Sensor Plug Connector Energy Buffering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art connector couplings for sensors experience disruptions in energy supply, leading to data loss and sensor restarts, especially when the primary-side connector is removed or fails, causing interruptions in measurement data acquisition and potentially disrupting essential functions like polarization voltage for amperometric sensors.
Innovation Solution
A secondary-side connector element with a built-in power supply unit, including an energy store (such as a capacitor or accumulator) and a microprocessor that maintains essential functions and buffers data during energy interruptions, allowing continued operation and data storage for a specified time before resuming transmission once power is restored.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the primary-side connector element is removed to allow simulator testing, then test capability is improved, but energy supply to the sensor is interrupted causing data loss and function disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The energy store (capacitor or accumulator) is pre-charged during normal operation before any interruption occurs. This preliminary energy accumulation allows the sensor to maintain critical functions and continue data acquisition for a predetermined time even when the primary-side connector is removed for testing, thus resolving the contradiction between test accessibility and energy supply continuity.
2Reliability
If the primary-side connector element fails, then system robustness is improved through isolation, but sensor operation is disrupted causing data loss
Solution Approach 1:
The energy store acts as a cushioning element that compensates for energy supply interruptions caused by primary-side connector failures. By storing energy in advance, the system maintains sensor operation and data acquisition during failure periods, preventing information loss while preserving system robustness through galvanic isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy store serves as an intermediary energy buffer between the primary-side connector and the sensor. It decouples the sensor's energy supply from the primary connector's operational status, allowing the sensor to continue functioning even when the primary connector fails, thus mediating between system isolation and continuous operation.
3Measurement precision
If continuous energy supply is maintained for amperometric sensors, then measurement accuracy is improved through polarization voltage maintenance, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The microprocessor controls the sensor operation in periodic cycles: during normal powered operation, the sensor operates continuously with accurate measurements; during energy store-powered operation, the sensor operates at reduced frequency or in lower-power modes. This periodic adaptation maintains measurement accuracy when energy is abundant while reducing energy consumption when relying on stored energy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures continuous operation and data acquisition for a limited time during energy supply interruptions, preventing data loss and maintaining critical sensor functions like polarization voltage, with prioritized function management and efficient data transmission post-recovery.
Implementation Method 1
The galvanically isolated interface usually includes an inductive interface for feeding the sensor with an energy signal
Implementation Method 2
the energy supply unit has an energy store in order to ensure the energy supply for at least selected components of the secondary-side connector element and possibly the sensor for a limited time during an interruption in the energy supply signal. The energy store is preferably an energy store that can be charged during operation of the plug-in connector coupling; it can, for example, comprise a capacitor, in particular a so-called gold cap, or an accumulator.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention discloses a secondary-side plug-type connector element (2) of a plug-type connector coupling for connecting a sensor (10), wherein the plug-type connector coupling has a primary-side plug-type connector element (3) and the secondary-side plug-type connector element (2), wherein the secondary-side plug-type connector element (2) comprises: a power supply unit (15), which generates supply voltages for components of the secondary-side plug-type connector element from a power supply signal from the primary-side plug-type connector element, an A/D converter (12) for converting an analogue measured signal from the sensor (10), a data memory (14) for storing sensor data, and a microprocessor (13) for controlling the communication between the secondary-side plug-type connector element (2) and the primary-side plug-type connector element (3) and/or for conditioning the digitized sensor signal, wherein the power supply unit (15) has an energy store (16), in order to ensure the power supply at least for selected components of the secondary-side plug-type connector element (2) and possibly of the sensor (10) for a limited time during an interruption of the power supply signal.