Measuring instrument

• US 8,441,402 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2010
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wika Alexander Wiegand GmbH & Co. KG (WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: Wika Alexander Wiegand GmbH & Co. KG (WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE & Company KG)
• Inventors: Gawronski, Michael, Gareus, Achim, Ciba, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOANGANH T
• Application Number:
  US12/700,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20100201585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 343/720, 343/702, 343/718, 737/32
• US Class Current: 343/720
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/086 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/14 Housings G01L19/0007, G01L19/0084, G01L19/0092, G01L19/04, G01L19/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/16 Dials; Mounting of dials
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/27 Spiral antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/88 Providing power supply at the sub-station
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A measuring instrument for measuring a measurand of an object under measurement is provided. The measuring instrument includes a functional member for converting the measurand into a metered value, a housing and an antenna, in which at least part of the housing and/or part of the functional member form a component part of the antenna.

Claims

1. A measuring instrument for measuring a measurand of an object under measurement, comprising:

a functional member for converting the measurand into a metered value;

a housing including two metallic elements which are electrically insulated from each other via an insulating element; and

an antenna,

wherein at least part of the housing and/or part of the functional member form a component part of the antenna, and

wherein the metallic elements form dipoles of the antenna.

2. A measuring instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a circuit for converting the measurand into a radio signal, the antenna emitting the radio signal.

3. A measuring instrument according to claim 2, wherein the measuring instrument further includes an energy supply for supplying the circuit for conversion.

4. A measuring instrument according to claim 3, wherein the energy supply comprises a battery and/or a fuel cell and/or a photovoltaic element.

5. A measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a metallic member forming a ground plane of the antenna.

6. A measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the housing includes an optical display and the antenna is contained in the optical display.

7. A measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the housing is made of plastic material and the antenna is provided at said portion in the form of an antenna structure.

8. A measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein the functional member includes a meter movement having a movable element including a pointer and a dial.

9. A measuring instrument according to claim 8, wherein the antenna is formed on the dial as antenna structure.

10. A measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein the measuring instrument is a manometer.

11. A measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein the housing is hermetically sealed.

12. A measuring instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a connector input for connecting the object under measurement to the measuring instrument and entering the measurand, wherein the connector input is connected to the object under measurement in a sealing manner.

13. A measuring instrument for measuring a measurand of an object under measurement, comprising:

a functional member for converting the measurand into a metered value;

a housing; and

an antenna

wherein at least part of the housing and/or part of the functional member form a component part of the antenna,

wherein a portion of the housing includes an optical display and the antenna is contained in the optical display, and

wherein the optical display includes an observation window and the antenna is applied onto the observation window in the form of an antenna structure.

14. A measuring instrument according to claim 13, wherein the observation window is made of glass and the antenna structure is an antenna printed onto the glass.

15. A measuring instrument according to claim 13, wherein the antenna structure is formed by a conductive paste.

16. A measuring instrument according to claim 13, wherein the antenna structure is a Molded Interconnect Device.

17. A measuring instrument, for measuring a measurand of an object under measurement comprising:

a functional member for converting the measurand into a metered value;

a housing; and

an antenna,

wherein at least part of the housing and/or part of the functional member form a component part of the antenna,

wherein the functional member includes a meter movement having a movable element including a pointer and a dial, and

wherein the pointer is in the form of an antenna.

18. A measuring instrument, for measuring a measurand of an object under measurement comprising:

a functional member for converting the measurand into a metered value;

a housing; and

an antenna,

wherein at least part of the housing and/or part of the functional member form a component part of the antenna,

wherein the measuring instrument is a manometer, and

wherein the functional member includes a Bourdon spring and a return spring, the antenna being formed by the Bourdon spring and/or the return spring.