Measurement system

• US 20060145840A1
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xylem Analytics Germany GmbH (Xylem, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ebro Electronic GmbH (Xylem, Inc.)
• Inventors: Klun, Wolfgang
• Granted Patent: US 7,935,306 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.220
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/07 Steam
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/28 Devices for testing the effectiveness or completeness of sterilisation, e.g. indicators which change colour apparatus involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M1/34; methods involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers

Abstract

A system and method (1) for acquiring, compiling and storing measured values in a temperature and/or pressure and/or moisture-dependent process comprises at least one sensor (4, 6) for acquiring measured values. The device (1) contains means (3) for storing the measured values. The sensor (4, 6) and the means (3) are designed to be positioned inside a closed process chamber (2). The device (1) further comprises means (11) for the wireless transmission of the stored measured values at preset or settable time intervals to a receiver unit (10) disposed outside the closed process chamber (2). In a process for monitoring a temperature and/or pressure and/or moisture-dependent process, an acquisition of measured values is accomplished by means of at least one sensor (4, 6) located inside a closed process chamber (2). The acquired measured values are compiled and stored in at least one data logger (3), and during the process are transmitted at preset or settable time intervals to a receiver unit (10) located outside the process chamber (2), by means of a wireless system.

Claims

1. A measurement system comprising:

at least one sensor for determining a measured value, said sensor being adapted to be disposed inside a closed process chamber;

means for storing the measured value, said means for storing being adapted to be disposed inside a closed process chamber and receive a measured value from the at least one sensor;

a receiver unit adapted to be disposed outside of the same closed process chamber in which the at least one sensor is adapted to be disposed inside;

means for wireless transmission of the stored measured value to a receiver unit outside of a closed process chamber at predetermined time intervals.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one sensor for measuring the temperature inside the process chamber.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one sensor for acquiring the pressure inside the process chamber.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor can be positioned directly in a process material disposed inside the closed chamber.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor includes multiple sensors adapted to be positioned at various points in the process material and the process chamber.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for wireless transmission of the measured comprises a radio device.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitting antenna for the radio device is formed by a coil.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiver unit is disposed on an outer wall of the closed process chamber.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiver unit is removably attached to the outer wall of the closed process chamber.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for wireless transmission comprises a permanent data connection.

11. The system of claim 1 further including a processing unit located outside the process chamber.

16. The method of claim 1 further includes measuring at least one measured value through at lest one sensor positioned within the process material.

17. The method of claim 16 further including measuring at least one measured value through at least one additional sensor positioned in the process chamber.

18. The method of claim 1 further including the step of further transmitting the measured values from the receiver unit to a display unit for the display of the measured values.

19. The method of claim 1 further including the step of further transmitting the measured values from the receiver unit to a processing unit for controlling the process occurring in the closed chamber.

29. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiver unit is disposed on an outer wall of the closed process chamber.

12. A method for monitoring one or more measured values in a closed chamber having a process occurring therein selected from the group consisting of temperature, pressure and moisture:

measuring at least one measured value using at least one sensor positioned inside a closed process;

compiling and storing in at least one data logger said measured values;

transmitting the compiled and stored values at predetermined time intervals to a receiver unit located outside of the process chamber via a wireless system.

13. The method of claim 12, further including compiling a first set of measured values from a first sensor in a first data logger and compiling a second set of measured values from a second data logger;

and

transmitting the data sets to the receiver unit, wherein each compiled set of data is transmitted at different times.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of transmitting data to the receiver unit is accomplished via radio signals.

15. The method of claim 12 where in the step of transmitting data comprises, radio waves being sent to the receiver unit through seals in the process chamber.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the process occurring in the closed chamber is selected from the group consisting of sterilization, refrigeration and fermentation.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of transmitting data to the receiver unit is accomplished via a infra red system.

22. A measurement system comprising:

at least one sensor for determining a measured value, said sensor being adapted to be disposed inside a closed process chamber;

a data logger for storing the measured value, said data logger being adapted to be disposed inside a closed process chamber and receive a measured value from the at least one sensor;

a receiver unit adapted to be disposed outside of the same closed process chamber in which the at least one sensor is adapted to be disposed inside;

a wireless transmitter for transmitting the stored measured value to a receiver unit outside of a closed process chamber at predetermined time intervals.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one sensor for measuring the temperature inside the process chamber.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one sensor for acquiring the pressure inside the process chamber.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the at least one sensor can be positioned directly in a process material disposed inside the closed chamber.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein the at lest one sensor includes multiple sensors adapted to be positioned at various points in the process material and the process chamber.

27. The system of claim 22 wherein the wireless transmitter comprises a radio device.

28. The system of claim 22 wherein the wireless transmitter comprises an infra red device.