Measuring instrument to capture a physical/chemical measured value

• US 20080047351A1
• Filed: 08/21/2007
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Patent GmbH (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Patent GmbH (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Deppe, Lothar, Gebhardt, Jorg, Disselnkoetter, Rolf, Friedrichs, Renee, Keller, Steffen, Kassubek, Frank, Kramer, Beat
• Granted Patent: US 7,866,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/662
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/8422 exciters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/8427 detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A measuring instrument to capture a physical/chemical measured value, including a sensor unit, which is linked via a contactless interface to a transmitter unit, for passing on to a central analysis unit, wherein the sensor unit includes an at least partly internal sensor element which vibrates against a sensor housing because of operation, and which is linked, contactlessly and inside the sensor unit, for sensor signal transmission, via a first transmission/reception unit, to a complementary second transmission/reception unit, which is arranged at a fixed location relative to the sensor housing, and which is also linked, contactlessly and outside the sensor unit, to a third transmission/reception unit of the transmitter unit.

Claims

1. A measuring instrument to capture a physical/chemical measured value, including a sensor unit, which is linked via a contactless interface to a transmitter unit, for passing on to a central analysis unit,

wherein the sensor unit includes an at least partly internal sensor element which vibrates against a sensor housing because of operation, and which is linked, contactlessly and inside the sensor unit, for sensor signal transmission, via a first transmission/reception unit, to a complementary second transmission/reception unit, which is arranged at a fixed location relative to the sensor housing, and which is also linked, contactlessly and outside the sensor unit, to a third transmission/reception unit of the transmitter unit.

2. The measuring instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission/reception units are in a form for transmission of operating energy as well as for sensor signal transmission.

3. The measuring instrument as claimed in claim 2, wherein the transmitted operating energy is in the power range between 100 mW and 500 mW.

4. The measuring instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission/reception units are in a form for transmission of internal control signals as well as for sensor signal transmission.

5. The measuring instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the simultaneous operating energy transmission takes place via ultrasound energy, light energy or electromagnetic energy.

6. The measuring instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitter unit is fixed removably to the outside of the sensor housing of the sensor unit.

7. The measuring instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission/reception units are constructed in the same way and the transmission/reception unit operates two link directions.

8. The measuring instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein this is in the form of a Coriolis meter, the sensor element being an electrodynamic linear sensor.

9. The measuring instrument as claimed in claim 8, wherein the vibrating sensor element is equipped with a frequency converter unit.

10. The measuring instrument as claimed in claim 8, wherein the transmission/reception units, as well as the contactless sensor signal transmission in the direction of the transmitter unit, are also used for contactless transmission of driving energy to the sensor element, which to this extent has a dual function.

11. The measuring instrument as claimed in claim 6, wherein the transmission/reception units are constructed in the same way and the transmission/reception unit operates two link directions.

12. The measuring instrument as claimed in claim 6, being in the form of a Coriolis meter, the sensor element being an electrodynamic linear sensor.

13. A measuring instrument to capture a physical/chemical measured value, comprising:

a sensor unit, including an at least partly internal sensor element which can vibrate against a sensor housing during operation;

at least one transmission/reception unit;

a central analysis unit; and

a contactless interface linking the sensor unit with the at least one transmission/reception unit, wherein the at least partly internal sensor element is linked, contactlessly, for sensor signal transmission, via the at least one transmission/reception unit, for passing on to the central analysis unit.