Field Device Data Logging via Selective Event Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing field devices face challenges in efficiently logging relevant operating data due to high data volumes, limited energy availability, and the need for additional components for data logging, especially when not connected to a data bus, which can lead to busy communication buses and increased complexity.
Innovation Solution
A field device with an integrated data storage device and control unit that selectively logs data based on predefined monitoring events, allowing for internal data logging without the need for external components, and includes features like filtering and prioritization of data storage to manage limited resources effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If all data from field devices is transmitted via data bus to control center, then complete data logging is achieved, but communication bus load increases and energy consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential monitoring events and corresponding data records from the complete data set, storing them locally in the field device's memory. This selective extraction approach ensures that only relevant information is logged, reducing the amount of data that would otherwise need to be transmitted over the communication bus, thereby lowering energy consumption while maintaining logging completeness for critical events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the data logging function into two parts: essential monitoring events are logged locally in the field device, while non-critical data can be transmitted selectively. This segmentation allows the system to maintain complete logging of important events without transmitting all generated data, thus reducing communication bus load and energy usage.
2Loss of information
If separate data logger is connected to field device, then data logging capability is added, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the data logging functionality directly into the field device by integrating a memory unit and control logic within the device itself. The control unit is configured to automatically store monitoring events and data records in the integrated memory, eliminating the need for separate external data loggers and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining full data logging capability.
3Loss of energy
If monitoring events are filtered and data selected, then energy consumption decreases, but data completeness may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating between essential monitoring events that require complete logging and non-essential data that can be selectively transmitted. The control unit is configured to identify and log all monitoring events with their corresponding data records in the integrated memory, ensuring complete data availability for critical events while allowing selective transmission of less important data, thus maintaining data completeness where needed while reducing energy consumption.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The device (1) has controller (4) to store several preset data which include monitoring event associated value, indication of point of time, sequence of occurrence of monitoring event associated value, indication of operational life of field device, determined value for measured variable and produced or calculated value, as data record in data storage device (3) as function of predeterminable monitoring event. The controller determines number and/or size of data of data record in response to available memory size of data storage device or available energy for storage of data record.