Abstract

The invention relates to a field device for determining and/or monitoring a physical or chemical, process variable in automation technology. The field device comprises: At least one microcontroller (6); a supply unit (2) of limited capacity as primary voltage supply, and a detection circuit (1), which signals the microcontroller (6) of a failure of the supply unit (2) so early by means of a detection signal that sufficient time is available to take suitable safety measures, in order to avoid loss of data, wherein the detection circuit (1) is so embodied that a reference voltage required for detection of a voltage decline of the supply unit (2) has an almost constant offset from the supply voltage of the supply unit (2) and adjusts to the supply voltage, until the detection circuit (1), in the case of an abrupt subceeding of the reference voltage, or an abrupt voltage decline of the supply voltage, sends a detection signal to the microcontroller (6).

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 1/30 - Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations
• H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for monitoring remaining service life of a battery (40) used for operating a field device (2) in automation technology. Present power consumption of the battery (40) is ascertained. During a first phase of life (LP1), power consumption of the battery (40) ascertained during operation of the field device (2) is compared with a predetermined threshold value. In the case of exceeding the predetermined threshold value, during a second phase of life (LP2), the battery (40) is exposed to defined load spikes (LS) at predetermined time intervals (tv). Voltage collapses corresponding to the defined load spikes (LS) are detected, and a warning report is generated when the voltage collapses reach a predetermined maximum limit value.

IPC Classes  ?

• G01R 31/382 - Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• G01R 31/3828 - Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC using current integration
• H02J 7/00 - Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries

Abstract

The invention relates to an autarkic field device or an autarkic radio adapter (2) for a field device (1), of automation technology fed with limited energy via an energy supply unit (3)associated, or associable, with the field device (1) or the radio adapter (2), characterized in that, between the energy supply unit (3) and an internal voltage source (4), whose voltage exceeds, or at times can exceed, the voltage of the energy supply unit (3), a barrier (5a; 5b) of at least one diode group having at least two diodes (6) connected in parallel is arranged, which blocks flow of electrical current from the internal voltage source (4) to the energy supply unit (3) or to the connection terminals (7) of the field device (1) or of the radio adapter (2) for the energy supply unit (3).

IPC Classes  ?

• G05B 9/02 - Safety arrangements electric
• G05B 19/042 - Programme control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers using digital processors

Abstract

The invention concerns a universal interface (I) for a wireless adapter, which supports a communication protocol (HART) used in automation technology, wherein associated with the wireless adapter are a first energy supply unit (EU) for energy supply of the wireless adapter and a radio module (RM) for communication with a superordinated control unit via a radio network (RN), wherein provided on the interface (I) are at least five connection terminals (A, B, C, D, E), which are so embodied that, as a function of a field installation (F1, F2, EUext, SU) that is to be connected, a portion of the connection terminals (A, B, C, D, E) is connectable either with different embodiments of field devices (F1, F2) or with a servicing device (SU).

IPC Classes  ?

• G05B 19/042 - Programme control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers using digital processors