US-12625482-B2 - Method for performing operator control actions on an automation field device by means of an operator control unit

US12625482B2US 12625482 B2US12625482 B2US 12625482B2US-12625482-B2

Abstract

Performing operating actions on a field device includes reading out identification information from the field device using an operating unit, selecting a use case by a first operator using the operating unit, (defining an operating action), and accessing the field device and executing the operating action defined in the selected use case. Status information relating to the use case from the operating unit is transmitted to a cloud-based platform, and the status information is confirmed by the first operator or by a second operator. Confirmation information is transmitted by the cloud-based platform to the operating unit via a second communication link. A report is created by the operating unit when confirmation information has been transmitted to the operating unit for each of the operating actions defined in the user case, and the report is linked to a digital image of the field device on the cloud-based platform.

Inventors

Benedikt Spielmann
Werner Thoren
Fabricio Oliveira De Andrade
Yi Ding

Assignees

ENDRESS+HAUSER PROCESS SOLUTIONS AG

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20211118
Priority Date: 20201210

Claims (7)

1 . A method for performing operating actions on a field device of automation technology using an operating unit, comprising: establishing a first communication link between the operating unit and the field device; reading out field device identification information from the field device using the operating unit via the first communication connection; establishing a second communication connection between the operating unit and a cloud-based platform, wherein digital images of a plurality of field devices are stored on the cloud-based platform, said digital images containing at least a portion of all parameter and configuration settings of the respective associated field devices; selecting a use case by a first operator using the operating unit, wherein a use case defines at least one or more operating actions to be performed on the field device; accessing the field device via the first communication link and executing the operating action defined in the selected use case; transmitting status information relating to the use case from the operating unit to the cloud-based platform via the second communication link, wherein the status information contains the operating action carried out on the field device and the result thereof; confirming the status information by the first operator or by a second operator on an application executed on the cloud-based platform, and transmitting confirmation information after confirmation by the cloud-based platform to the operating unit via the second communication connection; repeating the above method steps for each of the operating actions defined in the use case; creating a report by the operating unit when confirmation information has been transmitted to the operating unit for each of the operating actions defined in the user case, and transmitting the report from the operating unit to the cloud-based platform via the second communication link, wherein the report contains at least one description or a designation of the performed operating actions; and identifying the digital image belonging to the field device on the basis of the identification information and linking the report to the digital image of the field device.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the action instruction is one of the following: an automatic function check of at least one hardware component of the field device; a function check of communication capability of the field device; a communication network into which the field device is integrated; or an automatic determination or changing of at least one parameter value of the field device.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a configuration assistant is executed on the operating unit, said configuration assistant offering the user cases available for the field device to the first operator, wherein the configuration assistant determines the available use cases on the basis of the identification information read out from the field device.
4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the configuration assistant guides the first operator through the step of performing the operating action in that the configuration assistant specifies and/or explains actions to be carried out by the first operator.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the application of the cloud-based platform creates a new virtual image if no digital image belonging to the field device can be determined on the basis of the identification information.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a tablet, a mobile terminal, a personal computer or smart glasses are used as the operating unit.
7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the report contains the date and/or the time at which the operating action was performed, the identity of the first operator and/or the identity of the second operator.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is related to and claims the priority benefit of DPMA Patent Application No. 10 2020 132 947.4, filed on Dec. 10, 2020, and International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2021/082181, filed Nov. 18, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a method for performing operating actions on a field device of automation technology by means of an operating unit. BACKGROUND Field devices that are used in industrial facilities are already known from the prior art. Field devices are often used in process automation engineering, as well as in manufacturing automation engineering. In principle, all devices which are process-oriented and which supply or process process-relevant information are referred to as field devices. Field devices are thus used for detecting and/or influencing process variables. Measuring devices, or sensors, are used for detecting process variables. These are used, for example, for pressure and temperature measurement, conductivity measurement, flow measurement, pH measurement, fill level measurement etc., and detect the corresponding process variables of pressure, temperature, conductivity, pH value, fill level, flow etc. Actuators are used for influencing process variables. These are, for example, pumps or valves that can influence the flow of a fluid in a pipe or the fill level in a tank. In addition to the aforementioned measuring devices and actuators, field devices are also understood to include remote I/Os, radio adapters, or, generally, devices that are arranged at the field level. A multitude of such field devices is produced and marketed by the Endress+Hauser group. In modern industrial plants, field devices are usually connected to superordinate units via communication networks such as fieldbuses (Profibus®, Foundation® Fieldbus, HART® etc.). Usually, the superordinate units are control systems or control units, such as e.g. an SPC (stored program control) or a PLC (programmable logic controller). The superordinate units are used for, among other things, process control, process visualization, and process monitoring, as well as commissioning of the field devices. The measured values recorded by the field devices, especially by sensors, are transmitted via the respective bus system to a (or in some cases a plurality of) superordinate unit(s). In addition, data transmission from the superordinate unit via the bus system to the field devices is also required, especially for configuration and parameterization of field devices and for controlling actuators. To operate the field devices, corresponding operating programs (operating tools) are necessary which either run independently on the superordinate units (Endress+Hauser FieldCare, Pactware, AMS Fisher-Rosemount, PDM Siemens) or else are also integrated into control system applications (Siemens PCS7, ABB Symphony, Emerson Delta V). It is also possible to execute the operating programs on a mobile operating device in order to operate the field devices by means of said operating device. Operating means in particular parameterizing, configuring and reading out data from a field device. To execute a use case (for example, start up a field device, a loop test—i.e., a test of the correct functioning of the communication current loop connected to the field device—service a field device, replace an old device with a new device, a firmware update of a field device, etc.), a large number of operator actions must be performed by the operator. By way of example, the problems in performing a loop test on a field device is described below: During start-up, an operator must connect to each field device to be commissioned and its device drivers via an operating unit (for example a device configuration tool like the Field Xpert produced and sold by the applicant) (for example via a frame application executed on the operating unit, in particular an FDT frame application). Within this device driver (for example a DTM if used as a FDT frame application), the operator selects the function of the loop test. However, the correct function of the loop test is often placed differently in drivers of different field device types. Finding the correct function within the device driver can prove time-consuming. The exact operating actions that use different types of communication in field devices, also differ: With a field device which uses the classic 4 to 20 mA standard, various mA values must be tested, for example 4 mA, 8 mA, 16 mA, 20 mA). With a field device, however, which is connected to a fieldbus, the measuring range for the outputs must be simulated (e.g. at 50%). The loop test itself is therefore very time-consuming and prone to errors. Different tools/media must also be carried for different device types. During the loop test, feedback from the control center is required, e. g., via a mobile phone or radio to confirm various st