Abstract: An apparatus for transferring signals from an at least partially metallic housing with the aid of electromagnetic waves of a particular wavelength comprises a transmitter/receiver unit located in the housing for generating and receiving the electromagnetic waves; at least one primary antenna located in the housing for coupling out the generated electromagnetic waves from the transmitter/receiver unit and for coupling in and transferring received electromagnetic waves to the transmitter/receiver unit; at least one slot-shaped housing opening designed such that a length of the slot-shaped housing opening is an integer multiple of a quarter of the particular wavelength and such that the slot-shaped housing opening, in cooperation with the primary antenna, transfers the signals with the aid of the electromagnetic waves into or out of the housing.

Abstract: A vibronic sensor used to determine a process variable of a medium in a container comprises a mechanically vibratable unit, a drive/receiving unit, and an electronic unit. The drive/receiving unit excites mechanical vibrations in the mechanically vibratable unit via an electric excitation signal and receives the mechanical vibrations of the mechanically vibratable unit and convert same into an electric reception signal. The electronic unit is designed to generate the excitation signal on the basis of the reception signal and determine the process variable from the reception signal. The electronic unit includes an adaptive filter and is designed to set the filter characteristic of the adapter filter to produce a target phase offset between the excitation and reception signals. The sensor also has a detection unit to determine a phase offset between the excitation signal and the reception signal and/or the amplitude of the reception signal using a quadrature demodulation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the radar-based measurement of a filling level, in which method a difference curve is adjusted iteratively in successive measurement cycles to suppress interfering echoes. The iterative adjustment is accomplished by: calculating a difference curve from the evaluation curve and a predefined reference curve; determining the filling level from the evaluation curve within a selection region; checking if the difference curve satisfies a predefined criterion at at least one location; redefining the selection region at said location in the subsequent measurement cycle when the difference curve satisfies the criterion; and set the evaluation curve as a new reference curve when the difference curve satisfies the criterion. The iterative adjustment provides the advantage that the search region of the filling level maximum in the evaluation curve is limited on one side, and slowly changing interfering echoes can also be detected.

Abstract: A method for operating an automation field device comprises connecting a two-conductor line with an input terminal of the field device; setting a minimum electrical current value at the input terminal of the field device in an initializing phase; measuring a maximum voltage value at the input terminal in the initializing phase; ascertaining a minimum supplemental power supplied to the field device at the input terminal and which is available to the field device for performing at least one supplemental functionality; and activating/switching on a supplemental module by the processing unit when the ascertained minimum supplemental power is greater than or equal to an operating power needed for operating the supplemental module, wherein by the activating/switching on of the supplemental module a corresponding supplemental functionality is performed by the field device in measurement operation.

Abstract: A process automation system includes a central controller, a four-conductor, multi-drop bus, 1 to 16 1-5 V field devices, and 1 to 16 coupler boxes, each coupler box connecting a respective field device with the bus. The central controller includes a dual-tone, multiple-frequency (DTMF) encoder and each coupler box includes a DTMF decoder. Each coupler box isolates its associated field device's 1-5 V signal from the bus unless the coupler box is addressed by the central controller via a DTMF signal.

Abstract: A DC/DC converter circuit for phase-modulated communication comprises a push-pull driver to which a reference clock having a fixed predefined frequency can be applied on the input side; a transformer having a primary and secondary coil, wherein the push-pull driver is connected to the primary coil on the output side; a synchronous rectifier connected to the secondary coil on the AC-side; a resonant circuit having a capacitance and an inductance, wherein the resonant circuit is designed such that a part of the resonant circuit is on a primary side of the transformer and another part of the resonant circuit is on a secondary side of the transformer; a decoupling inductor connected on a secondary side of the transformer and downstream of the synchronous rectifier, which is not part of the resonant circuit; and an output capacitor connected in series with the decoupling inductor via which an output voltage is provided.

Abstract: A level fork protection sleeve includes a first cylinder and a second cylinder disposed within the first cylinder. The cylinders are joined together via a material bonding such as welding. A gap in the second cylinder along its length provides a channel within the sleeve for the ingress and egress of liquid media. The sleeve is embodied to fit onto a shaft of a vibronic limit level device and to extend over and protect the vibrating member of the limit level device.

Abstract: A measuring device for determining the dielectric value of a medium has at least the following components: a measuring sensor with at least one first electrically conductive electrode and a high-frequency unit which is designed to couple a high-frequency signal at least into the first electrode and determine the dielectric value of the medium using a corresponding reflection signal. The measuring device is characterized in that the first electrode is wound on a measuring rod which can be brought into contact with the medium. By winding the electrode, the measuring sensor can be advantageously configured to be significantly shorter without limiting the sensitivity of the measuring device. In this manner, the measuring device can also be used in the event of constricted installation conditions.

Abstract: A high-frequency-based measuring device for determining a dielectric constant of a medium comprises a signal-generating unit for coupling an electrical high-frequency signal into a transmitting electrode located in the medium, the transmitting electrode having a depth of at most one quarter of the wavelength of the high-frequency signal; a receiving electrode likewise located in the medium and located a distance from the transmitting electrode of at most one quarter of the wavelength of the high-frequency signal, for receiving the high-frequency signal after the same has passed through the medium; and an evaluation unit designed to determine the dielectric constant on the basis of the received high-frequency signal.

Abstract: A method for operating a wireless field-device network, comprising: wirelessly transmitting a process variable and an expected remaining running time from each field device to the other field devices within a field-device network so that in each field device the process variable and the expected remaining running time of the other field devices of the field-device network are stored; activating a second radio module of that field device which has the highest expected remaining running time, and deactivating the second radio modules of the other field devices within the field-device network; wirelessly transmitting the process variables of all field devices of the field-device network stored in the active field device, or at least a subset of the stored process variables, to the superordinate unit, which is not part of the field-device network, by means of the second radio module of the active field device.

Abstract: A device and a method for measuring and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium is provided. The device comprises a sensor unit with a mechanically vibrating unit, at least one reflection unit, a piezoelectric element which is attached to the membrane, and an electronic. The device is designed to excite the mechanically vibrating unit to mechanical vibrations using an excitation signal, to receive the mechanical vibrations of the vibrating unit and convert them into a first reception signal, to emit a transmission signal, and to receive a second reception signal. The electronic unit is designed to determine the at least one process variable of the medium based on the first and/or second reception signal.

Abstract: A device for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium in a container includes four, rod-shaped elements arranged on a membrane, three piezoelectric elements and an electronics system, wherein one first and one second rod-shaped element are arranged and configured such that they form a mechanically vibratable unit, wherein the device is configured to excite the vibratable unit via an excitation signal to create mechanical oscillations, to receive the mechanical oscillations of the vibratable unit, to convert them into a first received signal, to transmit a transmitted signal, and to receive a second received signal, and wherein the electronics system is configured to determine the at least one process variable based on the first and/or second received signal.

Abstract: A separating membrane includes: a planar edge region for the joining of the separating membrane to a diaphragm seal body; a working region offset in an axial direction relative to the edge region; and a transition region between the edge region and the working region, wherein the transition region extends over a radial region of not more than one quarter of an outer radius of the transition region, wherein the working region has a substantially planar center and an embossed pattern or undulation pattern between the center and an outer edge of the working region, wherein from the rest position to a point of deflection with a dimensionless pressure equivalent, the separating membrane has a characteristic curve in which, for a coefficient of determination R2 of a linear regression of the characteristic curve, the following applies: (1?R2)<1%.

Abstract: A device and a method for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium include a sensor unit having a mechanically oscillatable unit, at least a first piezoelectric element, a temperature detection unit for determining and/or monitoring a temperature of the medium and an electronics unit. The device is embodied to excite the mechanically oscillatable unit by means of an excitation signal such that mechanical oscillations are executed, to receive mechanical oscillations of the oscillatable unit and convert them into a first received signal, to transmit a transmitted signal and to receive a second received signal. The electronics unit is embodied, based on the first and/or second received signal, to determine the at least one process variable and, based on a third received signal received from the temperature detection unit, to determine the temperature of the medium.

Abstract: An antenna unit for transmitting and receiving high frequency signals includes a substrate that is optionally encapsulable with a potting compound having a defined dielectric value. Arranged on the substrate are two planar antennas each tuned for the high frequency signal. The planar antennas are designed such that the values of the real parts of the impedances of the planar antennas differ by the square root of the dielectric value of the potting compound. By providing two antennas, wherein one thereof is impedance-matched to a possible potting compound encapsulation, the antenna unit is able to function independently of a possible potting compound encapsulation. Electronic modules which comprise the antenna unit for wireless communication can be implemented according to the platform principle in devices that require a potting compound encapsulation and also in devices that are not encapsulated.

Abstract: A system for managing data of an automation field device in a secure manner includes a decentralized distributed ledger-type database, or blockchain, comprising a plurality of subscriber nodes, comprising validation-capable subscriber nodes and an automation field device with an electronic unit. The electronic unit is designed to run a distributed ledger software stack. The field device generates data, comprising measurement values and/or calibration certificates requiring verification, and the field device operates as a light node of the decentralized database after running the distributed ledger software stack and is designed to transmit the data to the decentralized database via the communication network and write said data in encrypted form into the decentralized database.

Abstract: A pressure measuring unit includes a pressure measuring cell; a rotationally symmetrical sensor bushing into which the pressure measuring cell is inserted; a rotationally symmetrical process connection having, at one end, an inwardly extending encircling stop surface intended for the sensor bushing and, at another end, an opening for receiving the sensor bushing; a ring-like process seal between the sensor bushing and the stop surface of the process connection in order to thus prevent an ingress of the process medium into the pressure measuring unit; wherein the stop surface of the process connection and/or a counterpart stop surface, which in the installed state is directed toward the stop surface, of the sensor bushing have multiple individually formed webs configured such that the process seal is not extruded into the openings.

Abstract: A device for detachably fastening a sensor for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium to a single-use container, wherein there is a connection between the device and a wall of the single-use container, comprises a fastening unit for detachably fastening the sensor to the single-use container. Disclosed also is a single-use container having a device according to the invention.

Abstract: A circuit assembly for connection to a current source, preferably a 4-20 mA current loop and/or a high-impedance voltage source, preferably a high-impedance voltage source comprising an internal resistance greater than or equal to 100 ohms, includes at least one boost converter with a coil, a diode, in particular a flyback diode, which is connected in series with the coil, an output-side storage capacitor for summing an output voltage, and a switching element for connecting the coil to ground; a circuit part for dynamically controlling the switching element of the boost converter, wherein the circuit part is at least designed to control the switching element of the boost converter in a start-up phase such that the current source directly charges the storage capacitor via the coil until a predefinable reference value is reached.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the condition of a coil, wherein the coil is part of a device for determining at least one process variable of a medium in a container, includes applying an electrical excitation signal to the coil and receiving an electrical reception signal from the coil, determining a first value for the reception signal at a first predefinable measurement time, comparing the first value for the reception signal at the first measurement time with a reference value, and determining a condition indicator for the coil on the basis of the comparison. Disclosed also is a device that is designed for carrying out the disclosed method.