Interface for managing process

Details Interface for managing process Interface for managing process

1999-09-17

2001-12-11

Hoff, Marc S. (Department: 2857)

Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing

Calibration or correction system

Sensor or transducer

C702S109000, C709S232000, C709S241000, C709S241000, C710S011000, C710S021000, C710S106000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06330517

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Typically, process plants, such as chemical refinery plants, include many field devices, that control and measure parameters within the process. A field device can be a control device such as a valve controller or a measurement device such as a temperature or flow transmitter. The field device can be coupled to a communication bus such that the devices can communicate to a remote location such as a control room.
Field management systems are software packages, run on computers typically located at remote locations such as in the control room, used to manage the field devices. One such software package, Asset Management Solutions™, is available from Fisher-Rosemount. The field management system generally utilizes several software modules, each configured to perform different functions. The field management system maintains a database containing information related to each field device and is capable of communicating with the field devices using the communication bus.
Calibrators and calibrator management systems are used to calibrate the field devices. A calibrator is typically a portable unit, which can be carried into the field and coupled to the field device. The calibrator performs a number of tests on the field device to determine the accuracy of the device. The test results can be used to adjust the field device in order to optimize performance. Test definitions or testing data containing instructions for calibrating a specific field device must be loaded into the calibrator before a device can be tested. The calibrator management system is a software package typically run on a computer which contains a proprietary, non-standard, database of the test definitions needed by the calibrator to test the field devices. The calibrator management system downloads the test definitions into the calibrator. Furthermore, the results of a calibration can be uploaded from the calibrator back into the CMS. However, typical field management systems have not been able to efficiently interface with field calibrators.
SUMMARY
A data interface is established between a field management system and a calibrator to provide increased efficiency. The data interface includes a communication module for communicating with the calibrator in accordance with a calibrator-specific protocol and a translation module for translating calibration information between a field management system-compatible format and a common data format. The interface allows calibration information to flow between the calibrator and the field management system.


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Holladay et al., “Specification for Field Calibrator Interface”, Southwest Research Institute, Mar. 25, 1999.

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