Connector for connecting a transmission line to at least one sensor

• US 6,705,898 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2001
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Endress + Hauser Conducta
• Original Assignee: Endress+Hauser GmbH+Co (ENDRESS)
• Inventors: Pechstein, Torsten, Scholz, Katrin, Franzheld, Reiner
• Primary Examiner(s): Zarroli, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US09/985,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20020102884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 439/660, 439/557, 439/577, 439/950, 336/90, 333/242, 235/451
• US Class Current: 439/660
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/286 Power or signal connectors associated therewith
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/95 Electrical connector adapted to transmit electricity to mating connector without physical contact, e.g. by induction, magnetism, or electrostatic field

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector comprising a plug element and a socket element which can be detachably connected to the plug element for connection of a transmission line to at least one sensor. This connection prevents moisture, dust or dirt particles and corrosive substances penetrating between the plug element and the socket element from adversely affecting the signal transmission between the plug element and the socket element. The connector utilizes an inductive, optical or capacitive contactless signal transmission between the plug element and the socket element.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting a transmission line to at least one sensor, comprising:

a plug element connected to the at least one sensor;

a socket element connected to the transmission line;

a contactless connection device between said plug element and said socket element; and

wherein a power signal is supplied to the at least one sensor and a measurement signal is produced by the at least one sensor, further wherein a first filter element is provided within said plug element and a second filter element is provided within said socket element for separating the measurement signal from the power signal.

2. The connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein said contactless connection device provides an inductive signal transmission between said plug element and said socket element.

3. The connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein said contactless connection device provides an optical signal transmission between said plug element and said socket element.

4. The connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein said contactless connection device provides a capacitive signal transmission between said plug element and said socket element.

5. The connector in accordance with claim 2, wherein said plug element further includes a first coil element having a first part of a ferrite core transformer and said socket element further includes a second coil element and a second part of a ferrite core transformer.

6. The connector in accordance with claim 3, wherein said plug element and said socket element are provided with optically transmissive material, at least for a frequency range relevant to said optical signal transmission.

7. The connector in accordance with claim 6, wherein said optically transmissive material in said plug element and said socket element face one another when said plug element and said socket element are connected to one another.

8. The connector in accordance with claim 6, wherein said plug element includes a transmitting or receiving element and said socket element is provided with a transmitting or receiving element forming an optical coupler between said plug element and said socket element.

9. The connector in accordance with claim 7, wherein said plug element includes a transmitting or receiving element and said socket element is provided with a transmitting or receiving element forming an optical coupler between said plug element and said socket element.

10. The connector in accordance with claim 4, wherein said plug element includes a first capacitive body of a capacitor and said socket element includes a second capacitive body of a capacitor.

11. The connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plug element or said socket element is provided with an operational amplifier.

12. The connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plug element or said socket element is provided with a voltage controlled oscillator.

13. The connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plug element or said socket element is provided with a voltage controlled oscillator for converting the measurement signal into a frequency-analogous signal.

14. The connector in accordance with claim 1, further including a means provided in said plug element and said socket element for accomplishing digital signal transmission between said plug element and said socket element.

15. A socket element of a connector detachably connected to a plug element for connecting a transmission line to at least one sensor, said socket element comprising:

a contactless connection device provided within the socket element for transmitting a signal to the plug element; and

wherein a power signal is supplied to the at least one sensor and a measurement signal is produced by the at least one sensor, and further wherein a first filter element is provided within said plug element and a second filter element is provided within said socket element for separating the measurement signal from the power signal.

16. The socket element in accordance with claim 15, wherein said contactless connection devices provides an inductive signal transmission between the socket element and the plug element.

17. The socket element in accordance with claim 15, wherein said contactless connection devices provides an optical signal transmission between the socket element and the plug element.

18. The socket element in accordance with claim 15, wherein said contactless connection devices provides a capacitive signal transmission between the socket element and the plug element.

19. A plug element of a connector detachably connected to a socket element for connecting a transmission line to at least one sensor, said plug element comprising:

a contactless connection device provided within the plug element for transmitting a signal to the socket element; and

wherein a power signal supplied to the at least one sensor and a measurement signal is produced by the at least one sensor, and further wherein a first filter element is provided within said plug element and a second filter element is provided within said socket element for separating the measurement signal from the power signal.

20. The plug element in accordance with claim 19, wherein said contactless connection device provides an inductive signal transmission between the plug element and the socket element.

21. The plug element in accordance with claim 19, wherein said contactless connection device provides an optical signal transmission between the plug element and the socket element.

22. The plug element in accordance with claim 19, wherein said contactless connection device provides a capacitive signal transmission between the plug element and the socket element.

23. A process for transmitting a signal between a transmission line and at least one sensor through a connector comprising a plug element and a socket element, comprising the steps of:

detachably connecting the plug element to the socket element;

providing a contactless connector between the plug element and the socket element;

supplying a power signal to the at least one sensor; and

filtering the transmitted signal in the plug element or the socket element for separating the measurement signal from the power signal.

24. The process in accordance with claim 23, wherein said contactless connection is accomplished inductively.

25. The process in accordance with claim 23, wherein said contactless connection is accomplished optically.

26. The process in accordance with claim 23, wherein said contactless connection is accomplished capacitively.