NFC Configuration Transfer for Replaceable Field Device Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Field devices, particularly radar level gauge systems, face complexities and dangers during replacement and maintenance in hazardous environments, necessitating a simplification of installation and service processes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating NFC-circuits in the housing, sensor module, and electronics module to store and retrieve configuration information, allowing for simplified replacement and maintenance by pre-storing settings in the housing, which can be read by new modules, reducing the risk of incorrect configuration and eliminating the need for permanent power supplies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If configuration information is stored in the electronics module or sensor module, then the module can be replaced, but the replacement process becomes complicated and time-consuming due to manual reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration information is pre-stored in the NFC circuit of the housing before the electronics module or sensor module is replaced. When a module is replaced, the new module automatically retrieves the pre-stored configuration from the housing's NFC circuit, eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration and significantly reducing downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration information is copied from the housing's NFC circuit to the new electronics module or sensor module during the replacement process. This automatic copying mechanism ensures that the new module receives the correct configuration without requiring manual intervention, thereby speeding up the replacement process.
2Reliability
If configuration information is manually transferred during replacement, then accuracy can be maintained, but the process becomes dangerous and complex in hazardous environments
Solution Approach 1:
The replacement process is made self-service through automatic configuration transfer. The new module autonomously retrieves configuration information from the housing's NFC circuit without requiring manual intervention. This eliminates human error in configuration transfer and simplifies the replacement process, making it safer for hazardous environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical process of configuration transfer (such as physical connection or manual input) is replaced by wireless NFC communication. This substitution eliminates the need for physical contact or manual configuration steps, reducing complexity and improving reliability during module replacement.
3Reliability
If permanent power supplies are provided in modules for configuration storage, then configuration can be maintained, but power consumption increases and safety is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply requirement for configuration storage is extracted from the replaceable modules (electronics module and sensor module) and transferred to the housing. The housing's NFC circuit stores configuration information without requiring continuous power to the modules, allowing modules to be passive during storage and only active during brief communication windows, thereby eliminating permanent power supplies in modules.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous power supply for configuration storage, the system uses periodic wireless power transfer and communication through NFC. The configuration is transferred in periodic bursts during module initialization or replacement, rather than requiring continuous power, thus reducing overall power consumption while maintaining configuration persistence.
Data Source
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AI summary
A field device system (100) configured to determine a process variable, the field device system comprising: a housing (102), the housing comprising a first NFC-circuit (201) configured to receive and store information; a sensor module (104) comprising a sensor (105) and a second NFC-circuit (202) configured to store configuration information of the sensor, the sensor module being configured to acquire a sensing signal indicative of a process variable value; and an electronics module (106) arranged in the housing and comprising sensing circuitry configured to communicate with the sensor module to receive the sensing signal from the sensor module, the electronics module comprising a third NFC-circuit (203) configured to read configuration information of the sensor module from the second NFC-circuit (202) and to write configuration information of the sensor module and configuration information of the electronics module to the first NFC-circuit (201).