the field or, in other words, during actual use.This means that the energy consumption data can reflect not only the energy consumption as it should theoretically be, but also as it actually is at the place of use, whereby energy consumption may vary depending on the place of use, as will be explained in more detail later.

[0014] In this context, "specific application" refers in particular to the respective use of the field device for a specific application and / or environment, especially the deployment location. Field devices can be used for different applications and exposed to different environments. This can influence energy consumption. To obtain precise measurements, the field devices, especially their sensor arrays, can be parameterized for the different applications and / or environments to allow for high measurement precision, which can also influence energy consumption in the specific application of the field device. Parameterization can be understood, in particular, as characterizing the field device through parameters that influence the acquisition of the process measurement variable.The parameterization can include at least parameters of the field device itself, specifically its settings, such as measurement sensitivity. Alternatively or additionally, the parameterization can also include external parameters, such as measurement conditions (e.g., the density of the medium being measured, the volume of the container holding the medium), and / or environmental parameters (e.g., ambient temperature, ambient pressure). These external parameters can also influence energy consumption. Overall, this results in a very complex influence on the energy consumption of the field device during actual use, which can hardly, if at all, be accounted for by a previously calculated service life.

[0015] The method described in the first aspect can, in particular, be at least partially or fully computer-implemented. This means that at least one, several, or all steps of the method can be performed by a data processing device or a field device, which may include one or more computers or computing units, such as microcontrollers or CPUs. Different steps can be performed by the same computer or by different computers.

[0016] In principle, the method can also be set up and applied to multiple field devices. This means that the method can provide lifetime data, in particular individual lifetime data, for each of several field devices, with the lifetime data provided being based on the individual energy consumption data provided for each field device. In this respect, any reference to a feature relating to a field device also applies equally to the case of multiple field devices. While not necessary, it is also possible to use the energy consumption data provided for multiple field devices as a basis for providing, and in particular determining, the individual lifetime data of individual field devices, as will be explained in more detail later.

[0017] In principle, the procedure or its steps can be executed only by the field device, only by the data processing system, or by both, i.e., a field device and a data processing system, which are collectively referred to herein as a higher-level system. Any single step of the procedure can be executed only by the field device, only by the data processing system, or by both together, i.e., by the system, as is described in more detail below with examples of the individual steps.

[0018] Providing energy consumption data can involve the field device transmitting the energy consumption data and / or the data processing system receiving the energy consumption data. In other words, the field device's communication arrangement can be used to transmit the energy consumption determined by the field device, particularly the power supply arrangement, to the data processing system in the form of energy consumption data. The energy consumption data, especially the energy consumption data transmitted by the field device, can be received by or from the data processing system, thereby making it available to the data processing system, particularly to a data processing device thereof.

[0019] The provided lifetime data may have been determined by the data processing system. In particular, providing lifetime data based on energy consumption data may involve the data processing system determining, and especially calculating, the lifetime data. The data processing system may be located remotely, i.e., physically separate, from the field device. Accordingly, wireless communication may be necessary to transmit the energy consumption data from the field device to the data processing system. The field device may have a processing unit, a control unit, and / or an evaluation unit, for example, in the form of a microcontroller or similar device, specifically to determine a measured value for the respective process parameter based on the measurement signal and / or an evaluation of the measurement signal.However, the computing capacity may be comparatively low and not designed or suitable for determining, and especially calculating, lifetime data. Accordingly, this task of determining lifetime data based on or from energy consumption data can advantageously be outsourced to the data processing system, which can have significantly greater computing capacity. In particular, the data processing system can be cloud-based or have a cloud-based computing architecture. The lifetime data provided can therefore be cloud-based or determined through cloud computing, or be based on it.Advantageously, this also allows the data processing system to consider energy consumption data from other field devices and / or historical energy consumption data in order to determine the lifetime data for a field device even more precisely, as illustrated in more detail below. Alternatively, the determination can be performed on the field device itself, or separately or jointly on the field device and the data processing system.

[0020] Providing lifetime data can involve transmitting lifetime data from one data processing device of the data processing system to another data processing device and / or to the field device. The other data processing device can also be considered a data processing system in the broadest sense, with the term "data processing system" being interpreted so broadly that the data processing devices may be geographically separated and may not be connected, either by cable or wirelessly. For example, the data processing device could be a server, particularly a cloud-based server or computer. Wireless communication with the data processing device can be internet-based, or in other words, take place via the internet. The communication setup can therefore be specifically designed to establish wireless, internet-based communication.The data processing device may, for example, be located at the premises of the field device manufacturer(s) or at least have access to them. Conversely, the additional data processing device may be located at the premises of an end user, user, or, in other words, a customer of the field device manufacturer, or at least have access to it. For example, the data processing device may also be set up for, or at least be part of, the process automation and / or management of the process in which the field device(s) are used. Accordingly, the additional data processing device may also receive the sensor data from the field device(s) via wireless communication in order to control and / or automate the process.By transmitting the lifetime data to the other data processing device and / or the field device, it is now possible to make the lifetime data determined, for example, by the data processing device, usable on the other data processing device and / or on the field device(s). For example, the user can be informed about the lifetime on the other data processing device and / or on the field device(s), in particular the remaining lifetime and / or the expected replacement or recharging time of the respective power supply unit. For the field device, it may be possible, for example, to determine the lifetime by reading a memory of the field device, in which this data may be stored, particularly using a separate device.Alternatively or additionally, the field device may be designed to display the lifespan data via an acoustic, visual, vibratory, or other indicator. For example, a light source, such as a red light, could flash repeatedly when a lifespan threshold is reached at which replacement, exchange, or recharging of the power supply unit is recommended. Or, for example, a screen could display the remaining lifespan.

[0021] In the additional data processing device and / or the field device, existing lifetime data can be at least partially replaced or corrected by the provided lifetime data. The existing lifetime data may, for example, be previously stored lifetime data that was previously determined by the process and is thereby updated, for instance, if energy consumption has changed based on the energy consumption data, perhaps because the field device's location has changed and environmental factors have resulted in higher or lower energy consumption, which in turn may have changed the expected or predicted lifetime according to the now-provided lifetime data. Alternatively or additionally, the existing lifetime data may be previously calculated lifetime data, as mentioned at the beginning.This can therefore include lifetime data that was calculated theoretically and / or before the field device was deployed, meaning it does not reflect actual energy consumption and may be inaccurate. Partial replacement means that the existing lifetime data is not completely replaced, but only partially, for example, regarding a component used for an indicator or signal, or regarding a recommended replacement or recharge time. Other lifetime data can remain as historical data. Alternatively, a complete replacement is also possible. In principle, the replacement or correction can be carried out in any way, for example, by directly overwriting data or by writing the new data and deleting the old data.Furthermore, existing lifetime data, especially but not necessarily together with energy consumption data, can also be provided, particularly to the data processing system, and especially to the data processing device.

[0022] The provision of lifetime data can also be based on energy consumption data provided by at least one other field device. In particular, the provision of lifetime data can be based on energy consumption data from multiple field devices. Specifically, the field devices can be of the same type, or in other words, identical in construction. However, they can also be field devices of different types. Furthermore, the field devices can be used at the same or similar locations, or at different locations. The energy consumption data can be current energy consumption data and / or historical energy consumption data, i.e., previous energy consumption data, as will be explained in more detail later.In particular, this allows the data processing system, and especially the data processing device, to determine the lifetime data of individual field devices even more accurately by incorporating the energy consumption data of other field devices into the provision, and especially the determination, of the lifetime data of the respective field devices. This can be a big data approach, as the energy consumption data of multiple field devices is used to improve the accuracy of the determination, and especially the prediction, of the lifetime data of individual field devices. The data processing system, and especially the data processing device, can proceed deterministically and / or with artificial intelligence (AI), i.e., it can use a deterministic and / or AI algorithm. The AI ​​algorithm can, for example, include machine learning and any AI technique, such as neural networks, deep learning, etc.This allows, for example, the determination of the influence of various parameters, such as ambient conditions like ambient temperature, at the deployment location of an identical or dissimilar field device. A correlation, for example in the form of a temperature-to-lifetime coefficient, can be derived deterministically or with AI support, particularly from the energy consumption data of numerous field devices. This correlation, perhaps in the form of one or more coefficients, functions, tables, and / or similar methods, can then be used for a field device at a deployment location with a specific known ambient temperature, for example, determined by a sensor on the field device, or especially an ambient temperature range over time, to factor in the influence of the ambient temperature on the lifespan of the power supply unit in the field device and thus determine accurate lifespan data.The correlation can, for example, be used by the data processing system itself to determine the lifetime data or, alternatively, be transmitted to the field device, which then determines the lifetime data using the correlation, especially if this is provided for by the field device, i.e., if the field device itself can determine the lifetime of the power supply unit.

[0023] The provision of lifetime data can also be based on historical energy consumption data of the field device and / or other field devices. In the case of the field device for which lifetime data is provided, the historical energy consumption data may have been previously determined for a different power supply unit within the field device, or for a power supply unit that was previously at least partially discharged and subsequently at least partially recharged. The same can apply to other field devices. Historical energy consumption data is therefore, in particular, earlier and not current energy consumption data that may have been collected and / or stored, for example, for discharged power supply units. This allows for the compilation of a history of energy consumption.In particular, the data processing system, and especially the data processing device, can collect and / or store historical energy consumption data in order to determine the lifetime data for a field device as accurately as possible. Specifically, the historical energy consumption data can be previously provided, not necessarily current, energy consumption data from at least one or more other field devices and / or from the field device for which the lifetime data is being determined, especially for power supply units that are no longer in use, were previously used, or have been recharged in the meantime.

[0024] The energy consumption data can be at least indicative of one or more (any) of the following: - an energy capacity of the energy supply unit, - a temperature of the field device, - an energy consumption of the sensor arrangement, or - an energy consumption of the communication arrangement.

[0025] In particular, the energy consumption data can include or specify any one or more of the aforementioned parameters. These parameters have been identified as relevant for specifying the energy consumption data that can be used to determine lifetime data by the data processing system and / or the field device. This means that not only can the directly recorded or measured energy consumption of the sensor array and the communication array, and any other array or unit of the field device, such as a computing or evaluation unit, be specified individually, or, for example, be specified collectively through the discharge of the power supply unit. For instance, an energy meter can be used in the power supply array to determine the energy drawn from or discharged by the power supply unit.However, energy meters in field devices are often inaccurate because they sometimes have to measure very low energy values ​​and other times very high values. Furthermore, energy or current peaks often occur only briefly or have a narrow profile over time, meaning they may not be detected. It can therefore be advantageous to use additional data besides the energy consumption measured by the energy meter. This could include, for example, the temperature of the field device or, indicatively, the ambient temperature of the field device, which can be determined by a corresponding sensor in the field device or may be known from other sources, such as through the field device's parameter settings, if constant temperatures prevail at the deployment location.The energy capacity of the energy supply unit, especially its original or current capacity, can also fluctuate, and by determining and providing this within the framework of energy consumption data, a more precise determination of the lifetime data can also be achieved.

[0026] Additionally or alternatively, the energy consumption data can be at least indicative of one or more (any) of the following: - a signal strength of the communication setup or, in other words, the wireless communication link that the communication setup establishes, - a parameterization of a mobile network used by the communication arrangement, or - a characteristic of a participant identity module used by the communication arrangement.

[0027] In particular, the energy consumption data can include or specify at least one or more of the aforementioned parameters. These parameters have also been identified as crucial for the lifespan of the power supply unit. However, due to a lack of precision, it may not be possible to determine the influence of these parameters using an energy meter. Therefore, these parameters are disregarded unless explicitly included in the energy consumption data, even though they can be crucial for the lifespan of the power supply unit. For example, the signal strength of the mobile network or other wireless communication link of the communication setup can vary depending on the location, such as in buildings and warehouses compared to outdoors, and depending on the location relative to the respective mobile phone masts, the technology used, etc.Even the parameterization of the mobile network, depending on the network provider—for example, the time intervals at which a device connected to the mobile network must report back—can have a significant impact on the lifespan of the power supply unit. A characteristic of the subscriber identification module can also have an influence, as it performs network searches at specific intervals during roaming, and these intervals can vary between providers. For example, the characteristic, such as the interval between network searches, can differ or be parameterized. By including this data—such as the time intervals at which the communication device must report back, the signal strength at the deployment location, etc.—into the energy consumption data, an even more precise determination of the lifespan can be achieved.

[0028] The provided lifetime data can be indicative of a replacement and / or recharge time for the power supply unit. In particular, the replacement and / or recharge time can be specified by or included in the lifetime data. The replacement and / or recharge time can be estimated based on the lifetime data and, for example, indicated by a threshold with respect to the predicted lifetime, for example, in a range of 1 to 20%, particularly 3 to 15%, and especially 5 to 12%, for example, at 10% or 20% of the remaining lifetime.

[0029] Energy consumption data can be provided together with sensor data from the sensor array. Specifically, the energy consumption data can be transmitted to the data processing system together with the sensor data, particularly via the internet, so that only a single transmission at predetermined intervals, especially according to the measurement and / or transmission frequency of the sensor data, is necessary. This allows the lifetime data determination function to be provided very energy-efficiently with respect to the field device, because only slightly larger packets are sent via the wireless communication arrangement. These packets also contain the energy consumption data in addition to the sensor data, but do not need to be sent separately, which would require a greater energy expenditure.The energy consumption data and sensor data can then be transferred to the same data processing device and / or split, in particular between the data processing device and the other data processing device.

[0030] A second aspect of the invention relates to a field device comprising a sensor arrangement for detecting a measurement signal correlated with a process measurement variable, a communication arrangement for wireless communication with a data processing system, and a power supply arrangement for supplying power to the sensor arrangement and the communication arrangement, wherein the power supply arrangement is configured to accommodate the power supply unit, and wherein the field device is configured to carry out the method according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0031] Alternatively, the field device may be configured to perform only some steps or only in conjunction with the data processing system. Furthermore, the field device may also be configured to perform other steps of the procedure, or additional steps of the procedure as explained herein, such as transmitting energy consumption data to the data processing system, receiving lifetime data from the data processing system, at least partially replacing existing lifetime data with provided lifetime data, and / or other steps.

[0032] The sensor arrangement can include at least one sensor, where the at least one sensor is at least one of a level sensor, a limit level sensor, a flow sensor, a flow velocity sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor, or an actuator, for example, a piezoelectric actuator, which can provide a measurement signal in the form of an input voltage, for example, by receiving a voltage. Several sensors from the above list are also possible in the sensor arrangement. Furthermore, the sensor arrangement can include a sensor circuit for acquiring a measurement signal that correlates with the process measurement variable and / or designate a sensor circuit.Accordingly, the field device can be, for example, a level measuring device of any kind, in particular a radar-based level measuring device, for detecting the level of a medium, a vibronic limit level measuring device, a flow meter for detecting the flow rate of a medium, a flow velocity measuring device for detecting the flow velocity of a medium, a pressure measuring device for detecting pressure or differential pressure, and / or a temperature measuring device for detecting temperature. The field device can also be any other type of field device. Furthermore, the communication arrangement can also include and / or refer to a communication circuit for wireless communication.

[0033] A third aspect of the invention relates to a data processing system, wherein the data processing system, in particular a data processing device thereof, is configured to carry out the method according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0034] Alternatively, the data processing system may be configured to perform only some steps or only in conjunction with the field device or several field devices. Furthermore, the data processing system, in particular the data processing device, may also be configured to perform other steps of the procedure or further steps of the procedure, as explained herein.

[0035] The data processing system may include the data processing device described herein and the further data processing device described herein, or more or fewer data processing devices, for example, only one data processing device.

[0036] A fourth aspect of the invention relates to a system comprising at least one field device according to the second aspect of the invention and a data processing system according to the third aspect of the invention.

[0037] A fifth aspect of the invention relates to at least one computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed by a field device and / or a data processing system, cause the latter to execute the method according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0038] For example, two or more computer program products may be provided, such as three computer program products, for example for the field device, the data processing device and the further data processing device.

[0039] The at least one computer program product can be executed or executable and / or stored on the field device and / or data processing system described herein. The at least one computer program product can be a computer program arrangement or a software arrangement comprising at least one computer program or at least one computer program code, as such, or a product, such as a data storage device, on which such a computer program arrangement or at least one computer program is stored.

[0040] Features, elements, functions and / or advantages of the field device described herein may also be applied to the procedures, computer program product and training data described herein, and vice versa, and in any combination thereof.

[0041] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying figures. List of characters Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a block diagram of a field device according to an exemplary embodiment. Fig. Figure 2 schematically shows a system with the field device made of Fig. 1 and a data processing system. Fig. Figure 3 schematically shows a procedure for providing lifetime data.

[0042] Similar, similar-looking, identical or equivalent elements in the figures may be provided with similar or identical reference symbols.

[0043] Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a block diagram of an exemplary field device 10. The field device comprises a sensor arrangement 12 for acquiring a measurement signal correlated with a process measurement variable. For example, the sensor arrangement 12 can comprise one or more sensors 13, wherein in Fig. Figure 1 shows two different sensors 13 as examples. One sensor 13, or in the case of multiple sensors 13, can be, for example, sensors 13 for measuring flow rate, flow velocity, pressure, differential pressure, temperature, acceleration, level, and / or limit level. For example, the field device 10 can be a level and / or limit level measuring device with a level and / or limit level sensor 13. Such a field device 10 can be used to detect the level of a medium in a measuring vessel. Alternatively, or additionally, for example, configured as a pressure gauge, the field device 10 can be used to detect pressure in the measuring vessel. The field device(s) 10 can be used for measurement, for example, on the measuring vessel or on any other device or arrangement. The measuring vessel can be part of a process plant that is automated or...uses an automated process.

[0044] Furthermore, the field device includes a communication arrangement 14 for wireless communication with a data processing system 30, as exemplified in Fig. Figure 2 shows that the communication arrangement 14 can be configured for any wireless communication technology. For example, wireless communication can be achieved using a cellular network (e.g., 3G, 4G, 5G, or similar), a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network), Bluetooth, and / or any radio technology. The communication arrangement 14 can include a corresponding communication circuit and / or any means for wireless communication, such as one or more antennas.

[0045] For the purposes of this example, it is assumed that the communication arrangement 14 includes a subscriber identity module 15 in the form of a SIM card (SIM: Subscriber Identity Module) or is at least configured to receive one. For example, the SIM card can be a replaceable physical card or an embedded SIM (eIM) and / or integrated SIM (iSIM). Other variants are also conceivable. Through the subscriber identity module 15, the communication arrangement 14 can connect to a mobile network and thereby establish a wireless and internet-based connection or communication with the data processing system 30, as exemplified in Fig. Figure 2 shows that this communication enables data exchange between the data processing system 30 and the field device 10 in both directions.

[0046] Furthermore, the field device 10 includes a power supply arrangement 16, which is configured to supply power to the sensor arrangement 12 and the communication arrangement 14. The power supply arrangement 16 can, for example, include a housing area for one or more power supply units 20 and one or more electrical lines for supplying electrical power to the sensor arrangement 12 and the communication arrangement 14 from the power supply unit 20. The power supply arrangement 20 can also include an energy meter 17, in particular for determining the energy drawn from the power supply unit 20 during operation of the field device 10. Only one power supply unit 20 is shown here by way of example. However, where a power supply unit 20 is mentioned herein, several power supply units 20 are also possible or included.The power supply unit 20 is shown here as part of the power supply arrangement 16. The power supply unit 20 can be, for example, a primary or secondary battery. A primary battery must be replaced after the end of its service life, i.e., when the primary battery no longer contains any or no significant electrical energy or capacity, in order to supply the field device 10 with electrical energy and continue to operate it. A secondary battery, on the other hand, can be recharged with electrical energy and thus reused.

[0047] Furthermore, the field device 10 here includes, by way of example, an evaluation or processing unit 18, for example with a CPU or a microcontroller 19. The evaluation or processing unit 18 can, for example, be configured to evaluate the measurement signal from the sensor arrangement 12 in order to acquire the process measurement variable. Alternatively or additionally, the evaluation or processing unit 18 can be designed as a control unit of the field device 10 to perform control tasks, for example of the sensor arrangement 12, the communication arrangement 14 and / or the power supply arrangement 16.

[0048] In addition to the components or elements of the field device 10 shown, the field device 10 may of course have further components or elements not shown.

[0049] For example, the field device 10 may have one or more mounting sections to enable it to be securely attached for the desired application, for example to a measuring vessel, if the field device 10 is used to detect the fill level and / or limit level of a medium in the measuring vessel.

[0050] How Fig. As shown in Figure 2, a system 50 can comprise several field devices 10, which can all be of the same type or of different types. "Same type" here means that the field devices 10 can be used for the same purpose, in particular that they can acquire the same measurement signal, i.e., they comprise the same type of sensor, such as a level sensor or a flow sensor. Specifically, the field devices 10 can be of the same design, or, in other words, identical in construction. However, they can also be field devices 10 of different designs.

[0051] All field devices 10 communicate wirelessly with a data processing system 30, in particular via the Internet, using their respective communication arrangements 14. The data processing system 30 here comprises, by way of example, two different data processing devices 32, 34, which may also be geographically separated. The term "data processing system 30" is to be understood broadly here in such a way that the data processing devices 32, 34 may be geographically separated and may also not be connected to each other, neither by cable nor wirelessly.

[0052] The field devices 10 can send and / or receive data to the data processing devices 32, 34 via wireless communication links, in particular via a mobile network and, accordingly, via the Internet. For example, it may be provided that the data processing device 34 is located at the premises of a user of the field devices 10 or that the user of the field devices 10 at least has access to it. The field devices 10 can send sensor data to this data processing device 34, which includes the measurement signals that correlate with the process measurement variable to be recorded, such as fill level, limit level, pressure, temperature, etc., and / or includes the process measurement variable itself, in particular determined on the field device 10.

[0053] The field devices 10 can each include a previously calculated lifetime, in particular battery lifetime, of the power supply units 20 used. Alternatively or additionally, the data processing device 34 can include these previously calculated lifetimes of the field devices 10 and, if necessary, monitor them. For example, if a certain threshold with respect to the previously calculated lifetime is exceeded, for example at 10% or 20%, a notification or signal can be issued to or from the data processing device 34 to indicate to the user that a replacement or recharging of the power supply unit 20 in a field device 10 is now or will soon be necessary.

[0054] However, the previously calculated lifetime may not be accurate, or in other words, may not reflect the actual lifetime of the power supply unit 20 in one or more of the field devices 10. In particular, the actual lifetime may be overestimated or underestimated by the calculated lifetime. This can lead to premature and therefore frequent replacement or recharging of the power supply units 20 of the field devices 10, which is associated with high costs. On the other hand, if replacement or recharging occurs too late, the field devices 10 may fail, which could have serious consequences for production facilities or other types of applications in which the field devices 10 are used.

[0055] The underestimation or overestimation of service life is related, for example, to the fact that field devices 10 can be used in different application areas and environments, which may not have been taken into account in the service life calculation, or can hardly be taken into account at all. For example, the temperature of the field device 10 can have a decisive influence on its service life, depending on the ambient temperature or other environmental conditions at the field device 10's place of use. The energy consumption of the sensor arrangement 12 can also fluctuate depending on the application area. Furthermore, the signal strength of the mobile network or other wireless communication link of the communication arrangement 14 can vary depending on the location, for example, in buildings and warehouses differently than outdoors, and depending on the location relative to corresponding mobile phone masts, the technology used, etc.Even the parameterization of the mobile network depending on the network provider, for example, the time intervals after which a device connected to the mobile network must report its availability, can have a significant impact on the lifespan of the power supply unit 20. A characteristic of the subscriber identification module 15 can also have an influence, as this module, for example, performs network searches at specific intervals during roaming, and these intervals can vary between different providers. For example, the characteristic, such as the interval between network searches, can differ or be parameterized.

[0056] Because the service life is typically determined beforehand by the field device provider 10, it is practically impossible to consider and / or influence all the factors identified as relevant to the service life of the power supply units 20 in field devices 10. For example, the user typically does not know where the field devices 10 are deployed, i.e., what the environmental conditions are, what the network signal strength is, and not necessarily which network provider is used, which SIM card, etc.

[0057] To determine the lifespan more accurately, the procedure can be used for 100 of the Fig.3 of the system 50. The method 100 can, for example, in a first step 102, include one or more field devices 10 determining energy consumption data that are indicative of the energy consumption of the field device 10 or field devices 10, in particular the electrical energy from the power supply unit 20 or the power supply units 20 therein. This energy consumption data can, for example, include at least one or more of the energy capacity of the power supply unit 20, the temperature of the field device 10, the energy consumption of the sensor arrangement 12, the energy consumption of the communication arrangement 14, the signal strength of the communication arrangement 14, the parameterization of a mobile communication network used by the communication arrangement 14, or a characteristic of a subscriber identification module 15 used by the communication arrangement 14.The aforementioned parameters can, for example, be based on settings of field device 10, such as a parameterization of field device 10. The settings or parameterization of field device 10 itself, i.e., setting or parameterization data, can also be included in the energy consumption data. For example, such a setting could be the number of measurement cycles per unit of time or the number of transmissions of sensor data per unit of time by the communication arrangement 14.

[0058] In a second step of procedure 100, this energy consumption data can be wirelessly transmitted by the communication arrangement(s) 14 to the data processing system 30, for example, the user's data processing device 34 for receiving the sensor data, and / or to the other data processing device 32, which is specifically set up for this purpose and is also accessible to the user and / or the manufacturer of the field devices 10. This allows the energy consumption data to be made available at the respective data processing device 32, 34. It is possible for the energy consumption data to be transmitted together with the sensor data to save energy during transmission. Alternatively, the transmission of the energy consumption data can also be carried out separately from the sensor data.Alternatively or additionally, the energy consumption data can be provided in the second step 104 at the field device 10 itself, in particular at a processor, for example a microcontroller, thereof.

[0059] In a third step 106 of the procedure 100, the data processing system 30, in particular one of the two data processing devices 32, 34, which has received the energy consumption data and thus made it available there, can process it. In particular, the data processing system 30 or the data processing device 32, 34, which processes the energy consumption data, in particular determines the lifetime data, can be cloud-based or a cloud-based server or a cloud-based computing architecture. This means that the computing architecture or the server is accessible via the internet and can exchange data, and in particular is physically remote from the field device(s) 10. Accordingly, the provision, in particular the determination, of the lifetime data can also take place in the cloud, or be cloud-based, or, in other words, by means of cloud computing.

[0060] Alternatively or additionally, the energy consumption data in the third step 106 can also be processed by the field device 10 itself, in particular its processor. Specifically, this allows lifetime data to be provided in the third step 106, which is indicative of the lifetime of the power supply unit 20 or power supply units 20 in the field device(s) 10. This lifetime data can be based on the provided energy consumption data, in particular on a processing of this data. The processing can involve determining or calculating the lifetime data from the energy consumption data.For example, one of the data processing devices 32, 34 and / or the field device 10 can collect the energy consumption data over a period of time, in particular a predetermined period, or the provided energy consumption according to the energy consumption data is over a period of time, in particular a predetermined period, so that the current expected lifetime can be determined according to the current place of use, area of ​​use, etc., which can be significantly more accurate than the previously calculated lifetime.

[0061] The processing or provision of the lifetime data in the third step 106 of the procedure 100 may include the lifetime data for one of the field devices 10 being further based on the provided energy consumption data of the other field devices 10 and / or historical energy consumption data of the field device 10.

[0062] In a further step 108 of the procedure 100, the lifetime data can be transmitted to the respective other data processing device, here, for example, the data processing device 34 and / or to the field device(s) 10. Accordingly, the existing lifetime or lifetime data, in particular previously calculated or even updated lifetime data, can be replaced there, thereby enabling a more precise indication at the data processing device 32 and / or field device 10 of when the lifetime will be exhausted, so that the energy supply units 20 in the field devices 10 can be replaced or recharged neither too early nor too late.

[0063] It should be further noted that "comprehensive" and "comprising" do not exclude other features or steps, and the indefinite articles "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. It should also be noted that features or steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference numerals in the claims are not to be considered limitations.

[0064] As used herein, the expression "indicative of" can mean, for example, "reflective" and / or "comprehensive". Accordingly, a unit, element and / or step referred to here as "indicative of [...]" can be used synonymously or interchangeably with one, two, or all of the aforementioned units, elements and / or steps "comprehensive [...]" and the aforementioned unit, element and / or step "reflective [...]".

[0065] Furthermore, expressions such as "based on," "related," "associated," and similar expressions are not to be understood exclusively in relation to the units, elements, and / or steps to which they refer, unless otherwise specified. Instead, unless otherwise specified, these expressions are to be understood as meaning that, for example, a unit, element, or step to which one of these expressions or a similar expression refers, e.g., "based on" one or another unit, element, or step, does not preclude the possibility that the unit, element, or step in question may also be "based" on a different unit, element, or step than the one to which it refers.

[0066] Any designation of procedures, steps, and elements as first, second, etc., as indicated herein, serves only to make the procedures, their steps, and elements referable and distinguishable from one another. The designation of methods, steps, and elements in no way constitutes a limitation of the scope of this disclosure. For example, if a third step of a procedure is described in this disclosure, a first or second step of the procedure need not exist and certainly need not be performed before the third step, unless it is expressly stated that they are required per se or prior to the third step. Furthermore, the presentation of procedures or steps in a particular order is intended only to facilitate understanding of this disclosure and in no way constitutes a limitation of the scope of this disclosure.In general, the procedures and steps can be carried out in any conceivable order unless an expressly prescribed order is stated. In particular, the terms "first," "second," "third," or "a)," "b)," "c)," and the like are used in the description and in the claims to distinguish similar elements and not necessarily to describe a sequential or chronological order. It is to be assumed that the terms used in this way are interchangeable under suitable circumstances and that the embodiments of the disclosure described herein may also function in orders other than those described or illustrated herein.

[0067] Within the scope of this disclosure, each specified numerical value is typically associated with an accuracy interval which the person skilled in the art understands to be such that the technical effect of the feature in question is still guaranteed. Within the scope of this disclosure, the deviation from the specified numerical value is at least in the range of ± 10%, preferably ± 5%. The aforementioned deviation from the specified numerical interval of ± 10%, preferably ± 5%, can also be expressed by terms such as "about", "approximately", and the like, as used here in relation to a numerical value.

Claims

[1] Method (100) for providing lifetime data indicative of the lifetime of a replaceable and / or rechargeable power supply unit (20) in a field device (10) with a communication arrangement (14) for wireless communication with a data processing system (30), wherein the method (100) comprises: - Providing energy consumption data that are indicative of the energy consumption of the field device (10), wherein the energy consumption data have been determined by the field device (10), and - Providing lifetime data based on energy consumption data. [2] Method (100) according to claim 1, wherein providing the energy consumption data (20) comprises transmitting the energy consumption data through the field device (10) and / or receiving the energy consumption data at the data processing system (30). [3] Method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the provided lifetime data have been determined by a data processing system (30) which is located remotely from the field device (10). [4] Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the provision of the lifetime data comprises transmitting the lifetime data from a data processing device (32) of the data processing system (30) to another data processing device (34) and / or to the field device (10). [5] Method (100) according to claim 4, wherein lifetime data already present in the further data processing device (34) and / or the field device (10) are at least partially replaced or corrected by the lifetime data provided. [6] Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the provision of lifetime data is further based on provided energy consumption data of at least one further field device (10). [7] Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the provision of lifetime data is further based on historical energy consumption data of the field device (10) and / or other field devices (10). [8] Method (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the energy consumption data is at least indicative of one or more of the following: - an energy capacity of the energy supply unit (20), - a temperature of the field device (10), - an energy consumption of the sensor arrangement (12), or - an energy consumption of the communication arrangement (14). [9] Method (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the energy consumption data is at least indicative of one or more of the following: - a signal strength of the communication arrangement (14), - a parameterization of a mobile network used by the communication arrangement (14), or - a characteristic of a participant identity module (15) used by the communication arrangement (14). [10] Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lifetime data provided are indicative of a replacement time and / or recharging time of the power supply unit (20). [11] Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the energy consumption data are provided together with sensor data from the sensor arrangement (12). [12] Field device (10), comprising: - a sensor arrangement (12) for detecting a measurement signal correlated with a process measurement variable, - a communication arrangement (14) for wireless communication with a data processing system (30), and - a power supply arrangement (16) for supplying power to the sensor arrangement (12) and the communication arrangement (14), wherein the power supply arrangement (16) is configured to accommodate the power supply unit (20), wherein the field device (10) is configured to carry out the method according to one of claims 1 to 11. [13] Field device (10) according to claim 12, wherein the sensor arrangement (12) comprises at least one sensor (13), wherein the at least one sensor (13) is at least one of a level sensor, a limit level sensor, a flow sensor, a flow velocity sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor or an actuator. [14] Data processing system (30), wherein the at least one data processing system (30) is set up to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11. [15] System (50) comprising at least one field device (10) according to claim 12 or 13 and a data processing system (30) according to claim 14. [16] At least one computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed by a field device (10) and / or a data processing system (30), cause the latter to execute the method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

Images