Measuring Device Segmentation for Low Power Process Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In modern process automation, measuring devices face challenges in determining variables like flow, level, and pH value due to complex calculations and large data storage requirements, which increase costs and conflict with energy limitations, especially in potentially explosive areas.
Innovation Solution
A measuring arrangement comprising a measuring device and a separate data device, where the measuring device generates primary measurement information and the data device processes it to produce intermediate information, allowing the measuring device to determine the result value, thereby shifting complex calculations and data storage outside the measuring device to a safer area with more resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex calculations and large data stores are implemented in the measuring device, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measurement system into two separate devices: a measuring device that performs simple signal acquisition and a data device that handles complex calculations and data storage. This segmentation allows the measuring device to remain simple while achieving high measurement precision through the distributed computational architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the complex calculation and data storage functions from the measuring device and places them in a separate data device. This extraction resolves the contradiction by allowing the measuring device to maintain simplicity while the external data device provides the computational power needed for high precision measurements.
2Measurement precision
If complex calculations and frequent data access are performed in the measuring device, then measurement precision is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts energy-intensive computational tasks from the measuring device and relocates them to an external data device. This allows the measuring device to consume minimal energy while still achieving high measurement precision through the external processing of measurement data.
3Ease of manufacture
If the measuring device is made compact and simple, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the capability for complex evaluation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal measuring system where the simple measuring device can be paired with different data devices having various computational capabilities. This multi-functionality approach allows the measuring device itself to remain easy to manufacture while the system as a whole provides adaptable evaluation capabilities through the external data device.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a measuring device (1) for determining a measured variable, comprising a sensor device (2), an analyzing device (3), and an interface (4). The sensor device (2) generates measurement information dependent on the measured variable, and the analyzing device (3) ascertains a result value for the measured variable. The aim of the invention is to provide a measuring device which makes do with a limited power and memory requirement and which additionally allows a complex analysis for obtaining the result value for the measured variable. This is achieved by the aforementioned measuring device in that the analyzing device (3) outputs the measurement information or information dependent thereon via the interface (4), receives intermediate information generated dependent on the measurement information or on the information dependent thereon, and ascertains the result value dependent on the intermediate information. The invention further relates to a measuring arrangement and to a method for determining a measured variable.