Abstract: An industrial process monitor for monitoring an industrial process includes a controller configured to control operation of the industrial process monitor. An ambient environment sensor is configured to sense an ambient environment of the industrial process proximate the device and responsively provide a sensor output signal. Output circuitry is configured to provide an output based upon the sensor output signal. The controller causes the ambient environment sensor to enter a high power mode upon detection of an anomaly and/or probable anomaly in the sensor output signal.

Abstract: A wireless industrial process filed device includes a process interface element configured to interface with a process fluid and control or sense a process variable of the process fluid. A controller is configured to control operation of the process interface element. An RF circuit board includes a plurality of RF transceivers carried on the RF circuit board, each configured to send and/or receive an RF signal which carries information related to the process variable. A plurality of antennas are carried on the RF circuit board and form an antenna array. Each of the plurality of antennas is coupled to at least one of the plurality of RF transceivers. Each of the plurality of antennas having a different antenna pattern. The controller controls operation of the plurality of RF transceivers to communicate with a remote device through an antenna array patterned formed by transmission of RF signals through the plurality of antenna patterns of the plurality of antennas.

Abstract: A location awareness system including a communication network, and a network operating element coupled to the communication network. At least one anchor network gateway is coupled to the communication network, the at least one anchor network gateway configured to generate a wireless anchor network. A plurality of anchors are configured to couple to one of the at least one anchor network gateway via its respective wireless anchor network. A plurality of tags is each configured to communicate with at least one anchor to provide ranging information for determination of a position of the tag within an area covered by the system.

Abstract: A wireless process variable transmitter for use in an industrial process includes a process variable sensor configured to sense a process variable of the industrial process and provide a process variable sensor output. A battery power source includes a plurality of battery power banks each having a primary cell battery, a low voltage cut-off circuit electrically connected to the primary cell battery which provides an electrical connection to the primary cell battery while a voltage of the primary cell battery is above a threshold, and an ideal diode having an input electrically connected to the primary cell battery through the low voltage cut-off and providing a power bank output. A power sharing node has an input connected to the battery power bank output of each of the plurality of battery power banks and having a shared power output which provides power to circuitry of the wireless process variable transmitter.

Abstract: A wireless field device for use in an industrial process includes input/output terminals to couple to a process interface element and a discrete input/output channel configured to receive a discrete input signal from the process interface element through the input/output terminals when configured as a discrete input channel, the discrete input/output channel further configured to provide a discrete output to the process interface element through the input/output terminals when configured as discrete output channel. Wireless communication circuitry transmits and receives information. A controller transmits information through the communication circuitry based upon a sensed process variable, provides a discrete output signal when the discrete input/output channel is configured as a discrete output channel and receives a discrete input signal when configured as a discrete input channel. An external power supply input is couples to an external power supply and a battery power supply input couples a battery.

Abstract: An industrial process vessel insulation monitoring system for monitoring an insulated section of a process vessel containing a process material includes one or more condition sensors and a controller. The condition sensors are configured to sense at least one environmental condition, such as temperature, humidity, moisture level, and/or chemical composition, and generate condition outputs that are indicative of the corresponding sensed condition. The controller is configured to detect at least one section condition relating to the insulated section based on the condition output, and generate condition information relating to the at least one detected section condition. Examples of the section conditions include a thermal resistance of an insulation of the insulated section, damage or degradation to an insulation of the insulated section, corrosion of the process vessel at the insulated section, conditions that promote corrosion of the process vessel, and moisture intrusion to the insulation.

Abstract: An industrial process monitor for monitoring an industrial process includes a controller configured to control operation of the industrial process monitor. An ambient environment sensor is configured to sense an ambient environment of the industrial process proximate the device and responsively provide a sensor output signal. Output circuitry is configured to provide an output based upon the sensor output signal. The controller causes the ambient environment sensor to enter a high power mode upon detection of an anomaly and/or probable anomaly in the sensor output signal.

Abstract: An industrial process monitor for monitoring an industrial process includes a controller configured to control operation of the industrial process monitor. An ambient environment sensor is configured to sense an ambient environment of the industrial process proximate the device and responsively provide a sensor output signal. Output circuitry is configured to provide an output based upon the sensor output signal. The controller causes the ambient environment sensor to enter a high power mode upon detection of an anomaly and/or probable anomaly in the sensor output signal.

Abstract: An industrial process vessel insulation monitoring system for monitoring an insulated section of a process vessel containing a process material includes one or more condition sensors and a controller. The condition sensors are configured to sense at least one environmental condition, such as temperature, humidity, moisture level, and/or chemical composition, and generate condition outputs that are indicative of the corresponding sensed condition. The controller is configured to detect at least one section condition relating to the insulated section based on the condition output, and generate condition information relating to the at least one detected section condition. Examples of the section conditions include a thermal resistance of an insulation of the insulated section, damage or degradation to an insulation of the insulated section, corrosion of the process vessel at the insulated section, conditions that promote corrosion of the process vessel, and moisture intrusion to the insulation.

Abstract: A location awareness system including a communication network, and a network operating element coupled to the communication network. At least one anchor network gateway is coupled to the communication network, the at least one anchor network gateway configured to generate a wireless anchor network. A plurality of anchors are configured to couple to one of the at least one anchor network gateway via its respective wireless anchor network. A plurality of tags is each configured to communicate with at least one anchor to provide ranging information for determination of a position of the tag within an area covered by the system.

Abstract: An acoustic measurement system for an industrial process asset includes a process measurement device providing a value representative of an acoustic signal near the industrial process asset based in part on a signal from an acoustic sensor positioned near the industrial process asset. A second acoustic sensor provides an acoustic value and a noise reduction component uses the acoustic value from the second acoustic sensor to affect the value provided by the process measurement device so that the value provided by the process measurement device is more representative of an acoustic signal generated by the industrial process asset.

Abstract: A wireless field device assembly comprises a process sensor, a housing, a power module, and a processor. The process sensor is configured to monitor a process variable and produce a sensor signal. The housing encloses an interior space of the wireless field device. The power module comprises an energy storage device and a connection to a local power source, and is configured to be housed in the wireless field device. The processor is located within the interior space, and is powered by the power module. The processor produces a fault signal value used to differentiate between energy storage device faults, local power source faults, and no-fault states.

Abstract: An industrial process monitor for monitoring an industrial process includes a controller configured to control operation of the industrial process monitor. An ambient environment sensor is configured to sense an ambient environment of the industrial process proximate the device and responsively provide a sensor output signal. Output circuitry is configured to provide an output based upon the sensor output signal. The controller causes the ambient environment sensor to enter a high power mode upon detection of an anomaly and/or probable anomaly in the sensor output signal.

Abstract: An acoustic measurement system for an industrial process asset includes a process measurement device providing a value representative of an acoustic signal near the industrial process asset based in part on a signal from an acoustic sensor positioned near the industrial process asset. A second acoustic sensor provides an acoustic value and a noise reduction component uses the acoustic value from the second acoustic sensor to affect the value provided by the process measurement device so that the value provided by the process measurement device is more representative of an acoustic signal generated by the industrial process asset.

Abstract: A wireless field device assembly comprises a process sensor, a housing, a transmitter, and a power module. The process sensor is configured to monitor a process variable and produce a sensor signal. The housing encloses an interior space of the wireless field device. The transmitter is enclosed within the interior space, and is configured to process the sensor signal. The power module is configured to be housed in the interior space, and comprises an energy storage device, a connection to a local power source, and a processor configured to provide the transmitter with a diagnostic report of the energy storage device and the local power source.

Abstract: A self-organizing mesh network is made up of individual devices configured to use other network devices to pass data from one point to another. The network also includes a secondary operating mode that accommodates handheld and other non-fixed transient network nodes. Each device in the network maintains a configuration link that is used to detect the presence of a handheld device. The handheld device uses the configuration link to identify nearby network devices. A user of the handheld device can then select one of the network devices and establish a small point-to-point subnetwork between the handheld device and the selected network device.

Abstract: A wireless field device assembly comprises a process sensor, a housing, a transmitter, and a power module. The process sensor is configured to monitor a process variable and produce a sensor signal. The housing encloses an interior space of the wireless field device. The transmitter is enclosed within the interior space, and is configured to process the sensor signal. The power module is configured to be housed in the interior space, and comprises an energy storage device, a connection to a local power source, and a processor configured to provide the transmitter with a diagnostic report of the energy storage device and the local power source.

Abstract: A system for measuring and analyzing radio frequency power proximate and within a wireless field device mesh network. A centralized software module (CSWM) collects and analyzes values from one or more wireless devices of the wireless field device mesh network representing received RF power measurements on an assigned RF channel and values representing corresponding times of the received RF power measurements. Each wireless device measures received RF power on the assigned RF channel at times other than during reception of a signal resulting in transmission by the wireless device of either an acknowledgment signal or a non-acknowledgement signal. Values representing the received RF power measurements and the corresponding times of the received RF power measurements are determined from the stored received RF power measurements and corresponding times and then discarded. These values are stored within the wireless device until successfully reported.

Abstract: A wireless field device assembly comprises a process sensor, a housing, a power module, and a processor. The process sensor is configured to monitor a process variable and produce a sensor signal. The housing encloses an interior space of the wireless field device. The power module comprises an energy storage device and a connection to a local power source, and is configured to be housed in the wireless field device. The processor is located within the interior space, and is powered by the power module. The processor produces a fault signal value used to differentiate between energy storage device faults, local power source faults, and no-fault states.

Abstract: A system for measuring and analyzing radio frequency power proximate and within a wireless field device mesh network. A centralized software module (CSWM) collects and analyzes values from one or more wireless devices of the wireless field device mesh network representing received RF power measurements on an assigned RF channel and values representing corresponding times of the received RF power measurements. Each wireless device measures received RF power on the assigned RF channel at times other than during reception of a signal resulting in transmission by the wireless device of either an acknowledgment signal or a non-acknowledgement signal. Values representing the received RF power measurements and the corresponding times of the received RF power measurements are determined from the stored received RF power measurements and corresponding times and then discarded. These values are stored within the wireless device until successfully reported.