APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATING WIRELESS OR OTHER FIELD DEVICES IN A PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEM

摘要

An apparatus (122) is provided for facilitating communication between, for example, a configuration tool (120) in a process control system (100) and a wireless field device (102a-102n), such as a wireless sensor or actuator. The configuration tool (120) and the wireless field device (102a-102n) use different protocols, and the apparatus (122) converts between the different protocols. The protocol used by the configuration tool (120) could include HART. From the perspective of the wireless field device (102a-102n), the apparatus (122) could appear to support the application protocol of the wireless field device (102a-102n). From the perspective of the configuration tool (120), the apparatus (122) could simulate a HART multiplexer. This may allow a user to use the configuration tool (120) to configure, commission, and monitor the wireless field device (102a-102n), even when the user does not know or understand the protocol used by the wireless field device (102a-102n).