Sensor and transmitter with multiple outputs

• US 5,677,476 A
• Filed: 02/06/1996
• Issued: 10/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Eastern Instruments Corporation
• Original Assignee: Endress+Hauser GmbH+Co (ENDRESS)
• Inventors: McCarthy, W. Patrick, Braster, Olaf F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WIGGINS, JOHN DAVID
• Application Number:
  US08/597,207
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 73/29.01, 73/335.02, 327/124, 327/408, 324/611, 324/669, 324/483, 324/571.03, 324/571.07, 332/109
• US Class Current: 73/29.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/026 arrangements for monitoring a plurality of temperatures, e.g. by multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/223 for determining moisture content, e.g. humidity rain detectors on vehicle windows B60S1/0825
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/02 Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed G01W1/10 takes precedence

Abstract

A measuring transmitter assembly using the same lines for power input and for output signals and using a single power supply, has a first power input and signal output loop coupled to the power supply, a second power input and signal output loop coupled to the power supply, a first sensor for providing a first input signal in response to the value of a first parameter and a second sensor providing a second input signal in response to the value of a second parameter, and a controller coupled to the first and second sensors. The controller is also coupled to the first and second power input and signal output loops and provides a first output signal on the first power input and signal output loop in response to the first input signal and a second output signal on the second power input and signal output loop. The second output signal may be in response to only the second output signal or it may be in response to the first and second input signals. The assembly also has a digital isolator for electrically isolating the first power input and signal output loop from the second power input and signal output loop.

Claims

1. A measuring transmitter assembly using the same lines for power input and for output signals and a single power supply, the measuring transmitter comprising

a first power input and signal output loop coupled to the power supply,

a second power input and signal output loop coupled to the power supply,

a first sensor for providing a first input signal in response to the value of a first parameter,

a second sensor providing a second input signal in response to the value of a second parameter, and

a controller coupled to the first and second sensors and to the first and second power input and signal output loops, the controller providing a first output signal on the first power input and signal output in response to the first input signal and a second output signal on the second power input and signal output loop in response to both the first input signal and the second input signal.

2. The measuring transmitter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a third power input and signal output loop coupled to the power supply, a third sensor providing a third input signal in response to the value of a third parameter and the controller further provides a third output signal on the third power input and signal output loop in response to the third input signal.

3. The measuring transmitter assembly of claim 2, further comprising a fourth power input and signal output loop coupled to the power supply, a fourth sensor providing a fourth input signal in response to the value of a fourth parameter and the controller further provides a fourth output signal on the fourth power in out and signal output loop in response to the fourth input signal.

4. The measuring transmitter assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second output signals are delivered on the first and second power input and signal output loops by first and second 4-20 milliampere loop control circuit to have output current levels between 4 and 20 milliamps.

5. The measuring transmitter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a digital isolator electrically isolating the first and second power input and signal output loops.

6. The measuring transmitter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a calibration switch capable of being set to one of a plurality of different positions that each represent a different calibration signal, a calibration signal being provided in response to a selected position of the calibration switch, the controller receiving the chosen calibration signal and providing the first and second output signals in response to the calibration signal and the first and second input signals.

7. A measuring transmitter assembly using the same lines for power input and for output signals and a single power supply, the measuring transmitter comprising

a first power input and signal output loop coupled to the power supply

a second power input and signal output loop coupled to the power supply

a first sensor for providing a first input signal in response to the value of a first parameter,

a second sensor providing a second input signal in response to the value of a second parameter,

a controller coupled to the first and second sensors and to the first and second power input and output loops, the controller providing a first output signal in response to the first input signal and providing a second output signal in response to the second input signal, and,

a digital isolator for electrically isolating the first power input and signal output loop from the second power input and signal output loop to eliminate interference between the first and second output signals.

8. The measuring transmitter assembly of claim 7, further comprising a third sensor providing a third input signal in response to the value of a third parameter and a fourth sensor providing a fourth input signal in response to the value of a fourth parameter, a third power input and signal output loop, a fourth power input and signal output loop, the controller further providing a third output signal in response to the third input signal and a fourth output signal in response to the fourth input signal, the third and fourth power input signal output loops being electrically isolated from one another and from the first and second power input and signal output loops by the digital isolator.