Field Calibrators - ControlGlobal.com · 2020. 11. 30. · Acromag.com 877-295-7066 MADE IN USA ISO9001 AS9100 IECEx Visit acromag.com/xmitters You can depend on Acromag for all TO

SPECIAL REPORT

Field Calibrators

Optimize your calibration plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Smart devices offer embedded QA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Beyond interoperability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Digital champs needed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

The connected instrument tech: New options for the mobile crowd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

AD INDEXAcromag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Field Calibrators 2

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Establishing ideal calibration intervals based on key regulatory, criticality, safety and

quality considerations is only the first step in achieving optimal instrument perfor-

mance . There are other factors to consider when it comes to developing a plan and

executing against it . First, since you’re looking to optimize calibration operations and not

just keep records, a software application designed specifically to help manage and keep

track of your instrumentation is a good first investment .

In a new plant, setting initial calibration frequencies relies on the criticality of the measure-

ment, the maximum permissible error (MPE), the use of self-diagnostics and verification, as

well as advice from the instrument manufacturer and qualified calibration team . But in an

existing plant, determining calibration intervals based on established work practices and

actual historical experience often yields better results .

Indeed, once a calibration plan has been in effect for a few years, the instrument/asset man-

agement software takes on an even bigger role . When each calibration is completed, new

data is recorded, including the status of the flowmeter before and after calibration . Analysis

of these records may very well indicate that the instrument does not require calibration as

often as expected, helping to justify longer intervals .

Other advantages of today’s instrument/asset management packages include the support


Field Calibrators 4

Optimize your calibration plan


Field Calibrators 5

of mobile access to an instrument’s history

and supporting documentation . From the

field, a technician can pull up real-time diag-

nostics, calibration history, troubleshooting

instructions and other information needed

to properly address issues as they arise . In

many cases, modern instruments equipped

with advanced diagnostics can determine if

a problem exists, and automatically notify

the maintenance department .

IN-HOUSE, AT A LAB, OR ONSITE?Once the need for a calibration is estab-

lished, a number of other decisions come

into play . First, do you have—or can you

afford—the necessary equipment to do it

in house? And, do you have the properly

trained technicians on staff to perform it

properly?

Standard maintenance shops are not

equipped for some calibrations . Flowme-

ters, for example, are far more complicated

to calibrate than other measurement instru-

ments, such as for temperature or pressure .

Professional calibration labs use pipe-clamp

measurement sections to accommodate

different diameters . The sections tend to

be large, making them cost-prohibitive for

many asset owner-operators . Calibrating in-

When there’s a need for high accuracy calibration of a large, high flowrate meter, there’s simply no substitute for an accredited calibration laboratory such as this Endress+Hauser facility, where meters up to feet in diameter can be traceably calibrated. (Human technician included for scale.)


Field Calibrators 6

house also necessitates the

purchase of one or more

costly flow-reference de-

vices—these devices require

calibration with traceability,

adding further costs and

complexity to processes . In

such cases, the help of an

outside services organiza-

tion is called for—prefer-

ably one accredited to the

ISO/IEC 17025 Standard

for Testing and Calibration

Laboratories .

Flowmeters are often re-

moved from systems for the

purpose of calibration and

sent to a calibration labora-

tory . The commonly held

belief is that the necessary

calibration accuracy can be

guaranteed only under labo-

ratory conditions . However,

this is only partially true .

Flowmeters and many other

measuring devices can also

be calibrated directly on-

site by an accredited cali-

bration provider . There are

several advantages to this:

• Plant availability improves

as the device is calibrated

near-line or in-line .

• Sources of error can be

detected and eliminated

on-site, while the abil-

ity to achieve the same

result in a calibration lab is

limited . Calibration techni-

cians on-site can detect

errors during installation

and identify blockages or

contamination in the pipes

directly in the system .

• Cost savings increase due

to the speed of completion,

reduced downtime and the

elimination of an inventory

of replacement parts .

• There is no need to disas-

semble and ship contami-

nated devices, and costly

decontamination mea-

sures can be avoided .

Endress+Hauser, for ex-

ample, has both high-end

regional calibration centers

across the world as well as

fleets of portable rigs—sup-

ported by highly trained

engineers—that can be

brought directly to plant

sites . Convenient and cost-

This portable flowmeter calibration rig can be brought onsite to compare flowmeter performance against a standards-traceable reference meter, avoiding the delays and potential damage inher-ent in transporting the meter to a laboratory.


Field Calibrators 7

effective, this approach removes the need

to send instruments offsite . Coordinating an

onsite visit with a plant outage also allows

multiple instruments to be quickly calibrat-

ed and returned to service .

These mobile rigs (see photo) compare

a flowmeter’s performance against an-

other reference meter with traceability .

But for those applications requiring even

higher accuracy, or to address especially

large meter sizes, one’s choices are lim-

ited to dedicated calibration facilities such

as Endress+Hauser’s regional calibration

centers in Europe, Asia and North America,

where a new Gulf Coast campus will open

later this year . These dedicated facilities of-

fer traceable, highest-accuracy calibration

of even high flow-rate flowmeters .

Even with the budget to purchase the most

sophisticated calibration and reference

equipment currently available, there is no

substitute for a properly trained technician .

Not only do they need to be trained on the

mechanics of the calibration process, they

also need to be equally qualified in com-

pleting and maintaining the documentation .

Accuracy, repeatability and reproducibility

are key and in the world of calibration, if it

isn’t properly documented, it didn’t happen .

Truly professional calibration needs highly

trained experts . While it is perfectly feasible

to calibrate some measuring points yourself,

other points present a challenge that it is not

to be underestimated, even by experts . In

cases involving a large number of flowmeters,

calibration requires project planning . The staff

Calibration traceability should follow an unbroken chain of calibrations, so that the highest-level cali-bration can be traced back to a national calibration standard, or equivalent.


Field Calibrators 8

conducting these calibrations needs to con-

sider the minimization of plant downtime, the

removal and reinstallation of devices, techni-

cal knowledge of calibration, as well as the

operation and handling of tools and equip-

ment . Additionally, staff must always know

the current applicable regulations to ensure

that the correct calibration intervals are being

observed and can complete the documenta-

tion in compliance with the regulations . After

all, calibration provides proof and documen-

tation of compliance with the permitted mea-

surement error and plays an important role in

audits and certifications .

Furthermore, taking on internal or in-house

calibrations can raise questions from an

audit standpoint as to what the company’s

core competence may be . Is it to produce a

product or perform calibrations?

INSIST ON TRACEABILITY, ACCREDITATIONTraceability means that the reference

standards used when executing a calibra-

tion have also been calibrated using an

even higher-level standard . That traceability

should follow an unbroken chain of calibra-

tions, so that the highest-level calibration

has been traced back to a national calibra-

tion standard, or equivalent .

So, for example, you may calibrate your

process measurement instrument with a

portable process calibrator . The portable

process calibrator you used, should have

been calibrated using a more accurate ref-

erence calibrator . The reference calibrator

should be calibrated with an even higher-

level standard or sent out to an accredited

or national calibration center for calibration .

If the traceability chain is broken at any

point, any measurement “below” that point

cannot be considered the true representa-

tion of the measurement . Comparisons be-

tween devices under testing, testing equip-

ment and the country’s highest national

standard are the only way of establishing

end-to-end traceability of measured values .

Just as traceability ensures the integrity of

calibration standards, accreditation ensures

that providers of calibration services have

the necessary technical expertise, and that

the calibration infrastructure (operating pro-

cedures, methods, calculations) and quality

management systems meets industry best

practices . Endress+Hauser’s calibration ca-

pabilities, for example, are accredited in the

U .S . by the American Association for Labora-

tory Accreditation (A2LA, www .a2la .org) .

Your organization’s competitive edge de-

pends on accurate instrumentation . Opti-

mize calibration in line with your needs to

enhance productivity, ensure compliance

and maintain quality . Schedule calibra-

tion of critical instruments, monitor KPIs

for process improvement and call on the

expertise of accredited calibration service

providers when it makes sense to augment

your in-house capabilities .

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The recent publication of IEC TR 63082-1:2020 “Intelligent Device Management –

Part 1: Concepts and terminology” in February and subsequent adoption by ISA at

the end of April is one more tool developed to help the control community make

better use of the capabilities existing in their already installed systems .

This initial document in a planned series on intelligent device management (IDM) addresses

the ‘why’ of asset management as it pertains to industrial intelligent devices (IIDs) . Part 2,

presently under development as a planned international standard, will describe ‘what’ is

necessary, and then subsequent technical reports (TR) will provide details on the ‘how’ to

implement the ‘what’ in Part 2 .

IEC 63082-1 describes intelligent device management concepts and terminology to describe

the basic concepts of how intelligent devices can be managed and an overview of how this

device management works throughout the facility lifecycle without implying a particular

asset management tool or set of tools . The concept of an IDM program as a way to manage

the activities associated with intelligent devices during the facility lifecycle is suggested as

an approach to achieve goals across multiple internal and external stakeholders .

As devices continue to evolve to transmit more data digitally, they deliver more benefits to

users as well as offering the potential for simpler deployment, improved operation and re-

Field Calibrators 9

Smart devices offer embedded QALeverage their digital diagnotsics to ensure the real-time integrity of control actions

by Ian Verhappen


Field Calibrators 10

duced costs . Intelligent device data delivery

standards (the various industrial network

protocols) define what each data point

looks like in terms of descriptors and termi-

nology . This proliferation of intelligent de-

vices has also resulted in an increase in the

volume and complexity of data, requiring

standards for identifying errors, diagnostic

codes and critical configuration parameters,

leading to better process control, higher ef-

ficiency, lower energy use, reduced down-

time and higher-quality products .

Unfortunately, most installed, intelligent de-

vices are only used to perform their primary

function of providing the process variable .

All of us are likely familiar with the term

GIGO (garbage in, garbage out) with refer-

ence to control practices . Asset manage-

ment is one way to prevent GIGO from hap-

pening with your process by allowing one

to predict, in real-time, the quality of signals

to and from your field devices and, ulti-

mately, your ability to control your process .

To meet the challenges and capture the

benefits of IDM, all stakeholders, such as

engineering firms, operating companies and

service and equipment providers, need to

understand their role in proper implementa-

tion and use of the tools and support sys-

tems for intelligent devices .

OVERCOMING COMPLEXITYThe primary challenge of IDM is its per-

ceived complexity . Digital communica-

tions and auxiliary functions can maximize

the value of the device . However, the

lack of standardized work processes and

available skills at a site are a challenge

for dealing effectively with the potential

complexity of IDM and fuel the need for

the above standards .

Achieving the full benefit of IDM requires a

lifecycle approach in a structured environ-

ment that’s established during the design

and before operation of a facility . Existing

or new facilities without IDM infrastruc-

ture can require hardware and software

upgrades . Traditional tools such as gap

analysis can help determine the need for

hardware and software modification, new

work processes and retraining personnel .

With IDM infrastructure in place, facilities

can be made to perform better with lower

risk, while new facilities can be designed,

constructed and operated in a more ef-

ficient fashion .

IDM-based work processes also provide

opportunities to improve data manage-

ment, workers’ knowledge, maintenance

of work processes and diagnostic messag-

ing . The net result of asset management

is to provide improvement in functional-

ity, accuracy, reliability and total cost of

ownership by giving personnel the time to

optimize practices to improve safety and

efficiency of the manufacturing/produc-

tion process .

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The Field Device Integration (FDI, www .Ask4FDI .com) standard was developed

through a collaboration between major industry foundations and suppliers to bring

standardization to the packaging and distribution of all software and tools neces-

sary to integrate a device with a host system .

In recent years, field devices and the systems they connect to have become more power-

ful, as has the software required to maximize value creation from their use . Staying current

with changing operating systems, asset management system versions, user interfaces, and

device description (DD) releases is time-consuming and error-prone . To get around this, FDI

standardizes their interfaces so host systems need only one FDI Device Package per device

type per protocol to successfully integrate each device .

To do this, a physical device is virtualized in software as an FDI Device Package—a single

file (* .fdix) that contains all the device information including device definitions, user inter-

face plug-ins, certificates, device manuals and other components that are essential for man-

aging the field device in the plant .

“If you want to measure temperature in your process application or plant, you want to use

a great device, but you need the right tools to configure it, such as ABB’s Field Information

Manager (FIM) software,” says Hendrik Deckert, technical product manager for measure-


Beyond interoperabilityHow FDI reaches the cloud and enables digital transformation



ment and analytics, Industrial Automation

division, ABB . “However, there’s usually

equipment from other vendors in the same

facility, and you don’t want to install new

software for each product . This is why the

FieldComm Group created standard Field

Device Integration (FDI) drivers for config-

uring HART, PROFIBUS and FOUNDATION

Fieldbus .”

Softing Industrial Automation provides

communication hardware, including “mo-

biLink” Bluetooth interface, gateways, and

network hardware and software for HART,

FOUNDATION Fieldbus and PROFIBUS

PA . “One specialized interface allows you

to convert communication of different

protocols,” says Thomas Rummel, senior

vice president, engineering and product

management, industrial data networks, at

Softing . “Until now, we’ve had to talk to the

vendors of different tools and do integra-

tion on the API level, which we can’t re-use .

With FDI, we can use the same server for

multiple tools .

FDT is similar, using common Device Type

Managers (DTM), but FDI offers contrinua-

tion of the DD approach .

Deckert reports HART originally used elec-

tronic device description (EDD) text files

that covered all the properties and variables

for each particular device . “This method

was sufficient for basic temperature, pres-

sure and other components, but as instru-

ments grew more complex and took on

multiple roles thanks to more powerful mi-

croprocessors, EDDs just couldn’t keep up,”

explains Deckert . The initial solution was the

Field Device Tool (FDT) standard and the

FDT Group’s DTM that performs program

calculations aided by an EDD-based user

interface description (UID), while it’s still

located inside an EDD . This allowed simple

temperature devices to keep using EDDs,

while more complicated device like flowme-

ters could use DTMs .

FDI’s most significant improvement is that the documentation users need is in one

device package .



“With scalable FDI Device Packages, users

can employ descriptive UIDs or use UIDs

with active code for complex instruments .

These two scalable parts are what FDI is

all about—not more double configuration

work for users,” explains Deckert . “For ex-

ample, our FIM software for FDI has been

adapted to accept UIDs in legacy field

devices, which means users can add their

installed base to a FIM system, and don’t

have to rip and replace . Plus, while old de-

vices don’t have to be replaced, they can

be exchanged if the user decides to . In ad-

dition, even though most vendors follow

FDI, ABB’s FIM also works with UIDs, so

users aren’t dependent if a vendor hasn’t

followed it .

“This is really FDI’s most significant im-

provement—all the documentation users

need is in one device package, so users

aren’t limited if internet coverage is lacking .

Also, only the vendor’s team can create the

attached files for their device .”

As an emerging technology, FDI is gradual-

ly becoming readily available in the market .

“It’s in release now, and there are tools out

there, Siemens, Emerson, Honeywell, ABB

and others are strongly committed to FDI,”

says Rummel . “The benefit is, you have one

concept of serving HART, FOUNDATION

Fieldbus, PROFIBUS PA and even other

protocols—one for all protocols, instead

of something similar, but not the same . In

the future, it will allow you to do a single

network across the enterprise . We’ll have

better network architectures with com-

mon servers running on it . The integration

improves the system architecture, and a

gateway with a server can communicate

with the devices .”

Connects any protocolThe Field Device Integration (FDI) standard is not another protocol . It’s an integration tech-

nology that brings standardization to device installation and configuration . The FDI Device

Package is a single file that contains all drivers, documentation and user interfaces to manage

a field device .

Provides cybersecurity: FDI technology deploys state-of-the-art security measures include se-

cure FDI Device Packages, sandbox environments for user interface plug-ins (UIPs), and OPC

UA security capabilities .

Standardizes device management: FDI Device Package repository streamlines the process of

device revision management . As the authoritative source for registered FDI Device Packages,

it simplifies maintenance by providing a simple way to obtain the correct device files for your

installation .

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Under the brim of his hardhat, Dana, the instrument tech, had scrawled the network

ID and join key for the two WirelessHART networks in his section . This was essen-

tial to adding and/or replacing digitally integrated wireless transmitters, and the

potentially lengthy network ID (up to six digits) and join key (up to four integers of eight

digits each) was both something to be known and something to be guarded . Dana had

become proficient at configuring the wireless instruments using his new Trex communica-

tor; he was also familiar with the browser-based management tool for the plant’s growing

wireless sensor network .

In today’s world, a large proportion of measurements from wireless instrumentation is

brought into legacy systems, even more into modern ones, using Modbus . As such, each

variable of interest is mapped to a Modbus register, and the corresponding register is read

and associated with its tag in the DCS or PLC . Once done, this configuration is stable and

reliable . But how easy is device replacement? As any infrastructure ages and applications

are added or modified, the individuals who understand how it all fits together may not be

readily available . What if a device needs replacement while Dana is on vacation, and his

hardhat is in his locker?

WHITHER CHANGE MANAGEMENT?In the WirelessHART deployment, a new device out-of-the-box requires a few more set-


Digital champs neededWhat if a digital device needs replacement but your expert is on vacation?

by John Rezabek



tings to replace an existing one . These are

all things that can be set with a properly

equipped and connected handheld device

or a laptop with a HART modem and appro-

priate software . A procedure detailing vari-

ables like Network ID or Join Keys should

not be hard to develop, and helpful wizards

aboard a handheld configurator can get

one through most of the critical settings . If

you’re replacing a flow transmitter that re-

quires a square-root linearization and meter

factor, all those settings need to align as

well . A handheld or laptop might be capable

of uploading an old device’s configuration,

but that process can be tough to capture in

a standardized procedure .

Having deployed a wireless infrastructure

for battery-powered wireless field devices,

the applications in Dana’s plant proliferated,

in several cases owing to the imaginative

thinking of Dana and operations specialists .

Wireless pressure gauges in analyzer sam-

ple systems forewarned of plugging . Acous-

tic sensors on pneumatic solids conveying

lines assured they were moving material .

Could acoustic sensors with integral tem-

perature sensors offer a clue about whether

a pump kickback line was flowing freely or

plugged with polymer or catalyst solids?

Seems like they did, and within a year or

two the improvised application was cited in

a HAZOP as a safeguard . Digital transforma-

tion and new applications based on prolifer-

ating sensors—the previously unmeasured,

locally monitored or simply inferred—are

becoming common . Even the most fractious

cultures might welcome instrumentation

that assists either management or front-line

operators to support or defend their priori-

ties and choices, but their configuration and

maintenance can’t be left to chance .

In modern plants, instruments that partici-

pate in some way to provide a safeguard,

or are essential to achieving the neces-

sary layer of protection analysis (LOPA)

risk reduction, need to be validated . These

aren’t safety interlocks per se, but any mea-

surement that alerts users to take action

to avert an undesirable consequence . For

these, “run to failure” isn’t an option . Once

we rely on the new infrastructure for even

economic risk avoidance, the care and feed-

ing of the system can’t be ad hoc .

Today’s world supports the easy deploy-

ment of wireless devices that require little

added infrastructure or even strict man-

agement of change . If you’re fortunate

enough to have a competent and enthu-

siastic champion like Dana, capture his or

her doings in standardized procedures . And

ensure that you’re grooming backups/suc-

cessors, who can sustain the digital trans-

formation after they move on . Doing so will

require privileges and access to both digital

field devices and networks, as well as the

SCADA, PLC or DCS to which the new infor-

mation is being transmitted .

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FROM “see what I see” collaborative platforms to augmented reality assistants, field

workers across industry are coming to rely on commercial smartphone platforms

like never before . Whether installed on personal, bring-your-own devices (BYODs)

or ruggedized, intrinsically safe, company-issued handsets, applications based on the iOS

and Android platforms are easy to download, easy to manage and readily integrate with

other apps in the Apple and Google ecosystems .

We expect this in our personal lives, and that same flexibility, functionality and convenience

is increasingly available in our work lives as well . And that includes the instrument techni-

cians and mobile operators responsible for the care and upkeep of the process industry’s

measurement and control devices .

Control recently caught up with Jeffrey Dobos, president of ProComSol, a leading provider

of process instrumentation communication solutions, to discuss the changing toolkit avail-

able to today’s instrument tech, and how it opens new possibilities for more productive and

informed activities .

Q: The installed base of instrumentation in the process industry relies overwhelmingly on

4-20 mA analog signals for communicating process variables or valve position instructions,

paired with the HART protocol for configuration, diagnostics and other instrument data .


The connected instrument tech:

New options for the mobile crowd by Jeffrey A . Dobos



Historically speaking, what

were the options for instru-

ment techs who wanted

local access to smart instru-

ment data?

A: The only choice was an

expensive, single purpose

HART communicator . It was

not only costly to purchase,

but to maintain as well . To

add device description (DD)

files, the communicator had

to be sent to an authorized

reseller . Turnaround times

were long and updates

were expensive .

This changed in 2006 when

ProComSol released Dev-

Com2000 Smart Device

Communicator software for

Windows . DevCom2000

provides full DD-based

HART Communicator func-

tionality for the Windows

PC . Not only was the initial

cost affordable, DD Library

updates were low-cost as

well . The user simply down-

loaded DD Library updates

from the ProComSol web-

site—no need for the HART

communicator to be unavail-

able for a long period of

time just to install an update .

Then in 2014, ProComSol

released DevComDroid,

Smart Device Communi-

cator for Android . Now a

mobile and truly handheld

HART Communicator was

available . The main hard-

ware piece required was

something users already

had and used daily—their

smartphones . Again, the

initial cost, as well as for DD

Library maintenance, was

low . Used with a Bluetooth

HART modem, users also

experienced convenience

and increased safety .

Finally, the iOS version

(DevCom .iOS) was release

in 2018 . Now all major hard-

ware platforms are sup-

ported .

Q: What’s involved in re-

placing this functionality

with a smartphone instead?

A: A modern HART com-

municator now consists of

a DevCom HART Commu-

nicator App (for Android or

iOS), a smartphone and a

HART modem . A Bluetooth

HART modem is the most

convenient, but the Android

version can also use our

USB HART Modem (HM-

USB-ISO) .

THE MODERN HART COMMUNICATOR Your smartphone or tablet, plus an app and Bluetooth modem, of-fer cost, functionality, portability and safety advantages relative to bulky, single-purpose HART communicators.



The most expensive portion of the modern

HART communicator is the smartphone or

tablet . Again, this item is something you

likely already have and paid for, so the

only real added cost is for the app and

HART modem .

Even when hazardous area compliance

is required, smartphones and tablets

that meet ATEX and other requirements

are available . These devices can be used

for other activities such as inspections,

workorder management and generating

reports . Even with this more expensive

platform, the cost is lower than a single

purpose HART communicator . Plus the

tablet/smartphone has other uses besides

just HART communications .

Q: What are the advantages of using a

smartphone app instead of a purpose-

built communicator? Also, are the smart-

phone apps consistent with the Windows-

based version, and when might one use

one or the other?

A: Cost is by far the biggest advantage .

The initial purchase costs, as well as main-

tenance costs, are much lower than a

single-purpose-built communicator . The

lower cost also eliminates the need for

an instrumentation team to share a HART

communicator . Nothing is more frustrat-

ing than to be in the field in the middle of

nowhere without a tool you need .

A secondary advantage is the user has

less equipment to carry into the field . The

smartphone is always available, and the

HART modem is small and lightweight . So,

even if you didn’t plan to use a HART com-

municator at the start of your shift, you’ll

have one with you, just in case .

Also, with the current issues of the pan-

demic, technicians no longer need to share

a common HART communicator with other

team members . The affordability of Dev-

Com allows companies to purchase individ-

ual communicators for their instrumentation

teams, eliminating the need for disinfection

between uses and reducing the risk of virus

transmission .

Ease of updates is another advantage . Once

you purchase a traditional HART communi-

cator, you’re stuck with the hardware until

the manufacturer makes it obsolete . Frank-

ly, it’s obsolete as soon as the prototype

is made . Electronics are continuously in a

state of update . You know this . The smart-

phone in your pocket is likely less than two

years old . Every update you make, often for

free, is a substantial improvement in speed

and features than your previous smart-

phone . Imagine continuous improvement

with hardly any additional effort .

All versions of DevCom are interchangeable .

HART device configurations saved on each



version can be shared regardless of operat-

ing system . A device configuration can be

saved using Android and sent to your col-

league that uses Windows, for example .

Right now our Windows version takes

advantage of more screen space to show

more data . The entire HART device menu

structure can be seen at once . The addi-

tional Windows screen area also allows for

more graphical items to be shown .

Q: Once HART communications are avail-

able on your smartphone, what sorts of new

synergies are possible?

A: The user can take full advantage of the

other features of the smartphone . The main

one being connectivity . For example, a user

can save a HART device configuration to his

smartphone, and email the resulting PDF file

to his supervisor . Contractors can be hired

to go into the plant to perform calibration

checks, and have the reports sent electroni-

cally to their plant customer .

Documenting the HART instrumentation

in the plant is made even easier with the

cloud functionality of DevCom . A team of

technicians can form a group, which can

then share the HART configuration data

they collect . This data is saved in a central

repository that can be easily accessed by

everyone in the group . The data is backed

up and secure .

The smartphone camera helps with remote

tech support by saving DevCom screen

shots . These can be sent out and reviewed

by support teams . The camera can also be

used to take pictures of the communication

setup, so remote troubleshooting can take

place when things are not working .

Smartphone apps also support push noti-

fications . When a new DD Library is re-

leased, one of the ways users are notified

is with a notification on their mobile de-

vice . When the notification icon appears,

simply tap it to update the DD Library .

Very easy .

Documents

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