Electrical connector and process for decentralized storage of the parameters of a sensor

• US 7,668,685 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: I F M Electronic GmbH
• Original Assignee: I F M Electronic GmbH
• Inventors: Wagner, Alfred, Kathan, Benno
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams; Neil
• Application Number:
  US11/549,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20070126570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 439/489, 439/955, 702/127, 702/138, 702/187, 702/188, 340/505
• US Class Current: 702/127
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/955 including electronic identifier or coding means

Abstract

An electrical connector for connection to a sensor has an integrated microcontroller, with a plug-and-socket connection for connection to an interface of the sensor and with an electronic circuit. With the connector, the data of a sensor, especially the parameter data, can be mirrored outside the sensor in a simple and economical manner so that the data are available at any time and as much as possible on site. The electronic circuit has a memory for storage of data, especially parameter data and characteristic data of the sensor, and a microcontroller, the microcontroller operating the interface of the sensor, and depending on the characteristic data of the sensor, either reading data, especially parameter data, out of the sensor via the interface and storing it in the memory, or reading data stored in the memory, especially parameter data, out of the memory and transmitting them via the interface into the sensor.

Claims

1. Electrical connector for connection to a sensor which has an integrated microcontroller, comprising:

a plug-and-socket connection for connection to an interface of the sensor, and

an electronic circuit having a memory for storage of data, and

a microcontroller for operating an interface of the sensor, the microcontroller being able to mirror data of the sensor in the memory of the electronic circuit and to parameterize the sensor with data from the memory of the electronic circuit, and depending on characteristic data of the sensor, the microcontroller either causes parameter data to be read out of the sensor via the interface and stored in the memory of the electronic circuit, or causes parameter data stored in the memory of the electronic circuit to be read out of the memory of the electronic circuit and transmitted via the interface into the sensor,

wherein said microcontroller has means for comparing characteristic data from the sensor with characteristic data stored in the memory of the electronic circuit; and

wherein the microcontroller is adapted to determine whether data is to be transferred from the memory of the electronic circuit to the sensor or is to be transferred from the sensor to the memory of the electronic circuit automatically based upon a comparison of the characteristic data of the sensor in the sensor with characteristic data stored in the memory of the electronic circuit.

2. Electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a housing for holding the electronic circuit and a second plug-and-socket connection for connecting a cable which has a corresponding connector.

3. Electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a housing for holding the electronic circuit and a cable for connecting the sensor to a power supply, the cable being permanently connected to one of the housing and the electronic circuit.

4. Electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a housing for holding the electronic circuit and two display elements arranged in the housing for visualization of the operating state of the connector in the housing.

5. Electrical connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the display elements are in the shape of two arrows pointing in opposite directions for displaying which of the directions of data transfer to and from the memory is occurring.

6. Electrical connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the memory is an interchangeable storage medium which is insertable into and removable from the housing.

7. Electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an electronic or electromechanical write protection for safeguarding data stored in the memory.

8. Electrical connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein an inscription field or a holding device for an inscription plate is provided on the housing.

9. Electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plug-and-socket connection comprises M12 or M8 connector pairs.

10. Distributor box for connection of several sensors or actuators to a common bus line, comprising at least two connector pairs via which individual sensors or actuators are connectable to the distributor box by a cable, at least one electrical connector located within the housing of the distributor box and connected to at least one connector pair, said at least one electrical connector comprising an electronic circuit having a memory for storage of data, and a microcontroller for operating an interface of the sensors or actuators, the microcontroller being able to mirror data of the sensors or actuators in the memory of the electronic circuit and to parameterize the sensors or actuators with data from the memory of the electronic circuit, and depending on characteristic data of the sensor, the microcontroller either causes parameter data to be read out of the sensors or actuators via the interface and stored in the memory of the electronic circuit, or causes parameter data stored in the memory of the electronic circuit to be read out of the memory of the electronic circuit and transmitted via the interface into the sensors or actuators,

wherein said microcontroller has means for comparing characteristic data from the sensor with characteristic data stored in the memory of the electronic circuit;

and

wherein the microcontroller is adapted to determine whether data is to be transferred from the memory of the electronic circuit to the sensor or is to be transferred from the sensor to the memory of the electronic circuit automatically based upon a comparison of the characteristic data of the sensor in the sensor with characteristic data stored in the memory of the electronic circuit.