Proximity sensor

• US 6,798,217 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Ltd.)
• Inventors: Scheible, Guntram
• Primary Examiner(s): Lair, Donald M.
• Application Number:
  US10/237,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20030038641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 324/654, 324/158.1, 331/65, 307/116, 307/125, 340/5.61, 340/5.62, 340/5.63, 340/5.64, 340/5.5, 340/539.23, 340/686.6, 340/903, 340/435, 340/436, 327/517, 439/950, 174/50, 174/52.1, 180/167, 180/169, 701/29, 701/35, 367/909, 367/91
• US Class Current: 324/654
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/945 Proximity switches H03K17/96 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94089 Wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94094 Wired transmission, e.g. via bus connection or similar

Abstract

A proximity sensor with a sensor head for generating sensor signals is described. The proximity sensor is divided into a fastening portion containing a sensor head, and an electronics portion that can be connected to the fastening portion and has at least a sensor-signal evaluation unit and a power supply. The sensor signals pass from the fastening portion to the electronics portion via electrical contacts or contactlessly. Furthermore, a modular system for forming proximity sensors is proposed, and contains a multiplicity of fastening portions, respectively containing a sensor head, with different dimensioning and, connectable herewith, in each case identical electronics portions.

Claims

1. A proximity sensor, comprising:

a fastening portion containing a sensor head for generating sensor signals;

an electronics portion connectable to said fastening portion, said electronics portion having a sensor-signal evaluation unit, a modulator/encoder, a radio transmitter with an antenna for emitting evaluated sensor signals and disposed downstream of said modulator/encoder, a radio receiver, a demodulator/decoder for a radio reception of sets of parameters and disposed downstream of said radio receiver, and a power supply unit; and

an electrical connection for passing the sensor signals from said fastening portion to said electronics portion.

2. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein said power supply unit contains a secondary coil, a rectifier disposed downstream of said secondary coil, and a store, said secondary coil receiving a medium-frequency magnetic field and performing a conversion of the medium-frequency magnetic field into electrical energy.

3. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein said fastening portion has a thread suitable for engagement in a machine component.

4. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein said electrical connection between said fastening portion and said electronics portion includes a plug contact.

5. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein said electrical connection between said fastening portion and said electronics portion takes place by magnetic coupling.

6. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein said electrical connection includes an intermediate piece connected between said fastening portion and said electronics portion.

7. The proximity sensor according to claim 6, wherein said intermediate piece is deformable.

8. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein said sensor-signal evaluation unit adaptively recognizes a connection of said sensor head for evaluating the sensor signals.

9. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein said electrical connection between said fastening portion and said electronics portion takes place contactlessly.

10. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein said electrical connection includes electrical contacts for connecting said fastening portion to said electronics portion.