Plug-in module for a liquid or gas sensor

• US 8,847,602 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2006
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft FUER Mess- und Regeltechnik mbH+Company KG
• Original Assignee: Endress + Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft Fur Mess- Und Regeltechnik Mbh + Co. Kg
• Inventors: Wittmer, Detlev, Babel, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Huy Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rhodes-Vivour, Temilade S
• Application Number:
  US11/992,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20090302856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,932 Days
• Field of Search: 324/438
• US Class Current: 324/438
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/28 Electrolytic cell components
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/286 Power or signal connectors associated therewith

Abstract

A plug-in module for a liquid- or gas-sensor comprised of a sensor module (SM) and a sensor module head (SMH), which can be releasably connected together, and which, when connected, enable data and energy transfer via a galvanically decoupled transfer section, wherein the sensor module head (SMH) includes an energy supply unit for operating the sensor module head (SMH) and the sensor module (SM), as well as a data memory (MEM), in order to store sensor data received from the sensor module (SM).

Claims

1. A plug-in module for a liquid- or gas-sensor, said liquid or gas-sensor comprising:

a sensor module and a sensor module head being releasably connected together;

said sensor module comprising a measured value transducer supplying a measurement signal;

said sensor module head comprising an energy supply unit and a data memory

said sensor module head and said sensor module, when connected, enable data and energy exchange via a galvanically decoupled transfer section, wherein;

said energy supply unit operates the sensor module head and said sensor module, as well as said data memory, in order to store sensor data received from said sensor module.

2. The plug-in module as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said sensor module head includes a display unit, which serves for displaying stored sensor data.

3. The plug-in module as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

for further processing or evaluation of sensor data, said sensor module head is detachable from said sensor module and is connectable, by means of an interface, to a suitable read-out device for read-out of sensor data.

4. The module as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

the sensor data comprise condition data of said sensor module and/or measurement data, whose course was logged over an extended period of time.

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

said energy supply unit comprising a battery or solar cells in combination with an energy storer.

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

said energy storer comprising an accumulator.

7. A liquid- or gas-sensor comprising:

a sensor module and a sensor module head releasably connected together,

said sensor module and said sensor module head, when connected together, enabling data and energy exchange via a transfer section,

said sensor module comprising a measured value transducer supplying a measurement signal;

said sensor module head comprising an energy supply unit and a data memory, wherein;

said energy supply unit operates the sensor module head and said sensor module, as well as said data memory, in order to store sensor data received from said sensor module.

8. The sensor as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said energy supply unit comprising a battery or solar cells in combination with an energy storer.

9. The sensor as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said energy storer comprising an accumulator.

10. The sensor as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said sensor data comprises measurement data, whose course is logged over an extended period of time or and/or condition data of the sensor module.

11. The sensor as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said transfer section is a galvanically decoupled transfer section.

12. The liquid or gas-sensor of claim 7, further comprising:

an analog signal processing unit, which pre-processes the analog signal supplied by the measured value transducer and an analog-digital converter which converts the pre-processed analog measurement signal into a digital value.

13. The liquid or gas-sensor of claim 12, further comprising:

a microcontroller for further processing of said digital value.

14. The sensor of claim 7, wherein:

said measured value transducer comprises a glass electrode.

15. An assembly comprising:

a sensor module and a sensor module head releasably connected together,

said sensor module comprising a measured value transducer, which is submerged in a liquid for measurement, said measured value transducer supplying a measurement signal;

said sensor module and said sensor module head, when connected together, enabling data exchange via a transfer section,

said sensor module head comprising an energy supply unit and a data memory, wherein;

said energy supply unit operates said sensor module as well as said data memory, in order to store sensor data received from said sensor module.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein:

said sensor module head comprises a microcontroller for controlling the components of the sensor module head, with the microcontroller including said data memory, in which sensor data received from the sensor module are stored.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein:

said sensor data comprises measurement data, whose course is logged over an extended period of time or and/or condition data of the sensor module.

18. The assembly of claim 15, wherein:

said transfer section is a galvanically decoupled transfer section.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein:

said transfer section is an inductive transfer section with a primary side inductive interface in the sensor head module, and a secondary-side inductive interface in the sensor module, with energy supply of the sensor module being accomplished via an AC signal.

20. The assembly of claim 15, further comprising:

an analog signal processing unit, which pre-processes the analog signal supplied by the measured value transducer and an analog-digital converter which converts the pre-processed analog measurement signal into a digital value.

21. The assembly of claim 20, further comprising:

a microcontroller for further processing of said digital value.

22. The assembly of claim 15, wherein:

said measured value transducer comprises a glass electrode.