Sensors with Integrated Generation of Solar Energy

Abstract

Field devices for measuring a pressure or a fill level are connected with an external energy supply through a cable connector. An energy supply unit for a field device is provided, which has a housing and a solar module integrated therein. The housing is hereby used for receiving the measurement electronics of the field device and the solar module of the energy supply. An external energy supply is thus not necessary anymore. For energy buffering, furthermore, a respective energy storage may be provided.

1 . An energy supply unit for a field device for measuring a pressure or a fill level, comprising:
 a solar module generating electrical energy for the field device; and   a housing receiving measurement electronics of the field device,   wherein the solar module is integrated into the housing.   
   
   
       2 . The energy supply unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the solar module is integrated into a cavity of the housing. 
   
   
       3 . The energy supply unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is at least partially made from a light permeable material and wherein the solar module is located in an interior of the housing. 
   
   
       4 . The energy supply unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a field device display module displaying measurement values, wherein the solar module is located on a backside of the field device display module.   
   
   
       5 . The energy supply unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the field device display module is an LCD. 
   
   
       6 . The energy supply unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the solar module includes a plurality of solar cells and wherein the housing is formed by the solar cells. 
   
   
       7 . The energy supply unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the solar module is formed as an encased part. 
   
   
       8 . The energy supply unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the solar module is encased in the housing. 
   
   
       9 . The energy supply unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a housing cover and wherein the solar module is one of encased in the housing cover and screwed into the housing cover. 
   
   
       10 . The energy supply unit according to  claim 1 , the energy supply unit includes an energy storage buffering the energy generated by the solar module. 
   
   
       11 . The energy supply unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the solar module provides an entire amount of energy required by the field device so that no further energy supply is required. 
   
   
       12 . The energy supply unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising one of an additional supply line and a measurement bus conductor system, wherein the solar module supports the energy supply of the field device. 
   
   
       13 . The n energy supply unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a measurement bus conductor system which is selected from a group comprising 2-conductor HART® bus system, 4-conductor HART® bus system, Profibus bus system, an SDI-12, and Fieldbus Foundation bus system.   
   
   
       14 . The energy supply unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the solar module has a glue side and wherein the solar module is mounted at the housing through the glue side. 
   
   
       15 . The energy supply unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a control/regulating unit which is at least one of controlling and regulating an externally supplied amount of energy.   
   
   
       16 . The energy supply unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the control/regulating unit is at least one of controlling and regulating an energy requirement of the field device. 
   
   
       17 . A field device, comprising:
 an energy supply unit measuring a pressure or a fill level, the energy supply unit including a solar module generating electrical energy for the field device; and a housing receiving measurement electronics of the field device, wherein the solar module is integrated into the housing.   
   
   
       18 . The field device according to  claim 17 , wherein the field device is selected from a group comprising a fill level measurement device and a pressure level measurement device. 
   
   
       19 . The field device according to  claim 17 , wherein the field device is selected from a group comprising a radar fill level measurement device, a TDR fill level measurement device, an ultrasound fill level measurement device, a microwave fill level measurement device, a capacitive limit level measurement device, and a vibration limit level measurement device. 
   
   
       20 . The field device according to  claim 17 , wherein the field device is selected from a group comprising HART® 2-conductor field device, HART® 4-conductor field device, 4 to 20 mA field device, Profibus field device, SDI-12 field device, and Fieldbus foundation field device. 
   
   
       21 . Use of an energy supply unit for a field device for measuring one of a pressure and a filling level, the energy supply unit including a solar module generating electrical energy for the field device; and a housing receiving measurement electronics of the field device, wherein the solar module is integrated into the housing 
   
   
       22 . A process for supplying a field device with energy for measuring one of a pressure and a fill level, comprising:
 generating electrical energy for the field device through a solar module which is integrated in a housing of the field device.