US 11,843,243 B2
Wireless sensor network gateway with integral intrinsic safety outputs for field mounted access point antennas
Scott T. Hofmeister, Chaska, MN (US); Cody J. Skow, Shakopee, MN (US); Allen J. Kempke, Minneapolis, MN (US); Nicholas A. Wienhold, Waconia, MN (US); and Theodore H. Schnaare, Carver, MN (US)
Assigned to ROSEMOUNT INC., Shakopee, MN (US)
Filed by Rosemount Inc., Shakopee, MN (US)
Filed on Jan. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/152,205.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/963,344, filed on Jan. 20, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0227630 A1, Jul. 22, 2021
Int. Cl. H01C 7/12 (2006.01); H02H 1/00 (2006.01); H02H 1/04 (2006.01); H02H 3/22 (2006.01); H02H 9/06 (2006.01); H02H 9/00 (2006.01); H04W 88/16 (2009.01); H04B 10/80 (2013.01); H04L 12/10 (2006.01); H04W 84/18 (2009.01)
CPC H02H 9/008 (2013.01) [H04B 10/802 (2013.01); H04L 12/10 (2013.01); H04W 88/16 (2013.01); H04W 84/18 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wireless sensor network gateway for an industrial process used to monitor or control process variables of the industrial process, the wireless sensor network gateway configured to be located in a non-hazardous environment, and to supply power and communicate data with an antenna of a wireless sensor network located in a hazardous environment, the wireless sensor network gateway comprising:
safe side circuitry comprising:
a safe side power circuit configured to receive power from a non-intrinsically safe power source; and
a safe side data input/output (I/O) circuit configured to communicate process variable data related to process variables of the industrial process with non-intrinsically safe equipment including an industrial process controller located remotely from the wireless sensor network gateway;
hazardous side circuitry comprising:
a hazardous side power circuit configured to deliver power to the antenna; and
a hazardous side data I/O circuit configured to pass data signals related to the process variable data to and from the antenna to communicate the process variable data with a wireless field device of the type used to sense or control an industrial process variable, the wireless field device located remotely from the wireless sensor network gateway;
isolation circuitry dividing the safe side circuitry from the hazardous side circuitry comprising:
a power isolation circuit coupling the safe side power circuit to the hazardous side power circuit, and forming an intrinsic safety barrier between the safe side power circuit and the hazardous side power circuit; and
a data isolation circuit coupling the safe side data I/O circuit to the hazardous side data I/O circuit, and forming an intrinsic safety barrier between the safe side data I/O circuit and the hazardous side data I/O circuit; and
a housing supporting the safe side circuitry, the hazardous side circuitry, and the isolation circuitry.