Abstract: An industrial communication module includes a controller and a common interface coupled to the controller. The common interface is configured to couple to a plurality of different types of sensor modules. The industrial communication module includes protocol/output circuitry coupled to the controller and configured to provide an output to a remote device. A sensor module includes a controller and a common interface coupled to the controller. The common interface is configured to couple to a plurality of different types of industrial communication modules. The sensor module includes measurement processing circuitry coupled to the controller and configured to measure an analog electrical characteristic of a sensor and provide a digital indication of the measured analog electrical characteristic to the controller.

Abstract: A modular industrial transmitter includes a communication module and a sensor module. The communication module is configured to communicate with a remote device and has a common interface configured to couple to a plurality of different types of sensor modules. The sensor module is coupled to the common interface of the communication module. Physical coupling of the communication module to the sensor module is performed tool-lessly.

Abstract: A process measurement display is disclosed that includes an indicator configured to change position to indicate a process variable. The display also includes an illumination source configured to provide light to the indicator. The display further includes a processor configured to control the illumination source to provide at least one additional output modality.

Abstract: A process measurement display is disclosed that includes an indicator configured to change position to indicate a process variable. The display also includes an illumination source configured to provide light to the indicator. The display further includes a processor configured to control the illumination source to provide at least one additional output modality.

Abstract: A field device for use in monitoring or controlling an industrial process includes two wire process control loop electrical connections. Digital communications monitoring circuitry coupled to the electrical connections and is configured to control power to the field device electrical circuitry in response to a digital signal on the two wire process control loop.

Abstract: A control system uses a wireless network to provided communication between a host computer and field devices. The field devices are normally maintained in a lower power or sleep state. Only field devices that will be involved in a communication with the host computer are turned On and maintained On until communication between the field devices and the host computer is completed.

Abstract: A control system uses a wireless network to provide communication between a host computer and field devices. The host and the field devices communicate with one another using control messages and response messages based upon a known control system protocol. The control and response messages are embedded as a payload within a wireless message that is transmitted over the wireless network. When the wireless message is received at its ultimate destination, the control or response message is separated from the wireless message and is delivered to the intended recipient (either a field device or the host computer).

Abstract: A control system uses a wireless mesh network to provide communication between a host computer and field devices. The host and the field devices communicate with one another using wireless messages containing requests and responses that are routed through the wireless mesh network. The wireless messages include sequence information that allow the receiving device to identify and reject messages that are received out of order.

Abstract: A host computer communicates with field devices by sending control messages and receiving response messages over a wireless network. When the host computer sends a control message to the wireless network, the host computer is provided with a predictive response time within which the field device receiving the message will respond. The wireless network cycles between a sleep state and an active state based upon a wireless network power cycle. The predicted response time is based upon the current state of the wireless network, the power cycle, and the time required for the field device to turn on, take an action (such as measuring a parameter), and generating a response message.

Abstract: A wireless mesh network routes messages between a host computer and a plurality of field devices. The mesh network is synchronized to a global regular active schedule that defines active periods when messages can be transmitted or received by nodes of the network, and inactive periods when messages cannot be transmitted or received. Based upon messages to be sent by the host computer to selected field devices, the network is controlled to selectively maintain active those nodes required to route messages to the selected field devices. Those required nodes are maintained in an active state as long as communication with the selected field devices continues, while other nodes are allowed to return to a low power inactive state. When communication between the host computer and the selected field devices is no longer required, the entire network is allowed to enter the low power inactive state.

Abstract: A host computer communicates with field devices over a wireless network that includes a gateway and a plurality of wireless nodes. At least one of the field devices is associated with each wireless node, and each field device has a unique field device address. The host computer sends control messages to field devices using their field device addresses. The gateway translates the field device address of a control message to a wireless address of the wireless node with which the field device is associated. The gateway sends a wireless message over the network to the wireless node at the wireless address. The message contains the field device address so that, when the wireless message is received and opened, the control message from the host computer can be routed to the intended field device based upon the field device address.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for setting threshold values for use by a radar level transmitter to detect reflected wave pulses corresponding to portions of a transmitted microwave pulse which reflect from interfaces contained in a container. The present invention estimates these threshold values based upon various parameters. Some of these parameters can relate to properties of the materials forming the interfaces while others relate to properties of the antenna and user-defined parameters.

Abstract: A field device for use in monitoring or controlling an industrial process includes two wire process control loop electrical connections. Digital communications monitoring circuitry coupled to the electrical connections and is configured to control power to the field device electrical circuitry in response to a digital signal on the two wire process control loop.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring concentration of a material in a process fluid includes an antenna configured to contact the process fluid and a pulse generator coupled to the antenna to generate a microwave transmit pulse through the antenna. A pulse receiver receives a reflected pulse from the antenna and the concentration of the material is calculated as a function of the reflected pulse.

Abstract: A piston position in a cylinder of a hydraulic assembly is measured using microwave pulses. The microwave pulses are launched along a conductor coupled to the piston or cylinder. A sliding member is slidably coupled to the conductor and moves with the piston or cylinder. Position is determined as a function of a reflection from the end of the conductor and the sliding member. Various aspects include signal processing, fudicial pulse identification control and input/output circuitry, and a three conductor configuration.

Abstract: A low power pulsed radar level transmitter has first and second pullable oscillator circuits that are offset from one another by a frequency offset. A third or reference crystal oscillator couples a reference frequency output to phase comparators in both the first and second crystal oscillator circuits. The phase comparators adjust biases on varactor diodes that pull the transmit and receive frequencies.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring concentration of a material in a process fluid includes an antenna configured to contact the process fluid and a pulse generator coupled to configure the antenna to generate a microwave transmit pulse through the antenna. A pulse receiver receives a reflected pulse from the antenna and the concentration of the material is calculated as a function of the reflected pulse.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a twin peak pulse in a waveform, generated by a microwave level transmitter, that is used to detect levels of first and second material interfaces relating to materials contained in a tank. The waveform develops a twin peak pulse when the first and second material interfaces are in close proximity to one another. The twin peak pulse contains overlapping first and second received wave pulses reflected from the first and second material interfaces, respectively. The method determines that the waveform contains a twin peak pulse when both a first peak point relating to the first received wave pulse and a valley are detected. A microwave level transmitter having an interface detection module that is configured to use the method of the present invention to detect the existence of a twin peak pulse in a waveform.

Abstract: A low power radar level instrument with enhanced diagnostics is disclosed. A microwave transceiver generates a microwave signal that travels along a termination, through a reference impedance discontinuity, and into a process product interface. A first portion of the signal is reflected by the reference impedance discontinuity, and a second portion is reflected by a process product interface. A diagnostic signal is provided based upon a characteristic of the first reflected portion. A level output is provided based upon the first and second reflected portions.