US Patent 6941244 Off-line diagnosis system

Process control systems may include one or more diagnostic systems and/or processes. In particular implementations, a diagnostic system and process for a field instrument may include the ability to divide a signal input range into a plurality of zones with respect to an input axis or a time axis, measure input response characteristics for a zone with the field instrument, and store measurement data points for the zone in memory of the field instrument. The diagnostic system and process may also include the ability to transmit the measurement data points for the zone to a host application and, while transmitting the measurement data points for the zone, measure input response characteristics for a second zone with the field instrument.