Apparatus for the detection and processing of electric signals

• US RE31,524 E
• Filed: 03/26/1981
• Issued: 02/21/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Hoebel, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Rubinson, G. Z.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brady, W. J.
• Application Number:
  US06/247,839
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 307/149, 307/17, 307/323-328, 307/112, 307/116, 307/150-157, 128/303.13-303.19, 128/908, 336/DIG. 2, 361/142, 361/179, 250/551
• US Class Current: 307/149
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/04282 using insulating or floating elements, e.g. transformers, opto-couplers transformers for specific applications H01F38/00; amplifiers H03F; optocouplers H04B10/80
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4295 coupling with semiconductor devices activated by light through the light guide, e.g. thyristors, phototransistors
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2038/143 for signals
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 336/02 Separable

Abstract

In the exemplary disclosure, a signal transmitter and a signal processing part, which are interconnectable in the signal path by means of a contact plug, have a galvanically separative coupling location in the signal path with primary and secondary coupling members. The object is to design a plug-in connection that demonstrates a particularly good insulation effect. This is achieved in that of any given two inter-associated primary and secondary coupling members one of the two coupling members is disposed in the contact plug part on the side of the signal processing part and the other is disposed in the corresponding plug-in contact part of the signal transmitter so that upon establishment of the plug contact between the signal transmitter and the signal processing part the coupling members join together in spatial proximity as primary and secondary coupling members to form a coupling location.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the detection and processing of electric signals, comprising a signal transmitter part and a signal processing part, primary and secondary coupling members providing signal path interconnection of said signal transmitter part and said signal processing part, and comprising a galvanically separative coupling location in the signal path interconnection between said primary and secondary coupling members, detachably interengageable contact plug means adjoining each other at the galvanically separative coupling location and comprising a contact plug part (2, 2'"'"') on the side of the signal processing part (1) and a plug-in contact part (3, 3'"'"') on the side of the signal transmitter part (16), each pair of interconnected primary and secondary coupling members (8, 9;

10,

     11) of the contact plug means having one of the pair of interconnected coupling members (8;

     10) disposed in the contact plug part (2, 2'"'"') on the side of the signal processing part (1) and having the other of the pair of interconnected coupling members (9;

     11) disposed in the corresponding plug-in contact part (3, 3'"'"') of the signal transmitter part (16) so that upon establishment of the signal path interconnection between the signal transmitter part (16) and the signal processing part (1) each pair of coupling members (8, 9;

10,

     11) join together in spatial proximity as primary and secondary coupling members to form a galvanically separative coupling therebetween at the galvanically separative coupling location, the coupling location of the contact plug means having associated therewith at a common interface (5,

     40) primary and secondary coupling members (10;

     11) for a use signal transmission and further primary and secondary coupling members (8;

     9) providing energy transmission for power supply coupling, characterized in that, as primary and secondary coupling members for the use signal transmission, fiber optic light guide port elements (11;

     10) are provided, of which a first port element (10) is disposed in the contact plug part (2, 2'"'"') on the side of the signal processing part (1) and the other fiber optic light guides port element (11) is located in the corresponding plug-in contact part (3, 3'"'"') of the signal transmitter (16), so that in the plugged-in state the fiber optic light guide port elements of the one and the other side are positioned relative to one another to provide an essentially continuous (seamless) signal transmission path.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that two fiber optic light guide port elements (10, 11) are flatwise joinable to one another at confronting end-faces upon plugging-in of the contact plug means.

3. Apparatus for the detection and processing of electric signals, comprising a signal transmitter part and a signal processing part, primary and secondary coupling members providing signal path interconnection of said signal transmitter part and said signal processing part, and comprising a galvanically separative coupling location in the signal path interconnection between said primary and secondary coupling members, detachably interengageable contact plug means adjoining each other at the galvanically separative coupling location and comprising a contact plug part (2, 2'"'"') on the side of the signal processing part (1) and a plug-in contact part (3, 3'"'"') on the side of the signal transmitter part (16), each pair of interconnected primary and secondary coupling members (8, 9;

10,

     11) of the contact plug means having one of the pair of interconnected coupling members (8;

     10) disposed in the contact plug part (2, 2'"'"') on the side of the signal processing part (1) and having the other of the pair of interconnected coupling members (9;

     11) disposed in the corresponding plug-in contact part (3, 3'"'"') of the signal transmitter part (16) so that upon establishment of the signal path interconnection between the signal transmitter part (16) and the signal processing part (1) each pair of coupling members (8, 9;

10,

     11) join together in spatial proximity as primary and secondary coupling members to form a galvanically separative coupling therebetween at the galvanically separative coupling location, wherein, for the transmission of signals from a signal source to a processing apparatus, the processing apparatus housing (1) exhibits a recess (2, 2'"'"'), which represents a contact plug part on the signal processing side into which the plug-in contact part (3, 3'"'"') fits, which plug-in contact part is connected via a cable (16) to the signal source, and characterized in that the contact plug recess (2, 2'"'"') forming the contact plug part in the apparatus housing (1) exhibits an installation space (7) at the end (6) that lies inside the apparatus, a coil (8) as the primary coupling element for energy transmission and a secondary glass-optic light guide port element (10) being provided in said installation space (7).

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that in the plug-in part (3, 3'"'"') cooperating with the contact plug recess (2, 2'"'"') in the apparatus housing (1) a secondary coil (9) for the energy transmission and a second glass-optic light guide port element (11) for the use signal transmission are provided selectively:

at or near the end face (5) in the case of longitudinal coupling, and at a side face in the case of lateral coupling.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the contact plug recess (2, 2'"'"') in the apparatus housing (1) is fabricated of non-magnetic but electrically conductive material.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the plug-in contact part (3, 3'"'"') comprises an elongated housing with a casing (4) of insulating material of high electric strength;

and in that the plug-in contact part (3) has a transmission location (5,

     40) formed on a translucent synthetic material.

7. Apparatus for the detection and processing of electric signals, comprising a signal transmitter part and a signal processing part, primary and secondary coupling members providing signal path interconnection of said signal transmitter part and said signal processing part, and comprising a galvanically separative coupling location in the signal path interconnection between said primary and secondary coupling members, detachably interengageable contact plug means adjoining each other at the galvanically separative coupling location and comprising a contact plug part (2, 2'"'"') on the side of the signal processing part (1) and a plug-in contact part (3, 3'"'"') on the side of the signal transmitter part (16), each pair of interconnected primary and secondary coupling members (8, 9;

10,

     11) of the contact plug means having one of the pair of interconnected coupling members (8,

     10) disposed in the contact plug part (2, 2'"'"') on the side of the signal processing part (1) and having the other of the pair of interconnected coupling members (9;

     11) disposed in the corresponding plug-in contact part (3, 3'"'"') of the signal transmitter part (16) so that upon establishment of the signal path interconnection between the signal transmitter part (16) and the signal processing part (1) each pair of coupling members (8, 9;

10,

     11) join together in spatial proximity as primary and secondary coupling members to form a galvanically separative coupling therebetween at the galvanically separative coupling location, wherein at least one preamplifier (17) with a use signal modulator (18) are provided in the signal path (14) in a casing of the plug-in contact part (3, 3'"'"') of the signal transmitter (16), characterized in that, in the casing, in addition to the preamplifier (17) and the modulator (18) a driver stage (20) for the operation of a light-emitting diode (12) is also provided.

8. Apparatus for the detection and processing of electric signals, comprising a signal transmitter part and a signal processing part, primary and secondary coupling members providing signal path interconnection of said signal transmitter part and said signal processing part, and comprising a galvanically separative coupling location in the signal path interconnection between said primary and secondary coupling members, detachably interengageable contact plug means adjoining each other at the galvanically separative coupling location and comprising a contact plug part (2, 2'"'"') on the side of the signal processing part (1) and a plug-in contact part (3, 3'"'"') on the side of the signal transmitter part (16), each pair of interconnected primary and secondary coupling members (8, 9;

10,

     11) of the contact plug means having one of the pair of interconnected coupling members (8;

     10) disposed in the contact plug part (2, 2'"'"') on the side of the signal processing part (1) and having the other of the pair of interconnected coupling members (9;

     11) disposed in the corresponding plug-in contact part (3, 3'"'"') of the signal transmitter part (16) so that upon establishment of the signal path interconnection between the signal transmitter part (16) and the signal processing part (1) each pair of coupling members (8, 9;

10,

     11) join together in spatial proximity as primary and secondary coupling members to form a galvanically separative coupling therebetween at the galvanically separative coupling loction, wherein at least one preamplifier (17) with a use signal modulator (18) are provided in the signal path (14) in a casing of the plug-in contact part (3, 3'"'"') of the signal transmitter (16), characterized in that, additionally, a switch-over member (19) for triggering specific switch-over operations in signal processing members is also provided in the casing of the plug-in contact part (3, 3'"'"') of the signal transmitter.

9. Apparatus for the detection and processing of electric signals, comprising a signal transmitter part and a signal processing part, primary and secondary coupling members providing signal path interconnection of said signal transmitter part and said signal processing part, and comprising a galvanically separative coupling location in the signal path interconnection between said primary and secondary coupling members, detachably interengageable contact plug means adjoining each other at the galvanically separative coupling location and comprising a contact plug part (2, 2'"'"') on the side of the signal processing part (1) and a plug-in contact part (3, 3'"'"') on the side of the signal transmitter part (16), each pair of interconnected primary and secondary coupling members (8, 9;

10,

     11) of the contact plug means having one of the pair of interconnected coupling members (8;

     10) disposed in the contact plug part (2, 2'"'"') on the side of the signal processing part (1) and having the other of the pair of interconnected coupling members (9;

     11) disposed in the corresponding plug-in contact part (3, 3'"'"') of the signal transmitter part (16) so that upon establishment of the signal path interconnection between the signal transmitter part (16) and the signal processing part (1) each pair of coupling members (8, 9;

10,

     11) join together in spatial proximity as primary and secondary coupling members to form a galvanically separative coupling therebetween at the galvanically separative coupling location, wherein at least one preamplifier (17) with a use signal modulator (18) are provided in the signal path (14) in a casing of the plug-in contact part (3, 3'"'"') of the signal transmitter (16), characterized in that the plug-in contact part (3, 3'"'"') of the signal transmitter (16) includes a secondary power supply part (21) connected to a secondary coupling member (9) for the purpose of secondary power supply.

10. Apparatus for the detection and processing of electric signals, comprising a signal transmitter part and a signal processing part, primary and secondary coupling members providing signal path interconnection of said signal transmitter part and said signal processing part, and comprising a galvanically separative coupling location in the signal path interconnection between said primary and secondary coupling members, detachably interengageable contact plug means adjoining each other at the galvanically separative coupling location and comprising a contact plug part (2, 2'"'"') on the side of the signal processing part (1) and a plug-in contact part (3, 3'"'"') on the side of the signal transmitter part (16), each pair of interconnected primary and secondary coupling members (8, 9;

10,

     11) of the contact plug means having one of the pair of interconnected coupling members (8;

     19) disposed in the contact plug part (2, 2'"'"') on the side of the signal processing part (1) and having the other of the pair of interconnected coupling members (9;

     11) disposed in the corresponding plug-in contact part (3, 3'"'"') of the signal transmitter part (16) so that upon establishment of the signal path interconnection between the signal transmitter part (16) and the signal processing part (1) each pair of coupling members (8, 9;

10,

     11) join together in spatial proximity as primary and secondary coupling members to form a galvanically separative coupling therebetween at the galvanically separative coupling location, characterized in that identification fields (30;

41 or

     42) are provided in or on the plug-in contact part (3, 3'"'"') of the signal transmitter (16), to which sensing contacts (e.g. 28,

     29) for triggering presettable switching or operating processes are assigned in the contact plug part (2, 2'"'"') on the side of the signal processing part (1). .Iadd. 11. An apparatus for detecting and processing electrical signals comprising;

a housing (1) containing processing circuitry (22-27) and having a recess (2) extending into the interior thereof;

a plug (3) insertable in said recess (2) a distance which is at least substantially equal to the cross-sectional dimensions of said plug (3), said plug (3) having an electrically insulating shell (4) and containing pre-processing circuitry;

cable means (16) for connecting said pre-processing circuitry to a signal source;

light-transmitting means (10, 11, 12,

     13) for transmitting data signals in a galvanically separated fashion from said pre-processing circuitry to said processing circuitry when said plug (3) is inserted in said recess (2);

energy transmitting means (8,

     9) for inductively transmitting energy in a galvanically separated fashion from said housing (1) to said plug (3) when said plug (3) is inserted in said recess (2), said energy transmitting means (8,

     9) including first and second signal coupling members respectively disposed in said plug (3) and in said recess (2); and

a wall portion disposed between said first and second coupling members and consisting of non-magnetic material. .Iaddend..Iadd. 12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said electrically insulating shell (4) is of internally metallized synthetic material. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said pre-processing circuitry comprises at least one input amplifier (17) and a signal modulator (18) connected to the data signal coupling member of said plug. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said modulator is a pulse duration or a pulse frequency modulator. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said pre-processing circuitry includes a change over means (19) connected to the signal coupling member (11) of said plug. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 16. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said processing circuitry includes an energy supply means (26) connected to said energy transmitting means (8) thereof. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said processing circuitry includes an input amplifier (22) and a demodular (23) connected to the signal coupling member (10) of said recess..Iaddend..Iadd. 18. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said processing circuitry further includes an indicating unit (25) and a driver stage (24) therefor, said driver stage (24) being connected to said demodulator (23). .Iaddend..Iadd. 19. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said housing contains an energy supply means (26) and an oscillator (27) for supplying energy to said energy transmitting means (8) of said recess. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the light-transmitting means (10,

     11) are arranged to establish a signal transmission path through an end wall of said recess toward which the plug (3) is inserted. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the signal coupling members (10,

     11) are so arranged as to establish a signal transmission path through a side wall of said recess laterally of the insertion direction of said plug (3'"'"'). .Iaddend. .Iadd. 22. An apparatus according to 11 wherein a chamber (7) is provided in said recess for accommodating one of said coupling members. .Iaddend..Iadd. 23. An apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising additional isolating coupling members (35-38) respectively connected to said plug and to said recess for transmitting electrical switching signals between said plug and said recess such that when said plug is inserted in said recess said additional members are disposed in proximity to each other for transmitting said electrical switching signals therebetween with no electrical connection between said plug and said recess. .Iaddend..Iadd. 24. An apparatus according to claim 23 wherein a primary coupling member of said additional coupling members is a permanent magnet. .Iaddend..Iadd. 25. An apparatus according to claim 23 wherein a primary coupling member of said additional coupling members is a switching coil (35,

     36). .Iaddend..Iadd. 26. An apparatus according to claim 23 wherein a secondary coupling member of the additional coupling members is a magnetic switch (37,

     38). .Iaddend..Iadd. 27. An apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said magnetic switch is a reed switch. .Iaddend..Iadd. 28. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said plug and said recess each carry means operating in combination for activating a sensing contact in said housing when said plug is inserted in said recess for initiating switching control actions in said processing circuitry. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 29. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said recess is defined by walls in said housing consisting of non-magnetic but electrically conductive material, said recess having a maximum cross-sectional dimension and having a depth greatly exceeding said maximum cross-sectional dimension, and having a front opening at a front end of the recess for admitting the plug (3, 3'"'"') into the recess said walls of said recess supporting one of each of said light-transmitting means and said energy transmitting means (8;

     10), at distances from the front opening of the recess which are large in comparison to said maximum cross-sectional dimension, said plug (3, 3'"'"') having a front end with signal input means connected with said light-transmitting means (11) for supplying a signal to the light-transmitting means (11) via the front end of the plug, the electrically insulating shell (4) of said plug having a maximum cross-sectional dimension and having a length dimension substantially greater than said maximum cross-sectional dimension, and said plug (3, 3'"'"') mounting the other of each of said light-transmitting means and said energy transmitting means (9,

     11) at a distance from the front end of the plug (3, 3'"'"') which is large in comparison to said maximum cross-sectional dimension of said electrically insulating shell (4). .Iaddend..Iadd. 30. An apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said light-transmitting means (11) is disposed at a rear of the plug (3) and is separated from the front end of the plug (3) by a distance corresponding to the length dimension of said electrically insulating shell (4). .Iaddend..Iadd. 31. An apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said light-transmitting means (11) is disposed adjacent a rear end of the plug (3, 3'"'"') and is separated from the front end by a distance substantially greater than said maximum cross-sectional dimension of said electrically insulating shell (4), and said electrically insulating shell (4) being of internally metallized synthetic material. .Iaddend..Iadd. 32. An apparatus according to claim 29 wherein the light-transmitting means (10,

     11) are arranged to establish a signal transmission path through an end wall of said recess through which the plug (3) is inserted. .Iaddend..Iadd. 33. An apparatus according to claim 29 wherein the light-transmitting means (10,

     11) are arranged to establish a signal transmission path through a side wall of said recess laterally of the insertion direction of said plug (3'"'"'). .Iaddend. .Iadd. 34. An apparatus for the detection and processing of electric signals, comprising signal transmitter means (3, 16;

3'"'"',

     16), and signal processing means (1), pairs of cooperating primary and secondary coupling members including a pair of primary and secondary signal coupling members (10,

     11) providing signal path interconnection of said signal transmitter means and said signal processing means, and comprising a galvanically separative coupling location in the signal path interconnection between said primary and secondary signal coupling members, detachably interfitting plug and receptacle means adjoining each other at the galvanically separative coupling location and comprising a part on the side of the signal processing means (1) and a part on the side of the signal transmitter means (3, 16;

3'"'"',

     16), each pair of cooperating primary and secondary coupling members (8, 9;

10,

     11) having one of the pair of cooperating coupling members (8;

     10) disposed in the part on the side of the signal processing means (1) and having the other of the pair of cooperating coupling members (9;

     11) disposed in the part of the signal transmitter means (3, 16;

3'"'"',

     16) so that upon establishment of the signal path interconnection between the signal transmitter means and the signal processing means each pair of coupling members (8, 9;

10,

     11) join together in spatial proximity as cooperatively disposed primary and secondary coupling members for signal transmission from the signal transmitter means to the signal processing means via said pair of primary and secondary signal coupling members (10,

     11) without any electrically conductive connection therebetween at said galvanically separative coupling location, a first of said parts comprising a recess (2, 2'"'"') for accommodating a plug portion (3, 3'"'"') of a second of said parts in a plug-in manner, said recess having walls of non-magnetic but electrically conductive material, and said plug portion having an electrically insulating shell (4), wherein the signal coupling members (10,

     11) comprise a light transmitter and a light receiver which establish a signal transmission path when the parts are connected in plug-in-manner. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 35. An apparatus according to claim 34 wherein each of said transmitter means and said processing means comprise a light conductor unit which is elongate, said light conductor units being arranged to abut over substantially the whole of their end faces when said parts are connected in plug-in-manner. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 36. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said coupling location comprises a light permeable synthetic material. .Iaddend..Iadd. 37. An apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said light permeable synthetic material is acrylic glass. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 38. An apparatus for the detection and processing of electric signals, comprising signal transmitter means (3, 16;

3'"'"',

     16), and signal processing means (1), pairs of cooperating primary and secondary coupling members including a pair of primary and secondary signal coupling members (10,

     11) providing signal path interconnection of said signal transmitter means and said signal processing means, and wherein said signal coupling members (9,

     10) are provided to transmit an electrical data signal and a further pair of said cooperating coupling members are provided, in respective parts, for the transmission of an electrical energy signal between the parts without any electrically conductive connection between said further pair of coupling members, and wherein said data signal transmitting part comprises a driver stage (20), and a light emitting semiconductor device (12) is operated by said driver stage in dependence upon an electrical data signal to be transmitted. .Iaddend.