MEASURING DEVICE AND MEASURING ARRANGEMENT

• US 20170074708A1
• Filed: 09/09/2016
• Published: 03/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Krohne Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Krohne Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Schfer, Bjrn, Gerding, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,088,351 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/008 with calibration coefficients stored in memory
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 3/022 having an ideal characteristic, map or correction data stored in a digital memory
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 3/08 with provision for safeguarding the apparatus, e.g. against abnormal operation, against breakdown
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/80 Arrangements for signal processing

Abstract

A measuring arrangement and a measuring device having a sensor device, a processing device, a storage device, an interface and a control device that allows for a simplified testing of the functionality of the measuring device is achieved in that the control device retrieves externally provided data via the interface and performs a test of the measuring device. The test thereby involves the control device determining a reference value from the externally provided data, comparing the reference value to a measured value generated by the processing device and generating a comparison result based thereupon. Alternatively, the test involves the control device using the externally provided data for the generation of new calculation data to be stored in the storage device and storing the new calculation data in the storage device.

Claims

1. Measuring device, comprising:

at least one sensor device,

a processing device,

a storage device,

an interface, and

a control device,

wherein the measuring device is operative for generating a measured value for a measured variable,

wherein the at least one sensor device is operative for generating a primary measured variable associated with the measured variable,

wherein the processing device is operative for determining the measured value for the measured variable based on calculation data from a primary measured variable stored in the storage device,

wherein the control device is operative for controlling data traffic via the interface ,

wherein the control device is operative for retrieving externally provided data via the interface and

wherein the control device is operative for performing a test of the measuring device based on the externally provided data that comprises either the control device determining a reference value from the externally provided data, comparing the reference value to a measured value generated by the processing device and generating a comparison result based thereupon, or the control device using the externally provided data for the generation of new calculation data to be stored in the storage device and storing the new calculation data in the storage device.

2. Measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the control device is operative for performing the test in the scope of a proof test so that it generates the comparison result.

3. Measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the control device is operative for performing the test in the scope of a recalibration so that it stores new calibration data.

4. Measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the measured variable is the fill level of a medium in a container and wherein the control device is operative for retrieving the externally provided data from a limit level switch.

5. Measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the control device is operative for performing a recalibration in the case that the comparison result indicates that there is a deviation beyond a predetermined threshold between the reference value and the measured value generated by the processing device.

6. Measuring arrangement with at least one measuring device for generating a measured value for a first measured variable and with at least one secondary measuring device for generating a measured value for a second measured variable,

wherein the measuring device is operative for receiving at least one measured value generated by the secondary measuring device for the second measured variable and for using the at least one measured value for testing the measuring device.

7. Measuring arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the first measured variable and the second measured variable are identical.

8. Measuring arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the measuring device is operative to generate continuous measured values and wherein the secondary measuring device is operative as a limit level switch.

9. Measuring arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the measuring device has a sensor device and a secondary sensor device, wherein the sensor device is adapted for generating a primary measured variable associated with the first measured variable, and wherein the secondary sensor device is operative for generating a measured value for the second measured variable.

10. Measuring arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the measuring device and the second measuring device are arranged in a process environment and wherein the measuring device is operative for using data via the process environment for testing the measuring device.

11. Method of testing a measuring device having at least one sensor device, a processing device, a storage device, an interface, and a control device, comprising the steps of:

operating the measuring device for generating a measured value for a measured variable,

generating a primary measured variable associated with the measured variable with the at least one sensor device,

determining the measured value for the measured variable based on calculation data from a primary measured variable stored in the storage device with the processing device,

controlling data traffic via the interface with the control device,

retrieving externally provided data via the interface with the control device and

wherein the control device performs a test of the measuring device based on the externally provided data, by the control device either determining a reference value from the externally provided data, compares the reference value to a measured value generated by the processing device and generates a comparison result based thereupon, or using the externally provided data for the generation of new calculation data that is stored in the storage device.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the control device performs the test as a proof test that generates the comparison result.

13. Method according to claim 11, wherein the control device performs the test as a recalibration that stores new calibration data.

14. Method according to claim 11, wherein the measured variable is the fill level of a medium in a container and wherein the control device retrieves the externally provided data from a limit level switch.

15. Measuring device according to claim 12, wherein the control device performs a recalibration in the case that the comparison result indicates that there is a deviation beyond a predetermined threshold between the reference value and the measured value generated by the processing device.