Scalable process transmitter

Abstract
A scalable process transmitter architecture includes a unitized sensor module and an optional scalable transmitter. The sensor module has a sensor output that is configurable which can connect locally to a scalable transmitter module to form a transmitter, or can be wired directly to a remote receiver. The scalable transmitter can mount on the unitized sensor module and generates a scalable output for a remote receiver. The transmitter module can provide more advanced features for specific applications.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to industrial process control equipment. More specifically, the present invention relates to measurement transmitters which are used to measure various parameters (process variables) in industrial processes.




Measurement transmitters are used in processing and manufacturing plants to measure, for example, pressure, temperature, flow, density, viscosity and many other chemical, physical and electrical properties of fluids. Transmitters typically mount on tanks, pipes and other fluid vessels, and transmit a signal representative of a fluid property to a remote location such as a control room.




Transmitters usually include a sensor housing for sensor circuitry, and a transmitter housing for transmitter circuitry. The two housings are joined together at a flameproof mechanical joint. Generally the seals, software and electrical interfaces between the sensor circuitry and transmitter circuitry are not standardized, making it impractical to combine sensor and transmitter parts from different product lines.




Typically the inside of the sensor housing is open to the inside of the transmitter housing to allow wires to pass through the threaded joint. It is not practical in a plant environment to run field wiring directly to the sensor housing without use of a transmitter housing because the sensor housing, by itself, is not sealed and flameproofed from the environment. Further, the sensor circuitry is not able to transmit over a long distance.




Within a product line of pressure transmitters, the end user will typically be able to combine parts to make different combinations of pressure range, wetted materials and electrical or display arrangement. Additionally, this joining must normally be performed by the manufacturer. It is not, however, generally practical for the user to join sensor and transmitter parts from different product lines because there are electrical, software and mechanical incompatibilities.




There is a need for a transmitter arrangement where the sensor portion can be wired directly to a control system, or to other nearby components using a local area bus to increase functionality and scalability. There is also a need for transmitter components that can also be joined with component parts from other product lines without the need for significant modifications by the end user.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




A unitized sensor module is provided which, in various aspects, can be wire directly to a control system or to other nearby components. An optional scalable transmitter module can couple to the sensor module to provide increased functionality and scalability for different applications. The sensor module includes a sensor output that can be configured to connect locally to the scalable transmitter module to form a transmitter, or to be wired directly to a remote receiver. A housing for the unitized sensor module carries circuitry in a cavity and a sensor that can sense a process variable. A feedthrough seals a fitting of the housing that provides an external connection to the sensor module.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

shows a unitized sensor module in accordance with one aspect of the invention coupled to process piping.





FIG. 2

shows two unitized sensor modules coupled to a transmitter module on a local area bus.





FIGS. 3A

,


3


B,


3


C and


3


D show examples of unitized sensor modules, circuit boards, terminal blocks and transmitter module housings, respectively.





FIG. 3E

shows various combinations for sensor modules circuit boards, housing and connectors.





FIG. 4

is a simplified block diagram of a unitized sensor module in accordance with one embodiment.





FIG. 5

is a simplified block diagram of a transmitter module in accordance with one embodiment.





FIG. 6

shows a simplified diagram of an embodiment of a unitized sensor module.





FIG. 7

shows a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a modular differential pressure transmitter which includes a transmitter module and a sensor module.





FIGS. 8A

,


8


B and


8


C show enlarged front, top and sectional views of an embodiment of a fitting on the unitized sensor module of FIG.


7


.





FIGS. 9A and 9B

show embodiments of differential and gauge or absolute pressure transmitters.





FIG. 10

shows a simplified diagram of an embodiment of a scalable transmitter module.





FIGS. 11A

,


11


B,


11


C and


11


D show front and side views of embodiments of single and dual compartment housings for scalable transmitter modules.





FIG. 12

shows an exploded view of an embodiment of a dual compartment scalable transmitter module.





FIGS. 13A and 13B

show top and sectional views of an embodiment of a plug for a scalable transmitter module.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




The present invention provides a new sensor and transmitter module architecture for use in industrial processes. This new architecture is modular and highly scalable and can be used in a large number of configurations in contrast to typical prior art designs. With the invention, a unitized sensor module (or “super modules”) can be used alone to sense and measure process variables, or can be used in combination with a “feature board” carried in the optional transmitter module. The feature board can be used to add more advanced features to the super module, as desired, for a particular application or as the requirements for a particular application change over time. This modularity and scalability reduces manufacturing costs and reduces inventory requirements. Further, it provides a user with more configuration options and also reduces the number of different specific transmitter configurations which must be purchased by a user. The sensor module and transmitter module preferably meet intrinsic safety standards while still maintaining the ability to be scaled without removal of the module(s) from the “field”.





FIG. 1

is a simplified diagram showing a unitized sensor module


10


coupled to an industrial process


12


(illustrated as a process pipe) which-may contain a process “fluid” such as a liquid or a gas. The unitized sensor module


10


couples to process


12


through a manifold


14


and is configured to sense a process variable of the process. Examples of process variables includes pressure, temperature, flow, level, pH, conductivity, turbidity, density, concentration, chemical composition, or other properties of the process fluid. The unitized sensor module


10


can include one or more process variable sensors and includes an output connection or fitting


22


which can be configured to communicate in accordance with more than one communication standard.




In the embodiment shown in

FIG. 1

, the output from sensor module


10


couples to a two-wire process control loop


16


which can be in accordance with known two-wire control loop standards such as a 4-20 mA loop, a loop that operates in accordance with the HART protocol, loops that communicate in accordance with fieldbus, profibus or other protocols, etc. Loop


16


couples to a remote location such as control room


18


. Control room


18


includes a power supply (not shown) such that module


10


can be completely powered from the same loop


16


over which it communicates. In general, sensor module


10


includes a single main exterior housing


20


having a process connection adapted to couple to process


12


and an output connection or fitting


22


which is configured to provide more than one different type of output for coupling to different types of devices or databuses.





FIG. 2

shows another example configuration of the architecture of the present invention. In

FIG. 2

, two unitized sensor modules


10


couple to a local area bus


26


which provides communication with a scalable transmitter module


28


which includes a “feature board”. Typically, bus


26


is a serial bus, for example, in accordance with the Controller Area Network (CAN) protocol. The transmitter module


28


can perform additional processing based upon measurements from the two sensor modules


10


or otherwise provide communication over process control loop


16


. For example, sensor modules


10


can be configured to provide redundant measurements or can be configured to provide multiple measurements such that transmitter module


28


can calculate more advanced process parameters such as flow rate or liquid level. In the specific configuration, the two sensor modules are shown as measuring a differential pressure across orifice plates


30


. However, the sensor modules


10


can measure any type of process variable. In another example, shown in

FIG. 7

, the sensor module


10


mounts directly to the transmitter module, which itself, can connect to additional sensor modules.




The configuration of the unitized sensor module


10


and transmitter module


28


illustrated in

FIGS. 1 and 2

provides a highly scalable architecture. A user can configure a single sensor module


10


for simple installations in which a process variable is sensed. However, for more advanced configurations, a transmitter module


28


can be added to provide more advanced capabilities (i.e., “features”). For example, module


28


can perform advanced diagnostics or convert data to other configurations for transmission on any type of control loop or databus


16


. Transmitter module


28


can collect data from multiple sources for redundancy or to provide more advanced process variables such as flow rate which can be calculated using a number of different process variables. Another example is liquid level in which process variables are collected from multiple locations on a process tank. Transmitter module


28


can also include a visual output


32


, such as an LCD, in which data or process variables are visually provided and can be inspected by an operator.




In one configuration, bus


26


also provides power to modules


10


. In some embodiments, transmitter module


28


is itself powered from loop


16


such that no extra power connections are required for transmitter


28


and modules


10


. Bus


26


can also be used for simple on/off (open/close) communication or control. In embodiments where transmitter module


28


is directly coupled to sensor module


10


, bus


26


is used to provide an internal databus.




Preferably module


10


is configured in accordance with intrinsic safety standards such that it can be used in a hazardous explosive environment. A simple transmitter module


28


configuration is one in which the module


28


simply provides a termination compartment to house a terminal block (see

FIG. 3C

) for loop


16


wiring and bus


26


wiring. With more advanced configurations, transmitter module


28


can include multiple compartments for housing wiring terminator blocks and circuit boards. Some of the functionality of transmitter module


28


is provided in software which can be selected and/or loaded into module


28


based upon a particular application. This reduces the number of different hardware options which must be provided and various configurations can be obtained simply by choosing and loading the appropriate software into module


28


.





FIGS. 3A-3D

show various modules which can be utilized with the scalable architecture of the present invention. For example,

FIG. 3A

shows unitized sensor modules


10


A and


10


B. An appropriate sensor module can be selected based upon a particular implementation. For example, the sensor module should be selected so that it is configured for the appropriate process connections, process variable measurement, process variable ranges, material selection, etc.

FIG. 3B

illustrates example circuit board (i.e., feature board) options


36


A and


36


B. Boards


36


A and


36


B are typically part of transmitter module


28


. For example, option board


36


A can provide a visual display or option board


36


B can provide a particular data output format or process variable compensation.

FIG. 3C

illustrates terminal block options


38


A and


38


B. Terminal blocks


38


A and


38


B can provide, for example, a different number of terminations, various types of transient protection, hardware switches, etc. as desired for a particular application. Typically, terminal blocks


38


A and


38


B are part of transmitter module


28


.

FIG. 3D

shows housing options


40


A and


40


B for transmitter module


28


that can be selected for a particular implementation. For example, housing options


40


A and


40


B can be selected based upon requirements for single or dual compartment housing, various different housing materials as required, different diameter or sizes as required, etc. Housings


40


A and


40


B provide the housing for transmitter module


28


.





FIG. 3E

also illustrates the scalability of the invention. Sensor modules


10


A and


10


B can be used with various combinations of option boards


36


A and housings


40


A and


40


B. Quick connectors


41


A,


41


B and


41


C can be used to couple directly to modules


10


A and


10


B. This scalability allows a user to add features or change configurations as desired.




In addition to the advantages discussed above, the scalability of the invention allows a common feature board to be used with a family of sensor modules. Each sensor module in the family can provide differing performance levels, be designed for different types of process fluids or environments, and/or provide differing hardware/software capabilities. A common feature board can also be used with new sensor module designs or sensor modules configured to sense new process variables. New feature boards can be added to existing sensor modules to provide new capabilities such as a new communication protocol or diagnostic function. As another example, a new feature board potentially having new capabilities, can be added to function with multiple sensor module in a unique architecture.





FIG. 4

is a simplified block diagram showing components of unitized sensor module


10


in accordance with one specific embodiment. Module


10


typically includes some type of sensor element such as pressure sensor(s)


42


. Measurement circuitry


46


provides a measurement signal to microprocessor


48


based upon the pressure sensor


42


measurement which is compensated based upon the temperature measured by temperature sensor


44


. Microprocessor


48


couples to local area bus


26


which is shown as a serial databus. Microprocessor


48


operates in accordance with instructions carried in a non-volatile memory such as EEPROM


50


which can also be a read only memory (ROM). Zero-span and/or security switches are provided to configure the zero and span of the module


10


. These can be open/close switches which couple to fitting


22


shown in FIG.


1


. Microprocessor


48


also provides an output to MODAC


52


which can be used when module


10


is configured to transmit data on two-wire process control loop


16


. (MODAC refers to an ASIC which includes a modem and a digital to analog converter. Of course, other configurations can also be used with the invention.) The circuitry can be configured to control the current through loop


16


using shunt regulator


54


or to digitally transmit data onto loop


16


. A voltage regulator


56


couples to loop


16


or to transmitter module


28


and is used to provide a regulated voltage to circuits within unit


10


. MODAC


52


also has an optional up/down scale input which is used to scale the output signal. A clock


58


controls operation of MODAC


52


and, for example, microprocessor


48


. In the embodiment shown in

FIG. 4

, a total of five input/output terminals are provided and can be configured for different types of communication protocols. However, any number of input/output terminals can be used.





FIG. 5

is a simplified block diagram of transmitter module


28


. A microprocessor


60


in module


28


couples to sensor module


10


through sensor module I/O


62


. Sensor module I/O


62


provides a connection and interface to some or all of the connections illustrated in FIG.


4


. For example, in addition to providing a serial communication link over bus


26


, power can be provided to sensor module


10


over the process control loop


16


connection. Microprocessor


60


operates in accordance with instructions stored in memory


64


at a rate determined by clock


66


. Data is sent and received over process control loop


16


using loop input/output circuitry


68


. A voltage regulator


70


can be provided as a power source to circuitry within transmitter module


28


. This power can be completely derived from power received over loop


16


.




Memory


64


can be programmed during manufacture or during subsequent use to provide different features and operate with various types of sensor modules


10


and sensors carried in such modules. Typically, memory


64


includes non-volatile memory which can permanently store programming instructions and data. Various features are required or as the architecture and configuration is changed, the instructions for microprocessor


60


can be updated in memory


64


. Transmitter module


28


can be configured to provide a fairly standardized platform with various features implemented in the programming instructions for microprocessor


60


. Of course, various hardware options are also available such as a local display


72


or specialized input/output circuitry


68


. However, in one example, input/output


68


can be configured to operate in accordance with a number of well known standards such as a 4-20 mA standard, the HART communication protocol, the fieldbus protocol, etc. Microprocessor


60


controls I/O


68


to use the appropriate protocol as programmed in instructions stored in memory


64


.





FIGS. 6-13

provide a more detailed description for some specific implementations of the architecture of the present invention.





FIG. 6

shows a block diagram of one embodiment of a unitized sensor module


100


which is one specific implementation of module


10


in FIG.


1


. Unitized sensor module


100


includes a housing


102


that supports the unitized sensor module


100


in cavity


108


and provides a process opening


104


for coupling to a process fluid. The process opening


104


can be a flange, pipe, etc. Housing


102


has a fitting


110


that can support a scalable transmitter module such as module


28


in FIG.


2


. Fitting


110


can be formed with or welded to the outer wall


106


so that no seals are needed at the joint between the fitting


110


and the outer wall


106


. The fitting


110


has an opening


112


that extends into the cavity


108


.




A sensor module circuit


114


in the cavity


108


includes a sensor


116


that couples to the process opening


104


. Circuit


114


can, for example, provide the components shown in FIG.


4


. The circuit


114


generates a sensor output


118


representative of a process variable.




A feedthrough


120


in the opening


112


of fitting


110


seals the fitting


110


such that cavity


108


is flameproof. Unitized sensor module


100


is completely sealed and suitable for use in the field as a stand alone unit and does not require the installation of a transmitter module. The feedthrough


120


has external conductors


122


that energize the circuit


114


, provide the sensor output


118


, and receive configuration commands.




The sensor output


118


is configurable for local connection to scalable transmitter module


28


(

FIG. 2

) and also configurable for direct wiring to a remote receiver such as control room


18


(FIG.


1


). Output


118


can be more than one connector. For example, one connector or set of connectors can be for the local connection and one connector or set of connectors can be for the remote connection. A digital configuration signal can be sent to circuit


114


to configure the sensor output. In the specific arrangement shown, the output


118


is configurable to provide a signal that is transmittable over long distances to a remote receiver such as a HART signal, a 4-20 mA analog signal, a Foundation Fieldbus signal and the like. The output


118


can be configured to provide a signal for local use, such as a CAN protocol signal to a scalable transmitter module


28


or other local unit. This is shown schematically by a switch in the circuit


114


which can be controlled by configuration commands provided to microprocessor


48


to select an output type.





FIG. 7

shows a cross sectional view of a sensor module


130


directly mounted to scalable transmitter module


132


. Module


132


is a specific implementation of module


28


shown in FIG.


5


. In this example, sensor module


130


senses differential pressure (P


1


-P


2


) at a coplanar mounting flange


134


. The coplanar mounting flange is bolted to a mating coplanar inlet flange


136


with two process openings


104


. An isolator


138


isolates process fluid from the sensor


116


. Isolator


138


includes a passageway


140


which couples the sensor


116


to the process opening, the passageway having a shape which provides flameproofing. The isolator


138


also includes an isolator diaphragm


142


and is filled with an incompressible fluid such as silicone oil. Isolator


144


is similar to isolator


138


.




Fitting


110


includes an outer surface


146


to seal to transmitter module


132


. A capillary tube


148


that is sealed to complete flame-proofing of the feedthrough. Capillary tube


148


is open during manufacture and is used during manufacture to test the quality of the seal of cavity


108


and can also be used to evacuate the cavity and fill it with a noncorrosive gas such as dry air or a nonflammable gas such as dry nitrogen. After testing or filling, capillary tube


148


is sealed by welding or glassing. Capillary tube


148


can also be used as a feedthrough conductor or a grounding conductor. The outer surface


146


of the fitting


110


includes a set screw surface


150


which permits rotation of at least 360 degrees of a setscrew


152


. The fitting


110


extends around the external conductors


122


and is notched to retain a plug from either field wiring or a scalable transmitter module that mates with the external conductors. The housing is formed of at least 2 millimeter thick metal and is flame and explosion proof.





FIG. 7

also shows a scalable transmitter module


132


which includes a housing


160


to mount on the sensor module


130


. The housing has an outer wall


162


surrounding a cavity


164


and has a first hub


166


to mount to fitting


110


of the sensor module


130


. Housing


160


also has a second hub


168


for connection to a wiring raceway to a remote receiver. Hubs


166


,


168


open to the cavity


164


and the cavity has a removable cover


170


. Typically, there are two hubs


168


on either side of housing


160


, however, any number of hubs


168


can be used. Housing


160


can have two (or more) separate, isolated cavities. Cover


170


is threaded to provide a flameproof seal to the housing. A circuit


172


in the cavity


164


is wired to a plug


174


that mates with the feedthrough


120


of the unitized sensor module. The circuit


172


can receive a sensor output from the sensor module and generate a scalable output


178


on circuit terminal block


176


, which is accessible by removing the cover


170


.




Fitting


110


is shown in more detail in

FIGS. 8A

,


8


B and


8


C. Feedthrough


120


includes glass insulator that protrudes slightly to fix its position in fitting


110


. The fitting


110


is threaded as shown and includes a groove for an O-ring.





FIG. 9A

shows a differential pressure sensing unitized sensor module


180


with a scalable transmitter module


182


joined to it.

FIG. 9B

shows an absolute or gauge pressure sensing unitized sensor module


184


. Sensor module


184


has an internally threaded fitting for connection to a threaded pipe. The same scalable transmitter module


182


can be used on a line of differential pressure transmitters and also on a line of gauge or absolute pressure transmitters as shown:





FIG. 10

shows a simplified physical diagram of a scalable transmitter module


190


. Numbers used in

FIG. 10

that are the same as reference numbers used in

FIG. 7

identify similar features.




In

FIGS. 11A-11D

, front and side views of housings for scalable transmitters are shown. Front and side views of a single compartment housing


192


are shown in

FIGS. 11B and 11A

, respectively. Front and side views of a dual compartment housing


194


are shown in

FIGS. 11D and 11C

, respectively. The scalable transmitter module can be scaled in terms of the number of compartments in the housing by selecting in housing


194


is divided by a divider wall


195


joined a housing


192


,


194


for a particular application.





FIG. 12

is an exploded view of a dual compartment housing


194


with covers removed. The cavity to the housing between the first and second hubs, and the terminal block is mounted and sealed in the divider wall


195


. Housing


194


can be scaled further by selecting a terminal block, for example, a simple two terminal block


196


or a terminal block


198


with more than two terminals, depending on the application. The terminal block chosen fits into and seals an opening


200


between the two compartments.





FIGS. 13A and 13B

show plug


174


in more detail. Plug


174


includes multiple conductors


210


, of which three are illustrated. Plug


174


includes spring loaded projections


212


which snap into a groove on fitting


110


to secure the plug


174


in the fitting


110


. Shrink tubing


214


can be placed over the conductors


210


and shrunk to form a cable and provide increased abrasion resistance.




The architecture of the invention provides a sealed unitized sensor module that can be configured to provide a basic output wired directly to a control system. When more specialized types of transmitter outputs or visual displays are desired, the unitized sensor module can be configured to provide a local output that supports a scalable transmitter module. A scalable transmitter module can be added in the field and provided with circuitry that is scaled to meet the needs of the application.




In one embodiment, a flameproof joint, a seal and electrical connections are all combined into a single header that is integral with the housing of the unitized sensor module. The header is standardized to allow direct connection to a control system or mounting of a scalable transmitter module on the header. Electrical, mechanical and software interfaces are standardized at the header to allow the same group of scalable transmitter modules to be used with different lines of unitized sensor modules.




Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, other physical or electrical architectures can be used to achieve the scalability of the present invention. In one aspect, the invention is not limited to the specific illustrations set forth herein. The sensor module can include any type of sensor used to sense a process variable, for example, pressure, flow, temperature, or level sensors based upon any type of sensing technology. Preferably, all couplings to the modules and the modules themselves, meet intrinsic safety requirements while maintaining their modularity.



Claims
  • 1. A unitized sensor module, comprising:a housing adapted for coupling to a process opening, the housing having an outer wall surrounding a cavity and having a fitting integral with the outer wall and adapted to support a scalable transmitter module, the fitting opening to the cavity; a circuit disposed in the cavity, the circuit having a sensor coupling to the process opening and providing a sensor output; and a feedthrough sealing the fitting and having external conductors extending therethrough for energizing the circuit and receiving the sensor output, the sensor output being configurable for local connection to a scalable transmitter module and configurable for direct wiring to a remote receiver.
  • 2. The unitized sensor module of claim 1 further comprising an isolator configured to isolate fluid at the process opening from the sensor.
  • 3. The unitized sensor module of claim 2, wherein the isolator includes a passageway to couple between the sensor and the process opening, the passageway having a shape which provides flameproofing.
  • 4. The unitized sensor module of claim 1 wherein the fitting includes an outer surface adapted to seal to a scalable transmitter module.
  • 5. The unitized sensor module of claim 1 wherein the feedthrough includes a capillary tube sealed to complete flameproofing of the feedthrough.
  • 6. The unitized sensor module of claim 1 wherein the cavity is filled with a non flammable gas.
  • 7. The unitized sensor module of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the fitting further comprises a setscrew surface adapted to permit rotation of at least 360 degrees of a setscrew on a scalable transmitter module.
  • 8. The unitized sensor module of claim 1 wherein the fitting extends around the external conductors and is adapted to retain a plug mating with the external conductors.
  • 9. The unitized sensor module of claim 1 wherein the housing is formed of metal and has wall thickness of at least 2 millimeters thick and the housing is explosion proof.
  • 10. The unitized sensor module of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a flange which couples to the process opening and also couples to a second process opening for sensing differential pressure.
  • 11. The unitized sensor module of claim 1 wherein the local connection comprises a serial bus.
  • 12. The unitized sensor module of claim 1 wherein the local connection comprises between three and five conductors.
  • 13. The unitized sensor module of claim 1 wherein the circuit is configured to be powered from the local connection.
  • 14. The unitized sensor module of claim 1 wherein the direct wiring comprises a two wire process control loop.
  • 15. The unitized sensor module of claim 14 wherein the loop is in accordance with a 4-20 mA standard.
  • 16. The unitized sensor module of claim 14 wherein the loop is in accordance with a digital communication standard.
  • 17. The unitized sensor module of claim 1 wherein the module is intrinsically safe.
  • 18. The unitized sensor module of claim 1 wherein the circuit provides a scalable sensor output.
  • 19. A scalable transmitter module, comprising:a housing adapted to mount on a unitized sensor module, the housing having an outer wall surrounding a cavity and including a removable cover for accessing the cavity, the housing having a first opening adapted to mount on a fitting of the unitized sensor module and a second opening adapted for connection to a wiring raceway to a remote receiver, and a circuit in the cavity having a plug adapted to mate with a feedthrough of the unitized sensor module, the circuit being adapted to receive a sensor output from the unitized sensor module and generate a scalable output on circuit terminals accessible by removing the cover, the scalable output being adapted for transmission to the remote receiver.
  • 20. The scalable transmitter module of claim 19 wherein the circuit includes a terminal block connecting the sensor output to the remote receiver.
  • 21. The scalable transmitter module of claim 19 wherein the circuit is configured to transmit the sensor output on a two wire process control loop adapted for transmission to the remote receiver.
  • 22. The scalable transmitter module of claim 19 wherein the removable cover includes a window and the circuit includes a display visible through the window.
  • 23. The scalable transmitter module of claim 19 further comprising a display coupled to the circuit.
  • 24. The scalable transmitter module of claim 19 wherein the circuit is configured to process a sensor output from the unitized sensor module.
  • 25. The scalable transmitter module of claim 19 wherein the circuit is configured to couple to a second unitized sensor module.
  • 26. The scalable transmitter module of claim 19 wherein the transmitter module is configured to be spaced apart from the unitized sensor module and the units are electrically coupled together.
  • 27. The scalable transmitter module of claim 21 wherein the transmitter module is physically coupled to the feedthrough of the unitized sensor module.
  • 28. The scalable transmitter module of claim 21 wherein the two wire process control loop is in accordance with a 4-20 mA standard.
  • 29. The scalable transmitter module of claim 21 wherein the two wire process control loop is in accordance with a digital standard.
  • 30. The scalable transmitter module of claim 21 wherein the scalable transmitter module and the unitized sensor module are completely powered from the two wire process control loop.
  • 31. The scalable transmitter module of claim 19 wherein the circuit completely powers the unitized sensor module.
Parent Case Info

This is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/671,495, filed Sep. 27, 2000 which claims priority to provisional patent application Serial No. 60/156,369, filed Sep. 28, 1999, entitled “UNITIZED MODULARITY IN A PROCESS TRANSMITTER”.

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Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/156369 Sep 1999 US
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/671495 Sep 2000 US
Child 10/125286 US