Field device for determining and monitoring process variable in process automation systems
A field device for determining or monitoring a process variable in process automation. The field device includes: a sensor, which works according to a defined measuring principle; and a control/evaluation unit, which conditions and evaluates the measurement data delivered by the sensor; wherein the control/evaluation unit is embodied at least partially as a reconfigurable logic chip FPGA having a plurality of dynamically reconfigurable function modules; wherein an interface is provided, via which the control/evaluation unit receives sensor- and application-specific information concerning a defined sensor type in a defined process application; and wherein the control/evaluation unit so configures the function modules corresponding to the sensor- and application-specific information, that the field device is optimally adapted to the process variable to be ascertained, or to be monitored, and to the current process application of the field device.
1 - 11 . (canceled)
12 . A field device for determining or monitoring a process variable in process automation, comprising:
a sensor, which works according to a defined measuring principle;
a control/evaluation unit, which conditions and evaluates measurement data delivered by said sensor; and interface, wherein:
said control/evaluation unit is embodied at least partially as a reconfigurable logic chip FPGA having a plurality of dynamically reconfigurable function modules;
said control/evaluation unit receives sensor- and application-specific information concerning a defined sensor type in a defined process application via said interface; and
said control/evaluation unit so configures said function modules corresponding to the sensor- and application-specific information, that the field device is adapted optimally to the process variable to be determined, or to be monitored, and to the current process application of the field device.
13 . The field device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein:
the sensor- and application-specific information is provided to said control/evaluation unit in the context of production of the field device or in running, measurement operation.
14 . The field device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein:
said function modules include, for example, microprocessors with different bus rates, A/D converters or D/A converters with different bit resolutions, signal filters with different filter functions, different scalings of evaluating algorithms, different modems, different electrical current control units or operating units for different in/output units.
15 . The field device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein:
said control/evaluation unit has, besides the dynamic region, at least one static region, in which a fundamental component, such as, for example, a microcontroller, is permanently configured.
16 . The field device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein:
the sensor-specific information includes information, which characterizes said sensor via a defined measuring principle in its function for determining or monitoring a process variable.
17 . The field device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein:
the process variable comprises fill level, pressure, flow, temperature, conductivity, pH-value, turbidity, density, viscosity or concentration of a chemical substance.
18 . The field device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein:
the application-specific information comprises information concerning the defined application, in which the sensor ( 1 ) is applied in the process.
19 . The field device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein:
the application-specific information comprises information concerning in which operational type, e.g. pressure measurement, fill level measurement, flow measurement, said sensor, e.g. a pressure sensor, working according to a defined measuring principle, works.
20 . The field device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein:
the application-specific information comprises information on whether the field device is applied in a process with essentially constant values of the process variable or abruptly changing values of the process variable.
21 . The field device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein:
in ongoing measurement operation, a monitoring function checks, whether abrupt changes of the process variable occur; and
said control/evaluation unit, in the case of abruptly changing values of the process variable, configures function modules, especially an ND converter, a D/A-converter and a signal filter, to have a lower resolution and a higher processing speed than in the case of slowly changing or constant values of the process variable.
22 . The field device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein:
said control/evaluation unit configures parallel branches of said function modules, which are suitable, on the one hand, for processing abruptly changing process variables, and which, on the other hand, are suitable for processing essentially continuously changing process variables, and that the monitoring function activates a suitable branch of function modules, depending on which case is present.