Abstract: A field device has a housing providing EMC-protection. The housing includes a conductive housing core, which is surrounded on all sides by a non-conductive housing jacket secured thereon by force-interlocking, e.g. frictional interlocking, or by material bonding. At least one electrically conductive barrier is placed on and connected with an electrically conducting region of the housing core and divides the interior of the housing into at least two chambers with different degrees of EMC-protection. The barrier contains a passageway, with which at least a first electronic circuit and a second electronic circuit, which are located in different chambers, are contacted with one another.

Abstract: A field device has a housing providing EMC-protection. The housing includes a conductive housing core, which is surrounded on all sides by a non-conductive housing jacket secured thereon by force-interlocking, e.g. frictional interlocking, or by material bonding. At least one electrically conductive barrier is placed on and connected with an electrically conducting region of the housing core and divides the interior of the housing into at least two chambers with different degrees of EMC-protection. The barrier contains a passageway, with which at least a first electronic circuit and a second electronic circuit, which are located in different chambers, are contacted with one another.

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 method for safe data communication via WAN, LAN (e.g. Internet) between at least one external access unit and a field device, or a field bus adapter for determining or monitoring at least one physical or chemical process parameter. According to the method unauthorized accessing of a field device, or a field bus adapter, in the field is blocked in that the operator of the field device or the field bus adapter permits the external access unit to have targeted access to the field device, or the field bus adapter.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring pressure. The apparatus comprises at least one pressure transducer, which transduces pressure into an electrical signal. The invention includes the features that at least one acoustic sensor is provided, that the acoustic sensor registers acoustic signals and transduces such into electrical signals, and that the acoustic sensor is mechanically and/or acoustically coupled with the pressure transducer.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium. The apparatus includes: at least one sensor unit for registering the process variable, wherein the sensor unit produces measurement signals; at least one electronics unit for controlling the sensor unit, wherein the electronics unit has at least one microprocessor; and at least one memory unit, which is associated with the sensor unit, and in which control data are storable. The control data specifically relate to the sensor unit and can be read out by the electronics unit. The microprocessor of the electronics unit is embodied in such a manner, that the microprocessor executes in an inactive state only basic functionalities, and that the microprocessor in an active state controls the sensor unit. The microprocessor transfers from the inactive state into the active state transfers by loading control data from the memory unit.

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: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring pressure. The apparatus comprises at least one pressure transducer, which transduces pressure into an electrical signal. The invention includes the features that at least one acoustic sensor is provided, that the acoustic sensor registers acoustic signals and transduces such into electrical signals, and that the acoustic sensor is mechanically and/or acoustically coupled with the pressure transducer.

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 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 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 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 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: An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium. The apparatus includes: at least one sensor unit for registering the process variable, wherein the sensor unit produces measurement signals; at least one electronics unit for controlling the sensor unit, wherein the electronics unit has at least one microprocessor; and at least one memory unit, which is associated with the sensor unit, and in which control data are storable. The control data specifically relate to the sensor unit and can be read out by the electronics unit. The microprocessor of the electronics unit is embodied in such a manner, that the microprocessor executes in an inactive state only basic functionalities, and that the microprocessor in an active state controls the sensor unit. The microprocessor transfers from the inactive state into the active state transfers by loading control data from the memory unit.

Abstract: A pressure measuring device is provided, offering a high measure of safety and having a measuring element and a pressure transmitter connected in series before the measuring element. The pressure transmitter has a first membrane, and a second membrane arranged directly on a side of the first membrane facing away from the measuring element and extending parallel to the first membrane (11). A monitoring unit of the pressure measuring device monitors an intermediate space bounded by the first and second membranes for changes caused by a destruction of the second membrane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for measuring the filling level of a filing material in a container, having a sensor and a control/evaluation unit. The invention provides a device which permits optimized determination of the filling level and/or the monitoring of the filling level in a container. For this purpose a sensor is designed such that it is operated in conjunction with at least two different measurement methods and/or the sensor is operated in at least two different operating modes, that the control/evaluation unit operates the sensor respectively according to at least one of the two measurement methods and/or at least in one of the two operating modes, and that the control/evaluation unit determines the filling level of the filling material in the container with the aid of the measured data of the sensor, which are supplied via at least one measurement method and/or during at least one operating mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring the filling level of a filling material (12) in a container (11), having a sensor (2) and a control/evaluation unit (4).

Abstract: An instrument system having at least one instrument disposed in a housing (1) the housing is to be mounted detachably on a support (3) and a user is to set a coding for each system module comprising instrument and support. Grooves (23 or 27) are provided in the support (3) for taking up coding pins (31). In the assembled state the grooves (23) of the support form groove pairs with the grooves (27). The inner spaces of the grooves of a groove pair together form an interstice for accommodating just one coding pin (31). This is fixed in either the groove (27) or in the groove (23). In this way the assignment of a housing (1) to a support (3) is established through the positions of the coding pins (31).

Abstract: A device is provided for the detachable fastening of one or more instruments (1) at one or more locations and their electrical connection to a cable (5) having one or more wires, using at least one fastening element which is mounted at one of the locations, in which device each instrument (1) has a snap mounting (12) by means of which it can be locked onto the respective fastening element, in which the electrical connection of the respective instrument (1) is carried out while it is being locked on, in which a cable mounting (4) is arranged on the fastening element, which cable mounting has a profile (45) reproducing the line shape, into which the line (5) is inserted, and which has a guide element which, while the instrument (1) is being locked on, engages into an identically-shaped recess (13) on the instrument (1), and in which the connection of the respective instrument (1) to the wires of the line (5) while the respective snap mounting (12) is being locked onto the respective fastening element is carried