Method for locating a target field device, and field device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for locating a target field device (Z). A search signal (S) is transmitted, and received by the target field device (Z). An activation signal (A) is transmitted by the target field device (Z) and is received by a neighboring field device (N1, N2, N3). At least one beacon signal is produced by the neighboring field device (N1, N2, N3). The invention also relates to a field device (Z, N1, N2, N3).

Description

[0001] Method for locating a target field device and field device

[0002] The invention relates to a method for locating a target field device. Furthermore, the invention relates to a field device.

[0003] In the field of process automation, it is common practice to equip plants, for example in the chemical industry, with field devices (an alternative term is measuring device) in order to monitor process variables and thus regulate or control the processes taking place. Larger plants sometimes have a large number of field devices installed, which measure or monitor, for example, a fill level or flow. For example, in the case of servicing, it may be necessary to visit individual field devices directly, which can be difficult or cumbersome in a large plant with many devices. For example, plans regarding the distribution of field devices may exist, but these must be constantly updated or may be confusing.

[0004] The object underlying the invention is to simplify the location of a field device, e.g., in a process plant.

[0005] The invention solves this problem by a method for locating a target field device and by a field device.

[0006] The invention solves the problem by a method for locating a target field device, the method comprising at least the following steps: that a search signal is sent, that the search signal is received by the target field device, that at least one activation signal is sent by the target field device, that the activation signal is received by at least one neighboring field device, and that at least one beacon signal is generated by the at least one neighboring field device.

[0007] In order to locate a target field device in the method according to the invention, a search signal is transmitted in a first step—for example, by a user or a service technician. For this purpose, the user uses, for example, a smartphone with a suitable program or, more generally, a portable operating device. The search signal preferably carries information for identifying the target field device. If the search signal is received by the target field device, it transmits at least one activation signal. The activation signal is directed to other field devices, referred to herein as neighboring field devices. The receipt of such an activation signal causes the affected neighboring field device to generate at least one beacon signal.

[0008] In the invention, a user sends a (search) signal indicating that they are looking for a specific (target) field device. When the target field device receives the search signal, it activates other field devices via an activation signal, causing these neighboring field devices to generate beacon signals that guide the user to the target field device.

[0009] One embodiment of the method includes the target field device generating at least one beacon signal in addition to transmitting the at least one activation signal. In a further development, the beacon signal generated by the target field device differs from the beacon signals generated by the neighboring field devices.

[0010] One embodiment of the method provides that the search signal carries information about a predeterminable maximum distance, and that the target field device generates the activation signal in such a way that only neighboring field devices with a distance to the target field device less than or equal to the maximum distance generate the beacon signal. In this embodiment, the user can specify the area around the target field device in which the neighboring field devices generate their beacon signals. This limits the area in which the beacon signals are generated. By specifying the maximum distance, the area in which the user has to search for the target field device is limited. If the user moves towards the target field device and, for example,If spatial conditions only allow certain directions, the user can, for example, send out a new search signal with a different maximum distance, to which the target field device then reacts differently. One embodiment of the method involves the neighboring field devices generating their beacon signals in such a way that the beacon signals carry information about a distance to the target field device. In this embodiment, the user can deduce from the beacon signals the distance between the respective neighboring field devices and the target field device. For example, neighboring field devices further away from the target field device generate their beacon signals as light pulses with a different frequency or intensity than closer field devices. Alternatively or additionally, different colors can also be used. The information about the distance between the neighboring field devices and the target field device can, for example,This can be derived, for example, from data stored in the field devices, which, for example, relate to the positions of the individual field devices. Alternatively or additionally, the neighboring field devices are able to derive the distance from at least one activation signal.

[0011] One embodiment of the method provides that the beacon signals contain activation signals for other neighboring field devices. In this embodiment, the neighboring field devices are in turn capable of using an activation signal to cause other field devices to be activated to locate the target field device and generate beacon signals.

[0012] One embodiment of the method involves transmitting multiple search signals, determining information about a relative orientation between a source of the search signals and the target field device from the search signals, and generating beacon signals depending on the determined orientation. In this embodiment, for example, the user transmits multiple search signals while moving relative to the target field device, from which information about the orientation between the user and the target field device is derived. Based on this orientation, the beacon signals are adjusted so that the user knows in which direction to move.

[0013] One embodiment of the method provides that the beacon signals have at least one optical component in the form of a light signal. In this embodiment, the neighboring field devices, for example, light up or activate their displays.

[0014] Furthermore, the invention solves the problem by a field device for process automation, comprising at least one communication unit, a signaling unit and a central unit, wherein the communication unit is designed to receive signals and to send signals, wherein the signaling unit is designed to generate beacon signals, wherein the central unit is designed to process signals received from the communication unit and to extract at least one piece of information, wherein the central unit is designed to send at least one activation signal via the communication unit if the extracted information means that at least one received signal is a search signal, and wherein the central unit is designed to generate at least one beacon signal via the signaling unit if the extracted information meansthat at least one received signal is an activation signal.,

[0015] The field device allows the implementation of the method as discussed in the previous and following embodiments. Therefore, the embodiments and explanations apply accordingly to the field device, so repetition is omitted.

[0016] The field device has a communication unit with which, for example, search signals can be received and activation signals can be generated. Furthermore, a signaling unit is present to generate beacon signals. In one embodiment, the communication unit and the signaling unit are combined in a single component. The central unit evaluates the received signals and thereby determines whether the field device has been addressed as a target field device or as a neighboring field device in the respective situation. Depending on the specific case, the field device then sends at least one activation signal as a target field device via the communication unit or generates a beacon signal as a neighboring field device. One embodiment of the field device provides that the communication unit sends and / or receives Bluetooth signals.

[0017] Alternatively or additionally, one embodiment of the field device provides that the signaling unit generates light signals.

[0018] An embodiment of the field device includes that the field device is designed to determine and / or monitor at least one fill level, a flow rate, a mass flow rate, a pH value, a temperature, a density, a viscosity, an electrical resistance or a conductivity of a medium.

[0019] The invention further relates to a process plant in which field devices are arranged which are designed according to the embodiments mentioned above or discussed below and / or implement the described method.

[0020] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the following figure.

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a schematic of a process plant with several field devices.

[0022] In Fig. 1, several field devices Z, N1, N2, N3 are indicated as part of a process plant.

[0023] If a user is looking for a specific field device that represents the target field device Z for him, he sends out a search signal S with a signal source Q, which carries information about which of the field devices is the desired target field device Z.

[0024] The target field device Z receives the search signal S and, in response, transmits an activation signal A. The activation signal A is received by those field devices N1, N2, N3 that are sufficiently close to the target field device Z in terms of the signal strength of the activation signal A. The activation signal A causes the neighboring field devices N1, N2, N3 to generate beacon signals. This can be, for example, a lighting up of their displays (not shown here). The beacon signals tell the user in which direction to move to reach the target field device Z.

[0025] The field devices Z, N1, N2, N3 are all designed the same, even if the individual components KE, SE, ZE are only shown as examples for one field device. The communication unit KE receives signals. The central unit ZE extracts information from the received signal. This information relates to the type of signal. The signal can be either a search signal S or an activation signal A. Depending on the type of signal, the receiving field device is a target field device Z or a neighboring field device Z, N1, N2, N3, which results in different behavior of the field device. If the field device was addressed as a target field device Z, it outputs the activation signals A via the communication unit KE.However, if the field device has been addressed by another field device - namely the target field device Z - it generates a beacon signal as a neighboring field device N1, N2, N3 via the signaling unit SE and thus guides the user to the target field device Z.

Claims

Patent claims 1 . Method for locating a target field device (Z), the method comprising at least the following steps: that a search signal (S) is sent, that the search signal is received by the target field device (Z), that at least one activation signal (A) is sent by the target field device (Z), that the activation signal (A) is received by at least one neighboring field device (N1, N2, N3) is received, and that at least one beacon signal is generated by the at least one neighboring field device (N1, N2, N3).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein at least one beacon signal is generated by the target field device (Z) in addition to transmitting the at least one activation signal (A).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the search signal (S) carries information about a predeterminable maximum distance, and wherein the target field device (Z) generates the activation signal (A) such that only neighboring field devices (N1, N2, N3) with a distance to the target field device (Z) less than or equal to the maximum distance generate the beacon signal.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the neighboring field devices (N1, N2, N3) generate their beacon signals in such a way that the beacon signals carry information about a distance to the target field device (Z).

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the beacon signals include activation signals for further neighboring field devices (N1, N2, N3).

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a plurality of search signals (S) are transmitted, wherein information about a relative orientation between a source (Q) of the search signals (S) and the target field device (Z) is determined from the search signals (S), and wherein the beacon signals are generated as a function of the determined orientation.

7. Field device (Z, N1, N2, N3) of process automation, with at least one communication unit (KE), a signaling unit (SE) and a central unit (ZE), wherein the communication unit (KE) is designed to receive signals (S) and to send signals (A), wherein the signaling unit (SE) is designed to generate beacon signals, wherein the central unit (ZE) is designed to process signals received from the communication unit (KE) and to extract at least one piece of information, wherein the central unit (ZE) is designed to send at least one activation signal (A) via the communication unit (KE) if the extracted information means that at least one received signal is a search signal (S), and wherein the central unit (ZE) is designed to generate at least one beacon signal via the signaling unit (SE),if the extracted information means that at least one received signal is an activation signal (A).

8. Field device (Z, N1, N2, N3) according to claim 7, wherein the field device (Z, N1, N2, N3) is designed to carry out steps of the method according to one of claims 1 to 6.

9. Field device (Z, N1, N2, N3) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the communication unit (KE) sends and / or receives Bluetooth signals, and / or wherein the signaling unit (SE) generates light signals.

10. Field device (Z, N1, N2, N3) according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the field device (Z, N1, N2, N3) is designed to determine and / or monitor at least one fill level, a flow rate, a mass flow rate, a pH value, a temperature, a density, a viscosity, an electrical resistance or a conductivity of a medium.

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