Patents Assigned to Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
  • Patent number: 9252787
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Urban, Tobias Brengartner
  • Patent number: 9243948
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining or monitoring the fill level of a substance in a container, including a high frequency oscillator, an in/out coupling unit, an antenna, which transmits measuring signals, which are coupled in via the in/out coupling unit, in the direction of the surface of the fill substance, respectively receives the measuring signals reflected on the surface of the fill substance, and an evaluating circuit, to which the measuring signals reflected on the surface of the fill substance are supplied and which ascertains the fill level in the container via a travel-time difference method. The high frequency oscillator includes a transistor with a source branch, a drain branch and a gate branch, at least one frequency tuning component and at least one frequency determining component. The frequency determining component of the high frequency oscillator is arranged in the source branch of the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Blodt
  • Patent number: 9243932
    Abstract: A measuring device, comprising: an input circuit having a supply line and a return line. Energy supply occurs over a line-pair. Input voltage is applied to the measuring device via the line pair. A series regulator for controlling an electrical current flowing via the line-pair, a shunt regulator installed in a parallel branch, and an apparatus for controlling a voltage drop across the series regulator are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Schleith, Bernd Strutt, Ralf Armbruster, Wolfgang Brutschin
  • Publication number: 20160018248
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for monitoring a set fill level of a medium in a container using a fill level measuring probe that is designed to operate as a conductive fill level measuring probe in a conductive operating mode and as a capacitive fill level measuring probe in a capacitive operating mode, with a control/evaluation/output unit that is designed to alternately trigger conductive operating mode and capacitive operating mode, and with a control/evaluation/output unit that determines whether the set fill level of the medium in the container has been reached on the basis of the measured values from the two operating modes, and which generates a message when the set fill level is exceeded and/or undershot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Armin Wernet, Gerd Bechtel, Kaj Uppenkamp, Franco Ferraro
  • Patent number: 9239251
    Abstract: A composite material comprises a polymer matrix; and zeolite, which is bonded in the polymer matrix; wherein the percent of volume of the zeolite in the volume of the composite material amounts to at least 50%, in particular at least 65%. The polymer matrix can in particular comprise a polymer, which is selected from a group of polymers that consist of fluoroplastics, polyaryletherketones, sulphur-containing polymers and high heat resistant polymers. The zeolite comprises in particular a zeolite of type A, in particular a zeolite 4A or 3A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Sergej Lopatin, Thomas Uehlin, Alexander Gugenberger, Michael Hugel, Andreas Roβberg
  • Patent number: 9237684
    Abstract: A measurement transmitter for providing a measured value to a control system, comprising: a sensor having a transducer for outputting a primary signal dependent on the measured value; a first electronic circuit for processing the primary signal to an intermediate signal; a second electronic circuit for processing the intermediate signal to a signal representing the measured value, wherein the second electronic circuit has a signal output for outputting the signal to connection lines; a housing arrangement having a metal material, wherein the first electronic circuit has at least a first circuit carrier, and the second electronic circuit has at least a second circuit carrier, and wherein the first and second electronic circuits are positioned in the housing arrangement spaced from one another. Electrically conducting shielding and high frequency filters for protecting against HF disturbances, which can get into the housing arrangement via the connection lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser + GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Ruf, Ralph Stib
  • Patent number: 9234783
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting a tube coaxially arranged around a measuring probe in a measuring probe unit of a fill-level measuring device comprising: a cable- or rod-shaped measuring probe and a tube coaxially surrounding the measuring probe. The measuring probe unit is connected to the container by means of a process connection element, wherein the measuring probe and the tube arranged coaxially around the measuring probe for the measuring probe unit are connected releasably to the process connection element. The coaxially arranged tube is connected releasably to the process connection element via a shape interlocking, threaded connection in a defined connection region, and the releasable, shape-interlocking, threaded connection of the coaxially arranged tube to the process connection element is secured by means of a radially directed deformation of the coaxially arranged tube in the defined connection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Dirk Oβwald
  • Patent number: 9228914
    Abstract: A composite material includes a polymer matrix and silica gel, which is bound in the polymer matrix. The volume fraction of the silica gel to the volume fraction of the composite material amounts to at least 50%, especially at least 65%. An electronic device, especially measuring device, includes at least one housing having at least one inner space, which contains an electronic circuit, wherein the device has at least one gas path, via which moisture can get into the housing, wherein the device has at least one formed body of the composite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Uehlin, Andreas Rossberg, Sergej Lopatin
  • Patent number: 9230428
    Abstract: A field device of process automation technology having an interface for output of an electrical current signal and a specifying unit, which provides a value, on which depends an electrical current signal to be output via the interface. A first controllable electrical current sink and a second controllable electrical current sink are provided. The first controllable electrical current sink and the second controllable electrical current sink are settable to predeterminable electrical current levels, and that the first controllable electrical current sink and the second controllable electrical current sink are connected with the interface in such a manner that the electrical current signal which at the interface essentially depends on the lower of the predeterminable electrical current levels, to which the first controllable electrical current sink and the second controllable electrical current sink are set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Meier, Martin Lange
  • Patent number: 9194759
    Abstract: A flange for a corrosion resistant and nevertheless low cost flange for pressure measurement cells, or pressure transfer means, is composed essentially of a metal foundation of a standard material and is protected on the side facing a process medium by a there applied layer of a highly alloyed, special material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Berger, Volker Frey, Dietmar Salg, Christoph Bollig
  • Patent number: 9170146
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Gorenflo, Alexey Malinovskiy, Klaus Pankratz
  • Patent number: 9170145
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the functioning of a field device, wherein the field device provides a complex measurement signal, which is produced from a number of individual measurements following one another in time, comprising method steps as follows: the complex measurement signals are stored within a predetermined time window; the occurrence of a predetermined event is monitored in the field device; the stored complex measurement signals are overwritten for the case, in which the predetermined event does not occur within the predetermined time window; for the case, in which the predetermined event occurs within the predetermined time window, both a first defined number of complex measurement signals, which were ascertained in time directly before the occurrence of the event, are frozen, as well as a second defined number of complex measurement signals, which were ascertained in time directly after the occurrence of the predetermined event, are stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Manfred Hammer, Dietmar Spanke, Herbert Schroth, Hans Germann, Lieselotte Germann, Michael Heim, Andreas Mayr, Andreas Moller
  • Patent number: 9158007
    Abstract: A scintillation detector, especially one for a radiometric measuring device for measuring and/or monitoring a measured variable, especially a fill level of a fill substance located in a container, for covering a predeterminable measuring range as flexibly as possible in shape and length. To this end, the scintillation detector comprises two or more scintillators arranged in series relative to one another for converting thereon falling, radioactive radiation into light flashes, whose light propagates in the respective scintillator toward its ends. Arranged between the scintillators are optical coupling elements, which establish light transmitting connections between adjoining pairs of scintillators. Connected at an end of the series is a photoelectric transducer, which converts light occurring in the series into an electrical signal corresponding to a radiation intensity striking the scintillators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Hartmut Damm, Simon Weidenbruch
  • Patent number: 9151687
    Abstract: A measuring apparatus for producing a sequence of measured values of a measured variable, which is a function of a first auxiliary measured variable and at least a second auxiliary measured variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Marc Schlachter, Romuald Girardey
  • Patent number: 9146145
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring a process variable of a medium in a container. including: a probe unit, which has a sensor electrode and a guard electrode; and an electronics unit, which supplies the sensor electrode with an activating signal and which supplies the guard electrode with a guard signal; An amplifying unit; and a limiting element arranged in series between the guard electrode and the output of the amplifying unit. The amplifying unit supplies via the limiting element the guard electrode with the guard signal; and the amplifying unit supplies via the limiting element the sensor electrode with the activating signal. The evaluating unit is provided, which determines and/or monitors the process variable based on an electrical current signal measurable at the sensor electrode, and the activating signal and/or the guard signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Armin Wernet, Roland Dieterle, Kaj Uppenkamp
  • Publication number: 20150260596
    Abstract: A pressure sensor comprising: a substrate having a measuring membrane formed therein; and an electrically conductive, cover layer, which has electrical contact elements and is electrically isolated from the substrate by an insulation layer. The cover layer is divided in such a manner that two independent measurements of the respective resistance between two contact elements are possible in two regions electrically isolated from one another. The regions of the cover layer serve to shield external electromagnetic influences from the sensor elements of the measuring membrane, to detect damage to the measuring membrane, as a well as for determining exact temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: Endress+Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Benjamin Lemke, Rene Ziermann, Sebastian Pobering, Ralf Roder
  • Patent number: 9136662
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a connection between two ceramic parts comprises: providing a first ceramic part and a second ceramic part; providing an active hard solder, or active braze, on at least one surface section of at least one of the ceramic parts; and heating the active hard solder, or active braze, in a vacuum soldering, brazing process. The entire active hard solder, or active braze, for connecting the first and second ceramic parts is provided in such a manner that at least one surface section of at least one of the ceramic parts, preferably both ceramic parts, is coated by means of gas phase deposition of the alloy of the active hard solder, or active braze.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Rossberg, Michael Philipps, Frank Hegner, Ulfert Drewes, Jorg Muller, Marco Doms
  • Patent number: 9121814
    Abstract: A method for determining a fraction of an adsorbed material contained in a formed body serving as an adsorber material. For the case in which the adsorber material is present in the form of a formed body, at least two electrodes are arranged, spaced apart from one another, on a surface of the formed body and/or are firmly inserted in the formed body; that, for the case, in which the adsorber material is present in the form of a powder or granulate, a corresponding formed body made of the same material is durably inserted in the powder or granular material. The electrodes are supplied with an alternating electrical current, whereby an electrical characteristic variable is ascertained; and, based on the characteristic variable, degree of saturation of the adsorber material is ascertained. Furthermore, a corresponding apparatus is claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Sergej Lopatin, Thomas Uehlin
  • Patent number: 9109997
    Abstract: A method for determining and/or monitoring at least one physical, process variable of a medium with an oscillatable unit, wherein the oscillatable unit is excited by means of a frequency search sweep within a predetermined frequency band in the working range of the oscillatable unit in the form of transmitted signals successively to oscillate with discrete exciter frequencies wherein the corresponding oscillations of the oscillatable unit are received in the form of received signals, wherein, via the frequency search sweep, the exciter frequency is ascertained, in the case of which the oscillatable unit oscillates with an oscillation frequency, which has a predetermined phase shift between the transmitted signal and the received signal. The transmitting/receiving unit excites the oscillatable unit to oscillate with the ascertained oscillation frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventor: Martin Urban
  • Patent number: 9110165
    Abstract: An apparatus forming a measuring device for ascertaining and monitoring a chemical or physical process variable in a high temperature process in a container, wherein the measuring device is formed from at least a sensor element located in the process and at least a measurement transmitter located outside the process. At least a first sealing element is provided for sealing against penetration of process medium into the sensor element. The sensor element has a boundary location between a first sensor element region, which faces the process and which is embodied with a high thermal resistance, and a second sensor element region, which faces away from the process and which has a low thermal resistance, and that the temperature sensitive element is arranged in the sensor element at the boundary location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: ENDRESS + HAUSER GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Feisst, Eric Bergmann