Housing cover with integrated status indicator

Abstract

Housing cover with an integrated status indicator for a measuring instrument, comprising a housing designed for attachment to the measuring instrument, and a first and a second display segment which are slidably arranged in the housing.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present invention relates to measuring device technology in industrial and private environments. In particular, the present invention relates to a housing cover with an integrated status display for a measuring device, a measuring device with such a housing cover, and the use of a housing cover for a measuring device. Technical background

[0002] In measurement technology, both in industrial and private environments, measuring devices are often used that feature a removable display and control module on the top of the housing. Examples of such measuring devices include level measuring devices, especially radar level measuring devices, point level measuring devices, pressure measuring devices, or flow measuring devices.

[0003] The power and / or signal transmission between the field device and higher-level units often follows the 4 to 20 mA standard, which uses a 4 to 20 mA current loop or a two-wire cable between the field device and the higher-level unit. In addition to analog signal transmission, the measuring devices can transmit or receive additional information to or from the higher-level unit using various other protocols, particularly digital protocols. Examples include the HART protocol and the Profibus-PA protocol.

[0004] Since these field devices are also powered via the 4 to 20 mA current signal, no additional power supply is required beyond the two-wire cable. However, the power supply is limited to 4 to 20 mA.

[0005] In order to ensure sufficient power supply for important field device functions, it may be necessary to temporarily reduce the measurement rate, which, however, reduces the availability of current measured values.

[0006] DE 10 2022 201 008 A1 describes a field device with an operable illuminated display.

[0007] DE 10 2019 201 320 A1 describes a removable display and operating module for a field device.

[0008] DE 25 00 968 A1 describes a measuring device in which a reading unit with a digital or analogue display is arranged in a housing, wherein the reading unit is adjustable in at least one of the vertical and vertical directions.

[0009] DE 10 2009 042 097 A1 describes a display device for displaying operating variables of a machine, in particular an agricultural work machine.

[0010] DE 41 09 475 A1 describes a display that is movably mounted on a wall of a device housing.

[0011] Further prior art can be found in the documents DE 10 2016 105 195 A1, DE 10 2020 125 103 A1, DE 10 2013 113 438 A1, DE 10 2013 106 578 A1, DE 10 2016 125 817 B4 and US 2011 / 0 230 178 A1. Summary of the invention

[0012] Against this background, it is an object of the present disclosure to increase the availability of current measured values.

[0013] This object is achieved by the features of the independent patent claims. Further developments of the invention emerge from the subclaims and the following description of embodiments.

[0014] A first aspect of the present disclosure relates to a housing cover with an integrated status display for a measuring device that is designed for use in an industrial or private environment. The housing cover has a housing that is designed for attaching the housing cover to the measuring device. Furthermore, the housing cover has a first display segment and at least one second display segment that are movably arranged in the housing. The housing has a viewing window, for example in the form of a recess or a translucent area, in the viewing area of ​​which the first display segment or the second display segment can be selectively moved. Alternatively or additionally, a design as a ring segment with multiple colored sections is possible. The viewing window can change the visible section in the viewing window, for example by rotating.

[0015] The display segments can be designed in different colors or illuminate in different colors, for example red, yellow or green, so that they can symbolically represent different states of the measuring device or the filling material (tank sufficiently full, tank almost empty, tank empty). In particular, the display segments can be luminous and, for example, consist of fluorescent, phosphorescent or other luminous materials or be coated with these. Alternatively or additionally, the display segments can be made of a material that can display information permanently and without additional energy input, such as so-called electronic paper (ePaper). This material, e.g. ePaper, can be illuminated, e.g. by means of one or more LEDs and / or by means of a fluorescent, phosphorescent or other luminous material.

[0016] The housing cover can be designed to be self-sufficient, i.e. independent of the power supply of the measuring device.

[0017] According to the invention, the first display segment and the second display segment are arranged one above the other in the housing in order to be selectively moved upwards or downwards in the housing into or out of the field of view of the viewing window.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the first display segment and the second display segment are designed as a ring segment with multiple color sections. The color sections can be moved into or out of the field of view of the viewing window by rotating them.

[0019] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the housing cover further comprises an actuator configured to displace the first display segment and / or the second display segment. The displacement can be implemented, for example, mechanically, electrically, and / or electronically.

[0020] The actuator can be, for example, a motor, in particular an electric motor, a cylinder, one or more magnets and / or a piezo element. For example, a first magnet can be arranged above the display segments to move them upwards if necessary, and a second magnet can be arranged below the display segments to move them downwards if necessary. To shield the magnetic force, movable panels can be provided so that either the lower magnet or the upper magnet can act on the display segments. A piezoelectric element or piezo element can, for example, be implemented as a single element or as two elements arranged above and below the display segments. The piezo element can act on the display segments by means of a transmission (e.g. by means of a lever) and / or via a bistable arrangement to effect the displacement.

[0021] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the housing cover has a backlight configured to enhance the luminosity of the first display segment and / or the second display segment.

[0022] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the housing cover has an energy storage device for providing the energy required to operate the integrated status display, in particular the actuator.

[0023] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the first display segment and / or the second display segment are ring-shaped or cylindrical.

[0024] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the first display segment and the second display segment are integrally formed in one piece.

[0025] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, a control unit is provided which is configured to control the first display segment and / or the second display segment and / or the actuator.

[0026] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the housing cover is configured such that, after the display segments have been moved, it is de-energized, meaning it does not consume electrical energy. If a corresponding command is transmitted from the control electronics of the measuring device, the actuator is activated to move the display segments. The moved display segments are then secured, for example, via a locking mechanism in the form of a latch or a snap mechanism, or the like, and all consumers in the housing cover are subsequently deactivated.

[0027] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a measuring device having a housing cover as described above and below. The measuring device is, for example, a level measuring device, in particular a level radar measuring device or ultrasonic measuring device, a point level sensor, a pressure measuring device or a flow measuring device.

[0028] The term "process automation in industrial environments" can be understood as a branch of technology that includes measures for operating machines and systems without human intervention. One goal of process automation is to automate the interaction of individual components of a plant in the chemical, food, pharmaceutical, petroleum, paper, cement, shipping, or mining industries. A variety of sensors can be used for this purpose, which are specifically adapted to the specific requirements of the process industry, such as mechanical stability, insensitivity to contamination, extreme temperatures, and extreme pressures. Measured values ​​from these sensors are usually transmitted to a control room, where process parameters such as fill level, limit level, flow rate, pressure, or density are monitored, and settings for the entire plant can be changed manually or automatically.

[0029] A sub-area of ​​process automation in the industrial environment concerns the logistics automation of plants and the logistics automation of supply chains. With the help of distance and angle sensors, processes inside or outside a building, or within a single logistics facility, are automated in the field of logistics automation. Typical applications for logistics automation systems include baggage and freight handling at airports, traffic monitoring (toll systems), retail, parcel distribution, and building security (access control). What the aforementioned examples have in common is that the respective application requires presence detection in combination with precise measurement of the size and location of an object.For this purpose, sensors based on optical measuring methods using lasers, LEDs, 2D cameras or 3D cameras that measure distances according to the time of flight (ToF) principle can be used.

[0030] Another sub-area of ​​process automation in the industrial environment concerns factory / production automation. Applications for this can be found in a wide variety of industries, such as automotive manufacturing, food production, the pharmaceutical industry, and packaging in general. The goal of factory automation is to automate the production of goods using machines, production lines, and / or robots, i.e., to run it without human intervention. The sensors used here and the specific requirements regarding measurement accuracy for detecting the position and size of an object are comparable to those in the previous example of logistics automation.

[0031] The terms used in the claims should be construed to give them the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing description. For example, the use of the article "a" or "the" in introducing an element should not be construed to exclude a plurality of elements. Similarly, the mention of "or" should be construed to include a plurality of elements, so that the mention of "A or B" does not exclude "A and B" unless it is clear from the context or the preceding description that only one of A and B is intended.Furthermore, the phrase "at least one of A, B, and C" should be understood as one or more elements from a group of elements consisting of A, B, and C, and should not be interpreted as requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B, and C, whether A, B, and C are related as categories or otherwise. Furthermore, the mention of "A, B, and / or C" or "at least one of A, B, or C" should be interpreted to include each individual unit of the listed elements, e.g., A, each subset of the listed elements, e.g., A and B, or the entire list of elements A, B, and C.

[0032] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to the use of a housing cover described above and below for a measuring device.

[0033] Further embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the figures. Where the same reference numerals are used in the following description of the figures, they denote identical or similar elements. The representations in the figures are schematic and not to scale. Short description of the characters Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a field device with a housing cover. Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a housing cover with cylindrical or ring-shaped display segments. Fig. 3 shows a field device being charged by sunlight. Detailed description of embodiments

[0034] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a field device, showing the sensor electronics 201. A housing cover 100 can be attached to the sensor electronics 201, which is located in the upper area of ​​the field device. After attachment, the housing cover 100 is communicatively coupled to the sensor electronics 201.

[0035] The housing cover 100 has a housing 101, within which a control unit 106 and a display unit 102 are located. The display unit 102 has at least one display segment 107 to 109 (see Fig. 2) appears.

[0036] Between the display unit 102 and the control unit 106 there is an actuator 105, an energy storage device 104 and a backlight 103.

[0037] The actuator 105 is, for example, an electric motor, a cylinder (e.g., a pneumatic cylinder), or comprises one or more magnets to move the display unit 102 within the housing 101.

[0038] The energy storage 104 supplies the energy for the control unit 106, the actuator 105 and, if applicable, for the backlight 103.

[0039] The backlight 103 serves to increase the luminosity of the display unit 102, and in particular of the display segments contained therein.

[0040] This makes it possible to display the fill and / or limit level, pressure or flow, or the sensor status in general, via a display located in the housing cover. The display is electronically adjustable and implemented independently of the measuring device. It provides a more legible display in bright environments, such as direct sunlight, which offers an advantage over conventional displays.

[0041] The (illuminated) display is adjusted mechanically or electronically and can then remain in de-energized mode. Electronic adjustment means that the control electronics of the measuring device or the control unit of the housing cover transmits a control command to the actuator, which causes the actuator to move the display segments.

[0042] Self-sufficient sensors can display the last valid status and / or measured value of the sensor even without power (sleeping).

[0043] In particular, a visual on-site fill level or limit level indication of the sensor measurement can be provided. The display unit 102 can have one or more display segments made of fluorescent material or with a fluorescent coating. This has the advantage that, for example, in sunlight, the display is enhanced, thus achieving optical brightening.

[0044] During certain periods, e.g., at night, and / or under certain ambient conditions, e.g., cloudy / dark, a backlight 103, e.g., in the form of an LED powered by the energy storage device 104, can be switched on. The LED can emit light in the visible and / or UV spectrum. The light source of the backlight can be combined, for example, with a fluorescent and / or phosphorescent material, so that, for example, the lighting has a different color spectrum and / or continues to glow without a power supply.

[0045] The display unit 102 is located in the housing cover 100, which has a transparent viewing window 111 (cf. Fig. 2) and / or a recess.

[0046] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of the housing cover 100 with cylindrical or ring-shaped arranged color segments 107, 108, 109.

[0047] The third color or display segment 109 is located in the area of ​​the viewing window 111. Next to the actuator 105 for horizontally shifting the display segments or color rings 107, 108, 109 there is an interface 110 for communication and, if applicable, for power supply.

[0048] The display unit 102 has a status detection function from the sensor. The statuses to be displayed can be transmitted, for example, optically, wirelessly, wired, and / or via a cloud. It can be provided that it has its own control unit 106 (see FIG. Fig. 1), which generates the control commands for the actuator 105 and / or the backlight 103 itself. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the corresponding control commands are transmitted directly from the sensor electronics 201 to the units 103, 105.

[0049] The self-contained status indicator can communicate directly with the sensor via contacts, wired or wirelessly with a radio connection, or via a cloud, an external computer, or a control level. Wireless transmission protocols based on Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LoRaWAN, NB-IOT, or other protocols can be used to obtain the required information.

[0050] The integrated status display has its own independent power supply, such as a battery. A low-power 4 to 20 mA sensor therefore doesn't need to provide additional power for the display and can use this "leftover" power for, for example, a higher measurement rate.

[0051] A charging option for the energy storage device can be provided, for example, wired and / or wirelessly via induction or energy harvesting.

[0052] The integrated status display can, for example, consist of different colored ring segments 107, 108, 109 which can be automatically moved into the viewing window 111 depending on the configuration and status.

[0053] The integrated status display can also be constructed from a cylinder in which several differently colored sections are stacked on top of each other and then moved accordingly into the viewing window 111. The color segments can be freely configurable and replaced at a later time.

[0054] The individual color segments can be switched mechanically via a cylinder, a motor, or one or more magnets. Other drive systems can also be used.

[0055] The visualization of the switching states can be freely configured.

[0056] The updating and / or switching of the display can be carried out continuously, cyclically or upon request (e.g. by radio signal, button, freely definable level or limit level change).

[0057] Fig. 3 shows a measuring device 200 in the form of a level or limit level sensor, onto which a housing cover 100 is placed. In the left illustration of the Fig. 3 shows that the luminosity of the integrated status display is low. The middle illustration shows how the integrated status display, which contains fluorescent material, is exposed to an external light source to be charged. Thus, the luminosity of the display is enhanced by the fluorescent and / or phosphorescent color segments after exposure to external light (sunlight, lighting, etc.), thus achieving optical brightening, as shown in the right illustration of the Fig. 3 is shown schematically.

Claims

[1] Housing cover (100) with an integrated status display for a measuring device (200), designed for use in an industrial or private environment, comprising: a housing (101) adapted to be attached to the measuring device (200); a first display segment (107) and a second display segment (108) slidably arranged in the housing (101); wherein the housing (101) has a viewing window (111) in the viewing area of ​​which the first display segment (107) or the second display segment (108) can be selectively moved; wherein the first display segment (107) and the second display segment (108) are arranged one above the other in the housing (101) in order to be selectively displaced upwards or downwards in the housing (101) into or out of the field of view. [2] Housing cover (100) according to claim 1, further comprising: an actuator (105) configured to move the first display segment (107) or the second display segment (108). [3] Housing cover (100) according to claim 2, wherein the actuator (105) comprises a motor, a cylinder, a magnet and / or a piezo element. [4] Housing cover (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first display segment (107) and the second display segment (108) consist of a fluorescent material or have a fluorescent coating. [5] Housing cover (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a backlight (103) arranged to enhance the luminosity of the first display segment (107) or the second display segment (108). [6] Housing cover (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: an energy storage device (104) for providing the energy required to operate the integrated status display. [7] Housing cover (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first display segment (107) and the second display segment (108) are annular or cylindrical. [8] Housing cover (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first display segment (107) and the second display segment (108) are integrally formed. [9] Housing cover (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a control unit (106) configured to control the first display segment (107) and / or the second display segment (108). [10] Housing cover (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: an actuator (105) configured to displace the first display segment (107) or the second display segment (108); a control unit (106) configured to control the first display segment (107) and / or the second display segment (108) and / or the actuator (105). [11] Measuring device (200) with a housing cover (100) according to one of the preceding claims. [12] Measuring device (200) according to claim 11, configured as a level measuring device, limit level sensor, pressure measuring device or flow measuring device. [13] Use of a housing cover (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10 for a measuring device (200).

Images