Appendable system and devices for data acquisition, analysis and control
An appendable system includes a plurality of appendable devices that are adapted to interoperate with each other and/or a workstation via a communication network to monitor and/or control a process. Each of the appendable devices can communicate with one or more sensors and/or control outputs and includes a housing that facilitates mounting of the appendable device to a surface.
1. An appendable device, comprising:
an antenna;
a transceiver communicatively coupled to the antenna;
a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver, wherein the processor is programmed to perform one of a periodic data monitoring activity and a process control activity;
a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;
an input/output interface adapted to operatively couple the processor to one of a sensor and a control output; and
a housing that holds the transceiver, the processor, the memory, the sensor, the control output, and the input/output interface, wherein the housing is adapted to be attached to a surface of an entity in a process control system.
2. The device of claim 1 , further including a power source disposed within the housing, wherein the power source provides power using one of a capacitor, a battery, vibrations, light and a magnetic field.
3. The appendable device of claim 1 , further including a termination portion adapted to electrically couple wires to the input/output interface.
4. The appendable device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is programmed to communicate with another remotely situated device using a wireless communication technique.
5. The appendable device of claim 4 , wherein the other remotely situated device is one of a controller, another appendable device and a workstation.
6. The appendable device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is programmed to perform one of a data monitoring activity, a data analysis activity and a control activity.
7. The appendable device of claim 1 , wherein the input/output interface is adapted to communicate with a plurality of sensors.
8. An appendable device, comprising:
an antenna;
a transceiver communicatively coupled to the antenna;
a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver, wherein the processor is programmed to perform one of a periodic data monitoring activity and a process control activity;
a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;
an input/output interface adapted to operatively couple the processor to one of a sensor and a control output;
a housing that holds the transceiver, the processor, the memory, the sensor, and the input/output interface, wherein the housing is adapted to be attached to a surface of an entity in a process control system; and
an electrical conductor extending from the housing for communicatively coupling the control output to the input/output interface.
9. The device of claim 8 , further including a power source disposed within the housing, wherein the power source provides power using one of a capacitor, a battery, vibrations, light and a magnetic field.
10. The appendable device of claim 8 , further including a termination portion adapted to electrically couple wires to the input/output interface.
11. The appendable device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is programmed to communicate with another remotely situated device using a wireless communication technique.
12. The appendable device of claim 11 , wherein the other remotely situated device is one of a controller, another appendable device and a workstation.
13. The appendable device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is programmed to perform one of a data monitoring activity, a data analysis activity and a control activity.
14. The appendable device of claim 8 , wherein the input/output interface is adapted to communicate with a plurality of sensors.
15. An appendable device, comprising:
an antenna;
a transceiver communicatively coupled to the antenna;
a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver, wherein the processor is programmed to perform one of a periodic data monitoring activity and a process control activity;
a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;
an input/output interface adapted to operatively couple the processor to one of a sensor and a control output, and wherein the input/output interface is adapted to communicate with a plurality of control output devices; and
a housing that holds the transceiver, the processor, the memory, the sensor, and the input/output interface, wherein the housing is adapted to be attached to a surface of an entity in a process control system.
16. The device of claim 15 , further including a power source disposed within the housing, wherein the power source provides power using one of a capacitor, a battery, vibrations, light and a magnetic field.
17. The appendable device of claim 15 , further including a termination portion adapted to electrically couple wires to the input/output interface.
18. The appendable device of claim 15 , wherein the processor is programmed to communicate with another remotely situated device using a wireless communication technique.
19. The appendable device of claim 18 , wherein the other remotely situated device is one of a controller, another appendable device and a workstation.
20. The appendable device of claim 15 , wherein the processor is programmed to perform one of a data monitoring activity, a data analysis activity and a control activity.
21. The appendable device of claim 15 , wherein the input/output interface is adapted to communicate with a plurality of sensors.
22. An appendable device, comprising:
an antenna;
a transceiver communicatively coupled to the antenna;
a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver, wherein the processor is programmed to perform one of a periodic data monitoring activity and a process control activity, and wherein the processor is programmed to facilitate automatic configuration of a process control system;
a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;
an input/output interface adapted to operatively couple the processor to one of a sensor and a control output; and
a housing that holds the transceiver, the processor, the memory, the sensor, and the input/output interface, wherein the housing is adapted to be attached to a surface of an entity in a process control system.
23. The device of claim 22 , further including a power source disposed within the housing, wherein the power source provides power using one of a capacitor, a battery, vibrations, light and a magnetic field.
24. The appendable device of claim 22 , further including a termination portion adapted to electrically couple wires to the input/output interface.
25. The appendable device of claim 22 , wherein the processor is programmed to communicate with another remotely situated device using a wireless communication technique.
26. The appendable device of claim 25 , wherein the other remotely situated device is one of a controller, another appendable device and a workstation.
27. The appendable device of claim 22 , wherein the processor is programmed to perform one of a data monitoring activity, a data analysis activity and a control activity.
28. The appendable device of claim 22 , wherein the input/output interface is adapted to communicate with a plurality of sensors.