ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT FOR TRANSMITTING POWER FROM A TERMINAL SIDE TO A SENSOR SIDE AND METHOD OF USE

• US 20170047776A1
• Filed: 08/12/2016
• Published: 02/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft FUER Mess- und Regeltechnik mbH+Company KG
• Original Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft FUER Mess- und Regeltechnik mbH+Company KG
• Inventors: Scheibe, Sven-Matthias
• Granted Patent: US 10,110,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling

Abstract

The present disclosure includes an electronic circuit for use in process automation for transferring electrical energy from a terminal element to a sensor over an inductively coupled interface. The sensor measures the power it receives over the inductive interface and compares this value to a target power value. The difference between the actual and target values is communicated back to the terminal element. The terminal element adjusts its power output to the sensor to minimize this difference. The disclosure includes the use of the electronic circuit and a sensor arrangement comprising the electronic circuit, as well as a method for transmitting power.

Claims

1. An electronic circuit for transmitting power in a process automation device comprising:

a first inductive interface;

a first intelligent unit;

a power source configured to supply power to the first inductive interface;

a second inductive interface coupled to the first inductive interface such that the first inductive interface transfers power to the second inductive interface;

a measuring element configured to measure power output by the second inductive interface, the measuring element outputting the value of the measured power; and

a second intelligent unit, wherein the second intelligent unit takes as input the value of the measured power and a target power value, produces a control deviation, and communicates the control deviation to the first intelligent unit, wherein the first intelligent unit operates on the control deviation to control the power source to minimize the control deviation.

2. The electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit transmits digital data between the first inductive interface and the second inductive interface, and the first inductive interface and the second inductive interface are embodied to transmit the data using amplitude shift keying.

3. The electronic circuit according to claim 2, the electronic circuit further comprising a modulator that modulates the digital data onto an output of the electronic circuit.

4. The electronic circuit according to claim 1, the electronic circuit further comprising a limiter that limits the power supplied by the power source to a maximum value.

5. The electronic circuit according to claim 4, wherein the first intelligent unit communicates to the second intelligent unit that the limiter is limiting the power when the limiter limits the power.

6. The electronic circuit according to claim 4, wherein the maximum value of the limiter is variable and adjustable, and the first intelligent unit adjusts the maximum value.

7. The electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein the target power value is variable and adjustable.

8. The electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit is employed in a process automation device.

9. A sensor arrangement of process automation comprising:

an electronic circuit comprising;

a first inductive interface;

a first intelligent unit;

a power source configured to supply power to the first inductive interface;

a second inductive interface coupled to the first inductive interface such that the first inductive interface transfers power to the second inductive interface;

a measuring element configured to measure power output by the second inductive interface, the measuring element outputting the value of the measured power; and

a second intelligent unit, wherein the second intelligent unit takes as input the value of the measured power and a target power value and produces a control deviation and communicates the control deviation to the first intelligent unit, wherein the first intelligent unit operates on the control deviation to control the power source to minimize the control deviation.

10. The sensor arrangement of claim 9, wherein the electronic circuit transmits digital data between the first inductive interface and the second inductive interface, and the first inductive interface and the second inductive interface are embodied to transmit the data using amplitude shift keying.

11. The sensor arrangement of claim 9, the electronic circuit further comprising a modulator that modulates the digital data onto an output of the modulator.

12. The sensor arrangement of claim 9, the electronic circuit further comprising a limiter that limits the power supplied by the power source to a maximum value.

13. The sensor arrangement of claim 12, wherein the maximum value of the limiter is variable and adjustable, and the first intelligent unit adjusts the maximum value.

14. The sensor arrangement of claim 9, wherein the target power value is variable and adjustable.

15. The sensor arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a terminal element and a consumer, wherein the terminal element is connected to the consumer via the first inductive interface and the second inductive interface.

16. The sensor arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the consumer is a sensor.

17. A method for transmitting power from a terminal element to a sensor comprising the steps of:

transmitting the power from a first inductive interface on the terminal element to a second inductive interface on the sensor;

measuring the power on the sensor;

determining a deviation between the measured power and a target power on the sensor;

communicating the deviation to the terminal element; and

minimizing the deviation on the terminal element by controlling the transmitted power.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of:

limiting the power to be transmitted to a maximum value if a power higher than the maximum value is to be transmitted.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the maximum value is variable and adjustable, and the terminal element adjusts the maximum value.

20. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of:

transmitting digital data between the first inductive interface and the second inductive interface, wherein the first inductive interface and the second inductive interface are embodied to transmit the data using amplitude shift keying.