Measuring system having a sensor module and a transmitter module

• US 20100026518A1
• Filed: 06/18/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Original Assignee: Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Inventors: Hertel, Martin, Lindmuller, Peter, Kirst, Michael, Ceglia, Paul
• Application Number:
  US12/457,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20100026518A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.50
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors

Abstract

The sensor module includes: a sensor housing; at least one measuring transducer arranged at least partially in the sensor housing for registering at least one measured variable and for producing at least one primary signal influenced by the measured variable; as well as sensor electronics arranged within the sensor housing and connected with the measuring transducer for converting the primary signal delivered from the measuring transducer into a sensor signal. Further provided in the sensor electronics is an energy supply unit, which includes at least one energy storer arranged within the sensor housing for storing energy to be converted in the measuring system. The transmitter module is coupled to the sensor module and includes a transmitter housing and a transmitter electronics accommodated in the transducer housing and electrically coupled with the sensor electronics for converting the sensor signal delivered from the sensor module into measured values representing the at least one measured variable.

Claims

1. A measuring system for measuring at least one physical and/or at least one chemical, measured variable, which measuring system comprises:

a sensor module, especially an energetically autarkic, sensor module, said sensor module includes;

a sensor housing, especially a sensor housing embodied as a element connectable by plugging and/or an explosion resistant and/or pressure resistant, sensor housing, at least one measuring transducer arranged at least partially in said sensor housing for registering the at least one measured variable and for producing at least one primary signal influenced by the measured variable, sensor electronics arranged within said sensor housing and connected with said at least one measuring transducer, especially a sensor electronics formed by means of a microprocessor, for converting the primary signal delivered from said at least one measuring transducer into a sensor signal, especially a digital sensor signal and/or a sensor signal transmittable via a galvanic isolation point, and an energy supply unit, especially an energy supply unit at least partially embedded in a potting compound and/or an energy supply unit having a component limiting maximally releasable electrical power, said energy supply unit has at least one energy storer arranged within said sensor housing, especially an electrochemical and/or rechargeable, energy storer, for storing energy to be converted in said at least one measuring system; and

a transmitter module coupled to said sensor module, especially by means of coupling connectable by plugging, especially a transmitter module connected releasably and/or via connecting cable with said sensor module, said transmitter module includes;

a transmitter housing, especially a transmitter housing in the form of an element connectable by plugging, and a transmitter electronics accommodated in said transmitter housing and electrically coupled with said sensor electronics, especially electrically coupled with galvanic isolation, especially a transmitter electronics for converting the sensor signals delivered from said sensor module, especially sensor signals transmitted from said sensor electronics to said transmitter electronics via galvanic isolation point, into measured valued representing the at least one measured variable, especially analog measured values and/or measure values encapsulated in a telegram transmittable via fieldbus and/or wirelessly per radio and/or digital measured values.

2. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said energy supply unit delivers, by exploiting energy stored in said energy storer, electrical power feeding, at least at times, at least in part, said sensor electronics and/or said transmitter electronics.

3. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said transmitter module draws, during operation, at least at times and/or at least in part, electrical power from said energy supply unit of said sensor module.

4. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said transmitter module draws, during operation, electrical power fed in from externally of said transmitter module, especially predominantly or exclusively from said energy supply unit of said sensor module.

5. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said transmitter module is supplied with electrical energy at least in part, especially predominantly or exclusively, by means of said energy supply unit of said sensor module, from externally of said transmitter module.

6. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

electrical power required for operation of said transmitter electronics is provided, at least in part, especially predominantly or exclusively, by exploiting energy stored in said energy storer of said energy supply unit of said sensor module.

7. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said transmitter electronics draws, during operation, at least at times and/or at least in part, electrical power from said energy supply unit of said sensor module.

8. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

electrical poser required for operation of the sensor electronics, at least in part, especially predominately or exclusively, by exploiting energy stored in said energy storer of said energy supply unit of said sensor module.

9. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said sensor electronics draws, during operation, at least at times and/or at least in part, especially predominantly or exclusively, electrical power from said energy supply unit of said sensor module.

10. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said energy storer of said energy supply unit of said sensor module is so sized that said energy storer, fully charged, maintains operation at least of said sensor module, especially, however, also operation of both sensor module and transmitter module, for at least 10 days, especially more than one month, and/or that said energy storer has a storage capacity of at least 3000 mWh, especially more than 5000 mWh, and/or that said energy storer, at a nominal voltage of at least 1 volt, especially more than 3 volt, has a nominal capacity of at least 1000 mAh, especially more than 1500 mAh.

11. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said energy storer of said energy supply unit of said sensor module is formed by means of a primary battery, especially a non-rechargeable, primary battery and/or a primary battery in the form of a thin film battery, and/or by means of a secondary battery (accumulator), especially a secondary battery rechargeable during operation of the measuring system and/or a secondary battery in the form of a thin film battery, and/or by means of a fuel cell, especially a fuel cell in the form of a micro fuel cell and/or by means of a capacitor, especially an electrolytic capacitor, especially an electrochemical, double layer capacitor.

12. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said energy storer of said energy supply unit of said sensor module is formed by means of a lithium battery, especially a lithium, manganese dioxide battery (Li—

MnO₂), lithium thionyl chloride battery (Li—

SOCl₂), lithium, carbon monofluoride battery (Li—

{CF_n}), lithium, iodine battery (Li—

I₂), and/or by means of a lithium, ion accumulator (Li-ion).

13. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said energy storer of said energy supply unit of said sensor module is formed by means of a lithium, iron, phosphate accumulator (LiFe—

PO₄), by means of lithium titanate accumulator, by means of a lithium, cobalt, nickel oxide accumulator, by means of a lithium, manganese oxide accumulator, by means of a lithium, polymer accumulator (LiPoly), by means of a sodium, sulfur accumulator and/or by means of a nickel, metal hydride accumulator.

14. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said energy storer of said energy supply unit of said sensor module is formed by means of a double layer capacitor (EDLC), especially a Goldcap, a Supercap, a Boostcap or an Ultracap double layer capacitor.

15. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said energy supply unit of said sensor module includes an electrical current limiter and/or a voltage limiter for limiting maximally releasable electrical power from its energy storer.

16. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said energy supply unit of said sensor module includes a charge measuring circuit monitoring a charge state of said at least one energy storer and/or ascertaining a remaining charge, especially a still usable, remaining charge, of said energy storer; and

said charge measuring circuit delivers during operation, at least at times, a charge measurement signal representing an instantaneous charge state of said at least one energy storer.

17. The measuring system as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

the measuring system, especially said transmitter electronics, ascertains, based on the charge measurement signal generated by said charge measurement circuit, during operation, a diagnostic value, which represents an estimated remaining charge of said energy storer and/or a remaining operating time predicted for said energy storer and/or for said sensor module.

18. The measuring system as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

the measuring system, especially said transmitter electronics, compares the ascertained diagnostic value with a predetermined reference value, which serves as an alarm threshold for a remaining charge classified as a critical operating state of the measuring system and/or for threatening discharge of said energy storer; and

the measuring system, especially said transmitter electronics, generates, based on the comparison of diagnostic values and reference value, at a detected, critical operating state, an alarm signaling this, especially visually on-site and/or remotely from the measuring system.

19. The measuring system as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

the measuring system, especially said sensor electronics, based on ascertained diagnostic value, regulates a clocking rate, with which said sensor electronics generates the sensor signal, especially a digital sensor signal.

20. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said transmitter module transmits during operation at least one time value to said sensor module, which represents a current system time of the measuring system, especially also a current date.

21. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said transmitter module further includes an energy supply unit, especially an energy supply unit at least partially embedded in a potting compound and/or an energy supply unit having components limiting a maximally releasable electrical power, said energy supply unit includes at least one energy storer feeding the energy supply unit with electrical energy and placed within said transmitter housing, especially a rechargeable energy storer;

said energy supply unit delivers electrical power by exploiting energy stored in said energy storer for feeding, at least partly, at least at times, said transmitter electronics and/or said sensor electronics.

22. The measuring system as claimed in claim 21, wherein:

said sensor module draws during operation, at least at times, electrical power from said energy supply unit of said transmitter module.

23. The measuring system as claimed in claim 21, wherein:

said energy storer of said energy supply unit of said transmitter module is so sized that said energy storer, fully charged, maintains operation of at least said transmitter module for at least 10 minutes, especially more than 1 hour and/or that said energy storer has a storage capacity of more than 10 mWh and/or that it has, at a nominal voltage of at least 1 volt, especially more than 3 volt, a nominal capacity of at least 1 mAh, especially more than 5 mAh; and

/or

said energy storer of said energy supply unit of said transmitter module is formed by means of a capacitor, especially an electrolytic capacitor, especially a double layer capacitor (EDLC), and/or by means of a secondary battery, especially a lithium, iron, phosphate accumulator (LiFe-PO₄), a lithium titanate accumulator, a lithium, cobalt, nickel oxide accumulator, a lithium, manganese accumulator, a lithium, polymer accumulator (LiPoly), a sodium, sulfur accumulator and/or a nickel, metal hydride accumulator.

24. The measuring system as claimed in claim 21, wherein:

said energy supply unit of said transmitter module includes electrical current limiters and/or voltage limiters for limiting electrical power maximally releasable from its energy storer.

25. The measuring system as claimed in claim 21, wherein:

said energy storer of said energy supply unit of said transmitter module is rechargeable, especially during operation of said transmitter module.

26. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said sensor electronics includes at least one non-volatile, especially persistent, data memory, for storing at least one section of a digital signal generated by means of said sensor module, especially a section marked by means of a time stamp representing a point in time of generation, especially a digital signal based on the at least one primary signal of said sensor module, and/or storing measured values generated by means of said transmitter module, especially measured values marked, in each case, by means of a time stamp representing an associated storage time and/or an associated storage date, and/or storing transmitter data identifying said transmitter module for said sensor module, especially transmitter data specifying said transmitter module and/or authenticating said transmitter module relative to said sensor module, especially transmitter data in the form of transmitter type identifiers and/or certificates issued for said transmitter module and/or operating approvals granted for said transmitter module.

27. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said sensor electronics includes at least one, non-volatile, especially permanent, data memory for storing sensor data from said sensor module for identifying said transmitter module, especially sensor data specifying said sensor module and/or authenticating said sensor module relative to said transmitter module, especially sensor data in the form of sensor type identifiers, calibration data specifying said sensor module and/or operating parameters serving for a parametering of said transmitter module and/or certificates issued for said sensor module and/or operating approvals granted for said sensor module and/or enabling codes serving for an activating of said transmitter module.

28. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said transmitter electronics includes at least one non-permanent, especially persistent, data memory for storing measured values generated by means of said transmitter module, especially measured values marked by means of a time stamp representing a point in time of the pertinent generating and/or storing sensor data identifying said sensor module for said transmitter module, especially sensor data specifying said sensor module, and/or storing sensor data authenticating said sensor module relative to said transmitter module, especially sensor data in the form of sensor type identifiers and/or calibration data specifying said sensor module and/or certificates issued for said sensor module and/or operating approvals granted for said sensor module and/or enabling codes serving for an activating of said sensor module.

29. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said transmitter electronics includes at least one non-volatile, especially permanent, data memory for storing transmitter data identifying said transmitter module for said sensor module, especially transmitter data specifying said transmitter module and/or authenticating said transmitter module relative to said sensor module, especially transmitter data in the form of transmitter type identifiers, and/or operating parameters serving for a parametering of said sensor module and/or certificates issued for said transmitter module and/or operating approvals granted for said transmitter module and/or enabling codes serving for an activating of said sensor module.

30. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver module remote from said transmitter module, especially a receiver module connected to a fieldbus and/or a receiver module connected to a superordinated, electronic data processing system, wherein;

said receiver module includes receiver electronics, to which said transmitter electronics, especially a transmitter electronics electrically connected thereto by means of a connecting line, transmits, at least at times, a measured value, especially an analog measured value and/or a measured value encapsulated in a telegram transmittable via connection line and/or wirelessly per radio and/or a digital measured value, and/or a parameter value signaling a current operating state of said transmitter module and/or of said sensor module.

31. The measuring system as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

said transmitter module sends, especially automatically, to said receiver module, at the latest at interrupted communication between said sensor module and said transmitter module, especially as a result of switching off or removal of said sensor module, at least one parameter value signaling that said sensor module is momentarily out of operation.

32. The measuring system as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

said receiver module includes an energy supply unit for feeding electrical power into said transmitter module.

33. The measuring system as claimed in claim 32, wherein:

said transmitter module, especially said transmitter electronics, draws, during operation, at least at times and/or in part, electrical power from said energy supply unit of said receiver module.

34. The measuring system as claimed in claim 33, wherein:

electrical power drawn from said energy supply unit of said receiver module by said transmitter module serves at least partially for said recharging said energy storer of said energy supply unit of said transmitter module.

35. The measuring system as claimed in claim 32, wherein:

said transmitter module draws, in operation, electrical power fed in from externally of said transmitter module, partially from said energy supply unit of said receiver module.

36. The measuring system as claimed in claim 32, wherein:

said transmitter module is supplied with electrical energy, in part, by means of said energy supply unit of said receiver module from externally of said transmitter module.

37. The measuring system as claimed in claim 32, wherein:

said transmitter electronics draws, during operation, at least at times and/or in part, electrical power from said energy supply unit of said receiver module.

38. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said sensor module further includes;

a switch, especially a switch operable through a wall of said sensor housing and/or operable once and/or controllable by means of a switching command sent via said transmitter module, especially a push switch, a reed switch, a switching transistor, for incorporating said energy storer into the energy supply unit and/or for switching on said sensor electronics.

39. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said sensor electronics includes an A/D converter for converting the primary signal delivered from said measuring transducer into a digital signal representing it, especially a digital signal serving as digital sensor signal.

40. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said sensor electronics includes a microprocessor for controlling a communication between said sensor module and said transmitter module and/or for generating the sensor signal, especially the digital sensor signal.

41. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said transmitter electronics includes a microprocessor for controlling communication between said sensor module and said transmitter module and/or for generating measured values representing the at least one measured variable.

42. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said energy storer of said energy supply unit of said sensor module is embedded in potting compound, at least partially, especially completely and/or in fulfillment of the requirements of the ignition protection type “

Encapsulated in Potting Compound”

(Ex-m); and

/or

said sensor housing is embodied in a manner satisfying the requirements for ignition protection type “

Pressure Resistant Encapsulation”

(Ex-d), explosion protectedly and/or pressure resistantly; and

/or

said sensor electronics is embodied explosion protectedly, especially in a manner satisfying the requirements of ignition protection type “

Intrinsic Safety”

(Ex-i) and/or the requirements of ignition protection type “

Increased Safety”

(Ex-e); and

/or

said transmitter electronics is embodied explosion protectedly, especially in a manner satisfying the requirements of ignition protection type “

Intrinsic Safety”

(Ex-i) and/or the requirements of ignition protection type “

Increased Safety”

(Ex-e).

43. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said sensor housing is embodied as an element connectable by plugging and said transmitter housing has an element connectable by plugging complementary to said sensor housing; and

said transmitter housing and said sensor housing are connected together with the formation of a coupling connected by plugging, especially a coupling which is releasable.

44. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said sensor electronics and said transmitter electronics are kept galvanically isolated from one another during operation, especially lastingly and/or with application of at least one inductively coupling transformer.

45. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said sensor module and said transmitter module are electrically coupled together, especially exclusively, by means of a transformer, especially a single transformer.

46. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said transmitter module is supplied with electrical energy from said sensor electronics, especially exclusively, via a galvanic isolation point.

47. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

a variable electrical current modulated by means of said sensor electronics, especially an electrical current modulated in its amplitude and/or a frequency, especially a clocked electrical current and/or an electrical current fed from said transmitter electronics, serves as the sensor signal.

48. The measuring system as claimed in claim 47, wherein:

the electrical current serving as a sensor signal is fed from said energy supply unit of said transmitter module and serves for supply of said sensor module with electrical energy.

49. The measuring system as claimed in claim 47, wherein:

said electrical current serving as a sensor signal is fed from said energy supply unit of said sensor module and serves for supply of said transmitter module with electrical energy.

50. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said measuring transducer is one of;

a potentiometric sensor, an amperometric sensor, a photometric sensor, a spectrometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a flow sensor and a conductivity sensor.