Terminal Block, Connection Apparatus Formed Therewith, and Field Device with such a Connection Apparatus

Abstract

The terminal block (10) serves for electrically connecting a connection line having at least two conductors (L1, L2) and extending externally of an electronics housing (H). The terminal block comprises a platform (100) composed at least partially of an electrically insulating, synthetic material, especially a synthetic material having a dielectric strength sufficient to meet European standard EN 60947-1, a connection terminal (T1) arranged on a first side of the platform forming a first connection side of the terminal block and serving for connection of a conductor (L1) of the connection line as well as at least one connection terminal (T2) arranged on the first side of the platform, laterally spaced from the connection terminal (T1) for connection of a conductor (L2) of the connection line. Additionally, the terminal block comprises a connection contactor (J1) arranged on a second side of the platform forming a second connection side of the terminal block, e.g. especially a connection contactor embodied as a contact pin or as a contact jack, as well as a connection contactor (J2) arranged on the second side of the platform and laterally spaced from the connection contactor (J1), e.g. a connection contactor embodied as a contact pin or as a contact jack. Arranged within the platform, especially for the purpose of forming a circuit output meeting European standard EN 60947-5-6:2000, are a resistance element (R1) as well as a resistance element (R2). A first connection of the resistance element (R1) is electrically connected with the connection terminal (T1) and a second connection of the resistance element (R1) is electrically connected with the connection contactor (J1). A first connection of the resistance element (R2) is electrically connected with the connection terminal (T1) or with the connection contactor (J1) and a second connection of the resistance element (R2) is electrically connected both with the connection terminal (T2) as well as also with the connection contactor (J2).

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A field device, especially a measuring and/or switch device, comprising: an electronics housing; an electronic circuit electrically accommodated within said electronics housing; and a connection apparatus accommodated within said electronics housing and electrically connected with said electronic circuit with a connection line extending externally of said electronics housing, said connection apparatus including a terminal block for electrically connecting a connection line including at least two conductors and said connection apparatus including a connection base for said terminal block, said connection base being composed at least partially of an electrically insulating synthetic material; wherein the terminal block includes: a platform composed at least partially of an electrically insulating, synthetic material; a first connection terminal arranged on a first side of said platform forming a first connection side of the terminal block and serving for connection of a first conductor of the connection line; at least a second connection terminal arranged on the first side of said platform, laterally spaced from said first connection terminal and serving for connection of a second conductor of the connection line; a first connection contactor arranged on a second side of said platform forming a second connection side of said terminal block; a second connection contactor arranged on said second side of said platform and laterally spaced from said first connection contactor; a first resistance element arranged within said platform; and second resistance element arranged within the platform; a first connection of said first resistance element is electrically connected with said first connection terminal and a second connection of said first resistance element is electrically connected with said first connection contactor; and a first connection of said second resistance element is electrically connected with said first connection terminal or with said first connection contactor and a second connection of said second resistance element is electrically connected both with said second connection terminal as well as also with said second connection contactor.

16. The field device as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said first resistance element exhibits an ohmic resistance of greater than 0.9 kΩ and less than 1.1 kΩ; and/or said second resistance element exhibits an ohmic resistance of greater than 9 kΩ and less than 11 kΩ; and/or said second resistance element exhibits an ohmic resistance, which is greater than 9 times an ohmic resistance of said first resistance element and less than 11 times the ohmic resistance of said first resistance element.

17. The field device as claimed in claim 15, wherein: the synthetic material exhibits a dielectric strength sufficient to meet European standard EN 60947 1.

18. The field device as claimed in claim 15, wherein: the first connection contactor is embodied as a contact pin.

19. The field device as claimed in claim 15, wherein: the first connection contactor is embodied as a contact jack.

20. The field device as claimed in claim 15, wherein: the second connection contactor is embodied as a contact pin.

21. The field device as claimed in claim 15, wherein: the second connection contactor is embodied as a contact jack.

22. The field device as claimed in claim 15, wherein: the first resistance element is embedded in said synthetic material.

23. The field device as claimed in claim 15, wherein: the second resistance element is embedded in said synthetic material.

24. The field device as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said electronic circuit includes two connection contactors embodied, especially, in each case, at least sectionally as a conductive trace on a circuit board and/or at least sectionally as a conductive wire; a first connection contactor is electrically connected with a first connection contactor of said connection base and a second connection contactor is electrically connected with a second connection contactor of said connection base, especially by means of soldered connections.

25. The field device as claimed in claim 15, further comprising: a measuring transducer for producing at least one measurement signal dependent on a physical, measured variable to be registered.

26. The field device as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said electronic circuit includes a circuit output, especially one formed by means of a transistor and/or passive circuit output, with a first output contactor electrically connected with a first connection contactor of said connection base and with a second output contactor electrically connected with a second connection contactor of said connection base; especially in such a manner that, by means of the circuit output, said connection base and said terminal block, a switch output conforming to European standard EN 60947 5 6:2000 is formed.

27. The field device as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said electronic circuit includes a bipolar transistor with a collector connection, especially a collector connection forming a first connection contactor of said electronic circuit, and with an emitter connection, especially an emitter connection forming a second connection contactor of said electronic circuit.

28. The field device as claimed in claim 15, wherein: especially for forming a circuit output meeting European standard EN 60947 5 6:2000, the collector connection of said bipolar transistor is electrically connected with a first connection contactor of a connection base, consequently via a first resistance element with a first connection terminal of a terminal block; and the emitter connection of said bipolar transistor is electrically connected with a second connection contactor of a connection base, consequently with a second connection terminal of said terminal block.

29. The field device as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said electronic circuit includes a field effect transistor with a drain connection, especially a drain connection forming the first connection contactor of said electronic circuit, and with a source connection, especially a source connection forming the second connection contactor of said electronic circuit.

Description

[0029] The invention as well as other advantageous embodiments thereof will now be explained in greater detail based on examples of embodiments presented in the figures of the drawing. Equal parts are provided in all figures with equal reference characters; when perspicuity requires or it otherwise appears sensible, already mentioned reference characters are omitted in subsequent figures. Other advantageous embodiments or further developments, especially also combinations of initially only individually explained aspects of the invention, will become evident, furthermore, from the figures of the drawing, as well as also from the dependent claims per se. The figures of the drawing show as follows:

[0030] FIG. 1 schematically, a field device embodied, for example, as an industrial measuring and/or switch device;

[0031] FIG. 2 schematically, a variant of a terminal block suitable for the field device of FIG. 1; and

[0032] FIG. 3 schematically, a variant of a circuit output suitable for the field device of FIG. 1.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows, schematically, a field device with an electronic circuit 30 accommodated within an electronics housing H. Electronic circuit 30 is formed at least partially by means of semiconductor elements. The field device can be embodied, for example, as a measuring and/or switch device suitable for industrial automation technology and/or, such as indicated in FIG. 1, can have a measuring transducer S connected to the circuit 30 and serving for producing at least one measurement signal s.sub.x dependent on a physical, measured variable x to be registered.

[0034] Electronic circuit 30 includes a circuit output 30A, for example, one formed by means of a transistor, having a first output contactor A1 and a second output contactor A2. Each of the two output contactors A1, A2 can be embodied e.g., at least sectionally, as a conductive trace on a circuit board 300 at least partially carrying the electronic circuit 30 and/or, at least sectionally, as a conductive wire. Circuit output can, in turn, be, for example, a frequency output for outputting a binary, rectangular signal having a pulse sequence frequency representing the measured variable x, respectively its time curve, and encoding measured values, or it can be, for example, a pulse output for outputting pulses, which signal the reaching of an earlier selectable size of the measured variable x. The circuit output can, however, for example, also be configured as a status- or alarm output and/or also serve for the direct activating of external electrical devices connected to the field device, consequently serving as a relay actuator. The circuit output can, for example, also be a passive, switch output or, however, also be adapted as a connection to a fieldbus, for example, a serial fieldbus.

[0035] In the example of an embodiment shown in FIG. 1, circuit output 30A is, for example, for the purpose of forming an open collector output, formed by means of a bipolar transistor, wherein a collector connection of the bipolar transistor forms the connection contactor A1 of the electronic circuit 30 and an emitter connection of the bipolar transistor forms the connection contactor A2 of the electronic circuit 30. Alternatively or in supplementation, the circuit output 30A can, such as schematically presented in FIG. 3, be formed, for example, also by means of a field effect transistor with a source connection and a drain connection, for example, in such a manner that, for forming an open drain output, the first connection contactor A1 of the electronic circuit 30 is formed by means of the drain connection and the second connection contactor A2 of the electronic circuit 30 is formed by means of the source connection.

[0036] For electrically connecting the circuit output 30A, consequently the electronic circuit 30, with a connection line extending externally of the electronics housing H, there is provided in the field device, furthermore, a connection apparatus electrically connected with the circuit 30 and having a terminal block 10 for such a connection line as well as a connection base 20 for the terminal block. Connection base 20 is composed at least partially of an electrically insulating, synthetic material, for example a plastic.

[0037] Terminal block 10 includes a platform 100 composed at least partially of an electrically insulating, synthetic material, for example, one having a dielectric strength sufficient to meet European standard EN 60947-1. Arranged on a first side of the platform 100 forming a first connection side of the terminal block 10 is a first connection terminal T1 for a first conductor L1 of a connection line, as well as, laterally spaced from the first connection terminal, at least a second connection terminal T2 for a second conductor L2 of the connection line. Arranged on a second side of the platform forming a second connection side of the terminal block 10 are additionally a first connection contactor J1, for example, one embodied as a contact pin or contact jack, as well as, laterally spaced from the first connection contactor, a second connection contactor J2, for example, one embodied as a contact pin or contact jack.

[0038] The connection base 20 forming for practical purposes a receptacle for the terminal block 10 includes likewise a platform 200 composed at least partially of an electrically insulating, synthetic material, for example, the same synthetic material as that of the platform 100 of the terminal block 10. Arranged on a first side of the platform 200 forming a first connection side of the connection base 20 are, consequently, a first connection contactor P1 complementary to the connection contactor J1 of the terminal block 10 as well as, laterally spaced from said connection contactor P1, a connection contactor P2 correspondingly complementary to the connection contactor J2 of the terminal block 10. Each of the two connection contactors P1, P2 of the connection base can, such as schematically shown in FIG. 1, each be directly electrically connected with the respectively complementary output contactor A1, respectively A2, of the electronic circuit 30, for example, by means of material bonded, soldered connections. Output contactors A1, A2 are formed, for example, as conductive traces on a circuit board 300.

[0039] Especially, terminal block 10 and connection base 20 are, furthermore, adapted (while forming, for example, based on a plugged contact, a galvanic connection between the connection contactor J1 of the terminal block 10 and the complementary connection contactor P1 of the connection base 20 as well as between the connection contactor J2 of the terminal block 10 and the complementary connection contactor P2 of the connection base 20) to be able to be connected mechanically with one another, especially releasably, respectively to be correspondingly connected with one another.

[0040] For the mentioned case, in which the circuit output 30A is formed by means of a bipolar transistor, so that the connection contactor A1 is formed by means of a collector connection and the connection contactor A2 is formed by means of an emitter-connection, then, as a result, as directly evident from FIG. 1, the collector-connection of the bipolar transistor is electrically connected with the connection contactor P1 of the connection base, consequently via first resistance element R1 with the connection terminal T1 of the terminal block, respectively the emitter connection of the bipolar-transistor is electrically connected with the connection contactor P2 of the connection base, consequently with the connection terminal T2 of the terminal block. For the other mentioned case, in which the circuit output 30A is formed by means of a field effect transistor, so that the connection contactor A1 is formed by means of a drain connection and the connection contactor A2 is formed by means of a source connection, then, as a result, as directly evident from FIG. 3, the drain connection of the field effect transistor is electrically connected with the connection contactor P1 of the connection base, consequently via resistance element R1 with the connection terminal T1 of the terminal block, respectively the source connection of the field effect-transistor is electrically connected with the connection contactor P2 of the connection base, consequently with the connection terminal T2 of the terminal block.

[0041] In the case of the terminal block 10 of the invention, respectively the connection system formed therewith, consequently in the case of the field device formed therewith, a first resistance element R1 as well as a second resistance element R2 are arranged within the platform 100. Particularly for the purpose of the forming a switch output conforming to the above mentioned European standard EN 60947-5-6:2000, as schematically presented in FIG. 1, a first connection of the resistance element R1, for example, one also embedded in electrically insulating, synthetic material, is electrically connected with the connection terminal T1 of the terminal block 100 and a second connection of said resistance element R1 is electrically connected with the connection contactor J1 of the terminal block 100. Furthermore, a first connection of the resistance element R2, for example, one likewise embedded in electrically insulating, synthetic material, is, such as schematically presented in FIG. 1, electrically connected with the connection contactor J1 or, such as schematically presented in FIG. 2, with the connection terminal T1, of the terminal block 100, while a second connection of the resistance element R2 is electrically connected both with the connection terminal T2 as well as also with the connection contactor J2 of the terminal block 100. As a result, the resistance element R1 forms a series resistance, which limits electrical current flowing during operation through the connection terminals T1, T2, consequently electrical current flowing in the circuit output 30A, and the resistance element R2 forms accordingly a parallel resistance enabling during operation a permanent electrical current flow in the circuit output 30A.

[0042] In an embodiment of the invention, the resistance element R1 has an ohmic resistance of greater than 0.9 kΩ and less than 1.1 kΩ and/or the resistance element R2 has an ohmic resistance of greater than 9 kΩ and less than 11 kΩ. Alternatively or in supplementation, the ohmic resistance of the first resistance element and the ohmic resistance second resistance element are, according to an additional embodiment of the invention, not least of all also for the purpose of assuring the electrical current level required in European standard EN 60947-5-6:2000 for the switch states corresponding to logic “0”, respectively logic “1”, so selected that, as a result, the resistance element R2 has an ohmic resistance, which is greater than 9-times an ohmic resistance of the resistance element R1 and less than 11-times the ohmic resistance of the resistance element R1.