Patents Assigned to Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
  • Patent number: 8434211
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a measuring apparatus for capacitive determining and/or monitoring of at least the fill level of a medium. The measuring apparatus has a probe unit and an electronics unit. During a measurement, the electronics unit supplies the probe unit with an exciter signal and receives from the probe unit a received signal, from which the electronics unit ascertains a capacitance value. The probe unit is coated with an insulation layer, the coated probe unit is connected with the electronics unit and inserted into a container containing a calibration medium, the coated probe unit is covered completely by the calibration medium and an associated received signal is gained, and, with the associated received signal, at least one adjustable component of the electronics unit is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Volker Dreyer, Armin Wernet
  • Publication number: 20130106477
    Abstract: A method for the control of a phase shift between a transmission signal and a received signal of an electromechanical transducer unit to a predetermined value in an oscillatory circuit. The received signal is sampled at discrete points in time predetermined based on the transmission signal. Sampled voltage values are compared with desired values, which the received signal assumes at the respective points in time, when the predetermined phase shift is present, and, in the case of a deviation of a voltage value from its desired value, based on the sign of the deviation, the frequency of the transmission signal is decreased or increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Martin Urban, Tobias Brengartner
  • Publication number: 20130104647
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium in a container which comprises a mechanically oscillatable structure, which has at least one oscillation characteristic dependent on the process variable, an electromechanical transducer having at least one piezoelectric element, which excites the structure, by means of an excitation signal supplied to the transducer, to execute mechanical oscillations, and which converts the resulting oscillations of the structure into a received signal, which corresponds to a superpositioning of the excitation signal and a wanted signal representing the oscillation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Sergej Lopatin, Martin Urban
  • Publication number: 20130086990
    Abstract: A pressure measuring transducer comprising: a pressure measuring cell; a measuring cell housing, wherein the measuring cell housing has an annular axial abutment surface, which surrounds an opening; a sealing ring; and a ring of angular cross section for positioning the pressure measuring cell and the sealing ring in the measuring cell chamber. The sealing ring lies on the axial abutment surface, the pressure measuring cell lies with its frontal end face on the sealing ring, the pressure measuring cell is clamped axially against the sealing ring, the ring of angular cross section is arranged in an annular gap between the pressure measuring cell and a measuring cell chamber wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH +Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Hugel
  • Patent number: 8410793
    Abstract: An apparatus for ascertaining and/or monitoring at least one fill-level of at least one medium in a container according to a travel-time measuring method and/or a capacitive measuring method by means of at least one measuring probe. A capacitive measurement circuit, which produces a low frequency measurement signal on the measuring probe, a time-domain reflectometer measurement circuit, which produces a high frequency, electromagnetic signal sent out as a sent signal and a control/evaluation unit, which controls both measurement circuits are included. Also included is a diplexer, which sends the low-frequency measurement signal and the high-frequency, electromagnetic measurement signal to the measuring probe and effects a signal separation of the high-frequency, electromagnetic measurement signal into the first signal path of the time-domain reflectometer measurement circuit and the low-frequency measurement signal into the second signal path of the capacitive measurement circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Ralf Armbruster, Roland Grozinger, Bernhard Michalski
  • Patent number: 8402836
    Abstract: A pressure difference measuring cell for registering pressure difference between a first pressure and a second pressure, comprises: an elastic measuring arrangement having at least one measuring membrane, or diaphragm, that comprises silicon; a platform, which is pressure-tightly connected with the elastic measuring arrangement; a first hydraulic path for transferring a first pressure onto a first surface section of the elastic measuring arrangement; and a second hydraulic path for transferring a second pressure onto a second surface section of the elastic measuring arrangement. The first pressure opposes the second pressure, and the elastic deflection of the measuring arrangement is a measure for the difference between the first and the second pressure, wherein the pressure difference measuring cell has additionally at least one hydraulic throttle, characterized in that the at least one hydraulic throttle comprises porous silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Dannhauer, Michael Philipps, Friedrich Schwabe, Dieter Stolze, Anh Tuan Tham
  • Patent number: 8397566
    Abstract: An apparatus for the transfer of broadband, high-frequency signals of a center wavelength (?c), including a conductor structure, which includes at least one signal path and two reference paths arranged symmetrically to the signal path. Together the conductor structure and the two reference paths form a coplanar line, with the conductor structure being arranged on two oppositely lying sides of at least one dielectric substrate layer of a predetermined thickness in such a manner that the conductor structure overlaps in predetermined coupling regions, whereby the coupling region of the conductor structure transfers the high-frequency signals by an electromagnetic coupling, wherein the thickness of the substrate layer (18) is smaller than ?c/4, and wherein multiple electromagnetic couplings are arranged serially one after the other. The apparatus enables a galvanic isolation having good transfer properties in the case of frequencies greater than 6 GHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Bernhard Michalski, Qi Chen
  • Patent number: 8400141
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable. The apparatus includes: at least one energy input, via which the apparatus receives energy for operation of the apparatus. The invention includes features that: at least one measuring unit is provided, which measures energy applied to the energy input; and at least one control unit is provided, which, based on comparison of the measured energy with a desired value of the energy requirement, controls at least one unit of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Armin Wernet, Roland Dieterle, Axel Humpert
  • Patent number: 8402192
    Abstract: A modularly constructed field device of process automation technology having a basic card with an executable, basic program, wherein the basic card is expandable by at least one expansion card containing at least one, executable, expansion program. For executing the basic program, the basic card comprises at least one computing unit and a first memory unit matched to memory requirement of the executable, basic program, characterized in that the expansion card comprises at least a second memory unit designed for memory requirement of the expansion program, an automatic detecting of the connected expansion card is provided by the basic card, and, for expanding the basic program by the expansion program, a partial and/or intermittent accessing of the second memory unit by the computing unit is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Markus Kilian
  • Publication number: 20130063194
    Abstract: The circuit for the clocking of an FPGA comprises an FLL-circuit; a reference clock of a first frequency, or a reference clock input for the reception of a signal of a reference clock of a first frequency; and a digitally controlled oscillator, which outputs a clocking signal for the FPGA, wherein the FLL-circuit is designed in order to register a first number of clocking signals from the digitally controlled oscillator during a second number of periods of the reference clock, the first number is larger than the second number, and, in order to give out a feedback signal to control the ratio between the first number and the second number, as the feedback signal acts on the frequency of the digitally controlled oscillator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Marc Schlachter, Romuald Girardey
  • Publication number: 20130063298
    Abstract: A method for measuring a fill level of a fill substance in a container, in which, in an empty container, at least a part of the microwave signals transmitted into the container is reflected back via a reflection on a floor of the container. Microwave signals are transmitted into the container and their fractions reflected back to the fill-level measuring device. These are received as received signals. Echo functions are derived, which show amplitudes of the received signals as a function of a position corresponding to their travel time traveled in the container. A container floor echo is detected at a position, which lies in an earlier determined, both sides limited, empty echo position range, in which the container floor echo occurs in the case of empty container, at an empty echo position dependent on a shape of the container and an installed position of the fill-level measuring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Gorenflo, Alexey Malinovskiy, Klaus Pankratz
  • Publication number: 20130047738
    Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a platform having a membrane bed includes providing a platform body, which comprises silicon; and removing silicon material from a surface of the platform body by means of laser ablation. Preferably, this is followed by oxidizing the ablated surface and then etching the oxidized surface. In an example of the invention, a resulting pressure sensor comprises two platforms, each with a membrane bed having a contour for supporting a measuring membrane, wherein the contour essentially corresponds to a bend line of the measuring membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Anh Tuan Tham, Dieter Stolze, Rafael Teipen
  • Publication number: 20130054765
    Abstract: A method for servicing a field device of process automation technology. The data exchanged between the field device and a servicing program is by means of at least one protocol, which has basic commands, via which basic functions of the field device can be invoked. Each field device which is compatible with the protocol has these basic functions available to it, and wherein only basic commands of the protocol are used to transfer data between the servicing program and the field device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Marc BARET, Eric BIRGEL, Julien FISCHER, Martine LEFEBVRE, Andrea SEGER, Mathieu WEIBEL
  • Patent number: 8384170
    Abstract: A piezoresistive pressure sensor is especially suitable for measuring smaller pressures and has a small linearity error. The pressure sensor is manufactured from a BESOI wafer having first and second silicon layers and an oxide layer arranged therebetween. The pressure sensor includes, formed from the first silicon layer of the BESOI wafer, an active layer, in which piezoresistive elements are doped, and, formed from the second silicon layer of the BESOI wafer, a membrane carrier, which externally surrounds a cavity in the second silicon layer, via which a membrane forming region of the active layer and an oxide layer associated therewith are exposed, wherein, in an outer edge of the region of the oxide layer exposed by the cavity, a groove is provided surrounding the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Igor Getman, Anh Tuan Tham, Dieter Stolze
  • Publication number: 20130042698
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining at least one flow characteristic of an essentially laminarly flowing, gaseous or liquid medium in a pipeline. Distinguishing features include: that at least one modulation element introduced into, or placed in, the pipeline produces, at least for the case, in which the medium is flowing with a velocity different from zero, a change in density of the medium, at least at times, in the vicinity of the modulation element; that at least one mechanically oscillatable unit introduced into, or placed in, the pipeline and spaced from the modulation element is excited to resonant oscillations; that mechanical oscillations are received by the mechanically oscillatable unit and converted into an electrical, received signal, wherein the received signal is sensitive to the density change; and that the at least one flow characteristic of the medium is determined from the reaction of the received signal of the mechanically oscillatable unit to the density change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Mayr, Volker Dreyer, Sergej Lopatin
  • Patent number: 8380463
    Abstract: An apparatus having at least one sensor for registering at least one chemical and/or physical, process variable, and at least one modularly constructed, measuring transducer circuit, which has at least one sensor unit, which ascertains a measured variable from the process variable registered by the sensor and supplies the sensor with energy as needed, and at least one application specific, signal processing unit for ascertaining a measured value of the measured variable, wherein a conditioned output signal is provided between the sensor unit and the application specific, signal processing unit, wherein the application specific, signal processing unit is exchangeably embodied, and wherein, as a function of a predeterminable accuracy of measurement with which the apparatus ascertains the measured values, a plurality of different types of application specific, signal processing units are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Philipps
  • Publication number: 20130036816
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable, especially a fill level, a density or a viscosity, of a medium in a container, including: a mechanically oscillatable structure protruding into the container during operation, with at least one oscillatory characteristic dependent on the process variable; an electromechanical transducer; and electronics, for producing an exciter signal connected to the input side of the transducer, which has a first filter, wherein the first filter filters out a wanted signal from the received signal; and which determines and/or monitors the process variable based on the wanted signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH +Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Urban, Tobias Brengartner
  • Patent number: 8371179
    Abstract: A measurement arrangement for measuring and/or monitoring a physical property, comprising a measurement device comprising: at least one primary sensing element to be exposed to a product at a measurement site, a remotely located secondary measurement device, and transmission lines connecting said primary sensing elements to said secondary measuring device, suitable for applications wherein the primary sensing elements may be exposed to strong vibrations at the measurement sites, is described, wherein said secondary measurement device is mounted above all primary sensing elements and wherein said transmission lines comprise an inner core, an outer tubular protection conduit enclosing said core, and a vibration absorbing medium filling an interior of said outer protection conduit surrounding said inner core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co., KG
    Inventors: Georg Carton, Rob Vermeulen
  • Patent number: 8371185
    Abstract: A measuring device comprises a sensor module and an evaluation module mounted on the sensor module. The sensor module includes a first component having a first screw thread, and the evaluation module includes a second component having a second screw thread. The screw threads engage with one another by screwing; wherein the first or the second component has a slit, which essentially extends into the component in a plane perpendicular to the thread axis; and there are formed by the slit a first clamping limb and a second clamping limb of the component, which are separated from one another by the slit. On the component there is furthermore arranged an actuating element, which acts on the first clamping limb and the second clamping limb, and deflects the clamping limbs relative to one another, whereby the first screw thread and the second screw thread are clamped against one another and secured against rotation relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Vito-Giuseppe Di Cosola, Jurgen Tanner
  • Patent number: 8365592
    Abstract: A measuring probe for a measuring device for ascertaining and monitoring fill level of a medium in a container. The measuring probe includes: a probe holding element, which is mounted on the container; and a probe element, which is secured in an axial bore of the probe holding element by means of a releasable securement structure. A first cavity is provided in the axial bore of the probe holding element and a second cavity on the probe element, and a locking element is provided, which, in a final position of the mounting of the probe element in the probe holding element, protrudes into the first cavity and into the oppositely lying second cavity on the probe element and, thus, forms an axial locking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Dirk Osswald