Measuring arrangement with sensor having identification unit

• US 20030069713A1
• Filed: 10/07/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Piezocryst Advanced Sensorics GmbH
• Original Assignee: Piezocryst Advanced Sensorics GmbH
• Inventors: Teichmann, Rudiger, Friedl, Alexander, Glaser, Josef, Leitmeier, Klaus, Moik, Josef, Harms, Klaus-Christoph, Wallnofer, Wolfgang
• Application Number:
  US10/265,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20030069713A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/127
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 3/022 having an ideal characteristic, map or correction data stored in a digital memory

Abstract

A measuring arrangement including a sensor (1), an interpretation unit (3) connected to said sensor via a detachable connection cable (2), and a memory module (4) having sensor-relevant data whereby the memory module is assigned to the sensor and may be interrogated by the interpretation unit to simplify deference of the sensor-relevant data in the interpretation unit (3) following a possible exchange of sensors. The memory module (4) is arranged outside of the sensor (1) so that the arrangement can also be employed in a rough environment whereby there is provided on the sensor (1) itself an identification unit (5) having a sensor identification ability that may be correlated with the memory module (4).

Claims

1. A measuring arrangement comprising a sensor (1), an interpretation unit (3) connected to said sensor via a detachable connection cable (2), and a memory module (4) having sensor-relevant data whereby said memory module is assigned to said sensor and may be interrogated by said interpretation unit, wherein said memory module (4) is arranged outside the sensor (1) whereby there is provided in or on the sensor (1) itself an identification unit (5) having a sensor identification capability that can be correlated with the memory module (4).

2. A measuring arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said memory module (4) is arranged in the area of said connection cable (2) and the connector plug (6).

3. A measuring arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said memory module (4) is integrated into said connection cable (2) between the two-sided connector plugs (6).

4. A measuring arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said memory module (4) is integrated into the connector plug (6) at the side of said interpretation unit (3).

5. A measuring arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said connector plug (6) at the side of the interpretation unit (3) consists of a cable plug (7) fixed to said connection cable (2) and an adapter plug (8), which may be detached at both ends and which is disposed between said cable plug (7) and the connecting socket on said interpretation unit (3) whereby said memory module (4) is arranged inside the adapter plug (8).

6. A measuring arrangement according to any one of claims 1 through 5, wherein said memory module (4) communicates with said identification unit (5) of the sensor (1) and/or with the interpretation unit (3) via the measurement transmission wire of said sensor (1) in the connection cable (2).

7. A measuring arrangement according to any one of claims 1 through 5, whereby in the design of said sensor (1) as a piezo-electric measurement sensor, said identification unit (5) of the sensor (1) is formed by the piezo-electric element itself, which may be generated as an oscillation element via said connection cable (2) generated by said memory module (4) or interpretation unit (3) under exploitation of the inverse piezo effect, whereby the resonance spectrum of said oscillation element serves for sensor identification.

8. A measuring arrangement according to any one of claims 1 through 5, wherein said identification unit (5) of the sensor (1) may be provided with at least one surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) element, which may be biased with a high-frequency impulse via said connection cable (2) from said memory module (4) or interpretation unit (3) and which supplies, as a response, the signals serving for sensor identification.

9. A measuring arrangement according to claim 8, whereby in the design of said sensor (1) as a piezo-electric measurement sensor of the measuring element or one of the measuring elements, said sensor (1) serves directly as a substrate for the surface-acoustic-wave element.

10. A measuring arrangement according to any one of claims 1 through 5, wherein said identification unit (5) of the sensor (1) may be provided with an oscillating element generating mechanical oscillations with varying resonance frequencies via said connection cable (2) from said memory module (4) or interpretation unit (3) whereby the pattern of resonance frequencies, which is interrogatable through a variation of excitation frequencies, serves for sensor identification.

11. A measuring arrangement according to any one of claims 1 through 5, wherein said identification unit (5) of the sensor (1) is provided with at least one passive electric component, preferably at least one electric resistor having a known value, whose interrogatable values coming from said memory module (4) or interpretation unit (3) via the connection cable (2) serve for sensor identification.