Soft HART Modem Scaling for Parallel Field Device Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current industrial systems face limitations in efficiently managing multiple HART devices due to the need for separate modems or time multiplexing, leading to increased costs and restricted parallel access, which delays project commissioning and underutilizes hardware resources.
Innovation Solution
Implementing dynamically scalable soft HART modems that detect and manage field devices on a network, generating soft modem instances as needed to demodulate and extract payload information, thereby eliminating the need for multiple physical modems and enabling parallel access to HART devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple separate HART modems are used to support multichannel I/O devices, then parallel access to HART devices is enabled, but hardware cost and system complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple HART modem functions into a single physical modem by implementing time-division multiplexing. The modem dynamically allocates time slots to different HART channels, allowing one modem to serve multiple channels sequentially. This consolidation reduces hardware cost while maintaining parallel access capability through time-multiplexed communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic channel allocation where the modem can flexibly assign time slots to different HART channels based on active devices and communication requirements. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to varying numbers of connected HART devices, optimizing resource utilization while enabling parallel access to multiple devices.
2Device complexity
If a single HART modem is used to support multichannel I/O devices, then hardware cost is reduced, but parallel access to HART devices is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic time-division multiplexing where the single HART modem cyclically switches between different HART channels at predetermined time intervals. Each channel receives dedicated time slots for data transmission, creating a periodic communication pattern that enables efficient parallel data collection from multiple HART devices using one modem.
3Device complexity
If time multiplexing is used to extract HART data from multiple field transmitters, then hardware cost is reduced, but communication latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring time slots and communication schedules for different HART channels. The modem anticipates data transmission needs and prepares time-division multiplexing patterns in advance, reducing idle time and minimizing latency during actual data extraction from multiple field transmitters.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for managing a field device on a network can involve detecting, at a processing device, a connection of the field device in an industrial process control and automation system, receiving data, from the field device, including payload information related to the field device in the industrial process control and automation system, determining, at the processing device, whether the field device uses a specific protocol based on the data, and responsive to determining that the field device uses the specific protocol, generating, at the processing device, a soft modem instance. The method and apparatus can also involve termination of soft modem instance if the field device becomes disconnected. The method and apparatus can also involve demodulating and extracting, using the soft modem instance, the payload information from the data.