Rosemount Inc.

Kurt C Diede

Eric R Lovegren

James A Johnson

Mark Stephen Schumacher

Christopher Lee Eriksen

Nicholas Aaron Wienhold

Justin Tai Zingsheim

Brian E Richter

Rob LaRoche

Ryan R Carlson

A process variable transmitter includes a process variable sensor, and an electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection circuit coupled to the process variable sensor. The process variable transmitter also includes a hermetic module enclosing the EMI protection circuit, and electrical connectors coupled to the EMI protection circuit within the hermetic module. The electrical connectors are configurable from outside the hermetic module to connect electronic components of the EMI protection circuit in a configuration that provides transient protection.

Customization of process variable transmitter with hermetically sealed electronics

An industrial process field device includes an active component, a switch, a switch monitor, and a controller. The active component may be a sensor configured to sense a process parameter, or a control device configured to control a process of the industrial process. The switch is electrically coupled to first and second terminals. The switch monitor is configured to detect an open or closed state of the switch, and generate a first state output, a second state output, or a chattering state output. An anti-chatter circuit outputs a chatter stabilized state output based on the chattering state output. The controller is configured to set the switch in the open or closed state, and generate a notification based on any one of the first and second state outputs and the chatter stabilized state output that indicates at least one of the current state and a condition of the switch.

Field device switch monitoring

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for setting threshold values for use by a radar level transmitter to detect reflected wave pulses corresponding to portions of a transmitted microwave pulse which reflect from interfaces contained in a container. The present invention estimates these threshold values based upon various parameters. Some of these parameters can relate to properties of the materials forming the interfaces while others relate to properties of the antenna and user-defined parameters.

Threshold setting for a radar level transmitter

An apparatus for measuring concentration of a material in a process fluid includes an antenna configured to contact the process fluid and a pulse generator coupled to the antenna to generate a microwave transmit pulse through the antenna. A pulse receiver receives a reflected pulse from the antenna and the concentration of the material is calculated as a function of the reflected pulse.

Measurement of concentration of material in a process fluid

Disclosed is a method of using a low power radar level transmitter to calculate a dielectric constant of a product in a tank. Low Power Time Domain Reflectometry Radar (LPTDRR) circuitry is controlled to calculate a time delay between transmission of microwave energy down a termination extending into the product in the tank and reflection of the microwave energy. In some embodiments, the dielectric constant of the product is calculated as a function of the time delay. In other embodiments, the dielectric constant is calculated by controlling the LPTDRR circuitry to calculate amplitudes of transmit and receive pulses. The dielectric of the product is calculated as a function of the amplitudes of the transmit and receive pulses.

Measurement of process product dielectric constant using a low power radar level transmitter

A low power radar level transmitter having reduced ground loop errors and a related method are disclosed. A microwave termination is couplable to a reference voltage such as earth ground and is coupled to a microwave transceiver through at least one low frequency isolator. The microwave transceiver generates a microwave signal along the termination which is reflected by a process product interface. A level calculator is coupled to the microwave transceiver to calculate a level of the process product based upon the received, reflected signal. A process loop communicator is coupled to the level calculator and couplable to a process control loop to communicate the calculated level across the process control loop. A power supply is couplable to the process control loop and provides power to all electrical components of the transmitter with energy received from the process control loop.

Low power radar level transmitter having reduced ground loop errors

A low power radar level instrument with enhanced diagnostics is disclosed. A microwave transceiver generates a microwave signal that travels along a termination, through a reference impedance discontinuity, and into a process product interface. A first portion of the signal is reflected by the reference impedance discontinuity, and a second portion is reflected by a process product interface. A diagnostic signal is provided based upon a characteristic of the first reflected portion. A level output is provided based upon the first and second reflected portions.

Low power radar level instrument with enhanced diagnostics

Disclosed is a low power time domain reflectometry radar (LPTDRR) level transmitter for calculating levels of first and second products in a tank. A termination extends into the first and second products in the tank. A pulse generator transmits a pulse along the termination into the first and second products. A pulse receiver receives first and second reflected wave pulses corresponding to reflection of a first portion of the transmit pulse at a first product interface and reflection of a second portion of the transmit pulse at a second product interface, respectively. A threshold controller generates a first threshold for detection of the first reflected wave pulse and a second threshold for detection of the second reflected wave pulse. A dielectric constant calculator determines a dielectric constant of the first product as a function of the first reflected wave pulse. A level computer calculates levels of the first and second products.

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Apple Valley, MN, United States of America

Kurt C Diede