Sensor Module with at Least One Interface

Abstract

In one embodiment, a sensor module is configured to be used in a system. The sensor module includes a sensor. The sensor can detect and convert at least one parameter to be determined into a sensor signal. The sensor module also includes a communication module that can establish a data transmission connection. The sensor module also includes a power supply unit that can supply the sensor module with electrical power. The sensor module further includes a mechanical interface. The sensor module can be connected to external application units using the mechanical interface.

Claims

1. A sensor module configured for use in a system, comprising: at least one sensor configured to detect and convert at least one parameter to be determined into a sensor signal; at least one communications module configured to establish a data transmission connection; at least one power supply unit configured to supply the sensor module with electrical power; and at least one mechanical interface wherein the sensor module is further configured to be connected to external application units using the at least one mechanical interface.

2. The sensor module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is further configured to detect at least one of: (i) an environment-specific property or (ii) a property relating to at least one external application unit of the external application units, and wherein the at least one sensor is further configured to provide a parameter that relates to at least one of (i) environment or (ii) the at least one external application unit.

3. The sensor module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the parameter relating to at least one of (i) the environment or (ii) the at least one external application unit is transmitted to at least one of (i) an open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit associated with the at least one external application unit or (ii) an external data processing unit.

4. The sensor module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the parameter relating to at least one of (i) the environment or (ii) the at least one external application unit is converted into at least a first parameter output, and is transmitted from the at least one communications module to at least one of (i) an open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit associated with the at least one external application unit or (ii) an external data processing unit.

5. The sensor module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: at least one data interface configured to transmit information from the at least one communications module to an external data processing unit.

6. The sensor module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor module is further configured to be integrated into at least one of the external application units, the external application units including at least one of a power hand tool, an item of work equipment, a tool, a toolbox or a tool kit, and an item of clothing.

7. The sensor module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: at least one information output unit configured to convey information to an operator.

8. The sensor module as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one communications module is configured to provide data to an external information output unit and the external information unit is configured to convey information to an operator.

9. A communications module configured to be operable in a sensor module, wherein the sensor module is configured for use in a system, the sensor module comprising: at least one sensor configured to detect and convert at least one parameter to be determined into a sensor signal; at least one communications module configured to establish a data transmission connection; at least one power supply unit configured to supply the sensor module with electrical power; and at least one mechanical interface, wherein the sensor module is further configured to be connected to external application units using the at least one mechanical interface, and wherein the communications module is configured to exchange data with an external communications module.

10. A system comprising: at least one sensor module; at least one sensor configured to detect and convert at least one parameter to be determined into a sensor signal; at least one communications module configured to establish a data transmission connection; at least one power supply unit configured to supply the sensor module with electrical power; and at least one mechanical interface wherein the sensor module is configured to be connected to external application units using the at least one mechanical interface.

11. The sensor module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor module is further configured to be connected detachably to the external application units.

12. The sensor module as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one data interface is further configured to transmit information from the at least one communications module to an external data processing unit.

13. The sensor module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the item of clothing is a protective work clothing.

14. The sensor module as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one information output unit conveys at least one of: (i) visual, (ii) acoustic, and (iii) haptic information to the operator.

15. The sensor module as claimed in claim 8, wherein the external information unit conveys at least one of: (i) visual, (ii) acoustic, and (iii) haptic information to the operator.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0063] Exemplary embodiments of a plurality of variants of the sensor module according to the invention and of a plurality of external application units are shown in the drawings, in which:

[0064] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of variants of a sensor module according to the invention;

[0065] FIG. 1a is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the sensor module;

[0066] FIG. 1b is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of an electrical interface;

[0067] FIG. 1c is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of an electrical interface;

[0068] FIG. 1d is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a mechanical interface;

[0069] FIG. 1e is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a mechanical interface;

[0070] FIG. 1f is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of a mechanical interface;

[0071] FIG. 1g is a schematic diagram of a storage system for the sensor module;

[0072] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a sensor module according to the invention having an embodiment of an external application unit;

[0073] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a sensor module according to the invention having a second embodiment of the external application unit;

[0074] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a sensor module according to the invention having a third embodiment of the external application unit;

[0075] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a sensor module according to the invention having a fourth embodiment of the external application unit;

[0076] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a sensor module according to the invention having a fifth embodiment of the external application unit;

[0077] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a sensor module according to the invention having a sixth embodiment of the external application unit;

[0078] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a sensor module according to the invention having a seventh embodiment of the external application unit;

[0079] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a sensor module according to the invention having an eighth embodiment of the external application unit;

[0080] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a system according to the invention containing a sensor module;

[0081] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a system according to the invention containing a sensor module;

[0082] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of a system according to the invention containing a sensor module.

DESCRIPTION

[0083] The same reference numbers are used for the same components appearing in the different exemplary embodiments.

[0084] FIG. 1 shows a number of sensor modules 10 that have a variety of uses. A sensor module 10 is equipped with one or more sensors 11. The sensors are designed to detect one or more properties to be determined and to convert said properties into one or more sensor signals. The sensor module 10 is equipped with an electrical interface 12 or a plurality of electrical interfaces 12. The electrical interface 12 is designed to provide the sensor signal to an external open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit 14 and/or to an external data processing unit 16.

[0085] The service module 10 comprises a communications module 18 for establishing a data transmission connection.

[0086] A power supply unit 20 is preferably implemented as a rechargeable battery 20. The power supply unit 20 is designed to supply the sensor module 10 with electrical power.

[0087] The sensor module 10 also comprises a mechanical interface 22. The mechanical interface 22 is designed to connect the sensor module 10 detachably to various external application units 24. The advantage is that the sensor module 10 can be attached to various required external application units 24 and can therefore be versatile to use.

[0088] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1a, the sensor module 10 is cylindrical in shape. A male contact 23 is designed to connect the sensor module 10 to an external application unit 24. A sealing element 25 is arranged on the outer face of the cylindrical body of the sensor module 10 in order to protect the sensor module 10 from moisture and/or dust.

[0089] In FIG. 1b, the electrical interface 12 is embodied as a circular combination male connector 26. In FIG. 1c, the electrical interface 12 is embodied as a rectangular combination male connector 27. The combination male connectors 26, 27 comprise at least one of the following connections 28: [0090] two-pin connection 28a for the power supply, in particular 3.3V, preferably 5V, more preferably 12V [0091] dual-conductor GPS antenna connection 28b [0092] dual-conductor Bluetooth antenna connection 28c [0093] dual-conductor WLAN antenna connection 28c [0094] connections 28e for digital signal transmission [0095] two-pin sensor connection 28f [0096] connection 28g for coding

[0097] In FIG. 1d, the mechanical interface 22 is embodied as a bayonet catch 30. A first bayonet catch piece 30.1 comprises two diametrically opposite and outward-facing fastening pins 31. It is also possible, however, that there are more than or fewer than two fastening pins. A second bayonet catch piece 30.2 comprises two fastening slots 32 corresponding to the fastening pins.

[0098] In FIG. 1e, the mechanical interface is embodied as a slideway. A contact element 23.1 is designed to connect the sensor module 10 to an external application unit, for example to an electrical power tool.

[0099] It is also possible, however that the mechanical interface 22 is implemented as a clip, a screw coupling or the like, in order to produce an interlocking connection to an external application unit 24.

[0100] FIG. 1f shows the mechanical interface implemented by means of a spring connection 35. With the spring connection 35 released (top illustration), the sensor module 10 is detached from the external application unit 24. With the spring connection 35 clamped (bottom illustration), the sensor module 10 is connected to the external application unit 24.

[0101] FIG. 1g shows a storage system 33 for a sensor module 10. The sealing element 25 is here integrated in the storage system 33 so that the sensor module 10 is protected from moisture and/or dust when housed in the storage system 33.

[0102] FIG. 1h shows the sensor module 10 having an external power supply unit 38, which is connected to the sensor module 10 via a connecting element 39 having power supply terminals 41. In addition, an energy storage device 36 is built into the sensor module 10. The energy storage device 36 can be implemented as a rechargeable battery 20, a capacitor 37, a storage reactor or the like.

[0103] The sensor module 10 comprises a sensor 11, which detects an environment-specific property and/or a property relating to the external application unit 24, and provides a parameter that relates to the environment and/or to the external application unit 24.

[0104] The sensor module 10 here comprises at least one of the following sensors 11: [0105] a displacement sensor 11, which is designed to detect at least one displacement property and provides a parameter characterizing the displacement property, [0106] an accelerometer 11, which is designed to detect at least one acceleration property and provides a parameter characterizing the acceleration property, [0107] a motion detector 11, which is designed to detect at least one motion property and provides a parameter characterizing the motion property, [0108] a yaw-rate sensor 11, which is designed to detect at least one rotation property and provides a parameter characterizing the rotation property, [0109] a pressure sensor 11, which is designed to detect at least one pressure property and provides a parameter characterizing the pressure property, [0110] a moisture sensor 11, which is designed to detect at least one moisture property and provides a parameter characterizing the moisture property, [0111] a gas sensor 11, which is designed to detect at least one gas property and provides a parameter characterizing the gas property, [0112] an attitude sensor 11, which is designed to detect at least one attitude property and provides a parameter characterizing the attitude property, [0113] a light sensor 11, which is designed to detect at least one light property and provides a parameter characterizing the light property, [0114] an acoustic sensor 11, which is designed to detect at least one acoustic property and provides a parameter characterizing the acoustic property, [0115] a temperature sensor 11, which is designed to detect at least one temperature property and provides a parameter characterizing the temperature property, [0116] a magnetic field sensor 11, which is designed to detect at least one magnetic field property and provides a parameter characterizing the magnetic field property, [0117] a GPS sensor 11, which is designed to detect at least one GPS property and provides a parameter characterizing the GPS property.

[0118] The parameter relating to the environment and/or to the external application unit 24 is transmitted to the open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit 14 associated with the external application unit 24 and/or to the external data processing unit 16.

[0119] It is also possible, however, that the parameter relating to the environment and/or to the external application unit 24 is converted into a parameter output, and transmitted from the communications module 18 to the open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit 14 associated with the external application unit 24 and/or to an external data processing unit 16.

[0120] The sensor module 10 comprises a data interface 34. The data interface 34 transmits a piece of information provided by the communications module 18 to the external data processing unit 16.

[0121] The sensor module 10 is integrated into one of the following external application units 24: [0122] a. power hand tool 24a [0123] b. item of work equipment 24b [0124] c. tool 24c [0125] d. toolbox 24d or tool kit [0126] e. item of clothing 24e, in particular protective work clothing

[0127] In FIG. 2, the external application unit 24 is embodied as a power hand tool 24a, in particular as an angle grinder.

[0128] In FIG. 3, the external application unit 24 is embodied as an item of work equipment 24b, in particular as a ladder.

[0129] In FIG. 4, the external application unit 24 is embodied as a tool 24c, in particular as bolt cutters.

[0130] In FIG. 5, the external application unit 24 is embodied as a toolbox 24d. It is also possible, however, that the external application unit 24 is embodied as a tool kit.

[0131] In FIGS. 6 to 9, the external application unit 24 is embodied as an item of clothing 24e, in particular as a helmet (FIG. 6), as a jacket (FIG. 7), as a pair of trousers (FIG. 7), as a boot (FIG. 8) or as a glove (FIG. 9).

[0132] The sensor module 10 comprises an information output unit 40, which conveys visual information to an operator. The environment-specific property and/or the property relating to the external application unit 24 can hence be displayed to the operator. Thus, for example, the operator of a power hand tool 24a can be provided with a visual display of the parameters relating to the power hand tool. It is also possible, however, that acoustic and/or haptic information is conveyed to the operator.

[0133] In an embodiment shown in figure to 9, the communications module 18 sends data that characterizes the environment-specific property and/or the property relating to the external application unit 24b to 24f to an external information output unit 40b to 40f, and the external information output unit 40b to 40f conveys visual and/or acoustic and/or haptic information to an operator.

[0134] FIGS. 10 to 12 show an interconnection between the sensor module 10 and various external application units 24.