US 12,271,179 B2
Method for operating an automation field device
Florian Asal, Aitern (DE); Simon Gerwig, Schopfheim (DE); Eric Schmitt, Steinsoultz (FR); Wolfgang Trunzer, Lörrach (DE); Martin Link, Merdingen (DE); and Markus Bothur, Wittlingen (DE)
Assigned to Endress+Hauser SE+Co. KG, Maulburg (DE)
Appl. No. 17/626,142
Filed by Endress+Hauser SE+Co. KG, Maulburg (DE)
PCT Filed Jun. 18, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/066955
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 11, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/004753, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 14, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2019 118 839.3 (DE), filed on Jul. 11, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0276636 A1, Sep. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. G05B 19/41 (2006.01); G05B 19/4155 (2006.01)
CPC G05B 19/4155 (2013.01) [G05B 2219/31229 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating an automation field device that is adapted to register or to set a measurement and/or actuating value and to transmit the measurement and/or actuating value via a 4-20 mA signal on a two-conductor line and is further adapted in measurement operation to execute supplemental functionalities with a plurality of separately switchable, electrical, supplemental modules, the method comprising:
connecting the two-conductor line with an input terminal of the automation field device to connect the automation field device with an external voltage source;
setting a minimum electrical current value at the input terminal of the automation field device by an electrical current controller of the automation field device in an initializing phase;
measuring a maximum voltage value at the input terminal by a voltage measuring unit of the automation field device in the initializing phase, wherein the maximum voltage value is measured at the set minimum electrical current value;
ascertaining by a processing unit of the automation field device a minimum supplemental power that is supplied to the automation field device at the input terminal and which is available to the automation field device for performing at least one supplemental functionality, wherein the ascertaining of the minimum supplemental power is performed based at least on the maximum voltage value measured at the set minimum electrical current value;
activating/switching on a first supplemental module of the plurality of separately switchable, electrical, supplemental modules by the processing unit when the ascertained minimum supplemental power is greater than or equal to an operating power needed for operating the first supplemental module, wherein by the activating/switching on of the first supplemental module a corresponding supplemental functionality is performed by the automation field device in measurement operation;
subtracting the operating power required for operating the first supplemental module from the ascertained supplemental power; and
activating/switching on a second supplemental module of the plurality of separately switchable, electrical, supplemental modules when the difference between the ascertained supplemental power and the operating power required for operating the first supplemental module is greater than or equal to an operating power needed for operating the second supplemental module.