Vibronic Sensor State Monitoring Through Moisture Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Field devices face challenges in maintaining reliability and ease of operation under varying environmental conditions, particularly due to moisture and temperature fluctuations, which can compromise their functionality and safety.

Innovation Solution

A method involving detection and comparison of input/output signals of components with binary states against predefined reference values to identify the presence of electrically conductive substances, such as moisture, allowing for improved functional safety and predictive maintenance without structural modifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electronics are fully potted to prevent moisture ingress, then reliability under environmental conditions is improved, but ease of operation and cost-effectiveness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability under environmental conditionsVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The electronics are divided into potted and non-potted segments. Critical components are potted for protection, while binary input/output components remain accessible for operation. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both reliability through potting and ease of operation through accessibility where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Binary input/output components serve as intermediaries between the potted electronics and the external environment. These components translate environmental conditions into detectable signal changes, enabling operation without direct exposure of sensitive electronics to harsh conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If electronics are fully potted to prevent moisture ingress, then reliability under environmental conditions is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability under environmental conditionsVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of fully potting all electronics, the system segments the electronics into protected and accessible portions. This reduces the overall complexity of the potting process and manufacturing cost while maintaining reliability for critical components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The binary input/output components self-indicate environmental conditions through their signal states, eliminating the need for additional sensors or complex monitoring systems. The components essentially monitor their own state to provide reliability information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If binary input/output components are left accessible instead of being potted, then ease of operation is improved, but susceptibility to moisture and environmental damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidsusceptibility to moisture

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The accessibility of binary input/output components, which would normally be a vulnerability to moisture, is converted into a benefit by using their signal changes as an indicator of environmental conditions. The potential harm of moisture exposure is transformed into useful diagnostic information about the environmental state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The binary input/output components provide feedback about environmental conditions through their signal states. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect and respond to moisture presence without requiring these components to be protected from the environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Enhances the reliability and safety of field devices by detecting moisture or condensation, preventing unwanted processes, and enabling cost-effective operation through non-potted components with binary inputs/outputs.

Implementation Method 1

an input and/or output signal of the component has/have a first or second state corresponding to a first or second predefinable reference value for the input or output signal of the component... detecting a first and/or second value for the input and/or output signal corresponding to the first and/or second state... detecting the presence of an electrically conductive substance in the region of the component

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS20250314797A1Monitoring the state of a vibronic sensor

Publication Date: 2025.10.09 ENDRESS & HAUSER GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A computer-implemented method for operating a device for determining and/or monitoring a process variable of a medium, wherein the device comprises a sensor unit and electronics having at least one component with a binary input and/or output, wherein at least a first and a second value for an input and/or output signal of the component correspond to a first and/or second state of the component, comprises: detecting a first and/or second value for the input and/or output signal corresponding to the first and/or second state, comparing the first and/or second value with a first and/or second predefinable reference value for the first and/or second state, and on the basis of the comparison, detecting the presence of an electrically conductive substance in the region of the component.