Measuring assembly

• US 6,427,129 B1
• Filed: 07/08/1998
• Issued: 07/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Endress+Hauser GmbH+Co (ENDRESS)
• Original Assignee: Endress+Hauser GmbH+Co (ENDRESS)
• Inventors: Lalla, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, Craig S.
• Application Number:
  US09/111,967
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 702/85-88, 702/90, 702/91, 702/99, 702/100, 702/104, 702/107, 702/189
• US Class Current: 702/88
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 3/022 having an ideal characteristic, map or correction data stored in a digital memory

Abstract

The measuring assembly comprises a sensor module containing at least one sensor and an analog/digital converter for digitizing the analog measurement signal furnished by the sensor as well as an analyzer module with means for digitally processing the digitized measurement data furnished by the sensor module. The program code and the sensor-specific coefficients for processing the digitized measurement data are stored in a non-volatile digital memory in the sensor module. On power up a control circuit contained in the sensor module prompts transfer of the memorized data and subsequent transfer of the digitized measurement data via a unidirectional serial interface to the analyzer module, as a result of which on installation or replacement of a sensor module all sensor-specific data is directly available at the analyzer module. Furthermore, DC decoupling the sensor module from the analyzer module is made possible by simple means.

Claims

1. A measuring assembly comprising

a sensor module containing at least one sensor for sensing physical measured variables and for each sensor an analog/digital converter for digitizing the analog measurement signal furnished by the sensor as well as a non-volatile digital memory in which sensor-specific configuration data are stored, and

an analyzer module connected to the sensor module by a digital interface and comprising means for digitally processing the digitized measurement data furnished by the sensor module, means for outputting the processed measurement data and power supply means, wherein

said digital interface is a unidirectional serial interface configured for transferring digital data from said sensor module to said analyzer module,

said non-volatile digital memory in said sensor module contains configuration data for initializing said sensor module as well as program code and coefficients for processing said digitized measurement data in said analyzer module and

said sensor module contains a control circuit which

immediately on power up of said sensor module prompts readout of said data stored in said non-volatile digital memory, initializes said sensor module by said configuration data readout and transfer of said memorized data readout via said serial interface to said analyzer module and

on completion of transfer of said memorized data prompts transfer of one data block each containing said digitized measurement data via said serial interface to said analyzer module at regular intervals in time without needing to be requested.

2. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said analyzer module contains a power supply circuit and that said power supply for operating said sensor module is transferred from said power supply circuit via a supply line to said sensor module.

3. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said analyzer module contains a clock and that said timing cycle of said sensor module is derived from the clock signal furnished by said clock via said supply line.

4. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein said power supply of said sensor module is provided via said power supply of said analyzer module via a DC/DC converter comprising a chopper arranged in said analyzer module, controlled by said clock signal of said clock, a rectifier circuit arranged in said sensor module and a transformer inserted between said chopper and said rectifier circuit for DC decoupling in said supply line, and that in said sensor module said timing cycle is derived from the AC voltage furnished by said transformer to said rectifier circuit.

5. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein said analyzer module contains a data processing means and that processing of said measurement data contained in each data block is initiated in said data processing means by transfer of said data block.

6. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein said analyzer module contains a data processing means and that processing of said measurement data contained in each data block is initiated in said data processing means by transfer of said data block.

7. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said analyzer module contains a clock, the clock signal of which is transferred via a clock line to said sensor module.

8. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein DC decoupling is inserted in every connection between said sensor module and said analyzer module.

9. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said sensor module and said analyzer module each contain its own clock for furnishing its timing cycle and that said unidirectional serial interface is an asynchronous interface.

10. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said analyzer module contains a data processing means and that processing of said measurement data contained in each data block is initiated in said data processing means by transfer of said data block.

11. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said analyzer module contains a clock, the clock signal of which is transferred via a clock line to said sensor module.

12. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein DC decoupling is inserted in every connection between said sensor module and said analyzer module.

13. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein said analyzer module contains a data processing means and that processing of said measurement data contained in each data block is initiated in said data processing means by transfer of said data block.

14. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein DC decoupling is inserted in every connection between said sensor module and said analyzer module.

15. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein said DC decoupling inserted in a signal line is formed by an inductive or capacitive line transformer.

16. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 15, wherein said circuits of said sensor module are connected to case potential.

17. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 15, wherein said analyzer module contains a data processing means and that processing of said measurement data contained in each data block is initiated in said data processing means by transfer of said data block.

18. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein said DC decoupling inserted in a signal line is formed by an optocoupler.

19. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 18, wherein said circuits of said sensor module are connected to case potential.

20. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 18, wherein said analyzer module contains a data processing means and that processing of said measurement data contained in each data block is initiated in said data processing means by transfer of said data block.

21. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein said DC decoupling inserted in a supply line is formed by a transformer.

22. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 21, wherein said circuits of said sensor module are connected to case potential.

23. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 21, wherein said analyzer module contains a data processing means and that processing of said measurement data contained in each data block is initiated in said data processing means by transfer of said data block.

24. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein said circuits of said sensor module are connected to case potential.

25. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 24, wherein said analyzer module contains a data processing means and that processing of said measurement data contained in each data block is initiated in said data processing means by transfer of said data block.

26. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein said analyzer module contains a data processing means and that processing of said measurement data contained in each data block is initiated in said data processing means by transfer of said data block.

27. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sensor module and said analyzer module each contain its own clock for furnishing its timing cycle and that said unidirectional serial interface is an asynchronous interface.

28. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 27, wherein said analyzer module contains a data processing means and that processing of said measurement data contained in each data block is initiated in said data processing means by transfer of said data block.

29. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said analyzer module contains a data processing means and that processing of said measurement data contained in each data block is initiated in said data processing means by transfer of said data block.

30. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 29, wherein each data block begins with a start bit and ends with a stop bit.

31. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 30, wherein said data processing assembly contains a processor, an EPROM and a RAM and that said control circuit contained in said sensor module prompts transfer of said program code contained in said non-volatile digital memory into said EPROM and the transfer of said sensor characteristic data contained in said non-volatile digital memory into said RAM.

32. The measuring assembly as set forth in claim 29, wherein said data processing assembly contains a processor, an EPROM and a RAM and that said control circuit contained in said sensor module prompts transfer of said program code contained in said non-volatile digital memory into said EPROM and the transfer of said sensor characteristic data contained in said non-volatile digital memory into said ram.