Field device with power over Ethernet

摘要

A field device that communicates in accordance with Ethernet signaling is provided. The field device is powered by virtue of its Ethernet connection. The field device preferably includes a feature board that includes an Ethernet network connection and a field device connection. The feature board is configured to power the field device with power received through the Ethernet network connection. The feature board interacts with the field device using a process industry standard communication protocol. A method of operating a field device is also provided.

主权项

1. A field device assembly comprising:
a field device including:
a transducer configured to couple to a process;a housing; field device circuitry operably coupled to the transducer and disposed within the housing; and a terminal board including a field device connector configured to couple to a process communication loop to communicate information over and receive power from the process communication loop in accordance with a process industry standard protocol, wherein the information communicated over the process communication loop is information used to control a process variable using the transducer or information sent by the field device related to a process variable sensed by the transducer wherein the field device circuitry is powered with power received from the process communication loop; a feature board coupled to the field device and disposed within the housing, the feature board including:
an Ethernet physical layer module coupled to an Ethernet connector;an Ethernet power module coupled to the Ethernet connector and configured to power the field device with energy received through the Ethernet connector;wherein the Ethernet physical layer module and the Ethernet power module are embodied upon the feature board;a field device input/output (I/O) interface module configured to couple to the field device circuitry through the field device connector of the terminal board, communicate with the field device circuitry through the process communication loop, and provide power to the field device circuitry through the process communication loop using power provided from the Ethernet power module; anda controller operably coupled to the field device input/output (I/O) interface module and to the Ethernet connector.