Wireless Multimeter for Industrial Network Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current site survey and deployment methods for industrial wireless field networks are time-consuming and costly, as they require transporting heavy equipment and often fail to detect narrow band industrial wireless networks like ISA100 and WirelessHART, which have unique characteristics different from WiFi networks.
Innovation Solution
The use of dual industrial wireless multimeters configured to operate in various modes, including gateway, router, sniffer, and discovery modes, to facilitate quick deployment, troubleshooting, and maintenance of industrial wireless networks by communicating with field devices using protocols like ISA100 and WirelessHART, and displaying essential wireless parameters such as signal strength and quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional site survey methods using heavy equipment are used, then comprehensive network coverage can be surveyed, but the deployment time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces heavy mechanical survey equipment with wireless multimeters that can be easily transported and deployed. The multimeters use wireless communication to survey network coverage without requiring complex mechanical setups, thereby reducing deployment time while maintaining survey accuracy through digital measurement capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless multimeter serves multiple functions including voltage measurement, current measurement, resistance measurement, and network coverage surveying. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized equipment for each measurement type, reducing both deployment time and equipment complexity while maintaining comprehensive survey capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If traditional site survey methods using heavy equipment are used, then comprehensive network coverage can be surveyed, but the deployment cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive heavy mechanical survey equipment with affordable wireless multimeters. The multimeters use standard wireless communication protocols and integrated circuits instead of complex mechanical systems, significantly reducing equipment costs while maintaining survey accuracy through digital sensing and processing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameters from mechanical physical quantities to electrical and wireless signal parameters. By measuring voltage, current, resistance, and wireless signal strength electronically, the system achieves accurate network coverage surveying using low-cost electronic components instead of expensive mechanical equipment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standard WiFi survey tools are used, then general wireless networks can be surveyed, but narrow band industrial wireless networks like ISA100 and WirelessHART cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless multimeter is designed with multi-functionality to survey both standard WiFi networks and narrow band industrial wireless networks like ISA100 and WirelessHART. It incorporates multiple wireless communication interfaces and protocols, enabling it to detect and measure various network types with a single device, thereby improving adaptability without increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless communication interfaces as intermediaries between the multimeter and different network types. These interfaces act as mediators that translate and adapt signals from various wireless protocols (WiFi, ISA100, WirelessHART) into measurable parameters, enabling the multimeter to detect narrow band networks that would otherwise be invisible to standard survey tools.
4Productivity
If technicians lack expertise in industrial wireless protocols, then deployment can be faster, but proper network configuration and troubleshooting become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless multimeter provides self-service capabilities by automatically detecting network parameters, identifying protocol types, and presenting measurement results in an intuitive format. The device performs self-diagnosis and provides troubleshooting guidance without requiring deep expert knowledge, enabling technicians to deploy and troubleshoot networks quickly while maintaining proper configuration standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the multimeter continuously monitors network parameters and provides real-time feedback to technicians. The device displays signal strength, network status, and diagnostic information in an easily interpretable format, guiding technicians through deployment and troubleshooting processes without requiring extensive expertise in industrial wireless protocols.
Data Source
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Figure 2A
Figure 2B~3
AI summary
An apparatus (150) includes a tablet computing device (202) and a radio module (204) physically fastened to the tablet computing device. The tablet computing device has a display (208) and is configured to establish WiFi and BLUETOOTH Low Energy (BLE) communication links (206) with other devices. The radio module is configured to establish ISA100 and WirelessHART communication links (144) with field devices (102) of a process control and automation system (100). The tablet computing device and the radio module are configured to communicate with each other using a BLE communication link (206). The apparatus is configured to selectably operate in multiple modes comprising a gateway mode, a router mode, a sniffer mode, and a discovery mode.