Device for optimising the energy consumption of an electric circuit component

• US 8,049,371 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Endress + Hauser Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Company KG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Inventors: Michalski, Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman; Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMAYA, CARLOS DAVID
• Application Number:
  US11/990,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20090219084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,937 Days
• Field of Search: 307/112, 307/140, 340/310.11, 340/310.12
• US Class Current: 307/112
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

An apparatus for optimizing power consumption of an electrical circuit component in an operating- and evaluating-circuit of a two-conductor field device, wherein a control unit is provided, which switches the electrical circuit component with a clock signal. An energy supply unit is provided for supplying the circuit component with energy, and wherein at least one energy-storing component is connected to at least one output, at least one input and/or a supply input of the electrical circuit component. The apparatus provides for a field device, a suitable electronics for enabling improvement of the energy budget of the evaluating- and operating-circuit, especially its circuit component.

Claims

1. An apparatus for optimizing power consumption of an electrical circuit component in an operating- and evaluating-circuit of a two-conductor field device, comprising:

a control unit, which switches the electrical circuit component in an active and an inactive phase with a clock signal;

an energy supply unit is provided for supplying the electrical circuit component with energy;

at least one energy-storing component is connected to at least one output, at least one input, and/or;

a supply input of the electrical circuit component;

wherein;

at least one switching unit is provided in a conductor path between the electrical circuit component and said energy storing component; and

said control unit so operates said switching unit, synchronized with clocking of the electrical circuit component, that through interrupting of the conductor path by the switching unit, the charge of the energy-storing component remains during the inactive phase of the circuit component at least partially in place, and no parasitic discharge currents can occur via the circuit component, so that a discharging current of the energy storing component flowing back into the circuit component is minimal.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an activating control line; and

an activating input of the electrical circuit component wherein;

said control unit operates said activating input of the electrical circuit component with a clock signal on said activating control line.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a supply control line; and

an energy supply of the electrical circuit component, wherein;

said control unit operates said energy supply of the electrical circuit component with a clock signal on said supply control line.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said control unit turns said switching unit on with a clock signal for a predetermined time interval and/or with a time shift relative to the electrical circuit component.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

control unit determines an appropriate pulse-pause ratio of the clocking of said switching unit and/or controls power consumption of the electrical circuit component to a minimal value.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said control unit stores a last output data value on said output of the circuit component, and sets and/or appropriately adjusts the pulse-pause ratio of the clocking on the basis of the difference between the last measured data value and the current data value.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

at least a first measurement line between said control unit and the electrical circuit component, wherein;

said control unit ascertains current power consumption of the electrical circuit component via at least said first measurement line and sets the pulse-pause ratio of the clocking of the electrical circuit component on the basis of the current power consumption.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

a second measurement line between said control unit and said energy storing component, wherein;

said control unit ascertains current value of stored energy via said second measurement line to said energy storing component and sets the pulse-pause ratio of the clocking of said switching unit and/or of the electrical circuit component on the basis of the current stored energy in said energy storing component.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said switching unit is an integral component of the circuit component; and

the integrated switching unit switches said outputs, inputs and/or energy supply connections into a high-resistance state.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said switching unit is embodied as an electronic switch.