WIRELESS FIELD DEVICE HAVING A RECONFIGURABLE DISCRETE INPUT/OUTPUT CHANNEL

摘要

A wireless field device (12) for use in an industrial process includes input/output terminals (40) configured to couple to a process interface element (16). A discrete input/output channel (24) is configured to receive a discrete input from the process interface element through the input/output terminals (40) when configured as a discrete input channel. The discrete input/output channel (24) is further configured to provide a discrete output to the process interface element (16) through the input/output terminals (40) when the discrete input/output channel (24) is configured as discrete output channel. Wireless communication circuitry (48) is configured to transmit and receive information. A controller (44) communicates information through the wireless communication circuitry (48) and operates in accordance with configuration information to configure the input/output channel (24) as an input channel when the input/output terminals (40) are connected to a discrete process variable sensor, and further configure the discrete input/output channel as a discrete output channel when the input/output terminals are coupled to a discrete control element.