Patent Application
20240242052
The invention relates to a measuring device for measuring a physical quantity with a sensor arrangement, which includes a Transducer Electronic Data Sheet and a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder, and an amplifier arrangement that includes an RFID write and read device.
Such a measuring arrangement is widely used in measurement technology for measuring a physical quantity such as a pressure, a force, a moment, an acceleration, a temperature, and so on.
To this end, the document WO2016/210360A1, which corresponds to US Patent Application Publication No. 2017-0097249, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety herein for all purposes, discloses a measuring arrangement for measuring an acceleration or force. As an exemplary embodiment, an Integral Electronic Piezo Electric (IEPE) is described, in which an amplifier arrangement is connected downstream of a sensor arrangement with a piezoelectric sensor element (PE sensor element). For the acceleration or force to be measured, the PE sensor element generates polarization charges which are amplified by the amplifier arrangement into an electrical voltage. The electrical voltage is transmitted as a measured value to an evaluation arrangement. The measured value is evaluated by the evaluation arrangement.
The measuring arrangement of WO2016/210360A1 comprises a Transducer Electronic Data Sheet (TEDS) in which sensor-specific data of the sensor arrangement such as a serial number, a type designation, data on sensitivity, calibration data, etc. are stored. The TEDS is standardized in the IEEE 1451 standard and can be described or read out by the evaluation system. Reading out sensor-specific data from the TEDS relieves the user from manually entering said data into the evaluation system and also helps the user to identify the individual measurement systems in a spatially unambiguous manner in the case of a large number of measuring arrangements. The TEDS reduces the number of possible sources of error during the measurement process and increases the accuracy of the measured value.
The measuring arrangement of WO2016/210360A1 uses a two-wire cable, because both the measuring arrangement and the TEDS require a cable with at least two electrical conductors to supply electrical power to the IEPE, to transmit the measured value, and to write to or read from the TEDS.
The disadvantage of using a two-wire cable is that the measurement process itself and the writing or reading of the TEDS cannot take place simultaneously, because the measured value is a time-varying electrical voltage which is superimposed on the positive electrical power supply of the IEPE, while the TEDS is written or read with negative electrical voltage levels. To avoid a disturbance of the measurement process when writing or reading the TEDS, WO2016/210360A1 then also separates the positive electrical power supply of the IEPE and the negative electrical voltage levels writing or reading the TEDS from each other via diodes due to their different polarity.
WO2016/210360A1 teaches the use of a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder in the measuring device, which RFID transponder is in radio communication with a write and read device via near-field communication. The RFID transponder is electrically connected to the TEDS via a microprocessor. This means that a user can write and read to the TEDS independently of the two-wire cable via near-field communication.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a measuring arrangement that has a data memory device that is improved over a TEDS.
Said object is solved by the features described below.
The invention relates to a measuring device for measuring a physical quantity, which comprises a sensor arrangement and an amplifier arrangement. The sensor arrangement is configured to generate a measurement signal under the effect of the physical quantity to be measured, which measurement signal is transmitted via at least one signal conductor to the amplifier arrangement, which is configured to amplify the measurement signal and accordingly generate a measured value that corresponds to the physical quantity. The sensor arrangement comprises an RFID transponder in which data are permanently stored. The amplifier arrangement comprises an RFID write and read device which is configured to write data to the RFID transponder via the signal conductor and to read data from the RFID transponder. The RFID transponder is capacitively coupled to the RFID write and read device via the signal conductor. High-frequency electrical signals are generated by an electrical generator circuit and fed into the signal conductor. The electrical generator circuit is configured to modulate data onto the high-frequency electrical signals for transmission via the signal conductor.
The applicant has found that the RFID transponder in the sensor arrangement can be capacitively coupled to the RFID write and read device in the amplifier arrangement via said signal conductor. The capacitive coupling is achieved by means of high-frequency electrical signals. High-frequency electrical signals are electrical signals with a frequency greater than/equal to 9 kHz. Thus, the RFID write and read device can write data to and read data from the RFID transponder. The data remain permanently stored in the RFID transponder, where the adjective “permanently” has the meaning of “over the time period of the lifetime of the measuring device”. The RFID transponder is thus an adequate replacement for the TEDS.
Compared with a TEDS, the RFID transponder has several advantages. Thus, depending on the supplier, the RFID transponder is two to four times less expensive to purchase than a TEDS. And despite the lower purchase price, the RFID transponder currently exhibits a storage capacity which is a factor of eight greater than that of a TEDS.
Further, due to the capacitive coupling, the RFID transponder does not require an antenna for near-field communication with the RFID write and read device, which further reduces the acquisition costs.
Advantageous embodiments of the measuring device are set forth in the dependent claims.
In the following, the invention is explained in more detail by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which:
In the figures, identical reference numerals denote identical objects.
The measuring arrangement is generally designated by the number 100 in
According to the four embodiments of
The components of the measuring arrangement 100 may be globally arranged in one location or in multiple locations. Furthermore, the components of the measuring arrangement 100 may be located in a single housing or in multiple housings.
The sensor arrangement 1 has the function of generating a measurement signal M for the physical quantity to be measured. The sensor arrangement 1 comprises a sensor housing 15. The sensor housing 15 is schematically shown as a dashed rectangle. The objects within the sensor housing 15 are part of the sensor arrangement 1. The sensor housing 15 is made of mechanically resistant material such as steel, etc. The sensor housing 15 can be composed of material that is electrically conductive or material that is electrically insulating.
According to the two embodiments of
According to the two embodiments of
The sensor arrangement 1 comprises a first signal conductor 11 and a first ground conductor 12. The first signal conductor 11 and the first ground conductor 12 are made of electrically conductive material such as copper, steel, etc. The first signal conductor 11 conducts the measurement signal M within the sensor housing 15. For transmitting the measurement signal M with as little loss as possible, the first signal conductor 11 is electrically insulated with high impedance. Preferably, the electrical insulation resistance of the first signal conductor 11 at 25° C. is greater than 1013 Ω. The first ground conductor 12 is at the electrical reference potential of the measuring device 100. As a rule, the electrical reference potential is an electrical voltage of 0V.
The sensor arrangement 1 comprises an RFID transponder 13. As schematically shown in
In the data memory 13′ of the RFID transponder 13, data D are permanently stored as sensor-specific data SD of the sensor arrangement 1. The sensor-specific data SD comprise at least one of the following data elements:
The RFID transponder 13 comprises an energy storage 13″ that can store high-frequency electrical signals HF as electrical energy. The energy storage device 13″ is electrically connected to the first signal conductor 11. High-frequency electrical signals HF, which are fed into the first signal conductor 11, can capacitively couple into the energy store 13″. In the uncharged state, the energy storage 13″ represents a medium-high impedance load with an electrical insulation resistance at 25° C. of less than 1010 Ω. The energy storage 13″ can be a capacitor circuit.
The sensor arrangement 1 comprises a sensor coupling capacitance 14 through which the RFID transponder 13 is capacitively coupled to the first signal conductor 11.
According to the two embodiments of
According to the two embodiments of
The cable arrangement 2 has the function of transmitting the measurement signal M to the amplifier arrangement 3. The cable arrangement 2 comprises a cable sheath 25. Said cable sheath 25 is schematically shown in
The cable arrangement 2 comprises a second signal conductor 21 and a second ground conductor 22. The second signal conductor 21 and the second ground conductor 22 are made of electrically conductive material such as copper, steel, etc.
The second signal conductor 21 can be electrically connected to the first signal conductor 11 via a connecting means not shown in the figure, such as a bushing, a plug, etc., and conducts the measurement signal M in the cable arrangement 2. The second ground conductor 22 can also be electrically connected to the first ground conductor 12 via a connecting means not shown in the figure, such as a terminal, a plug, etc.
For transmitting the measurement signal M with as little loss as possible, the second signal conductor 21 is electrically insulated with high impedance. Preferably, the electrical insulation resistance of the second signal conductor 21 at 25° C. is greater than 1013 Ω. The second ground conductor 22 is connected to the electrical reference potential of the measuring device 100. As a rule, the electrical reference potential is an electrical voltage of 0V.
The cable arrangement 2 is a two-wire cable. Preferably, the cable arrangement 2 is designed as a coaxial cable, with the second signal conductor 21 as an inner conductor and with the second ground conductor 22 as an outer conductor, which outer conductor concentrically surrounds the inner conductor. Said inner conductor is electrically insulated from the outer conductor with high impedance. The impedance of the coaxial cable is 50 Ω.
As schematically shown in
In the additional data memory 23′ of the additional RFID transponder 23, data D is permanently stored as cable-specific data KD of the cable arrangement 2. The cable-specific data KD comprise at least one of the following data elements:
The additional RFID transponder 23 comprises an additional energy storage 23″, which can store high-frequency electrical signals HF as electrical energy. The additional energy storage 23″ is electrically connected to the second signal conductor 21. High-frequency HF electrical signals fed into the second signal conductor 21 can couple capacitively into the additional energy store 23″. In the uncharged state, the additional energy storage 23″ represents a medium-high-impedance load with an electrical insulation resistance at 25° C. of less than 1010 Ω. The additional energy store 23″ can be a capacitor circuit.
The cable arrangement 2 comprises a cable coupling capacitance 24 through which the additional RFID transponder 23 is capacitively coupled to the second signal conductor 21.
According to the embodiment of
According to the embodiment of
The amplifier arrangement 3 has the function of amplifying the measurement signal M to a measured value V that is indicative of the physical quantity being measured. The amplifier arrangement 3 comprises an amplifier housing 35. The amplifier housing 35 is schematically shown as a dashed rectangle that envelops the amplifier arrangement 3. The objects within the amplifier housing 35 are part of the amplifier arrangement 3. The amplifier housing 35 is made of mechanically resistant material such as steel, etc. The amplifier housing 35 can be composed of material that is electrically conductive or material that is electrically insulating.
The amplifier arrangement 3 comprises a third signal conductor 31 and a third ground conductor 32. The third signal conductor 31 and the third ground conductor 32 are made of electrically conductive material such as copper, steel, etc.
According to the two embodiments of
For transmitting the measurement signal M with as little loss as possible, the third signal conductor 31 is electrically insulated with high impedance. Preferably, the electrical insulation resistance of the third signal conductor 31 at 25° C. is greater than 1013 Ω. The third ground conductor 32 is connected to the electrical reference potential of the measuring device 100. As a rule, the electrical reference potential is an electrical voltage of 0V.
According to the two embodiments of
The amplifier arrangement 3 of the two embodiments according to
According to the two embodiments of
The amplifier arrangement 3 comprises an RFID write and read device 33. The RFID write and read device 33 is electrically connected to the third signal conductor 31 and to the third ground conductor 32. The RFID write and read device 33 is connected to an electrical power supply not shown in the figure. The RFID write and read device 33 is configured to write data D to and read data D from the RFID transponder 13 via the signal conductor 11, 21, 31. As schematically shown in
The RFID write and read device 33 comprises an electrical generator circuit 33′ that generates high frequency electrical signals HF. Typically, the frequency of the high frequency electrical signals HF is 13.56 MHz. The electrical generator circuit 33′ represents a medium-high impedance load with an electrical insulation resistance at 25° C. of less than 1010 Ω.
The amplifier arrangement 3 comprises an amplifier coupling capacitance 34 through which the RFID write and read device 33 is capacitively coupled to the third signal conductor 31.
According to the two embodiments of
According to the two embodiments of
The electrical generator circuit 33′ is electrically connected to the third signal conductor 31 and feeds the high-frequency electrical signals HF into the third signal conductor 31. According to the two embodiments of
As soon as high-frequency electrical signals HF enter the first signal conductor 11, they capacitively couple with the energy storage 13″ of the RFID transponder 13 and are stored in the energy storage 13″. Thus, the RFID transponder 13 is supplied with electrical energy.
As soon as high-frequency electrical signals HF enter the second signal conductor 21, they capacitively couple with the additional energy storage 23″ of the additional RFID transponder 23 and are stored in the additional energy storage 23″. Thus, the additional RFID transponder 23 is supplied with electrical energy.
The RFID write and read device 33 comprises an electrical modulation/demodulation circuit 33″. The electrical modulation/demodulation circuit 33″ is electrically connected to the third signal conductor 31. The modulation/demodulation circuit 33″ has the function of entering data D into the third signal conductor 31 and extracting data D from the third signal conductor 31. The electrical modulation/demodulation circuit 33″ is designed to modulate data D onto the high-frequency electrical signals HF of the third signal conductor 31. The modulation can be an amplitude modulation or a phase modulation. The modulation is performed according to a data protocol. According to the four embodiments of
The RFID transponder 13 comprises an electrical demodulation/modulation circuit 13″′. The electrical demodulation/modulation circuit 13″′ is electrically connected to the first signal conductor 11. When electrical power is supplied to the RFID transponder 13, the electrical demodulation/modulation circuit 13″′ is automatically activated. The activated demodulation/modulation circuit 13″′ has the function of extracting data D from the first signal conductor 11 and entering data D into the first signal conductor 11. The activated electrical demodulation/modulation circuit 13″′ is configured to extract the modulated data from the high-frequency electrical signals HF in the first signal conductor 11. The demodulation is performed according to the same data protocol as the modulation. The data D can be commands of the RFID write and read device 33, which are to be executed by the RFID transponder 13. The data D can be sensor-specific data SD, which are stored in the data memory 13′ by the RFID transponder 13.
The additional RFID transponder 23 comprises an additional electrical demodulation/modulation circuit 23″′. The additional electrical demodulation/modulation circuit 23″′ is electrically connected to the second signal conductor 21. When electrical power is supplied to the additional RFID transponder 23, the additional electrical demodulation/modulation circuit 23″′ is automatically activated. The activated additional demodulation/modulation circuit 23″′ has the function of extracting data D from the second signal conductor 21 and entering data D into the second signal conductor 21. The activated additional electrical demodulation/modulation circuit 23″′ is configured to extract the modulated data D from the high-frequency electrical signals HF in the second signal conductor 21. The demodulation is performed according to the same data protocol as the modulation. The data D can be commands of the RFID write and read device 33, which are to be executed by the additional RFID transponder 23. The data D can be cable-specific data KD, which are stored in the additional data memory 23′ by the additional RFID transponder 23.
The activated electrical demodulation/modulation circuit 13″′ is configured to read out sensor-specific data SD from the data memory 13′ for commands. The activated electrical demodulation/modulation circuit 13″′ is configured to modulate the read-out sensor-specific data SD onto the high-frequency electrical signals HF of the first signal conductor 11. The modulation can be an amplitude modulation or a phase modulation. The modulation is performed according to the data protocol. According to the four embodiments of
The activated additional electrical demodulation/modulation circuit 23″′ is configured to read out cable-specific data KD from the data memory 13′ for commands. The activated additional electrical demodulation/modulation circuit 23″′ is configured to modulate the read-out cable-specific data KD onto the high-frequency electrical signals HF of the second signal conductor 21. The modulation can be an amplitude modulation or a phase modulation. The modulation is performed according to the data protocol. According to the two embodiments of
The electrical modulation/demodulation circuit 31″ is configured to demodulate the modulation of the high-frequency electrical signals RF in the third signal conductor 31. The demodulation is performed according to the same data protocol as the modulation. With the demodulation, the electrical modulation/demodulation circuit 31″ extracts the sensor-specific data SD and/or the cable-specific data KD from the high-frequency electrical signals HF.
The RFID write and read device 33 includes at least one data conductor 39. The data conductor 39 is made of electrically conductive material such as copper, gold, etc. On the data conductor 39, the RFID write and read device 33 transmits the sensor-specific data SD and/or the cable-specific data KD.
The evaluation arrangement 4 has the function of evaluating the measured value V. For this purpose, the evaluation arrangement 4 uses both sensor-specific data SD and cable-specific data KD. The evaluation arrangement 4 is schematically shown as a dashed rectangle that envelops the evaluation arrangement 4.
The evaluation arrangement 4 comprises a data acquisition and evaluation unit 40. The data acquisition and evaluation unit 40 may be a computer that includes at least a processor, a data memory 40′ and input and output means. The data acquisition and evaluation unit 40 comprises an input 48, at least one additional data conductor 49 and a fourth ground conductor 42. The input 48, the additional data conductor 49 and the fourth ground conductor 42 are made of electrically conductive material such as copper, steel, etc.
The input 48 may be electrically connected to the output 38 of the operational amplifier 30 via a connecting means not shown in the figure, such as a bushing, a plug, the Internet, etc., and the data acquisition and analysis unit 40 receives the measured value V via the input 48.
The fourth ground conductor 42 may be electrically connected to the third ground conductor 32 via a connecting means not shown in the figure, such as a terminal, a plug, the Internet, etc.
The additional data conductor 49 may be electrically connected to the data conductor 39 of the RFID write and read device 33 via a connecting means not shown in the figure, such as a bushing, a plug, the Internet, etc., and the data acquisition and evaluation unit 40 receives sensor-specific data SD and/or cable-specific data KD from the RFID write and read device 33 via the additional data conductor 49.
The data acquisition and evaluation unit 40 thus has the sensor-specific data SD and/or cable-specific data KD at its disposal and is configured to store the sensor-specific data SD and/or cable-specific data KD in the data memory 40′.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23151270.8 | Jan 2023 | EP | regional |
