Secure meter

• US 7,686,930 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermo Orion, Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Thermo Orion, Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sydlowski, Paul C., Somes, Loren Edward Jr., Geis, Ronald M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olsen; Kaj K
• Application Number:
  US11/065,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20060191789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,859 Days
• Field of Search: 439/352, 439/357, 439/358, 204/400, 204/406
• US Class Current: 204/406
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/00 Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure contact members H01R13/02; securing contact members in or to a base or case or insulating of contact members H01R13/40; bases or cases H01R13/46; means for supporting coupling part when not engaged H01R13/60; means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement H01R13/62; means for preventing, inhibiting or avoiding incorrect coupling H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts

Abstract

A compact multiparameter instrument for electrochemical measurements is described. The instrument facilitates rapid engagement and disengagement of a variety of sensor elements in such a manner as to prevent accidental mismatch of sensor elements and sensor input ports. Positive identification of specific sensors is ensured by including color marking or other indicia on the sensor connectors that are matched to corresponding markings on the meter body. Measurements of specific parameters such as temperature may readily be shared among all other sensors connected to the instrument. A method of rapidly reconfiguring the instrument to provide extended or different capabilities is described.

Claims

1. A meter assembly comprising

a handheld meter including

a hollow meter body defining a substantially flat surface area,

a display mounted to a face of said body,

a circuit board in said body for controlling the display in response to sensor signals,

a plurality of electrical jacks disposed next to one another in said surface

area, each jack being connected electrically to said circuit board, and

a rail extending along the meter body at one side of said surface area, and

at least one connector plugged into one of said jacks, each connector including

a connector body encompassing a connector element and at least one conductor connecting the connector element to a sensor for carrying sensor signals between said sensor and said circuit board, and

a resilient lever arm movably secured to an exterior surface of the connector body in line therewith, said arm having a finger at one end thereof which engages under said rail when said at least one connector is plugged into said one of said jacks and a digit-engageable portion at the other end of said arm which when moved toward the connector body releases the finger from said rail enabling removal of said at least one connector from said one of said jacks.

2. The meter assembly according to claim 1 and further including a corresponding plurality of cover flaps connected to the meter body on the other side of said surface area, each cover flap being hinged to the meter body along a line extending parallel to said rail and being movable between a first position wherein it covers the corresponding jack and a second position wherein it exposes the corresponding jack.

3. The meter assembly according to claim 1 which includes means on said at least one connector for associating said at least one connector with said one of said jacks.

4. The meter assembly according to claim 3 in which said means comprises a color coding on said at least one connector matched to a color coding on said one of said jacks.

5. The meter assembly according to claim 1 in which said connector element is a multi-pin DIN connector.

6. The meter assembly according to claim 1 in which said connector element is a BNC connector.

7. The meter assembly according to claim 1 including a plurality of additional connectors plugged into others of said plurality of jacks for connecting additional different sensors to said circuit board.

8. The meter assembly according to claim 1 in which said plurality of jacks includes at least a pair of jacks of different types, so as to preclude inadvertent connection of a sensor of one type to a jack intended to accommodate a sensor of another type.

9. The meter assembly according to claim 1 in which said plurality of jacks includes at least a pair of jacks of different shapes so as to preclude inadvertent connection of a sensor of one type to a jack intended to accommodate a sensor of another type.

10. A meter assembly providing a secure connection to a plurality of sensor elements, said meter assembly comprising

a handheld meter, said meter including

a meter housing defining a substantially flat surface,

a display mounted to a face of the housing,

a circuit board in said housing for controlling the display in response to sensor signals,

a plurality of electrical jacks disposed next to one another in said surface area, each jack being connected electrically to the circuit board,

a rail extending along said meter housing at one side of said surface area, and

a corresponding plurality of cover flaps connected to the meter body on the other side of said surface area, each cover flap being hinged to the meter body along a line extending parallel to said rail and being movable between a first position wherein it covers the corresponding jack and a second position wherein it exposes the corresponding jack, and

at least one connector plugged into one of said jacks when the cover flap associated with that jack is in its said second position, each said connector

encompassing a connector element and at least one conductor connecting the connecting element to a sensor for carrying sensor signals between said sensor and said circuit board, and

a resilient lever arm movably secured to the exterior of said connector body in line therewith, said arm including a finger at one end which engages under said rail when said at least one connector is plugged into said one of said jacks.