Secure meter

• US 20060191789A1
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermo Orion, Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Thermo Orion, Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sydlowski, Paul C., Somes, Loren Edward Jr., Geis, Ronald M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,686,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/406
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/00 Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure contact members H01R13/02; securing contact members in or to a base or case or insulating of contact members H01R13/40; bases or cases H01R13/46; means for supporting coupling part when not engaged H01R13/60; means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement H01R13/62; means for preventing, inhibiting or avoiding incorrect coupling H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts

Abstract

A compact multiparameter instrument for electrochemical measurements is described. The instrument facilitates rapid engagement and disengagement of a variety of sensor elements in such a manner as to prevent accidental mismatch of sensor elements and sensor input ports. Positive identification of specific sensors is ensured by including color marking or other indicia on the sensor connectors that are matched to corresponding markings on the meter body. Measurements of specific parameters such as temperature may readily be shared among all other sensors connected to the instrument. A method of rapidly reconfiguring the instrument to provide extended or different capabilities is described.

Claims

1. A meter providing a secure connection to a plurality of sensor elements, said meter comprising

a body having a plurality of electrical jacks thereon in generally contiguous relation for connecting said sensors to said meter;

a rail on said body adjacent said jacks and separate therefrom for lockably engaging a finger on an electrical connector when said connector is engaged with a jack to thereby hinder inadvertent detachment of said connector from said jack.

2. A meter according to claim 1 in which said jacks extend generally in a line along a face of said meter and in which said rail extends in a corresponding line spaced from said jacks.

3. A meter according to claim 2 in which said rail extends continuously adjacent said jacks.

4. A meter according to claim 1 in which said finger is so mounted on said connector as to enable lockable engagement with said rail only when said connector is securely engaged with said jack.

5. A meter according to claim 1 in which said connector comprises a body encompassing at least one electrical conductive element for carrying signals between a sensor and said meter, said finger positioned on the exterior of said connector body for engagement with said rail when said connector is engaged with a corresponding jack.

6. A meter according to claim 5 in which said finger is formed on a cantilevered arm mounted on said body to thereby enable flexing in a direction transverse to said body whereby said finger may be moved above said rail during engagement of a connector with a jack and then returned to a position behind said rail to secure said engagement.

7. A meter according to claim 6 in which said arm includes a tab extending along said arm in a direction opposite the direction of said finger to facilitate flexing of said arm by a user during engagement of a connector with a jack.

8. A meter according to claim 1 which includes means on said connector for associating said connector with a specific jack on said meter.

9. A meter according to claim 8 in which said means comprises a color coding on said connector matched to a color coding on said jack.

10. A meter according to claim 7 in which said connector body encompasses a multi-pin DIN connector.

11. A meter according to claim 1 in which said connector body encompasses a BNC connector.

12. A meter according to claim 1 including a plurality of connectors for connecting a plurality of electrochemical sensors to said meter.

13. A meter according to claim 12 in which said plurality of sensors includes at least a pair of sensors of different type so as to preclude inadvertent connection of a sensor of one type to a jack intended to accommodate a sensor of another type.

14. A meter according to claim 12 in which said plurality of sensors includes at least a pair of sensors of different shape so as to preclude inadvertent connection of a sensor of one shape to a jack intended to accommodate a sensor of another shape.

15. A meter providing a secure connection to a plurality of sensor elements, said meter comprising

a body having a plurality of electrical jacks thereon in generally contiguous relation for connecting said sensors to said meter;

a rail on said body adjacent said jacks and separate therefrom for lockably engaging a finger on an electrical connector when said connector is engaged with a jack to thereby hinder inadvertent detachment of said connector from said jack,

said finger being so mounted on said connector as to enable lockable engagement with said rail only when said connector is securely engaged with said jack.

16. A meter according to claim 15 in which said finger is formed on a cantilevered arm mounted on said body to thereby enable flexing in a direction transverse to said body whereby said finger may be moved above said rail during engagement of a connector with a jack and then returned to a position behind said rail to secure said engagement, said arm including a finger extending along said arm in a direction opposite the direction of said finger to facilitate flexing of said arm by a user during engagement of a connector with a jack.

17. An electrical connector for lockable engagement with a rail on a meter body to hinder inadvertent disengagement of said connector from said meter, comprising:

a body encompassing at least one electrical conductive element for carrying signals between a sensor and said body and having a finger positioned on the exterior of said body for engagement with said rail when said connector is engaged with a corresponding jack on said meter body.

18. An electrical connector according to claim 17 in which said finger is formed on a cantilevered arm mounted on said body to thereby enable flexing in a direction transverse to said body whereby said finger may be moved above said rail during engagement of a connector with a jack and then returned to a position behind said rail to secure said engagement.

19. An electrical connector according to claim 17 in which said arm includes a tab extending along said arm in a direction opposite the direction of said finger to facilitate flexing of said arm by a user during disengagement of said connector from a jack.

20. An electrical connector according to claim 18 in which said arm and finger is integrally molded with said connector body.

21. An electrical connector according to claim 18 in which said connector body encompasses a multi-pin DIN connector.

22. An electrical connector according to claim 18 in which said connector body encompasses a BNC connector.

23. An electrical connector according to claim 18 including a plurality of connectors for connecting a plurality of electrochemical sensors to said meter.

24. A method for rapidly changing the configuration of an electrochemical meter, comprising:

providing a first printed circuit board having at least a first integrated circuit component thereon for providing a first set of capabilities to said meter, said board having mounted thereon at least a first connector element for receiving a corresponding connector element for carrying electrochemical measurements to said integrated circuit;

providing a second printed circuit board having at least a second integrated circuit component thereon for providing a second set of capabilities to said meter; and

interconnecting said first and second boards to enable exchange of electrical signals therebetween.

25. A method or securely connecting a jack to a plug on an electrochemical measuring instrument, comprising

providing a rail on an instrument body for disengageably receiving a flexible finger on a housing formed around said jack