Device for examining liquids

• US 6,950,762 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2003
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Ltd.)
• Inventors: Binz, Dieter, Vogel, Albrecht
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lau, Tung S.
• Application Number:
  US10/668,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20040098211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 702/50, 134/18, 435/13, 455/418, 455/559, 713/153, 320/338, 333/26, 759/206, 370/352, 711/103, 347/104, 323/222, 607/60, 600/300, 600/561, 604/66, 204/411, 204/435, 204/403, 250/239
• US Class Current: 702/50
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/14 Suction devices, e.g. pumps; Ejector devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/1043 from sewers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/49 Systems involving the determination of the current at a single specific value, or small range of values, of applied voltage for producing selective measurement of one or more particular ionic species
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/1806 biological or chemical oxygen demand (BOD or COD)

Abstract

A device for examining liquids. A precise examination of liquids has until now only been possible where there are permanently installed evaluation devices. This disadvantage can be avoided with the device for testing liquids. It is equipped with a sensor, which has a measuring device with which any liquid can be examined. The sensor is able to be electrically and mechanically connected to a structural unit which is only slightly larger than a mobile radio telephone. Integrated into the structural unit are an evaluation device and an interface module. The measuring signals of the sensor are registered by the interface module and stored, evaluated and displayed on a display device in the evaluation device.

Claims

1. A device for examining liquids, comprising:

a structural device;

an evaluation device integrated in said structural device, said evaluation device having a data memory, a voltage supply unit, a display device, an operating system, a processor, and components for a mobile radio function;

an interface module integrated in said structural device, said interface module having at least one voltage regulator, a preamplifier and a processor;

at least one exchangeable sensor connected to said evaluation device through said interface module, said exchangeable sensor formed as a card and having at least one measuring device, a sample receiving channel for channeling a liquid under test, a heating element for heating the liquid under test, a temperature sensor and a coding device, said exchangeable sensor electrically and mechanically connected to said structural unit in an inserted state; and

serial electrical plug-in connections disposed on said interface module and said exchangeable sensor for connecting said interface module to said exchangeable sensor.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an electrical conductor track connecting said voltage regulator to said voltage supply unit; and

a serial data line connecting said processor of said interface module to said data memory of said evaluation device.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising signal lines;

wherein said preamplifier has a signal output; and

wherein said processor of said interface module has signal inputs connected to said signal output of said preamplifier, said signal inputs further connected to said temperature sensor and said coding device through said signal lines and said serial electrical plug-in connections.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

said measuring device has electrodes and a signal output;

said preamplifier has an input;

said exchangeable sensor has a signal line connected between said signal output of said measuring device and one of said series electrical plug-in connections, said signal output connected to said input of said preamplifier through said signal line and said one of said series electrical plug-in connections; and

said exchangeable sensor has electrical conductor tracks connected between said heating element and said serial electrical plug-in connections and between said electrodes and said serial electrical plug-in connections, said heating element and said electrodes connected to said voltage regulator through said electrical conductor tracks and said serial electrical plug-in connections.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said coding device contains details concerning a measuring range, measuring parameters, a number of measurements which can still be performed and have already been carried out, a batch number, a date of manufacture and a service life of said exchangeable sensor.