Patents Assigned to Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
  • Patent number: 9470773
    Abstract: A method for operating a pressure sensor, which includes a measuring membrane, at least one platform and a capacitive transducer having two pressure dependent capacitances between electrodes on the measuring membrane. The measuring membrane divides a volume pressure-tightly into two volume portions, wherein the second volume portion is enclosed in a measuring chamber between the measuring membrane and the platform. A deflection of the measuring membrane depends on a pressure measurement variable p, which is a difference between a first pressure p1 and second pressure p2 in the volume portions. The pressure measurement variable p follows from both capacitances, wherein, for an intact pressure sensor, the second capacitance is a predetermined function of the first capacitance and, in given cases, the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Uehlin, Elmar Wosnitza, Igor Getman
  • Publication number: 20160294183
    Abstract: An input circuit for providing a supply voltage, which input circuit has a first input on the input side, wherein the input circuit has at the output end an output which serves to connect an electronic unit. The supply voltage can be transmitted via the first input to the output of the input circuit, and the first input of the input circuit is connected via a first path to the output of the input circuit. In the first path a switching unit is provided which serves for connecting the first input to an auxiliary connection of the input circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Marc Fiedler, Ralph Stib
  • Patent number: 9459169
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pressure sensor, comprising: providing a ceramic platform, a ceramic measuring membrane, and an intermediate ring; providing an active braze material by means of gas phase deposition at least on a first surface section of a first surface and on a second surface section of a second surface. The first surface is a platform surface, which is to be connected with the intermediate ring by means of the active hard solder, or braze, or a surface of the intermediate ring, which is to be connected with the platform by means of the active hard solder, or braze. The second surface is a measuring membrane surface, which is to be connected with the intermediate ring by means of the active hard solder, or braze, or a surface of the intermediate ring, which is to be connected with the measuring membrane by means of the active hard solder, or braze.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Peter Selders, Andreas Rossberg, Elke Schmidt, Andrea Berlinger
  • Patent number: 9448097
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Sergej Lopatin, Martin Urban
  • Patent number: 9450399
    Abstract: A time triggered crowbar, which is so embodied that it monitors the on-time of at least one downstream electronic component and the period of clocking and therewith the power supply in such a manner that a predetermined maximum allowable surface temperature of the at least one downstream component is not exceeded in the explosion endangered area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Roland Grozinger, Detlef Ramin
  • Patent number: 9442000
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining and monitoring fill level of a medium in a container using a travel time measuring method, wherein transmission signals are transmitted toward the medium and reflection signals are received. The received reflection signals are registered as echo signals in an echo function dependent on travel time. Based on known measuring device- and container-specific reflection planes, possible reflection regions in the echo function are calculated by means of an evaluation algorithm. In the calculated reflection regions, the disturbance echo signals and/or the multiecho signals in the echo function are classified, wherein non-classified reflection signals are ascertained and checked as wanted echo signals by means of a search algorithm, wherein, from a position and/or an amplitude of at least one wanted echo signal, fill level is determined, and wherein the measured value of fill level is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Edgar Schmitt, Dietmar Spanke, Alexey Malinovskiy, Stefan Gorenflo, Klaus Feisst
  • Patent number: 9436573
    Abstract: Multifunctional I/O apparatus having one connection terminal with two connections and an electronic circuit, which with the assistance of a plurality of settable operating states detects an active input signal or passive input signal applied on the two connections of the connection terminal or controls/switches an externally driven load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Tobias Paul, Ralph Stib, Armend Zenuni
  • Patent number: 9423287
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining at least one process variable of a medium in a container or in a pipeline. The apparatus including: at least a first element and a second element, which are necessary components of the apparatus for determining the process variable and which contact at a contact location, which is exposed to a process temperature. The first element comprises a first material, and the second element comprises a second material. The first material and the second material are selected and matched to one another in such a manner that at the contact location between the first material and the second material a thermovoltage dependent on the difference between the process temperature and a reference temperature arises; and a temperature determining unit measures the thermovoltage and determines the process temperature therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Sascha D'Angelico, Simon Tempel
  • Publication number: 20160231187
    Abstract: A pressure transducer comprising a resistive pressure sensor element with a measurement membrane which has at least four resistor elements. The resistor elements are arranged in a full-bridge circuit, having a longitudinal direction in which the full bridge circuit is to be supplied. When supplying a constant current, a longitudinal voltage has a first pressure dependency and a first temperature dependency, and a diagonal voltage has a second pressure dependency and a second temperature dependency, the second pressure dependency being greater than the first pressure dependency at a given temperature. The pressure transducer has a processing circuit which is designed to determine a measured pressure value at least using the diagonal voltage and optionally the longitudinal voltage. The processing circuit is further designed to check whether a value pair of a longitudinal voltage and a diagonal voltage corresponds to an expected functional relationship at a current temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Elmar Wosnitza, Davide Parrotto, Lars Karweck, Ulrich Buder, Olaf Textor
  • Patent number: 9413053
    Abstract: A galvanically isolated, directional coupler, especially for in- and out-coupling of high-frequency measurement signals of a radar fill-level measuring device, wherein two mutually engaging, oppositely bent, conductive traces are provided, wherein the two oppositely bent, conductive traces are so arranged that that they couple with one another over a region of a quarter wavelength (?/4) of the wavelength associated with the center frequency of the measuring signals and form two groups of laterally coupled, conductive traces, and wherein curved conductive trace portions adjoin each of the two groups of laterally coupled, conductive traces, in each case, over a region, which is less than an eighth wavelength (?/8) of the wavelength associated with the center frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Blodt
  • Publication number: 20160223371
    Abstract: A differential-pressure measuring assembly comprising a differential-pressure measuring transducer for detecting the difference between the first media pressure and a second media pressure and for providing a differential-pressure measurement signal that depends on the difference between the first media pressure and the second media pressure; a first effective-pressure line, which is connected to a first pressure inlet of the differential-pressure measuring transducer in order to apply the first media pressure to the differential-pressure measuring transducer; a second effective-pressure line, which is connected to a second pressure inlet of the differential-pressure measuring transducer in order to apply the second media pressure to the differential-pressure measuring transducer; at least one temperature sensor for outputting a temperature signal that correlates with a temperature of the effective-pressure lines; and a processing unit for processing the differential-pressure measurement signal and the temper
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: ENDRESS+HAUSER GMBH+CO. KG
    Inventor: Davide Parrotto
  • Patent number: 9395226
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium. The apparatus includes at least one probe unit and at least one electronics unit, which supplies the probe unit with an electrical, exciter signal and which receives from the probe unit an electrical, measurement signal. The invention includes, that the probe unit has at least one inner electrode and at least one outer electrode surrounding the inner electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Armin Wernet, Roland Dieterle
  • Patent number: 9398097
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Marc Baret, Eric Birgel, Julien Fischer, Martine Lefebvre, Andrea Seger, Mathieu Weibel
  • Publication number: 20160188766
    Abstract: A method for determining and or monitoring at least one process- and/or system specific parameter in automation technology. An oscillatable system is provided, which interacts with a medium located in a container, wherein the oscillatable system is excited to oscillate via a real input signal, wherein the real output signal of the oscillatable system is ascertained, wherein the real output signal is digitized and a real output sequence yu(k) is produced. The real input signal is digitized and a digital input sequence (u(k)) is produced, wherein the digital input sequence (u(k)) is fed to a function block (model), which provides at least one mathematical model of the oscillatable system in interaction with the medium. The mathematical model is defined by a number of process- and/or system specific parameters, wherein via the mathematical model a virtual output sequence (ym(k)) is produced, wherein the virtual output sequence ym(k) is compared with the real output sequence yu(k).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co., KG
    Inventors: Tobias BRENGARTNER, Gerd BECHTEL, Michael SIEGEL
  • Patent number: 9377343
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one fill level of a medium in a container comprising: a capacitive or conductive probe unit having at least one electrode; and a control/evaluation unit. The electrode is a hollow body, that an end region of the electrode protruding into the container is embodied as an oscillatable membrane. On an inner side of the membrane a driving/receiving unit is arranged, which excites the membrane to execute mechanical oscillations and receives mechanical oscillations therefrom and converts such into an electrical, received signal. The control/evaluation unit supplies the electrode at least at times with a voltage and determines the fill level of the medium capacitively or conductively, and/or that the control/evaluation unit supplies the driving/receiving unit at least at times with an exciter signal and determines from the electrical received signal the fill level of the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Urban, Helmut Pfeiffer, Volker Dreyer
  • Publication number: 20160153822
    Abstract: In a method for ascertaining and monitoring fill level of a medium in a container by means of a field device using a travel time measuring method, wherein transmission signals are transmitted toward the medium and reflection signals are received; the received reflection signals are registered as echo signals in an echo function, respectively envelope curve, dependent on travel time or travel distance; by means of an echo search algorithm, at least one wanted echo signal is ascertained in the echo function, respectively envelope curve; by means of at least one filter with filter parameters the echo function, respectively the envelope curve, is preprocessed; at least a first filter range with a first width is predetermined at the position of the wanted echo signal in the echo function, respectively in the envelope curve, and at least three filter ranges are formed in the echo function, respectively in the envelope curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: Endress+Hauser GMBH+CO KG
    Inventors: Stefan Gorenflo, Stefan Markoni, Benjamin Monse
  • Patent number: 9344157
    Abstract: A method for communication by means of a transformer, which has at least a primary coil and a secondary coil, which are parts of an oscillatory circuit, wherein the oscillatory circuit is supplied on the primary side with an exciter frequency. For transmission of a signal from the secondary side to the primary side, the inductance of the secondary coil is modulated. A corresponding apparatus for performing the method is likewise provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Muller, Martin Urban
  • Patent number: 9329070
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing or minimizing disturbance signals in the case of a field device of process automation, wherein the field device has a control/evaluation unit and a sensor, with, respectively, at least one main electronics and at least one sensor electronics. At least one data line is provided, via which the main electronics and the sensor electronics communicate. At least one galvanic isolating component is provided, which is integrated into the at least one data line, and which prevents transmission of disturbance signals via the one or more data lines. Power supply lines are provided, via which a power supply voltage sufficient for operation of the sensor is made available to the sensor; and wherein, in the power supply lines, filter means are provided, which are designed in such a manner that predetermined requirements for disturbance resistance of the power supply lines are fulfilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Ruf, Marc Schlachter, Wolfgang Brutschin
  • Patent number: 9288923
    Abstract: A field device with a housing for accommodating an electronics unit. The housing is pot shaped and composed of a non-conductive material, wherein at least one line guide passageway with a screw thread is provided on the housing, wherein the line guide passageway is provided with a conductive coating in the region of the thread, and wherein the screw thread has at least one groove in at least one region extending in the axial direction of the line guide passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventor: Ioan Mircea Pol
  • Patent number: 9252585
    Abstract: A connector apparatus having a PG screw thread in a first end section and a first traversing bore, in which a first axial clamping surface is embodied. A grounding assembly has an electrically conducting, iris spring, is arranged in the first traversing bore and lies against the first axial clamping surface. An annular clamping body having a second traversing bore, a second frontside annular clamping surface, which surrounds the second traversing bore and which is arranged in the first bore facing the grounding assembly, wherein the grounding assembly is clampable between the clamping surfaces, whereby the iris spring is radially deflectable, wherein the clamping body has an external thread for engagement in an internal thread of the base body, and wherein the connector apparatus has with reference to the first end section of the base body, behind the grounding assembly a conduit screw thread for the connection of a conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Marc Schlachter, Michael Hugel, Romuald Girardey, Max Bauer