Abstract: A signal generator for producing periodic signals for a measuring apparatus of automation technology. The signals have sequential, discrete signal frequencies, which lie within a predetermined frequency range. A control- and/or computing unit, a clock signal producer are provided, wherein the clock signal producer provides a constant sampling frequency, which is greater than the maximum discrete signal frequency in the predetermined frequency range. A memory unit is provided, in which for each of the discrete signal frequencies the amplitude values of the corresponding periodic signals are stored or storable as a function of the sampling frequency. The control- and/or computing unit reads out the stored or storable amplitude values of the discrete frequencies successively with the sampling frequency of the clock from the memory unit and produces the periodic signals, or forwards for producing.

Abstract: An electromechanical transducer unit for a field device comprising a membrane embodied to execute mechanical oscillations, two rods perpendicular to the membrane and secured to the membrane, a housing, wherein the membrane forms at least one portion of a wall of the housing, and wherein the two rods extend into the housing interior, two magnets, wherein each magnet is secured in an end region away from the membrane to a different one of the two rods, and a coil with a core, wherein the coil is secured above the magnets within the housing, and is contactable with an electrical, alternating current signal, wherein the coil is embodied to produce a magnetic field that causes the two rods via the two magnets to execute mechanical oscillations, and wherein the two rods are secured to the membrane such that oscillations of the membrane result from oscillations of the two rods.

Abstract: A vibronic sensor for monitoring a process variable of a medium in a containment, comprising a mechanically oscillatable unit, a driving/receiving unit and an electronics unit. The mechanically oscillatable unit has two oscillatory rods and a tuning element of variable stiffness mechanically connected with at least one of the oscillatory rods. At least a first, outer, oscillatory rod is tubular and surrounds a second, inner, oscillatory rod coaxially, wherein each of the two oscillatory rods is secured in such a manner on a shared carrier that each oscillatory rod can execute oscillations transversely to its longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A vibration sensor comprising an oscillatable unit, which is composed of a membrane with an inner surface and an outer surface and, in given cases, at least one oscillatory element secured on the outer surface of the membrane. A transmitting/receiving unit is provided, which with a predetermined exciter frequency excites the oscillatable unit to execute oscillations and which receives oscillations of the oscillatable unit. A control/evaluation unit is provided, which signals reaching of the predetermined fill level or ascertains the density, respectively the viscosity, of the medium. In order to be able to apply the vibration sensor in high temperature applications, a disc shaped element of a magnetostrictive material is provided, which has a force transmitting connection with the inner surface of the membrane. The transmitting/receiving unit is an electromagnetic drive.

Abstract: The invention relates to a signal generator for producing periodic signals for a measuring apparatus (1) of automation technology, wherein the signals have sequential, discrete signal frequencies, which lie within a predetermined frequency range, a control- and/or computing unit (4), a clock signal producer (6), wherein the clock signal producer (6) provides a constant sampling frequency, which is greater than the maximum discrete signal frequency in the predetermined frequency range, a memory unit (7), in which for each of the discrete signal frequencies the amplitude values of the corresponding periodic signals are stored or storable as a function of the sampling frequency, wherein the control- and/or computing unit (4) reads out the stored or storable amplitude values of the discrete frequencies successively with the sampling frequency of the clock (6) from the memory unit (7) and produces the periodic signals or forwards for producing, and a static filter unit (12) with a limit frequency, which lies above

Abstract: In an arrangement (1) comprising at least one field device (2), at least one sensor, or signal, registering unit (3,3a,3b,3c) associated or associable therewith and at least one function block (10,10a,10n), at least one mobile computer unit (4) is provided for performing calculations and/or evaluations. The at least one sensor, or signal, registering unit (3,3a,3b,3c) and the at least one mobile computer unit (4) comprise for wireless communication with one another, in each case, at least one system (7,7a,7b,7c,40) for wireless sending and receiving of data and/or signals.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining or monitoring a predetermined fill level, a phase boundary or a density of a medium in a container with an oscillatable unit. The oscillatable unit is placed at the height of the predetermined fill level and is excited to oscillate successively with discrete exciter frequencies following one another in a frequency scanning operation (sweep) within a predeterminable frequency band in the working range of the oscillatable unit. The corresponding oscillations of the oscillatable unit are received in the form of received signals; wherein that exciter frequency is ascertained in the frequency scanning operation, at which the oscillatable unit oscillates with an oscillation frequency, which has a predetermined phase shift between the transmission signal and the received signal; and wherein the transmitting/receiving unit excites the oscillatable unit to oscillate with the ascertained oscillation frequency.

Abstract: A field device for determining or monitoring a process variable in process automation. The field device includes: sensor, which works according to a defined measuring principle; and a control/evaluation unit, which conditions and evaluates measurement data delivered by the sensor along at least two equal valued measuring paths as a function of a safety standard required in a particular safety-critical application. The control/evaluation unit is embodied, at least partly, as a reconfigurable logic chip, with a plurality of partially dynamically reconfigurable, function modules. The control/evaluation unit so configures the function modules in the measuring paths as a function of the defined safety-critical application, that the field device is correspondingly designed to the required safety standard.

Abstract: A field device is composed of a sensor, which works according to a defined measuring principle, and a control/evaluation unit, for a particular safety-critical application, conditions and evaluates, along at least two equivalent measuring paths, measurement data delivered by the sensor. The control/evaluation unit is implemented on an FPGA, provided with at least a first section and a second section. In each section, a digital measuring path, is dynamically reconfigurable. The sections are isolated from one another by permanently configured spacer regions, wherein the spacer regions are embodied in such a way, that a temperature and/or a voltage change in one of the sections has no influence on the other section or other sections, and, in the case of malfunction, no connection occurs between the sections.

Abstract: A method for testing an electronics unit, especially an electronics unit of an apparatus for ascertaining and/or monitoring a process variable, wherein the electronics unit has a plurality of electrical components. At least a part of the electrical components is grouped into at least one group, and this group is supplied with a query signal. A response signal is received from the group, and the response signal is evaluated. Furthermore, the invention relates to an apparatus for determining and/or monitoring a process variable.

Abstract: A configurable field device for automation technology with a partially dynamically reconfigurable logic chip FPGA, in which function modules are dynamically configured during runtime, and to a method for operating the configurable field device.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining or monitoring a predetermined fill level, a phase boundary or a density of a medium in a container with an oscillatable unit. The oscillatable unit is placed at the height of the predetermined fill level and is excited to oscillate successively with discrete exciter frequencies following one another in a frequency scanning operation (sweep) within a predeterminable frequency band in the working range of the oscillatable unit. The corresponding oscillations of the oscillatable unit are received in the form of received signals; wherein that exciter frequency is ascertained in the frequency scanning operation, at which the oscillatable unit oscillates with an oscillation frequency, which has a predetermined phase shift between the transmission signal and the received signal; and wherein the transmitting/receiving unit excites the oscillatable unit to oscillate with the ascertained oscillation frequency.

Abstract: A field device for determining or monitoring a process variable in process automation. The field device includes: sensor, which works according to a defined measuring principle; and a control/evaluation unit, which conditions and evaluates measurement data delivered by the sensor along at least two equal valued measuring paths as a function of a safety standard required in a particular safety-critical application. The control/evaluation unit is embodied, at least partly, as a reconfigurable logic chip, with a plurality of partially dynamically reconfigurable, function modules. The control/evaluation unit so configures the function modules in the measuring paths as a function of the defined safety-critical application, that the field device is correspondingly designed to the required safety standard.

Abstract: Field device for determining or monitoring a physical or chemical process variable, wherein the field device is composed of a sensor, which works according to a defined measuring principle, and a control/evaluation unit, which, as a function of a safety standard required for the particular safety-critical application, conditions and evaluates, along at least two equivalent measuring paths, measurement data delivered by the sensor. The control/evaluation unit is implemented on an FPGA, on which are provided at least a first section and a second section, wherein, in each section, a digital measuring path, which is composed of a plurality of software-based and/or hardware-based function modules, is dynamically reconfigurable.

Abstract: A configurable field device for automation technology with a partially dynamically reconfigurable logic chip FPGA, in which function modules are dynamically configured during runtime, and to a method for operating the configurable field device.

Abstract: A field device for determining or monitoring a process variable in process automation. The field device includes: a sensor, which works according to a defined measuring principle; and a control/evaluation unit, which conditions and evaluates the measurement data delivered by the sensor; wherein the control/evaluation unit is embodied at least partially as a reconfigurable logic chip FPGA having a plurality of dynamically reconfigurable function modules; wherein an interface is provided, via which the control/evaluation unit receives sensor- and application-specific information concerning a defined sensor type in a defined process application; and wherein the control/evaluation unit so configures the function modules corresponding to the sensor- and application-specific information, that the field device is optimally adapted to the process variable to be ascertained, or to be monitored, and to the current process application of the field device.

Abstract: A system for the flexible configuration of function modules. The system includes the following components a plurality of logic cells in a fixedly wired FPGA/standard ASIC structure, wherein the logic cells are so configurable by means of configuration registers, that they execute basic logic functions; a switch matrix having a plurality of memory cells, via which different logical connections of the logic cells in defined complex connections are configurable by means of the configuration registers; and a control unit, which partially dynamically so configures the logic cells and the switch matrix via an internal bus and via the configuration registers by means of a configuration bit stream, that the fixedly wired FPGA/ASIC structure behaves functionally as a partially dynamically reconfigurable logic chip.

Abstract: A method for testing an electronics unit, especially an electronics unit of an apparatus for ascertaining and/or monitoring a process variable, wherein the electronics unit has a plurality of electrical components. At least a part of the electrical components is grouped into at least one group, and this group is supplied with a query signal. A response signal is received from the group, and the response signal is evaluated. Furthermore, the invention relates to an apparatus for determining and/or monitoring a process variable.