Liquid analysis device and sensor unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12222368-B2
Application number	US-202017595431-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 15, 2020
Priority date	Jun 10, 2019
Publication date	Feb 11, 2025
Grant date	Feb 11, 2025

Abstract

The present invention reduces a running cost in a liquid analysis device and reduces electromagnetic noise superimposed on an analog signal. The present invention includes a sensor portion configured to contact a liquid and output an analog signal corresponding to a predetermined measurement target item, a conversion portion configured to convert the analog signal obtained by the sensor portion into a digital signal, and a device body to which the conversion portion is connected by a wire or wirelessly, the device body being configured to acquire the digital signal from the conversion portion. The sensor portion and the conversion portion are attachable to and detachable from each other, the sensor portion includes a connection plug that electrically connects to the conversion portion, and a metal shield is provided at a connection portion between the connection plug and a wire of the sensor portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A liquid analysis device comprising:
a plurality of sensor portions each configured to contact a liquid and output an analog signal corresponding to a predetermined measurement target item;
a plurality of conversion portions each configured to convert the analog signal obtained by a respective one of the sensor portions into a digital signal;
a device body to which each conversion portion is connected by a wire or wirelessly, the device body being configured to acquire each digital signal from the respective conversion portion; and
a plurality of coupling mechanisms that couple and fix the conversion portions to each other by bringing a plurality of side surfaces of the conversion portions into contact with each other, wherein
the sensor portions and the conversion portions are attachable to and detachable from each other,
each sensor portion includes a connection plug that electrically connects to the respective conversion portion, and
a metal shield is provided at a connection portion between the connection plug and a wire of at least one of the sensor portions.

2. The liquid analysis device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor portions and the conversion portions are respectively integrated in a state of being electrically connected by the respective connection plug, and are operated by being held in a hand.

3. The liquid analysis device according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of the sensor portions to which the metal shield is provided is configured to measure pH as a measurement target item.

4. The liquid analysis device according to claim 1 , wherein the conversion portions each include a notifier that provides notification that output of the respective sensor portion is stable during measurement and calibration.

5. The liquid analysis device according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanisms couple the conversion portions for at least one of a position from a bottom of water to a respective sensing portion or a position from a water surface to the respective sensing portion in each of the sensor portions attached to each of the conversion portions to be an identical position.

6. The liquid analysis device according to claim 1 , wherein
the sensor portions are each for different measurement target items, and
the device body includes a calibrator that simultaneously calibrates the sensor portions for different measurement target items.

7. The liquid analysis device according to claim 6 , wherein the device body calibrates the sensor portions for different measurement target items by using different types of calibration substances.

8. The liquid analysis device according to claim 1 , wherein the device body includes a plurality of connection ports to which a respective cable extending from each conversion portion is respectively connected, and a sensor recognizer that recognizes the sensor portion attached to the conversion portion connected to each connection port.

9. The liquid analysis device according to claim 1 , wherein
the device body is provided with a stand member that supports the device body in an inclined or standing state, and
respective cables connecting the conversion portions and the device body are configured to be wound around the stand member.

10. The liquid analysis device according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanisms include:
a recess formed on one of the side surfaces of each conversion portion; and
a protrusion formed on one of the side surfaces of each conversion portion and fitted into the recess.

11. A sensor unit comprising:
a sensor portion configured to contact a liquid and output an analog signal corresponding to a predetermined measurement target item;
a conversion portion configured to convert the analog signal obtained by the sensor portion into a digital signal and output the digital signal to outside; and
a coupling mechanism that couples and fixes the conversion portion to another conversion portion of another sensor unit by bringing a plurality of side surfaces of the conversion portions into contact with each other,
wherein the sensor portion and the conversion portion are attachable to and detachable from each other,
the sensor portion includes a connection plug that electrically connects to the conversion portion, and
a metal shield is provided at a connection portion between the connection plug and a wire of the sensor portion.

Assignees

• Horiba Advanced Techno Co Ltd

Inventors

• Shibata Manabu
• Komatsu Yuichiro
• Minowa Hiroki

Classifications

• H03M1/12

  Analogue/digital converters ({H03M1/001 – } H03M1/10 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01N33/18 Primary

  Water · CPC title

• G01R1/067 Primary

  Measuring probes · CPC title