Connection box

• US 8,150,462 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG (Grieshaber Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Original Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG (Grieshaber Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Inventors: Deck, Thomas, Fehrenbach, Josef, Guenter, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Agosta, Steve D
• Application Number:
  US11/935,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20080125175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,610 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.01, 455418-420, 455423-425, 455/9, 455/11.1, 455/13.1, 455/466, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/557, 455/90.1, 370/310.2, 370/338, 310/323.21, 710/15, 710/72, 700/83
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/14 by measurement of pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/80 Arrangements for signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/086 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40221 Profibus

Abstract

Field devices for measuring a pressure or a fill level are connected, by way of a cable connection or a radio connection, to stationary evaluation- and display devices. To provide flexible parameterization or flexible measured-value inquiry, a connection box for the wireless transmission of signals between the field device and the control device is stated, which connection box comprises an interface connection and a radio interface. For the purpose of transmitting the signals, the interface connection and the radio interface are coupled to each other so as to be able to communicate.

Claims

1. A connection box for a wireless transmission of a signal between a field device and a control device, comprising:

a radio interface at least one of (a) wirelessly transmitting of a transmit signal to the field device and (b) wireless receiving a receive signal from the field device; and

an interface connection connecting the connection box to an interface adapter,

wherein the radio interface and the interface connection are coupled to each other to transmit the receive signal from the radio interface to the interface connection and wherein the field device is at least one of a fill-level measuring device and a pressure measuring device,

wherein the connection box is configured to tap a data line between the field device and an evaluation/display device, the connection box further comprising a hollow space accessible from an outside that accommodates at least one of a HART cable, an I²C bus cable, and a USB cable for tapping the data line between the field device and the evaluation/display device, and

wherein the connection box is further configured to tap a radio link between the field device and the evaluation/display device.

2. The connection box according to claim 1, wherein the signal is selected from a group comprising a HART signal, an I²C signal, a Profibus signal, a Fieldbus foundation signal, a 4 . . . 20 mA signal and a switching signal.

3. The connection box according to claim 1, wherein the radio interface is an internal interface within the connection box.

4. The connection box according to claim 1, wherein the radio interface comprises an antenna having predeterminable antenna characteristics.

5. The connection box according to claim 1, wherein the radio interface operates at a predeterminable frequency of one of 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz.

6. The connection box according to claim 1, further comprising:

a field device connection connecting the box to the field device, wherein the field device connection and the interface connection are coupled together to transmit the signal.

7. The connection box according to claim 6, wherein the field device connection connects to a HART line.

8. The connection box according to claim 6, wherein, the field device connection includes a HART cable with two connectors in order to connect to the HART line.

9. The connection box according to claim 6, wherein the field device connection connects to an PC bus.

10. The connection box according to claim 9, wherein the field device connection comprises an I²C bus cable to connect to the I²C bus.

11. The connection box according to claim 1, wherein the interface connection connects the connection box directly to a display- and control device.

12. The connection box according to claim 11, wherein the display- and control device is a PLICSCOM device.

13. The connection box according to claim 1, wherein the field device connection comprises an adapter connector connecting to a series 50 device.

14. The connection box according to claim 13, wherein the adapter connector is coded such that incorrect connection of the adapter connector to the series 50 device is prevented.

15. The connection box according to claim 1, wherein the connection box transmits the signal from the control device to the field device and wherein the signal comprises parameterisation data for parameterizing the field device.

16. The connection box according to claim 1, wherein the connection box transmits the signal from the field device to the control device and wherein the signal comprises measuring data of the field device.

17. The connection box according to claim 1, further comprising:

an energy supply self-sufficiently supplying electrical energy to the interface adapter.

18. The connection box according to claim 17, wherein the energy supply comprises a rechargeable battery and a solar cell module, the solar cell module charging the rechargeable battery.

19. The connection box according to claim 1, wherein the interface connection comprises sliding contacts connecting the box to the interface adapter.

20. The connection box according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second interface connection connecting the box to a control device.

21. The use of a connection box for at least one of (a) fill level measuring and pressure measuring and (a) a wireless transmission of a signal between a field device and a control device,

wherein the connection box including (1) a radio interface at least one of (a) wirelessly transmitting of a transmit signal to the field device and (b) wireless receiving a receive signal from the field device;

and (2) an interface connection connecting the connection box to an interface adapter,

wherein the radio interface and the interface connection are coupled to each other to transmit the receive signal from the radio interface to the interface connection, and

wherein the field device is at least one of a fill-level measuring device and a pressure measuring device,

wherein the connection box is configured to tap a data line between the field device and an evaluation/display device, the connection box further comprising a hollow space accessible from an outside that accommodates at least one of a HART cable, an I²C bus cable, and a USB cable for tapping the data line between the field device and the evaluation/display device, and

wherein the connection box is further configured to tap a radio link between the field device and the evaluation/display device.

22. A method for a wireless transmission of a signal between a field device and a control device using a connection box, comprising the steps of:

connecting the connection box to an interface adapter, the connection box includes a radio interface and an interface connection connecting the connection box to an interface adapter, the radio interface and the interface connection being coupled to each other to transmit the receive signal from the radio interface to the interface connection; and

at least one of wirelessly transmitting a transmit signal from the radio interface of the connection box to the field device and wirelessly receiving a receive signal from the field device in the radio interface,

wherein the field device is at least one of a fill level measuring device and a pressure measuring device,

wherein the connection box is configured to tap a data line between the field device and an evaluation/display device, the connection box further comprising a hollow space accessible from an outside that accommodates at least one of a HART cable, an I²C bus cable, and a USB cable for tapping the data line between the field device and the evaluation/display device, and

wherein the connection box is further configured to tap a radio link between the field device and the evaluation/display device.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of:

transmitting the receive signal from the radio interface to the interface connection and then onwards to the control device.

24. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of:

transmitting the transmit signal from the control device to the interface connection and then to the radio interface.