Sensor device

• US 20070188163A1
• Filed: 01/22/2007
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Balluff Verwaltungsges mbH
• Original Assignee: Balluff Verwaltungsges mbH
• Inventors: Mahler, Simon, Jagiella, Manfred, Matter, Urs, Kunzweiler, Winfried
• Application Number:
  US11/656,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20070188163A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/207.150
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9505 Constructional details

Abstract

A sensor device is suggested, comprising a sensor module with a housing, with at least one sensor element which is arranged in the housing, at least one active sensor face and a sensor module connection device and a holding module for holding the sensor module, a holding module connection device which is adapted to the sensor module connection device, wherein the sensor module can be fixed to the holding module via the sensor module connection device and the holding module connection device and an electrical connection can be made available between the sensor module and the holding module, and wherein the holding module is provided for the fixing to an application or is part of an application, the supply of energy to the sensor module is brought about via the holding module and the coupling out of signals is brought about via the holding module.

Claims

1. Sensor device, comprising:

a sensor module with a housing;

at least one sensor element arranged in the housing;

at least one active sensor face;

a sensor module connection device;

a holding module for holding the sensor module; and

a holding module connection device adapted to the sensor module connection device;

wherein the sensor module is adapted to be fixed to the holding module via the sensor module connection device and the holding module connection device and an electrical connection is made available between the sensor module and the holding module; and

wherein the holding module is provided for the fixing to an application or is part of an application, the supply of power to the sensor module is brought about via the holding module and the coupling out of signals is brought about via the holding module.

2. Sensor device as defined in claim 1, wherein the sensor module connection device and the holding module connection device are designed such that the sensor module is adapted to be plugged into the holding module.

3. Sensor device as defined in claim 1, wherein the sensor module connection device has at least one pin and the holding module connection device has an adapted pin receiving means.

4. Sensor device as defined in claim 1, wherein the holding module connection device has at least one pin and the sensor module connection device has at least one adapted pin receiving means.

5. Sensor device as defined in claim 3, wherein the at least one pin is designed as a contact pin.

6. Sensor device as defined in claim 3, wherein at least two pins are provided.

7. Sensor device as defined in claim 1, wherein the holding module has a mounting device for fixing it to an application.

8. Sensor device as defined in claim 7, wherein the mounting device comprises at least one continuous recess.

9. Sensor device as defined in claim 8, wherein a direction of orientation of the at least one recess is parallel to a plug-in direction of the sensor module onto the holding module.

10. Sensor device as defined in claim 8, wherein a direction of orientation of the at least one recess is transverse to a plug-in direction of the sensor module onto the holding module.

11. Sensor device as defined in claim 7, wherein the mounting device comprises a thread.

12. Sensor device as defined in claim 7, wherein the mounting device comprises a clampable element and/or at least one clamping element.

13. Sensor device as defined in claim 7, wherein the mounting device comprises a bar.

14. Sensor device as defined in claim 1, wherein the holding module is designed in several parts, wherein a first part is adapted to be fixed to an application and a second part is adapted to be fixed to the first part.

15. Sensor device as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one active sensor face is parallel to a mounting side of the holding module.

16. Sensor device as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one active sensor face is transverse to a mounting side of the holding module.

17. Sensor device as defined in claim 1, wherein a plug-in direction of the sensor module onto the holding module is transverse to a mounting side of the holding module on an application.

18. Sensor device as defined in claim 1, wherein a plug-in direction of the sensor module onto the holding module is parallel to a mounting side of the holding module on an application.

19. Sensor device as defined in claim 1, wherein the holding module and the sensor module are designed such that the sensor module projects beyond an outer surface of the holding module when it is held on the holding module.

20. Sensor device as defined in claim 1, wherein the holding module and the sensor module are designed such that the sensor module is flush with an outer surface of the holding module or is set back in relation to it when it is held on the holding module.

21. Sensor device as defined in claim 1, wherein the holding module has a signal connection and electrical connection.

22. Sensor device as defined in claim 21, wherein a cable is guided away from the holding module.

23. Sensor device as defined in claim 1, wherein the holding module is a printed circuit board.

24. Sensor device as defined in claim 1, wherein a height of the housing of the sensor module is at the most twice as great as the greatest diameter at right angles to the height.

25. Sensor device as defined in claim 1, wherein the housing of the sensor module is cylindrical or of a parallelepiped shape.

26. Sensor device as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one active sensor face is determined by a housing side of the sensor module.

27. Sensor device as defined in claim 26, wherein the at least one active sensor face is determined by a housing side located opposite the sensor module connection device.

28. Sensor device as defined in claim 26, wherein the at least one active sensor face is located transversely to a housing side, the sensor module connection device being arranged on said housing side.

29. Sensor device as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor element is an inductive sensor element or capacitive sensor element.

30. Sensor device as defined in claim 29, wherein the at least one sensor element is a coil, a coil core being associated with said coil.

31. Sensor device as defined in claim 1, said device being designed as a distance sensor device or position sensor device or proximity sensor device or tracer device.

32. Sensor device as defined in claim 1, wherein the sensor module has a support oriented essentially parallel to the at least one sensor element.

33. Sensor device as defined in claim 32, wherein the at least one sensor element is plugged into the support or soldered to it or imprinted on it.

34. Sensor device as defined in claim 32, wherein a space is formed between the at least one sensor element and the support.

35. Sensor device as defined in claim 34, wherein one or several electronic components are arranged in the space.

36. Sensor device as defined in claim 32, wherein the support is arranged parallel to a housing side of the housing of the sensor module.

37. Sensor device as defined in claim 32, wherein the support is arranged parallel to an active sensor face.

38. Sensor device as defined in claim 24, wherein contact pins are arranged on at least one of a support and the housing.

39. Inductive sensor device with a sensor unit, comprising:

a coil as sensor element; and

a housing, the coil being arranged in said housing;

wherein the housing has a first housing end side and an active sensor face being determined by said end side;

wherein the housing has an oppositely located second housing end side; and

wherein a signal connection and a power supply connection are arranged on a housing lateral side between the first housing end side and the second housing end side.

40. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 39, wherein the housing is closed.

41. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 39, wherein a cable is connected to the housing lateral side.

42. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 39, wherein a height of the housing is at the most twice as great as the greatest diameter of the housing at right angles to the height.

43. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 39, wherein the housing is cylindrical or parallelepiped in shape.

44. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 39, wherein a coil core is associated with the coil.

45. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 39, wherein a support is arranged in the housing, said support being oriented essentially parallel to the first housing end side.

46. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 45, wherein the coil is attached to the support or soldered to it or imprinted on it.

47. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 45, wherein a space is formed between the coil and the support.

48. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 47, wherein one or several electronic components are arranged in the space.

49. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 45, wherein the support is oriented parallel to the first housing end side.

50. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 39, comprising a holder adapted to be fixed to an application, wherein the housing is adapted to be fixed to the holder.

51. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 50, wherein the holder has a space for receiving the housing.

52. Inductive sensor device with a sensor unit, comprising:

a housing; and

at least one inductive sensor element arranged in the housing;

wherein a height of the housing is at the most twice as great as the greatest diameter at right angles to the height.

53. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 52, wherein the housing is cylindrical or parallelepiped in shape.

54. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 52, wherein an active sensor face is determined by a housing side.

55. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 52, wherein a coil core is associated with the at least one inductive sensor element.

56. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 52, said sensor device being designed as a distance sensor device or position sensor device or proximity sensor device or tracer device.

57. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 52, wherein a support is provided, said support being oriented essentially parallel to the at least one inductive sensor element.

58. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 57, wherein the at least one inductive sensor element is plugged into the support or soldered to it or imprinted on it.

59. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 57, wherein a space is formed between the at least one inductive sensor element and the support.

60. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 59, wherein one or several electronic components are arranged in the space.

61. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 57, wherein the support is arranged parallel to a housing side of the housing.

62. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 57, wherein the support is arranged parallel to an active sensor face.

63. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 52, wherein contact pins are arranged on at least one of a support and the housing.

64. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 57, wherein a plug element is arranged on the support.

65. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 64, wherein the plug element is connected rigidly to the support.

66. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 64, wherein the plug element has contact pins.

67. Inductive sensor device as defined in claim 52, wherein the at least one inductive element is arranged on one side of the support and electronic components are arranged on the oppositely located side of the support.