Networked series of sensors having distributed measurement and control for use in a hazardous environment
US8014120B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 9, 2009 |
| Grant date | Sep 6, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 24, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P90/02
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention is a networked system of devices positioned in a hazardous environment to monitor/control process conditions. The devices include sensors and controls such as valves. The sensors detect process conditions/control device settings and are monitored by a slave devices having, generally microprocessor controlled and having associated memory to receive and record the sensor/control device data. The network includes master devices, each master device may be associated with one or more slaved devices and associated sensors, where the master device communicates to is associated slave devices through a digital communication bus. The master device can automatically detect its associated slave devices and detect the communication and data characteristics of the slave devices. The master may also set parameters for detected slave devices, such as needed for computations performed by the master (using its own microprocessor) using data received form the slave device(s). The master device receives slave device data by requesting or polling the data from the slave device over a digital communication bus.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.