Sensor for liquid and/or gas analysis directly connectable to a higher-ranking control system

Abstract

A sensor of the type for liquid and/or gas analysis, which is connected to a measuring and/or evaluating system or, respectively, to a higher-ranking control system and has a sensor housing. The circuit for the collecting, processing and transmitting measured values to the measuring and/or evaluating system or to the control system ( 19 ) are provided in the sensor housing ( 2 ). This circuit has analog sensor electronics ( 3 ), an analog-digital converter ( 14 ) for converting the detected analog measured values into digital measured values, a processing unit ( 15 ) and communication device ( 17 ) for processing and transmitting the digital measured values to the measuring and/or evaluating system or to the control system ( 19 ) according to a standard communication protocol of process technology.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Sensor for at least one of liquid and gas analysis,
 which is connectable directly to a higher-ranking control system, comprising:
 a sensor housing, 
 circuit means provided in said sensor housing for collecting, processing and transmitting measured values to said higher-ranking control system, 
 wherein said circuit means comprises analog sensor electronics, an analog-digital converter for converting detected analog measured values into digital measured values, a processing unit and communication means for processing and transmitting said digital measured values to said higher-ranking control system according to a communication protocol, and 
 wherein means for galvanic separation are provided at least one of between said analog-digital converter and said processing unit, and between said processing unit and said communication means. 
   
     
     
         2 . Sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein said analog sensor electronics allow for measuring one of a pH-value, conductivity, oxygen content, chlorine content, ozone content, hydrogen peroxide content, free chlorine content, residual chlorine content, and turbidity and solids or gas content in a liquid. 
     
     
         3 . Sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein said communication means is adapted for transmitting said digital measured values to said higher-ranking control system according to one of the following field bus communication protocols: HART, Profibus PA, Profibus DP, and Foundation Field Bus, using two-wire technology. 
     
     
         4 . Sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein said communication means is adapted for transmitting said digital measured values to said higher-ranking control system according to one of the following communication standards: wireless HART, WLAN, ZigBee, and RFID. 
     
     
         5 . Sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein said sensor housing is in the shape of a hollow cylinder having a diameter of 12 mm. 
     
     
         6 . Sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein said sensor is safe for use in areas at risk of at least one of explosion and fire. 
     
     
         7 . Sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein said sensor fulfills the requirements of standard SIL2.