Input Circuit for Providing a Supply Voltage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016294183-A1
Application number	US-201415034349-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 3, 2014
Priority date	Nov 8, 2013
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An input circuit for providing a supply voltage, which input circuit has a first input on the input side, wherein the input circuit has at the output end an output which serves to connect an electronic unit. The supply voltage can be transmitted via the first input to the output of the input circuit, and the first input of the input circuit is connected via a first path to the output of the input circuit. In the first path a switching unit is provided which serves for connecting the first input to an auxiliary connection of the input circuit.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . An input circuit for providing a supply voltage, the input circuit having an input side and an output side, and comprising:
a switching unit; an electronic unit; an auxiliary connection; and a first input on said input side, said output side serves the purpose of connecting to said electronic unit, wherein: the supply voltage can be transmitted via said first input to said output side of the input circuit; said first input is connected to said output side of the input circuit via a first path; and in said first path, said switching unit is provided, which switching unit serves the purpose of connecting said first input to said auxiliary connection of the input circuit.

22 . The input circuit according to claim 21 , wherein:
said switching unit thereby serves the purpose of electrically connecting said first input to said auxiliary connection, or of redirecting at least a part of the electrical power introduced via said first input to said auxiliary connection of the input circuit.

23 . The input circuit according to claim 22 , wherein:
said switching unit serves the purpose of interrupting of said first path.

24 . The input circuit according to claim 23 , wherein:
said auxiliary connection serves the purpose of connecting a switching power supply.

25 . The input circuit according to claim 24 , wherein:
the input circuit has a second input on the input side, wherein said second input is connected to the output of the input circuit via a second path; and the supply voltage for operating said electronic unit can be transmitted via said first and/or said second input to said output of the input circuit.

26 . The input circuit according to claim 21 , further comprising:
a pickup on said first path, arranged between said first input and said switching unit, via which pickup at least a part of the electrical power that is introduced via said first input, can be redirected, to said auxiliary connection.

27 . The input circuit according to claim 26 , wherein:
said second input serves the purpose of receiving at least part of the electrical power, which has been redirected by said pickup at said first path via said auxiliary connection and via said switching power supply.

28 . The input circuit according to claim 21 , wherein:
said pickup serves the purpose of at least partly redirecting the electrical power that was introduced through said first input via said auxiliary connection, in the event that said switching unit has interrupted said first path.

29 . The input circuit according to claim 28 , further comprising:
a monitoring unit provided in said first path for monitoring the power or voltage, between said first input and said switching unit.

30 . The input circuit according to claim 21 , wherein:
said monitoring unit is configured such that in the event of a current or voltage being introduced via said first input that exceeds a preset threshold value, said first path is interrupted via said switching unit.

31 . The input circuit according to claim 30 , wherein:
said monitoring unit serves the purpose of piloting said switching unit.

32 . The input circuit according to claim 21 , wherein:
said first input of the input circuit serves the purpose of connecting a mains voltage or some other kind of energy source for energy supply, such as, for example, a solar panel.

33 . The input circuit according to claim 21 , wherein:
said second input of the input circuit serves the purpose of connecting a switching power supply or a battery unit.

34 . A field device with an input circuit as defined in claim 21 .

35 . The field device according to claim 34 , wherein:
the field device has a switching power supply, which is arranged between said pickup on said first path and said second input of said input circuit.

36 . The field device according to claim 34 , wherein:
the field device has a battery unit, which is connected to the second input.

37 . The field device according to claim 34 , wherein:
the connection for said first input of said input circuit is arranged outside of said pickup or on said pickup of the field device, in the form of a terminal.

38 . The field device according to claim 21 , wherein:
the connection for said second input of said input circuit is arranged inside the said pickup of the field device.

39 . A method for providing an energy supply, which energy supply serves the purpose of operating an electronic unit of a field device, comprising the steps of:
providing an input circuit, which has a first input on an input side of the input circuit; providing the electronic unit with an output on an output side; and supplying the electronic unit with electrical power via the input circuit, wherein: in the event of an energy supply having been connected to the first input, the electronic unit is supplied with the electrical power via a first path between the first input and the output; and in the event of the electrical power introduced via the first input exceeding a preset threshold value, the first input is connected to an auxiliary connection of the input circuit.

40 . The use of an input circuit as defined in claim 21 for providing a supply voltage for operating an electronic unit of a field device.

Assignees

• Endress & Hauser Gmbh & Co Kg
• Endress Hauser Gmbh Co Kg

Inventors

• Fiedler Marc
• Stib Ralph

Classifications

• H02J4/25

  for transfer of electric power between AC and DC networks, e.g. for supplying the DC section within a load from an AC mains system · CPC title

• H02J1/10 Primary

  Parallel operation of DC sources · CPC title

• H02J7/34

  Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other DC sources, e.g. providing buffering (H02J7/14 takes precedence) · CPC title