JP2013098891A - Field apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively reduce consumption of a battery during a storage period from factory shipment to actual installation.SOLUTION: A field apparatus 10 includes a control part 12 for: confirming whether or not a sensor 20 is connected to a sensor connection part 15 as operation mode confirmation processing for confirming a new operation mode of the field apparatus 10; setting the operation mode to a storage mode, when it is not confirmed that the sensor 20 is connected; setting the operation mode to a measurement mode, when it is confirmed that the sensor 20 is connected; stopping radio communication at a radio communication part 11 to reduce consumption of a battery 13, when the operation mode of the field apparatus 10 is the storage mode; and starting the radio communication at the radio communication part 11 to transmit a measurement value, when the operation mode is the measurement mode.

Description

  The present invention relates to a field device that operates by a battery, measures a physical quantity, and transmits the measured value to a host device.

In facilities such as industrial plants, multiple field devices such as transmitters and positioners are installed, and physical quantities such as pressure, flow rate, and temperature are measured at each part. It is intended to control and manage.
When a field device is connected to a host device, a two-wire transmission line composed of an analog communication transmission line using a 4-20 mA DC current loop is widely used. However, depending on the installation environment of the field device, a field device that measures and transmits a physical quantity by battery driving is used.

  In such a battery-driven wireless field device, continuous operation guarantee for several years without a battery replacement is required from the viewpoint of improving operational reliability and saving labor in maintenance work. Therefore, in facilities such as industrial plants, battery replacement of wireless field devices is performed only during periodic inspections that are performed every several years. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce battery consumption as much as possible.

  On the other hand, it is necessary to assume that the wireless field device is used in a dangerous place where flammable gas exists such as a petroleum / chemical plant. In such an environment, when a battery is installed, a relatively large current flows, and an electric spark is generated at the contact point between the battery and the device-side electrode. Installation of batteries to field devices in is prohibited. Therefore, a method is adopted in which a battery is attached to a wireless field device in advance at the time of manufacture and shipped after being in an operating state. However, since a storage period of several months or one year occurs from factory shipment until the wireless feel device is actually installed, the battery is consumed for the storage period.

  Conventionally, as a technology for reducing battery consumption during such a storage period, in a wireless automatic meter reading system, in the standby state, the interval for detecting a carrier for wireless communication is lengthened to suppress battery consumption, and according to carrier detection A technique for returning from a standby state and performing normal operation has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-194022

However, in such a conventional technique, although power is consumed for carrier detection intermittently in the storage period, there is a problem that battery consumption in the storage period cannot be effectively reduced. .
When a wireless field device is connected to a wireless network, power consumption can be significantly reduced by intermittently performing wireless communication. However, when not connected to a wireless network, an operation for detecting a carrier for wireless communication is executed. In this carrier detection operation, it is necessary to efficiently detect a communication partner for the entire communicable range, and therefore, radio waves are transmitted with large power. In addition, radio waves are continuously transmitted for a certain period in accordance with the intermittent operation of the communication partner.

For this reason, at the time of carrier detection, electric power of about several tens to 100 times is consumed compared with the time of normal wireless communication. Therefore, even if intermittent, since the amount of power consumed at one time is large, battery consumption cannot be effectively reduced.
The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a field device that can effectively reduce battery consumption during a storage period from factory shipment to actual installation.

  In order to achieve such an object, a field device according to the present invention is a field device that notifies a host device of a measurement value obtained by measuring a physical quantity with a sensor, and is installed at the time of factory shipment. A battery that supplies power for operation to each unit of the device, a sensor connection unit for connecting the sensor, and a measurement value obtained by the sensor connected to the sensor connection unit is transmitted to the host device by wireless communication. As an operation mode confirmation process for confirming a new operation mode of the wireless communication unit and the field device, whether or not the sensor is connected to the sensor connection unit is confirmed, and if the connection of the sensor cannot be confirmed, the operation mode is set. When the storage mode is set and the connection of the sensor is confirmed, the operation mode is set to the measurement mode, and the operation mode of the field device is stored. In the case of the mode, the wireless communication in the wireless communication unit is stopped to reduce battery consumption. When the operation mode is the measurement mode, the wireless communication unit starts the wireless communication and transmits the measurement value. And a control unit for performing the above.

  In this case, a terminal connection unit for connecting a setting terminal for setting the operation mode of the field device by a command is further provided, and the control unit uses an operation mode setting command from the setting terminal instead of the operation mode confirmation process. The operation mode check process is executed, and when the command instructs the storage mode setting, the operation mode is set to the storage mode, and when the command instructs the measurement mode setting, the measurement mode is set. The storage mode may be set.

  In addition, an operation input unit for performing a setting operation for setting the operation mode of the field device is further provided, and the control unit performs setting operation for setting the operation mode input by the operation input unit instead of the operation mode confirmation process. If the setting operation instructs the storage mode setting, the operation mode is set to the storage mode, and if the setting operation instructs the measurement mode setting, the operation mode confirmation process is executed. The measurement mode may be set to the storage mode.

  In addition, another field device according to the present invention is a field device that notifies a host device of a measurement value obtained by measuring a physical quantity with a sensor, and is installed at the time of shipment from the factory and operates in each part of the field device. Wireless communication of measured values obtained from a sensor connected to a battery connected to a battery for supplying power for power supply, a terminal connection unit for setting an operation mode of the field device by a command, and a sensor connected to the sensor connection unit As an operation mode confirmation process for confirming the new operation mode of the field device and the wireless communication unit that transmits to the host device, the operation mode setting command from the setting terminal is confirmed, and the command is stored in the storage mode. When the setting is instructed, the operation mode is set to the storage mode, and when the command instructs to set the measurement mode, the measurement mode is set. When the storage device is set to the storage mode and the operation mode of the field device is the storage mode, the wireless communication in the wireless communication unit is stopped to reduce battery consumption. When the operation mode is the measurement mode, the wireless communication unit And a control unit that starts wireless communication in the communication unit and transmits measurement values.

  In addition, another field device according to the present invention is a field device that notifies a host device of a measurement value obtained by measuring a physical quantity with a sensor, and is installed at the time of shipment from the factory and operates in each part of the field device. A wireless device for transmitting measured values obtained by a sensor connected to a sensor connecting unit, a battery for supplying power for operation, an operation input unit for performing a setting operation for setting an operation mode of the field device, and a sensor connecting unit. As the operation mode confirmation process for confirming the new operation mode of the field communication device and the wireless communication unit that transmits to the field device, the setting operation for operation mode setting input by the operation input unit is confirmed and the setting operation is stored. When the mode setting is instructed, the operation mode is set to the storage mode, and when the setting operation instructs the measurement mode setting, the measurement mode is set to the storage mode. When the operation mode of the field device is the storage mode, wireless communication at the wireless communication unit is stopped to reduce battery consumption. When the operation mode is the measurement mode, wireless communication is performed. And a control unit for starting measurement and transmitting measurement values.

According to the present invention, since the sensor is removed in the storage state from the time of shipment from the factory to the installation, the operation mode of the field device becomes the storage mode during this period, and battery consumption is reduced. In addition, when a sensor is connected to a field device during installation to the facility, the operation mode of the field device automatically changes to the measurement mode, starts wireless communication at the wireless communication unit, and the measured value obtained by the sensor Wireless transmission starts.
Therefore, battery consumption during the storage period from factory shipment to actual installation can be effectively reduced. Further, when the sensor is connected or when the operation mode is switched, a large current does not flow as in the case of mounting the battery, so that there is no risk that this becomes an ignition source, and high safety is obtained.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the field apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation mode switching process of the field device concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the field apparatus concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation mode switching process of the field device concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation mode switching process of the field apparatus concerning 3rd Embodiment.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
First, a field device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the field device according to the first embodiment.

  This field device 10 is composed of field devices such as transmitters and positioners installed in facilities such as industrial plants, and operates with electric power supplied from a battery mounted at the time of shipment from the factory. In addition, it has a function of notifying a measured value obtained by measuring a physical quantity such as temperature with the sensor 20 to a higher-level device (not shown) by wireless communication.

  In the present embodiment, as an operation mode confirmation process for confirming a new operation mode of the field device 10, whether or not the sensor 20 is connected to the sensor connection unit 15 is confirmed, and the connection of the sensor 20 cannot be confirmed. Sets the operation mode to the storage mode, sets the operation mode to the measurement mode when the connection of the sensor 20 is confirmed, and performs wireless communication when the operation mode of the field device 10 is the storage mode. The wireless communication in the unit 11 is stopped to reduce the consumption of the battery 13, and when the operation mode is the measurement mode, the wireless communication unit 11 starts the wireless communication and transmits the measurement value. Is.

Next, the configuration of the field device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The field device 10 is provided with a wireless communication unit 11, a control unit 12, a battery 13, an operation input unit 14, and a sensor connection unit 15 as main functional units, and these functional units include a data communication line and a power source. It is connected via wiring such as a supply line.

  The wireless communication unit 11 as a whole performs wireless data communication based on the short-range wireless network IEEE 802.15.4, the industrial wireless communication standard ISA100.11a standard, and wireless communication methods such as wireless LAN and Bluetooth (registered trademark). A function to wirelessly transmit the measured value obtained by the sensor 20 to the host device by operating by the power source supplied from the battery 13 and performing wireless communication, and according to an instruction from the control unit 12 In addition, it has a function of adjusting the consumption of the battery 13 by controlling stop / start of wireless communication. In a general industrial wireless device, when wireless communication is stopped, current consumption is reduced to about several μA to several tens of μA.

The battery 13 is made of a battery such as a primary battery or a secondary battery, and is mounted at the time of factory shipment and has a function of supplying power for operation to each part of the field device 10.
The operation input unit 14 includes an operation input device such as a switch or a button, and has a function of detecting various operations such as a setting operation for setting the operation content of the field device 10 and notifying the control unit 12 of the various operations.

  The sensor connection unit 15 is an interface circuit for connecting the sensor 20 to the field device 10. The sensor connection unit 15 detects a function of outputting a drive signal for driving the sensor 20 and an output signal from the sensor 20. It has a function of confirming the presence or absence of connection and notifying the control unit 12 and a function of detecting an output signal from the sensor 20 and notifying the control unit 12.

  As a whole, the control unit 12 includes a control circuit such as a CPU that performs various control processes by operating with the power supplied from the battery 13, and as an operation mode confirmation process for confirming a new operation mode of the field device 10. When the connection of the sensor 20 to the sensor connection unit 15 is confirmed and the connection of the sensor 20 cannot be confirmed, the operation mode is set to the storage mode, and when the connection of the sensor 20 is confirmed, the operation is performed. When the function for setting the mode to the measurement mode and the operation mode of the field device 10 are the storage mode, the wireless communication in the wireless communication unit 11 is stopped to reduce the consumption of the battery 13, and the operation mode is the measurement mode. In this case, the wireless communication unit 11 has a function of starting wireless communication and transmitting measurement values.

[Operation of First Embodiment]
Next, the operation of the field device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation mode switching process of the field device according to the first embodiment.
The control unit 12 of the field device 10 executes the operation mode switching process of FIG. 2 when the battery 13 is attached at the time of factory shipment and the power supply for the operation is started.

First, the control unit 12 confirms whether the sensor 20 is connected to the sensor connection unit 15 based on the notification from the sensor connection unit 15 in order to confirm a new operation mode of the field device 10 (step 100: operation mode). Confirmation process).
Here, when the connection of the sensor 20 cannot be confirmed, that is, when it is not connected (step 101: NO), the control unit 12 sets the operation mode of the field device 10 stored in the internal memory of the control unit 12 to the storage mode. Set (step 102).

Thereby, the control unit 12 stops the wireless communication in the wireless communication unit 11 and consumes the battery 13 because the operation mode is the storage mode in the operation mode management process executed separately from the operation mode switching process. Reduce.
Usually, most of the field devices 10 are packed in a form in which the sensor 20 is removed from the field device 10 at the time of factory shipment, and the sensor 20 is connected to the field device 10 in an installation operation in which the equipment is installed. Therefore, since the sensor 20 is removed in the storage state from factory shipment to installation, the operation mode of the field device 10 becomes the storage mode during this period, and the consumption of the battery 13 is reduced.

  Thereafter, the control unit 12 sets the period length until the determination timing in the next operation mode confirmation process to a timer such as an internal timer of the CPU (step 103), and stops the process until the timer expires. Then, the process shifts to a standby state (step 104), and shifts to step 100 according to the time up. Thereby, since an operation mode confirmation process is performed intermittently, the power consumption in the control part 12 can be reduced. Note that the execution cycle of the operation mode confirmation process is from once a day to about one minute interval depending on the installation method of the field device 10, the power consumption in the storage mode, the battery 13 and the capacity, and the combination of the storage period. And may be determined as appropriate.

  In addition, when the CPU is provided with a low power consumption mode called a sleep mode, the CPU is shifted to the low power consumption mode at the start of step 104, and the normal power consumption is changed from the low power consumption according to the timer time-up. You may return to mode. Thereby, the consumption of the battery 13 can be further reduced.

On the other hand, when the connection of the sensor 20 can be confirmed in step 101 (step 101: YES), the control unit 12 sets the operation mode of the field device 10 stored in the internal memory of the control unit 12 to the measurement mode. (Step 105), a series of operation mode switching processing is terminated.
Therefore, when the sensor 20 is connected to the field device 10 in the installation work in the facility, the operation mode of the field device 10 automatically becomes the measurement mode, and the wireless communication in the wireless communication unit 11 is started. Wireless transmission of the obtained measurement value is started.

[Effect of the first embodiment]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the control unit 12 confirms whether or not the sensor 20 is connected to the sensor connection unit 15 as an operation mode confirmation process for confirming the new operation mode of the field device 10, and When the connection of the sensor 20 cannot be confirmed, the operation mode is set to the storage mode. When the connection of the sensor 20 can be confirmed, the operation mode is set to the measurement mode, and the operation mode of the field device 10 is set. In the storage mode, wireless communication in the wireless communication unit 11 is stopped to reduce the consumption of the battery 13, and when the operation mode is the measurement mode, wireless communication in the wireless communication unit 11 is started. The measurement value is transmitted.

  Usually, most of the field devices 10 are packed in a form in which the sensor 20 is removed from the field device 10 at the time of factory shipment, and the sensor 20 is connected to the field device 10 in an installation operation in which the equipment is installed. As a result, the sensor 20 is removed in the storage state from the time of shipment from the factory to the installation. Therefore, during this period, the operation mode of the field device 10 becomes the storage mode, and consumption of the battery 13 is reduced.

In addition, when the sensor 20 is connected to the field device 10 in the installation work in the facility, the operation mode of the field device 10 automatically becomes the measurement mode, and the wireless communication in the wireless communication unit 11 is started. Wireless transmission of the obtained measurement value is started.
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to effectively reduce the consumption of the battery 13 during the storage period from factory shipment to actual installation. Further, when the sensor 20 is connected or when the operation mode is switched, a large current does not flow as when the battery 13 is mounted, so that there is no risk that this becomes an ignition source, and high safety is obtained.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a field device 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the field device according to the second embodiment, and the same or equivalent parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the operation mode of the field device 10 is switched based on whether or not the sensor 20 is connected to the field device 10 has been described as an example. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the operation mode of the field device 10 is switched based on an operation mode setting command from the setting terminal 30 instead.

As compared with the first embodiment, the field device 10 according to the present embodiment is provided with a terminal connection unit 16.
The terminal connection unit 16 includes an interface circuit for connecting the setting terminal 30 that sets the operation mode of the field device by a command, and performs data communication with the connected setting terminal 30, thereby performing the setting terminal 30. A function for transmitting / receiving various commands to / from the control unit 12, a function for notifying the received command to the control unit 12, and a function for transmitting a command from the control unit 12 to the setting terminal 30.

The setting terminal 30 is a general portable processing terminal used in equipment such as an industrial plant in order to perform maintenance and management of the field device 10.
The control unit 12 executes an operation mode confirmation process for confirming an operation mode setting command from the setting terminal 30 instead of the operation mode confirmation process according to the first embodiment, and the command sets the storage mode. In this case, the operation mode is set to the storage mode, and when the command instructs to set the measurement mode, the measurement mode is set to the storage mode.
Other configurations of the field device 10 according to the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

[Operation of Second Embodiment]
Next, the operation of the field device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation mode switching process of the field device according to the second embodiment.
The control unit 12 of the field device 10 switches the operation mode of FIG. 4 in response to a command reception notification from the terminal connection unit 16 when the battery 13 is mounted at the time of factory shipment and power supply for operation is started. Execute the process.

First, the control unit 12 confirms the content of the command from the setting terminal 30 notified from the terminal connection unit 16 in order to confirm the new operation mode of the field device 10 (step 200: operation mode confirmation process).
Here, when the received command is a command for setting the operation mode or less (step 201: NO), the control unit 12 proceeds to step 103.

On the other hand, when the received command is an operation mode setting command (step 201: YES), the control unit 12 confirms whether or not the command is a command for instructing setting of the storage mode (step 202).
Here, when the command is a command for instructing the setting of the storage mode (step 202: YES), the control unit 12 sets the operation mode of the field device 10 stored in the internal memory of the control unit 12 to the storage mode. (Step 203), and the series of operation mode switching processing ends.

Thereby, the control unit 12 stops the wireless communication in the wireless communication unit 11 and consumes the battery 13 because the operation mode is the storage mode in the operation mode management process executed separately from the operation mode switching process. Reduce.
Therefore, by setting the storage mode from the setting terminal 30 at the time of factory shipment, the operation mode of the field device 10 becomes the storage mode in the storage state from the factory shipment to the installation, and the consumption of the battery 13 is reduced.

On the other hand, when the command is a command for setting the measurement mode in step 202 (step 202: NO), the control unit 12 operates the operation mode of the field device 10 stored in the internal memory of the control unit 12. Is set to the measurement mode (step 204), and the series of operation mode switching processing ends.
Therefore, when the operation mode of the field device 10 is set to the measurement mode by the setting terminal 30 in the installation work in the facility, the field device 10 starts wireless communication with the wireless communication unit 11 and is obtained by the sensor 20. Wireless transmission of measurement values is started.

[Effect of the second embodiment]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 12 confirms the operation mode setting command from the setting terminal 30 as the operation mode confirmation process, and when the command instructs the setting of the storage mode, The operation mode is set to the storage mode, and when the command instructs the setting of the measurement mode, the measurement mode is set to the storage mode.

  Thus, if the storage mode is set from the setting terminal 30 at the time of factory shipment, the operation mode of the field device 10 becomes the storage mode at the time of factory shipment, and consumption of the battery 13 is reduced. Further, in the installation work on the facility, when the measurement mode is set from the setting terminal 30, the wireless communication in the wireless communication unit 11 is started and the wireless transmission of the measurement value obtained by the sensor 20 is started.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to effectively reduce the consumption of the battery 13 during the storage period from factory shipment to actual installation. Further, when the operation mode is switched by the setting terminal 30, a large current does not flow as in the case where the battery 13 is mounted, so that there is no risk that this becomes an ignition source, and high safety is obtained.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a field device 10 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the first embodiment, a case where the operation mode of the field device 10 is switched based on whether or not the sensor 20 is connected to the field device 10 will be described as an example. In the second embodiment, the operation mode from the setting terminal 30 is described. The case where the operation mode of the field device 10 is switched based on the setting command has been described as a spirit. In the present embodiment, instead of this, a case will be described in which the operation mode of the field device 10 is switched based on a setting operation for setting the operation mode in the field device 10.

The control unit 12 of the field device 10 according to the present embodiment performs a setting operation for setting the operation mode input by the operation input unit 14 instead of the operation mode confirmation processing according to the first and second embodiments. The operation mode confirmation process to be confirmed is executed. When the setting operation instructs the setting of the storage mode, the operation mode is set to the storage mode. When the setting operation instructs the setting of the measurement mode, the measurement is performed. It has a function to set the mode to the storage mode.
Other configurations of the field device 10 according to the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

[Operation of Third Embodiment]
Next, the operation of the field device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation mode switching process of the field device according to the third embodiment.
The control unit 12 of the field device 10 switches the operation mode shown in FIG. 5 in response to an operation detection notification from the operation input unit 14 when the battery 13 is attached at the time of factory shipment and power supply for operation is started. Execute the process.

First, the control part 12 confirms the operation content notified from the operation input part 14 (step 300: operation mode confirmation process).
Here, when the said operation is operations other than operation mode setting (step 301: NO), the control part 12 complete | finishes a series of operation mode switching processes, maintaining the present operation mode.

On the other hand, when the operation is a setting operation for setting the operation mode (step 301: YES), the control unit 12 instructs the setting of the storage mode in order to confirm the new operation mode of the field device 10. It is confirmed whether or not the setting operation is to be performed (step 302: operation mode confirmation processing).
Here, when the setting operation is a setting operation for instructing the setting of the storage mode (step 302: YES), the control unit 12 sets the operation mode of the field device 10 stored in the internal memory of the control unit 12. The storage mode is set (step 303), and the series of operation mode switching processing ends.

Thereby, the control unit 12 stops the wireless communication in the wireless communication unit 11 and consumes the battery 13 because the operation mode is the storage mode in the operation mode management process executed separately from the operation mode switching process. Reduce.
Accordingly, by setting the storage mode from the operation input unit 14 at the time of factory shipment, the operation mode of the field device 10 becomes the storage mode in the storage state from the time of factory shipment to the installation, and the consumption of the battery 13 is reduced.

On the other hand, when the setting operation is a setting operation instructing the setting of the measurement mode in step 302 (step 302: NO), the control unit 12 stores the field device 10 stored in the internal memory of the control unit 12. The operation mode is set to the measurement mode (step 304), and the series of operation mode switching processing ends.
Therefore, when the operation mode of the field device 10 is set to the measurement mode by the operation input unit 14 in the installation work on the facility, the field device 10 starts wireless communication with the wireless communication unit 11 and is obtained by the sensor 20. Wireless transmission of measured values is started.

[Effect of the third embodiment]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 12 confirms the setting operation for setting the operation mode input by the operation input unit 14 as the operation mode confirmation process, and the setting operation instructs the setting of the storage mode. In this case, the operation mode is set to the storage mode, and when the setting operation instructs setting of the measurement mode, the measurement mode is set to the storage mode.

  Thereby, if the storage mode is set from the operation input unit 14 at the time of factory shipment, the operation mode of the field device 10 becomes the storage mode at the time of factory shipment, and the consumption of the battery 13 is reduced. Moreover, in the installation work to the equipment, when the measurement mode is set from the operation input unit 14, wireless communication in the wireless communication unit 11 is started and wireless transmission of the measurement value obtained by the sensor 20 is started. .

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to effectively reduce the consumption of the battery 13 during the storage period from factory shipment to actual installation. In addition, when the operation mode is switched by the operation input unit 14, a large current does not flow as in the case where the battery 13 is mounted. Therefore, there is no risk that this becomes an ignition source, and high safety is obtained.

[Extended embodiment]
The present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention. In addition, each embodiment can be implemented in any combination within a consistent range.

Further, in the first embodiment, the case where the presence / absence of the connection of the sensor 20 to the sensor connection unit 15 is confirmed by periodically executing the operation mode switching process has been described as an example. The operation mode may be switched by the interrupt signal.
In this case, the sensor connection unit 15 is provided with a function of outputting an interrupt signal to the control unit 12 when the sensor 20 is connected, and the control unit 12 operates the field device 10 in response to the interrupt signal. The mode is switched from the storage mode to the measurement mode.

  This eliminates the need to time the timing of the operation mode switching process in the storage mode. Further, if the control unit 12 has a function of returning from the sleep mode to the normal mode by an interrupt signal, the control unit 12 can be maintained in the sleep mode in the storage mode, and the consumption of the battery 13 is further reduced. it can.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the operation mode switching process is periodically executed regardless of the current operation mode has been described as an example. However, when the measurement mode is temporarily changed, the operation mode is periodically executed. The operation mode switching process that has been performed may be completely stopped. Thereby, the processing burden in the measurement mode can be reduced.

In the first embodiment, the case where the operation mode of the field device 10 is switched based on whether or not the sensor 20 is connected has been described as an example. However, the field device 10 is configured based on the normality of the measurement value detected by the sensor 20. The operation mode may be switched.
For example, when the measurement value detected by the sensor 20 is compared with the normal range with respect to the measurement value set in advance in Step 100 of FIG. 2 and the measurement value is not included in the normal range in Step 101, for example. (Step 101: NO), the process proceeds to step 102. If the measured value is included in the normal range (step 101: YES), the process may proceed to step 105.

  Further, in the second embodiment, the case where the control unit 12 always operates in the storage mode and performs the operation mode switching process has been described as an example. However, as in the first embodiment, periodically, An operation mode switching process may be executed. Alternatively, the terminal connection unit 16 is provided with a function of outputting an interrupt signal to the control unit 12 in response to command reception from the setting terminal 30, and the control unit 12 starts an operation mode switching process in response to the interrupt signal. You may make it do.

  In the third embodiment, the case where the control unit 12 always operates in the storage mode and executes the operation mode switching process has been described as an example. However, as in the first embodiment, periodically, An operation mode switching process may be executed. Alternatively, the operation input unit 14 is provided with a function of outputting an interrupt signal to the control unit 12 in response to an arbitrary operation input, and the control unit 12 starts the operation mode switching process in response to the interrupt signal. May be.

  In the third embodiment, as the setting operation, an existing switch such as a zero / span adjustment switch provided in a general field device may be used. For example, unlike a normal operation, when the switch is pressed and held for 10 seconds or longer, it may be determined that the setting operation is an instruction to switch the operation mode. At this time, an operation mode to be set may be assigned to each switch, or the storage mode and the measurement mode may be alternately switched with one switch. As a result, it is possible to cope with the problem by simply changing the software without adding a new switch.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Field apparatus, 11 ... Wireless communication part, 12 ... Control part, 13 ... Battery, 14 ... Operation input part, 15 ... Sensor connection part, 16 ... Terminal connection part, 20 ... Sensor, 30 ... Setting terminal.

Claims (5)

A field device that notifies a host device of a measurement value obtained by measuring a physical quantity with a sensor,
A battery that is mounted at the time of shipment from the factory and supplies power to each part of the field device;
A sensor connection for connecting the sensor;
A wireless communication unit that transmits the measurement value obtained by the sensor connected to the sensor connection unit to the host device by wireless communication;
As an operation mode confirmation process for confirming a new operation mode of the field device, the presence / absence of connection of the sensor to the sensor connection unit is confirmed. If the connection of the sensor cannot be confirmed, the operation mode is set to the storage mode. When the connection of the sensor is confirmed, the operation mode is set to the measurement mode. When the operation mode of the field device is the storage mode, the wireless communication in the wireless communication unit is stopped. A field device comprising: a control unit that reduces consumption of the battery and, when the operation mode is the measurement mode, starts wireless communication in the wireless communication unit and transmits the measurement value. . The field device according to claim 1,
A terminal connection unit for connecting a setting terminal for setting the operation mode of the field device by a command;
The control unit executes an operation mode confirmation process for confirming an operation mode setting command from the setting terminal instead of the operation mode confirmation process, and when the command instructs setting of the storage mode, A field device characterized in that the operation mode is set to the storage mode, and the measurement mode is set to the storage mode when the command instructs to set the measurement mode. The field device according to claim 1,
An operation input unit for performing a setting operation for setting the operation mode of the field device;
In place of the operation mode confirmation process, the control unit executes an operation mode confirmation process for confirming a setting operation for setting the operation mode input by the operation input unit, and the setting operation instructs setting of the storage mode. A field device characterized in that when the operation mode is set, the operation mode is set to the storage mode, and when the setting operation instructs setting of the measurement mode, the measurement mode is set to the storage mode. A field device that notifies a host device of a measurement value obtained by measuring a physical quantity with a sensor,
A battery that is mounted at the time of shipment from the factory and supplies power to each part of the field device;
A terminal connection unit for connecting a setting terminal for setting the operation mode of the field device by a command;
A wireless communication unit that transmits the measurement value obtained by the sensor connected to the sensor connection unit to the host device by wireless communication;
As an operation mode confirmation process for confirming a new operation mode of the field device, an operation mode setting command from the setting terminal is confirmed, and when the command instructs setting of a storage mode, the operation mode Is set to the storage mode, the measurement mode is set to the storage mode when the command instructs the setting of the measurement mode, and when the operation mode of the field device is the storage mode, the wireless communication unit A control unit that stops communication to reduce battery consumption, and, when the operation mode is the measurement mode, starts wireless communication in the wireless communication unit and transmits the measurement value. Characteristic field device. A field device that notifies a host device of a measurement value obtained by measuring a physical quantity with a sensor,
A battery that is mounted at the time of shipment from the factory and supplies power to each part of the field device;
An operation input unit for performing a setting operation for setting the operation mode of the field device;
A wireless communication unit that transmits the measurement value obtained by the sensor connected to the sensor connection unit to the host device by wireless communication;
As an operation mode confirmation process for confirming a new operation mode of the field device, a setting operation for operation mode setting input by the operation input unit is confirmed, and the setting operation instructs setting of a storage mode Sets the operation mode to the storage mode, sets the measurement mode to the storage mode when the setting operation instructs the setting of the measurement mode, and if the operation mode of the field device is the storage mode, Wireless communication in the wireless communication unit is stopped to reduce battery consumption, and when the operation mode is the measurement mode, wireless communication in the wireless communication unit is started and the measurement value is transmitted. A field device comprising a control unit.

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