Modular process transmitter having a scalable EMI/RFI filtering architecture

US6593857B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• ROSEMOUNT INC. · US

Inventors

• Weston Roper · St. Louis Park, US
• Todd M. Berge · Eden Prairie, US
• David G. Tyson · Atlanta, US
• Brian L. Westfield · Victoria, US
• Richard L. Nelson · Chanhassen, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 31, 2000
• Grant date: Jul 15, 2003
• Expiry date: Jul 3, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/49002
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A modular process transmitter having a scalable EMI/RFI filtering architecture includes a unitized sensor module and a transmitter module. The unitized sensor module is adapted to operate as a stand-alone process transmitter. The transmitter module can couple to the unitized sensor module to expand the capabilities of the unitized sensor module. The unitized sensor module includes a sensor housing, a sensor circuit and a removable sensor EMI/RFI filtering circuit. The sensor circuit provides a sensor output in accordance with either a local format or a first communication protocol. The sensor EMI/RFI filtering circuit filters noise in accordance with the first communication protocol. The transmitter module includes a transmitter module housing, a communications circuit, and a transmitter module EMI/RFI filtering circuit. The communications circuit is adapted to receive the sensor output from the sensor circuit in the local format and generate a scalable output in accordance with a second communication protocol. The transmitter module EMI/RFI filtering circuit is adapted to replace the sensor EMI/RFI filtering circuit and filter noise in accordance with the second communication prot…