Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for verifying a value stream along a transport route, wherein a plurality of field devices, each having at least one sensor and/or actuator for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable and an electronic unit, are arranged along the transport route and generate corresponding data, or for verifying the value stream of at least one product in warehouse stock, wherein a first service platform is used, via which a plurality of participant nodes each with at least one database have a communication connection to one another according to a distributed ledger or blockchain technology.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for ensuring the authenticity of a field device. The method includes a step of assigning a unique authentic identification feature to the field device or providing the field device with a unique authentic identification feature. The method also includes steps of transmitting ACTUAL identification data to a participant node which transmits the ACTUAL identification data to the other participant nodes in a transaction, validating the transaction by the participant nodes, and creating a data block containing the transaction, wherein the data block is transmitted to each of the participant nodes. The method also includes verifying the data block by all participant nodes, storing the validated data block in the databases, comparing the ACTUAL identification data with corresponding TARGET identification data or original identification data from an authentication point, and generating a response containing the result of the comparison.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a sensor element or an active component of a sensor element. The sensor element is applied in a field device of automation technology. The method comprises the following method steps: predetermining at least two materials with different physical and chemical properties depending on a functionality of the sensor element or the active component of the sensor element; predetermining an outer shape, into which the at least two materials should be formed, the outer shape being divided into a plurality of virtual spatial regions, wherein in each virtual spatial region the material distribution of the at least two materials occurs homogeneously and periodically according to predetermined rules corresponding to a microstructure. The method also includes steps of ascertaining the predetermined rules via a computer supported method depending on the predetermined functionality of the sensor element or the active component of the sensor element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining or monitoring an automation technology process variable with at least one field device. The method comprises the following method steps: receiving guidelines relating to: access to the data of the field device; the number of times the data of the field device is accessed; or a request for data of the field device. The method also includes steps of storing the data of the field device in an encoded manner in a first service platform that is connected to a second service platform and receiving a request for data at the second service platform, wherein the second service platform accesses the guidelines. The method also includes steps of providing the data according to the guidelines via a first transaction in pre-defined cycles or all at once and generating a request for payment for the data made available according to the guidelines.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for ensuring the authenticity of a field device. The method includes a step of assigning a unique authentic identification feature to the field device or providing the field device with a unique authentic identification feature. The method also includes steps of transmitting ACTUAL identification data to a participant node which transmits the ACTUAL identification data to the other participant nodes in a transaction, validating the transaction by the participant nodes, and creating a data block containing the transaction, wherein the data block is transmitted to each of the participant nodes. The method also includes verifying the data block by all participant nodes, storing the validated data block in the databases, comparing the ACTUAL identification data with corresponding TARGET identification data or original identification data from an authentication point, and generating a response containing the result of the comparison.

Abstract: A method for the functional diagnosis of an electromechanical fill state measuring device in which a displacement element on a measuring wire is lowered into a filling material in a container such that in an equilibrium state, the weight of the displacement element minus a displacement element buoyancy, which depends upon at least one equilibrium volume, is determined to be equal to a resulting weight of the displacement element. The resulting weight is specified, and the specified resulting weight is kept constant by correspondingly changing the length of the measuring wire in the equilibrium state. The fill state of the filling material is ascertained using the length of the lowered measuring wire. In order to diagnose a function, the specified value of the equilibrium volume of the displacement element is changed, and the resulting change in the length of the measuring wire is ascertained on the basis of the constant equilibrium state of the resulting weight.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for verifying a value stream along a transport route (TS), in particular along a pipeline or a production line, wherein a plurality of field devices (F), each having at least one sensor (S) and/or actuator for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable and an electronic unit (EE), are arranged along the transport route (TS) and generate corresponding data (DAT), or for verifying the value stream of at least one product in warehouse stock, wherein a first service platform (SP1) is used, via which a plurality of participant nodes (TK) each with at least one database (DB) have a communication connection to one another according to a distributed ledger or the blockchain technology.

Abstract: A method for measuring fill level and a measuring device for performing the method, wherein, in measuring cycles following one after the other, signal pulses of predetermined frequency sent by means of a transmitting and receiving system with a predetermined repetition frequency into a container, and their signal components reflected back in the container in the direction of the transmitting and receiving system after a travel time dependent on their traveled path, are received as received signal. A fill level is measured taking into consideration a phase relationship between the transmitted and received signals related physically with the fill level to be measured.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a component of a field device for determining or monitoring a process variable of a medium in a container, wherein the component is created via a 3D printing method, wherein during the creation the component is supplied at an intermediate state of the component with an exciter signal, wherein a response signal of the component to the exciter signal is registered, wherein shape and/or structure of the component are/is modified via the 3D printing method, when the current response signal does not agree with a predetermined response signal, and wherein the two previous method steps are alternately repeated, until the current response signal agrees with the predetermined response signal within predetermined tolerance limits.

Abstract: An automation field device having a housing and a modular field device electronics unit located inside the housing. The electronics unit has a first circuit board having at least one first and one second plug-in connector element, wherein the first plug-in connector element is used to electrically connect a peripheral unit, wherein both the first and the second plug-in connector elements can be contacted essentially from the same preferred plug-in direction, and a second circuit board having at least one third plug-in connector element, wherein the circuit boards are arranged such that the second plug-in connector element is connected to the third plug-in connector element in a detachable manner to electrically connect the peripheral unit to the second circuit board, and the second circuit board has at least one opening, via which the first plug-in connector element of the first circuit board is accessible for connecting the peripheral unit.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a container for a medium, the container having a probe unit on one wall. The method comprises the steps of creating a three-dimensional model of the container comprising the integrated probe unit and additive layer manufacture of the container comprising the integrated probe unit from at least one raw material according to the three-dimensional model.

Abstract: An electronic device including electronics arranged in an electronics compartment and having electronic and/or electromechanical components. The device automatically detects and/or monitors wear of its electronic and/or electromechanical components and includes an apparatus for detecting and/or monitoring wear of the electronic and/or electromechanical components. Included is at least one element arranged in the electronics compartment. This element is independent of the electronics and has at least one physical property, which changes irreversibly as a function of wear of the element. The apparatus further includes a circuit for measuring the physical property, and an evaluating unit, which, based on the measured physical property, detects and/or monitors wear of the element and makes available a wear-dependent output signal.

Abstract: A measuring device of process automation technology for measuring at least one process variable of a medium. A control unit is provided, which measures the process variable at least with a predeterminable clock rate and provides the result of such measurement as a measured value. Associated with the clock rate is an energy requirement of the measuring device, wherein a display/service unit is provided, which shows the measured value and/or enables servicing of, respectively parameter input to, the measuring device.

Abstract: A method for manufacture of at least one component of a field device for determining or monitoring a process variable, wherein the field device is applied in automation technology and is manufactured from at least one material.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a component of a field device for determining or monitoring a process variable of a medium in a container, wherein the component is created via a 3D printing method, wherein during the creation the component is supplied at an intermediate state of the component with an exciter signal, wherein a response signal of the component to the exciter signal is registered, wherein shape and/or structure of the component are/is modified via the 3D printing method, when the current response signal does not agree with a predetermined response signal, and wherein the two previous method steps are alternately repeated, until the current response signal agrees with the predetermined response signal within predetermined tolerance limits.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a customer-specific component of a field device for determining or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium, wherein the field device is applied in process automation technology, wherein the component is composed of at least one material, comprising: predetermining material and/or structure and/or shape of the component via digital description data, and producing the component in a 3D printing method in accordance with the predetermined digital description data.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a composite material, a sensor element or an active component of a sensor element. The sensor element is applied in a field device of automation technology. At least two materials with different physical and chemical properties are predetermined depending on a functionality of the sensor element or the active component of the sensor element. An outer shape, into which the at least two materials should be formed, is predetermined. The outer shape is divided into a plurality of virtual spatial regions, wherein in each virtual spatial region the material distribution of the at least two materials occurs homogeneously and periodically according to predetermined rules corresponding to a microstructure.

Abstract: A method for the functional diagnosis of an electromechanical fill state measuring device in which a displacement element on a measuring wire is lowered into a filling material in a container such that in an equilibrium state, the weight of the displacement element minus a displacement element buoyancy, which depends upon at least one equilibrium volume, is determined to be equal to a resulting weight of the displacement element. The resulting weight is specified, and the specified resulting weight is kept constant by correspondingly changing the length of the measuring wire in the equilibrium state. The fill state of the filling material is ascertained using the length of the lowered measuring wire. In order to diagnose a function, the specified value of the equilibrium volume of the displacement element is changed, and the resulting change in the length of the measuring wire is ascertained on the basis of the constant equilibrium state of the resulting weight.

Abstract: An automation field device having a housing and a modular field device electronics unit located inside the housing. The electronics unit has a first circuit board having at least one first and one second plug-in connector element, wherein the first plug-in connector element is used to electrically connect a peripheral unit, wherein both the first and the second plug-in connector elements can be contacted essentially from the same preferred plug-in direction, and a second circuit board having at least one third plug-in connector element, wherein the circuit boards are arranged such that the second plug-in connector element is connected to the third plug-in connector element in a detachable manner to electrically connect the peripheral unit to the second circuit board, and the second circuit board has at least one opening, via which the first plug-in connector element of the first circuit board is accessible for connecting the peripheral unit.

Abstract: A method for determining and/or monitoring fill level of a medium in a container with a measuring device, which works according to the travel time measuring method, wherein measurement signals are transmitted toward the medium and are received, wherein from the high-frequency total measurement signal, composed by superimposing the transmitted measurement signals, the reflected wanted echo signals and the disturbance echo signals, a raw echo curve or digitized envelope curve is ascertained. The wanted echo signals and/or the disturbance echo signals in the raw echo curve or the digitized envelope curve are ascertained based on an ideal echo curve, which shows the amplitude of the echo signals of an ideal reflector as a function of the distance from the ideal reflector, and based on the ascertained wanted echo signal the fill level is determined.