Handheld Field Maintenance Tool Wireless Display Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Handheld field maintenance tools face challenges in volatile and explosive environments, where traditional wired communication protocols and the need for intrinsic safety requirements limit their functionality, especially in configuring and diagnosing field devices without risking ignition sources, and they struggle with portability and visibility issues due to small screens and keypads.
Innovation Solution
A handheld field maintenance tool equipped with a short-range wireless transceiver, such as Bluetooth, allows for remote wireless display, keypress injection, and wireless printing, enabling communication with field devices using protocols like HART and FOUNDATION Fieldbus, and facilitates interaction with printers and personal computers without violating intrinsic safety standards, thus enhancing portability and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wired communication protocols are used for field device communication, then intrinsic safety requirements are met, but functionality and portability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments communication functions into two parts: wireless communication for display and printing operations (non-critical functions) and wired HART/Fieldbus connections for actual field device control (critical functions). This segmentation allows wireless convenience for auxiliary tasks while maintaining intrinsic safety for essential operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The handheld tool acts as an intermediary device that bridges wireless communication (for display/printing) and wired field device communication. It receives data from field devices via wired connections and transmits selected information wirelessly to external displays or printers, eliminating the need for computers in hazardous areas.
2Weight of moving object
If small screens and keypads are used in handheld tools, then portability is improved, but visibility and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system extends the display dimension from the handheld device's small screen to external wireless displays or printed materials. By projecting information to larger external surfaces (wireless displays, paper prints), the visibility problem is solved without increasing the handheld device size or weight.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of relying on the small handheld screen for all display needs, the system creates copies of relevant information on larger external media through wireless display transmission or direct printing. This allows operators to view detailed information on larger surfaces while keeping the handheld device compact.
3Adaptability or versatility
If computers are used for configuration and printing, then functionality is improved, but portability and safety in explosive environments deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts specific functions (display and printing) from the handheld device and performs them through external wireless displays and printers. The handheld tool retains only the essential field device communication capabilities, maintaining portability while enabling enhanced display and printing functions without requiring a full computer in hazardous areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical/physical connection requirement (computer via cable) with wireless communication for display and printing functions. This substitution eliminates the need for heavy computers and complex cabling in the field, replacing them with lightweight wireless communication capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A handheld field maintenance tool with improved functionality is provided. The handheld field maintenance tool includes a keypad, a display, a short-range wireless transceiver and a processor. The processor is coupled to the keypad, the display and the short-range wireless transceiver. The processor is also coupled to memory having a plurality of instructions stored therein, which instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform at least one of remote wireless display; remote wireless keypress injection; and wireless printing.