Hitachi, Ltd.

Toshimitsu Tsuchihashi

Makoto Kogure

Koji Tomaoki

A field apparatus which allows for migration from an analog signal transmission system to a field bus transmission system without a need to change the configuration of the field apparatus and performs a self diagnosis. The field apparatus includes a receiving unit which receives a field bus oriented signal from another apparatus connected to the transmission line, an analog signal transmitting unit which transmits a measured magnitude of a measurement object through the transmission line as an analog signal, a field bus signal transmitting unit which transmits a measured magnitude of a measurement object through the transmission line as a field bus oriented signal, and a switch which selects either the analog signal transmitting unit or the field bus signal transmitting unit which transmits an analog signal or a field bus oriented signal respectively through the transmission line.

Field apparatus and field bus system and method of controlling field

A field bus system may be used in which transmission ability of the system can be maintained even if communication error occurs due to noises or failure of a transmission line. The system can be easily shifted at a lower cost from a conventional system to the field bus system without degrading the high reliability thereof. The transmission line is constituted by a multiple-cable transmission line having at least three transmission cables. An external power supply supplies power to field devices through a pair of transmission cables of the multiple-cable transmission line. The field devices are connected to the transmission cables through a transmission line switching unit constituted by a plurality of rectifier elements, so that the field devices are supplied with current flowing in one predetermined direction when any of the pairs of transmission cables is selected. The external power supply monitors a failure of a currently used pair of transmission cables and, upon detection of failure of the currently used pair of transmission cables, the failed pair is replaced by a normal pair of transmission cables such that the field devices are continuously supplied with power.

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Hitachinaka, Japan

Toshimitsu Tsuchihashi