FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT 1970 (39 of 1970)
&
The Patents Rules, 2003 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10, and rule 13)
1. TITLE OF INVENTION
DEVICE FOR DETERMINING AND/OR MONITORING A PROCESS VARIABLE OF A
MEDIUM
2. APPLICANT(S)
a) Name : ENDRESS+HAUSER GMBH+CO. KG
b) Nationality : GERMAN Company
c) Address : HAUPTSTRASSE 1,
D-79689 MAULBURG, GERMANY
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed : -

The invention relates to an apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium. The process variable can be, for example, fill level, density, viscosity or flow of a medium. The medium can be a liquid or a bulk good.
The assignee manufactures and sells fill level measuring devices under the marks LIQUIPHANT and SOLIPHANT. Fill level is determined with a sensor unit having a mechanically oscillatable unit, e.g. an oscillatory fork, which is excited to oscillate via a piezo-transducer. The oscillations, for example their amplitude or frequency, depend on whether the oscillatable unit is freely oscillating, or whether it is covered by the medium. By this dependence, it is possible, for example, to determine fill level.
The piezo-transducer serves also for receiving the mechanical oscillations, which are thus converted into an electrical, alternating voltage. This alternating voltage, as signal of the oscillatable unit, is fed via appropriate connections to a feedback electronics, where the signal is amplified, simultaneously evaluated, and fed back again to the sensor unit. From the frequency, amplitude or phase of the signal coming from the sensor unit, then e.g. the fill level of the medium can be deduced. It is, however, also possible to determine the viscosity of the medium (see e.g. PCT-Application WO 02/31471 A2).
In vibronics, thus in processes using a mechanically oscillating unit, generally one distinguishes between the states "sensor covered" and "sensor free". If the connection between the sensor unit and the feedback electronics is interrupted, then such limit switches (the measuring devices serve for indicating whether a limit level has been reached) report, usually independently of whether they are in contact with medium or not, "covered", if at least one of the electrical connections between the feedback electronics and the sensor unit (usually the piezo-transducer) is interrupted. Such an interruption is e.g. possible, when the cable or connection locations become hard, because of the vibrations, and break. Such interruptions can
2

also result from manufacturing errors or defects, with connections coming apart during operation of the measuring device, due to the vibrations. Such interruptions will be referenced for the following, generally and generically, as "cable break".
The patent DE 100 23 305 C2 indicates a method for recognizing such a cable break, wherein use is made of the fact that a piezo-transducer also functions as a capacitor, thus exhibiting a certain capacitance. On that basis, the capacitance, or a variable proportional thereto, is measured between the electrical leads to the piezo-transducer during excitation of the oscillations. If the capacitance falls below a predetermined, desired value, then a disturbance report is issued. This method has the disadvantage that an additional circuit is required, which produces an additional measured value, which must be evaluated. Besides frequency and/ or amplitude of the oscillations, thus, also the capacitance is evaluated. This additional measured value contributes, beyond that, no additional information concerning the medium.
An object of the invention is to recognize a cable break between sensor unit and feedback electronics with a least possible effort and to characterize it distinguishably and certainly from the other states of the sensor.
The invention achieves the object by an apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable of a medium, having a sensor unit, a feedback electronics, and a supplemental electronics, with the sensor unit, the feedback electronics and the supplemental electronics forming a first oscillatory circuit, with the first oscillatory circuit oscillating with at least a resonance frequency (QI) and/or a resonance frequency (©res) within at least a resonance frequency range, with the feedback electronics and the supplemental electronics forming a second oscillatory circuit, and with the second oscillatory circuit oscillating at a resonance frequency (okabiebreak), which differs from the resonance frequency (©res, (1)i) of the first oscillatory circuit.
3

It is assumed that the frequencies cores, c(1)i, cocabiebreak, or the frequency ranges connected therewith, differ sufficiently from one another. In any case, cocabiebreak must differ from the frequencies, or frequency ranges, cores and (1)i.
The invention relates, thus, to all measuring systems, which determine at least one process variable, e.g. fill level, wherein a sensor unit directly or indirectly comes in contact with the medium. In such case, it is possible, that, from the resonance frequency (mostly in the case of liquids) or from the oscillation amplitude (especially in the case of solids) at constant frequency, the process variable is deduced (see e.g. the above-mentioned application WO 02/31471 A2). Therefore, e.g. an above-described oscillatory fork can be involved; it can, however, also involve flow measurements according to the Coriolis principle.
An idea of the invention is that a supplemental electronics be introduced, which contributes thereto, that, in the case wherein, during normal operation of the apparatus, or measuring device, there are two different frequencies/ frequency ranges, a third oscillation frequency is defined, from whose occurrence it can be deduced that a cable break has happened, that, thus, the sensor unit is no longer correctly connected with the remainder of the electronics of the measuring device.
In the case of an oscillatory fork, it is, for example, provided, that, in normal operation, the resonance frequency Ores lies within a frequency range. This takes into consideration that, due to manufacturing deviations and tolerances, not all forks exhibit the same mechanical resonance frequency. Furthermore, this frequency range also includes the frequencies resulting from the free, and covered, states. Beyond such, different frequencies also arise from different densities and viscosities of the media.
Additionally, there is a so-Called tear-off frequency (1)i. Thus, it can happen, that, for example, by way of the medium (e.g. solids in a liquid) or because of mechanical damage, a mechanical oscillation of the sensor unit is no longer possible. For
4

example, a fork tine can be broken off, or a solid particle is stuck between the fork tines. In this case, there remains only an electrical feedback; the oscillatable unit no longer influences the oscillatory circuit by means of its mechanical characteristics. In order to indicate this case, the system jumps to the mentioned, and defined, tear-off frequency an.
Consequently, a frequency band and an individual frequency are predetermined for the oscillatory fork. Or, in general, the first oscillatory circuit can oscillate at different frequencies, from which the process variable, or variables, is/are deduced, or which stand for other defined states, e.g. tear-off oscillation.
In the detection of solid particles, or bulk goods, usually only one frequency ((Ores) occurs within a frequency band. In the case of these measuring devices, however, the frequency is not changed by contact with the medium.
The measuring device of the invention is, thus, to be understood as an oscillatory circuit composed essentially of three units: feedback electronics, sensor electronics, and supplemental electronics. The feedback electronics is also used for determining the process variable, in that e.g. via it, amplification, frequency or phase of the detected oscillations can be determined and evaluated. If all connections are functioning correctly, then, for example, the oscillations appear with the resonance frequency cores in the range of the predetermined frequency band, or the system oscillates with the tear-off frequency an in the case of a mechanical impairment of the sensor unit. The frequencies are, in such case, dependent on the construction of the three units.
The units are, now, so connected together, that, in the case of a cable break between feedback electronics and sensor unit, the feedback electronics and the supplemental electronics form a second oscillatory circuit. This second oscillatory circuit oscillates, then, at a supplemental resonance frequency ©cabiebreak, which, thus, uniquely indicates the cable break. By the invention, thus, in effect, a third resonance
5

frequency (if, for the normal case, only one resonance frequency ©KS is provided, then it is a second resonance frequency that the supplemental electronics brings about) is provided, whose presence is an indicator for the cable break. There is, thus, a frequency (solids) or a frequency range (liquids), which results from normal operation. Additionally, there is a frequency for the state in which no mechanical oscillations are possible. And, by the invention, a supplemental frequency is provided, which indicates the case of cable break.
An embodiment of the apparatus of the invention includes, that the sensor unit and the supplemental electronics are connected in parallel and in series with the feedback electronics. By this embodiment, it is very easily implemented that first and second oscillatory circuits are provided, with the second oscillatory circuit resulting, when connection with the sensor unit is interrupted.
An advantageous embodiment of the apparatus of the invention provides, that the amplification of the first oscillatory circuit is, in the range of the resonance frequency, or resonance frequencies (aw an) of the first oscillatory circuit, greater than in the range of the resonance frequency (oocabiebreak) of the second oscillatory circuit. The advantage of this embodiment is that, in this way, it is prevented that the overall behavior of the apparatus, thus of the measuring device, is negatively influenced by the supplemental electronics. In principle, the first oscillatory circuit could oscillate at each of the three resonance frequencies, or frequencies and in the frequency range, as the case may be. In the concrete case, there remains the choice between one of the resonance frequencies for normal operation (aw) and the frequency indicating cable break (OcaWcbreak) and the choice between the tear-off frequency (ah) and the cable break frequency (akabiebreak). The choice between the frequency aired and the frequency an is determined by the mechanical state of the sensor unit. Consequently, there remains of the three possibilities only the named pairings. Since the (circuit) amplification of the first oscillatory circuit (the amplification is composed of the amplifications of the three units) is, however, at the frequencies (oWere, (i)1) actually of interest for the first oscillatory circuit, greater,
6

preferably markedly, or much, greater, than for the resonance frequency (o&abiebreak) of the second oscillatory circuit, this resonance frequency (oocabiebreak) can scarcely appear in normal operation. Consequently, a condition, thus, for practical application is that this resonance frequency must, as much as possible, not appear during normal operation.
An embodiment alternative thereto, or in combination therewith, provides that the sum of the phases, which arise in the first oscillatory circuit, is essentially an integer multiple of 2n, and that the sum of the phases, which arise in the second oscillatory circuit, is different from an integer multiple of 2n, with the deviation from an integer multiple of 2n being of such a type, that the second oscillatory circuit is oscillatable. Thus, if the sensor unit is connected with the feedback electronics and the supplemental electronics, then, for the first oscillatory circuit, the sum of the individual phases is an integer multiple of 360°, or 2n. In other words, at every point, at which one cuts the first oscillatory circuit, the incoming signal is in phase with the outgoing signal, i.e. the first oscillatory circuit can oscillate optimally. For the second oscillatory circuit composed of feedback electronics and supplemental electronics, however, the sum of the phases is preferably slightly different than an integer multiple of 360°, so that an oscillation of the first oscillatory circuit at the resonance frequency of the second oscillatory circuit is scarcely likely, yet an oscillation of the second oscillatory circuit is still possible. This is thus an alternative condition, in order to prevent a degrading of the measuring device by the supplemental electronics. Options include the adjusting of the amplification or of the phases or a suitable combination of both options.
An embodiment provides that, by a combination of the amplification of the first or the second oscillatory circuit and the sum of the phases of the first or second oscillatory circuit, it is assured, that an oscillation of the first oscillatory circuit at the resonance frequency (cDcabiebreak) of the second oscillatory circuit is prevented. With this embodiment, thus, the phases and the amplifications, or gains, are combined with one another, so that an oscillation of the first oscillatory circuit at the resonance
7

frequency (a>cabiebreak) of the second oscillatory circuit is avoided. The two above embodiments are thus combined, in order to assure that the first oscillatory circuit does not oscillate at the resonance frequency of the second oscillatory circuit. In such case, various combinations of amplification or phase conditions are possible.
An embodiment includes, that the sensor unit has at least one mechanically oscillatable unit. The measuring device is, thus, for example, one including an oscillatory fork, or a so-called single-rod. In the case of such oscillatable units (oscillatory fork or single rod), usually also an exciter/receiver unit is provided, which produces the mechanical oscillations of the oscillatable unit and which received the oscillations. An embodiment thereof is a piezo-transducer, which is driven with an electrical alternating voltage, to convert such into a mechanical oscillation of the oscillatable unit, and which, in reverse, converts the mechanical oscillations into an alternating voltage. It can, however, also be an oscillating tube, or tubes, of a Coriolis flow measuring device. In the case of a single rod, or an oscillatory fork, the process variable is preferably the fill level of the medium; it can, however, also be the viscosity or density of the medium.
The invention will now be explained in greater detail on the basis of the appended drawings, the figures of which show as follows:
Fig. 1 a schematic, block diagram of the apparatus of the invention;
Figs. 2a-c diagrams for describing the behavior of the apparatus of the invention; and
Fig. 3 a schematic drawing of an oscillatory fork as an apparatus of the
invention.
Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing of the apparatus of the invention. Shown are the sensor unit 1, the feedback electronics 2, and the added supplemental electronics 3 of
8

the invention. These three units 1, 2, 3 form together the first oscillatory circuit 10, which oscillates, as a function of the process medium when it interact with the sensor unit 1, at one of the two resonance frequencies ©res (this frequency is within a frequency band) or an (in the case of tear-off oscillation, because mechanical oscillation of the sensor unit is no longer possible). Sensor unit 1 and the supplemental electronics 3 are connected in this embodiment in parallel and in series with the feedback electronics 2, so that the feedback electronics 2 and the supplemental electronics 3 form in the case of a cable break (indicated in the drawing by the two interruption hatchings) the second oscillatory 20 having the resonance frequency ((i)cabiebreak.
For the following considerations, the parts labeled with F(I(i)) are elements with complex transfer functions F(ia>) = ou,/j . In particular, the following definitions
/ in
hold:
Fe transfer function of the feedback, or amplifier, electronics 2;
Fr transfer function of the supplemental electronics 3 for generating the cable-break state;
Fse transfer function of the purely electrical, sensor properties of the sensor unit 1 (sensor in the completely blocked state, wherein a mechanical oscillation is no longer possible); and
Fs transfer function of the electric signals determined by the mechanical resonance oscillation of the oscillatable unit of the sensor unit (sensor is oscillating; it is in the free state, or in the covered state, or the mechanically oscillatable unit is partially covered, i.e. the sensor is in an intermediate state).
In order to describe the oscillatory circuits 10, 20, they are separated at the output 5. A possible signal saturation is, for the sake of simplicity, not considered (only the stationary case).
The oscillatory conditions of the various states then are as follows:
9

State 1-
The sensor can oscillate freely, or it can oscillate partially, or completely, covered,
and no cable break is present:
¥f^ = [F,(t(o) + Fm(ia) + F.(ia>)]xFt(ie>) = l + W \m)
State 2-
The sensor is not oscillating, i.e. no mechanical oscillation is possible, and no cable
break is present: —2-^- = [Fr(io)) + FM(i) = l + Oi |© = fi),;and
State 3-
A cable break is present, with the sensor being oscillatable or not oscillatable:
^± = Fr(ia>)xFe(iG>) = l + Oi \a> = a>cabltbrtak .
11,(1(0)
The resonant frequencies, in such case, are:
G>ns - resonant frequency of the first oscillatory circuit 10 with the mechanical
oscillation of the sensor, with the fork oscillating (either freely, or covered, or
between these two extremes);
a\ - resonant frequency of the first oscillatory circuit 10 with fork completely
covered and no longer able to oscillate (tear-off frequency), transfer function Fs of
the oscillating sensor equal to 0; and
<°caMebr,ak - resonant frequency of the second oscillatory circuit 20, which signals cable
break, with the transfer functions Fs and Fse having fallen away, due to the cable
break.
In order to distinguish states 2 and 3, ) describes, in each case, the phase, or amplification curve, of the feedback electronics 2. The curve Fr(i©)+Fs(i©) describes the feedback of the first oscillatory circuit 10, and the curve Fr(ica) describes the supplemental electronics 3. The transfer function Fse(i(D), thus the behavior in the case of covered oscillatory fork, is omitted, in order to simplify the presentation. The spectra in Figs. 2a and 2b fulfill the oscillatory conditions for two different
frequencies C0res/1 and ODeablebreak.
State 1/2:
The sensor unit is reporting free, or covered. No cable break is present. The curves
Fe(i(o) and Fr(ia))+Fs(I(i))) hold:
[Fr(ia)+Fs(ia>)]x Fe(io>) > 1+0/
This equation is fulfilled for both frequencies © res/i and ((i)cablebreak. Since, however, for this state, also \Fr(ie>eMd)ruk)x F,(ia>cMtbnak)\<|[Fr(/«w/1) + F,{m^,,)]x F.(/«w/1)| must

be fulfilled, the first oscillatory circuit 10 oscillates at the frequency oo= awere. From the plot of the spectra, that can be reproduced. Thus, the normal behavior of the measuring apparatus is not influenced by the supplemental electronics 3 of the apparatus of the invention.
State 3:
The sensor unit is not connected; thus, a cable break is present. The curves Fe(iG))
und Fr(I (i))) hold. In such case, for OD= ©cabiebreak, the following relationship is
fulfilled:

In the case of cable break, the second oscillatory circuit 20 thus oscillates at the cable-break frequency ©cabiebreak, so that, from the appearance of this frequency, it can be deduced that such a cable break is present. And, especially by the amplification
12

profile of the feedback electronics 2, it is assured that, in normal operation, thus with a connection present between the individual units, the first oscillatory circuit 10 oscillates assuredly at the resonant frequencies serving for determination of the process variable.
These states are also visible in the Nyquist plot in Fig. 2c. In the plot, the function F(i(o) = [Fr(ioj) + Fs(i