Method and apparatus for operating field devices via a portable communicator

摘要

A portable communicator for operating a field device. The portable communicator is configured to communicate with the field device to configure and/or analyze performance of a field device in an efficient manner. In some embodiments, the portable communicator includes an intuitive user interface that allows the user to perform a relatively limited set of preconfigured procedures on a field device. The portable communicator may communicate with the field device via a wire and/or wirelessly. In one embodiment, the portable communicator is a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, a PDA, a pocket PC, or any Bluetooth-enabled generic mobile communication device. The portable communicator may communicate with the field device via a wireless communication unit (e.g., Bluetooth modem) coupled to the field device. In a process plant environment, in which the field device is coupled to a controller, the portable communicator may communicate with the field device without communicating with the controller.

主权项

1. A portable communicator for use in a process control system, the process control system including a controller coupled to a field device, the controller configured to communicate with the field device to control a physical process parameter or to measure a physical process control parameter in a process plant, the portable communicator comprising:
a processor; a computer-readable memory having computer-readable instructions executable on the processor; a communication interface configured to communicate wirelessly with the field device via a Bluetooth modem coupled directly to the field device and without communicating via the controller, wherein the communication interface is further configured to convert between Bluetooth protocol and HART protocol and to display a connection status between the portable communicator and the field device and/or the connection status of the field device itself; and a software application stored on the computer readable memory and configured to execute on the processor to send data to the field device or to receive data from the field device via the communication interface and not via the controller, and configured to prevent a user of the portable communicator from overriding parameters of the field device through the portable communicator when the connection status of the field device displayed at the communication interface is in service.