DEVICE FOR RECEIVING A DISPLAY FOR AN AUTOMATION FIELD DEVICE

Abstract

A device for receiving a display, and for introduction into a display holder, for a field device of automation technology includes an essentially planar, rectangular, device body having a receiving area formed on a first side of the device body for receiving a display. At least one spring element is arranged on a second side of the device body and formed in such a manner that in a restrained state, in which the device is secured on a support plate, the spring element exerts a spring force on the support plate in such a manner that the device presses the display arranged in the receiving area in the direction of a normal vector of the receiving area.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A device for receiving a display, and for introduction into a display holder, for a field device of automation technology, comprising: an essentially planar, preferably rectangular, device body having a receiving area formed on a first side of the device body for receiving a display; at least one spring element arranged on a second side of the device body and formed in such a manner that in a restrained state, in which the device is secured on a support plate, the spring element exerts a spring force on the support plate in such a manner that the device presses the display arranged in the receiving area in the direction of a normal vector of the receiving area.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein, furthermore, there is arranged on the second side of the device body at least one guide pin, by which the device is positionable on the support plate.

13. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein on the second side, furthermore, at least one retainer element is formed in the form of a catch or a retainer hook, by which the device is securable on the support plate.

14. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein a plurality of guide pins and/or a plurality of retainer elements are formed on the second side and, in each case, two guide pins, and, in each case, two retainer elements are arranged diagonally relative to one another on different edges of the basic body.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one guide pin and at least one retainer element are arranged on each of two opposing edges.

16. The device as claimed in claim 11, further including at least two spring elements, which are arranged in such a manner on the second side that the two spring elements are arranged on opposing edges of the device body.

17. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein each spring elements is formed in such a manner that it is formed as a resilient quarter circle shaped leg, or bar, which is mounted at one end on the basic body and on the other end in the restrained state presses against the support plate.

18. A field device of automation technology comprising: a field device housing, which surrounds an inner space; a viewing pane integrated in or secured on the field device housing for a display; a display arranged behind the viewing pane in the inner space of the field device housing; a device as claimed in claim 1 arranged in the inner space of the field device housing, wherein the display is arranged in the receiving area of the device and the device is arranged and restrained in the inner space in such a manner that the at least one spring element presses the display arranged in the receiving area against a rear side of the viewing pane.

19. The field device of automation technology as claimed in 18, further comprising a support plate, preferably a circuit board, correspondingly arranged in the inner space of the field device housing, wherein the device is secured to the support plate and the support plate is arranged in the inner space in such a manner that the device secured thereto because of the at least one spring element presses the display arranged in the receiving area against the rear side of the viewing pane.

20. The field device of automation technology as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a display holder, produced preferably of a plastic, wherein the display holder includes retainer elements, by means of which the display holder is secured to the support plate and wherein the display holder receives the display frame with the display arranged in the receiving area, wherein the display holder preferably includes, furthermore, the viewing pane, such that the display holder, the display frame, the support plate and the viewing pane form a unit, which by a corresponding seating in the field device housing is integrated in the field device, preferably during manufacture of the field device.

Description

[0025] The invention will now be explained in greater detail based on the appended drawing, the figures of which show as follows:

[0026] FIG. 1 a schematic, sectional view of a field device of automation technology designed for use in hygienic applications and having a display frame of the invention,

[0027] FIG. 2 a rear side of an advantageous embodiment of the display frame of the invention,

[0028] FIG. 3 a display frame of the invention in the installed state, and

[0029] FIG. 4 a display holder, in which the display frame is integrated.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a schematic, sectional view of a field device 10 of automation technology. Field device 10 includes a field device housing 12, which surrounds an inner space 13. Field device housing 12 includes an at least sectionally rotationally symmetric region 17, into which the field contact plug 21 is to be integrated, or is integrated. Field device 10 further includes, terminally arranged on the field device housing 12, a sensor module having a sensor- and/or actuator element 14, which serves for setting and/or registering a process variable, and a process connection 28. Process connection 28 can be a threaded structure or a screw- or clampable flange.

[0031] Sensor- and/or actuator element 14 comprises in the present example of an embodiment a fill level sensor element for registering a fill level as process variable. The invention is, however, not limited to type, or particular embodiment, of the sensor- and/or actuator element, which can, instead, operate on the basis of any other sensor- or actuator principle.

[0032] Serving for providing and/or conditioning a sensor- and/or actuator signal is an electronic circuit 15 located in the inner space 13 of the field device housing and embodied to operate the sensor- and/or actuator element 14.

[0033] In the present example of an embodiment, the electronic circuit includes three circuit boards, of which two circuit boards 15a and 15b are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the housing and a circuit board 15c in the transverse direction of the housing. Circuit boards 15a, 15b, 15c are plugged in relative to one another via corresponding plug-in connections 15d and, thus, are electrically contacted. The plug-in connections can be formed as rigid or flexible connections. The plug and receptacle of a plug-in connection can be on either side

[0034] The electronic circuit further comprises an interface electronics 20 having at least a first circuit board 25 with the field contact plug 21, which is arranged and soldered-on along a longitudinal axis of the circuit board 25 at a circuit board edge. Through field contact plug 21, data, especially measured values, and/or energy are transferred from the field device 10 to an external unit, for example, a superordinated unit or other field device.

[0035] Field contact plug 21 can especially be a circular connection, for example, an M12 circular connector. It can, however, also be any other established plug connection suitable for transferring data and/or energy. For example, it can also be an Ethernet connection. Furthermore, the field contact plug 21 can also include a cable gland, through which a line for electrical contacting is led into the inner space of the field device.

[0036] The interface electronics 20 further comprises at least one receptacle 22, which can be arranged and placed in such a manner on the first circuit board 25 that a plug axis 23 is tilted inclined relative to a main plane in which the first circuit board 25 lies. Via the receptacle 22 of the interface electronics, such is connected with one of the circuit boards of the electronic circuit via a matching plug 15e mounted thereon. Plug and receptacle can be formed as rigid or flexible connectors. Likewise, plug- and receptacle can be interchanged. Further mounted on the first circuit board 25 can be electronic components 24 for EMC- and/or explosion protection purposes.

[0037] The electronic circuit 15 located in the field device 10 is arranged, at least partially, in an electronics pot 16, which has a sturdy seat in the field device housing and, in given cases, also serves to secure the circuit boards of the electronic circuit. The electronics pot 16 is, in such case, essentially fitted to an outer contour of the field device housing. Furthermore, the electronic circuit parts located in the electronics pot can be potted by means of a potting compound 27.

[0038] Field device housing 12 further includes a housing opening 18, through which the field contact plug is led outwardly. For mechanical securement and/or orientation, i.e. positioning, an exactly fitting plug conduit 26 is placed over the field contact plug in, or on, the field device housing. The plug conduit is welded to the exterior of the field device housing. In order to secure the plug conduit during the welding procedure, it can be secured to the electronics pot by means of a securement system. Such can occur, for example, via a retainer mechanism arranged on the electronics pot in the field device housing. For example, a first securement element can be implemented by means of a retainer geometry injection molded onto the electronics pot, e.g. in the form of a catch. In order to enable a retaining, e.g. clipping, the plug conduit is provided with a surrounding groove as a second securement element. By interaction of the two securement elements, it is avoided that the field contact plug can come loose during the welding procedure, for example, as a result of the dynamics of the welding unit or the influence of protective gas flow, since the plug conduit is secured to the 10) electronics pot. Furthermore, a laser beam has free access to the weld site.

[0039] On an upper end of the field device 10, the field device housing 12 includes a display 19 for displaying information and/or interacting with the field device. The display can have capacitive keys for the interaction. Such can be implemented, for example, by a corresponding capacitive film. In order to meet hygienic requirements, the display is arranged in the inner space 13 of the field device behind a viewing-, and interaction, pane 11 integrated in the housing 12. In order to have a best possible view, or readability, of information on the display 19 located behind the viewing pane 11 and/or a friction free operation of capacitive keys, it is necessary that the display 19 lies as planarly and/or uniformly as possible against the rear side of the viewing-, and interaction, pane 11. Serving 20) for this in the present example of an embodiment is a display frame 30, which, on the one hand, receives the display and, on the other hand, places it appropriately behind the viewing-, and interaction, pane 11.

[0040] FIG. 2 shows such a display frame 30 of the invention. Display frame 30 includes an essentially planar, preferably rectangular, basic body having a receiving area formed on a first side (front side) 32 of the device body 31 for receiving a display.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a second side (rear side) 33 of the display frame 30 of the invention. Formed on the rear side 33 can be a plurality of retainer elements 36 in the form of retainer hooks, which serve for releasably securing the display frame 30 on a support plate 50.

[0042] Furthermore, the display frame 30 includes a plurality of guide pins 35, which serve to assure an axial orientation of the display 19 arranged in the receiving area relative to the support plate 50, to which the display frame 30 is securable. The guide pins 35 can, in such case, be arranged diagonally relative to one another on the rear side 33 of the basic body 31.

[0043] In the example of an embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the display frame 30 includes on the rear side 33 four spring element 34, which serve to press the display 19 located in the receiving area 37 in the restrained state in the direction of a normal vector to the receiving area 60. For this, the spring elements 34 are formed as resilient, quarter circle shaped legs, or bars, which are connected on one end to the basic body 31 and at the other end in the restrained state press on the support plate 50, such that the display is pressed in the direction of the normal vector 60. The display frame can be made of a plastic, especially by an injection molding method.

[0044] FIG. 3 shows the display frame 30 in the installed state, i.e. the display frame 30 is secured on a support plate 50 appropriately positioned in the inner space 13, such that the display 19 arranged in the receiving area 37 and, in given cases, secured there is pressed by the display frame 30 against the viewing pane 11. The support plate is in the present case a circuit board 50, which can be adapted, for example, to enable the evaluation and/or driving and interaction of the display 19. Display frame 30 is, in such case, axially oriented via the guide pins 35, which are led into corresponding bores on the circuit board 50. The display frame 30 is secured via two retainer hooks 36, which engage a display frame 30 far side of the circuit board 50 for securement.

[0045] FIG. 4 shows an especially advantageous embodiment, in the case of which the above described display frame 30 including support-, or circuit board, is integrated in a display holder 40. Display holder 40 is preferably embodied, in such case, in such a manner that it likewise includes its own retainer elements 41, especially retainer hooks, with which it likewise is secured on the support-, or circuit board, 50. In this way, the display frame 30 with the display 19, the circuit board 50 and the display holder 40 form a unit, or a module. Furthermore, the display holder 30 can also have the interaction-, and viewing, pane 11. This unit, or module, can be integrated in the field device 10 during the manufacturing by a corresponding seating on the field device housing 12, such as shown in FIG. 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0046] 10 field device of automation technology [0047] 11 viewing pane [0048] 12 field device housing [0049] 13 inner space [0050] 14 sensor- and/or actuator element [0051] 15 electronic circuit [0052] 15a-15c circuit boards [0053] 15d plug- and receptacle connections [0054] 15e plug connector [0055] 16 electronics pot [0056] 16a catch [0057] 17 rotation symmetric region [0058] 18 housing opening [0059] 19 display [0060] interface electronics [0061] 21 field contact plug [0062] 22 receptacle connector of the interface electronics [0063] 24 electronic components, for example, for EMC- and/or Ex-protective measures [0064] 25 first circuit board of the interface electronics [0065] 26 plug conduit for field contact plug [0066] 26a surrounding groove for retaining, e.g. clipping [0067] 27 potting compound [0068] 28 process connection [0069] 30 display frame [0070] 31 basic-, or device, body [0071] 32 front side [0072] 33 rear side [0073] 34 spring elements [0074] 35 guide pins [0075] 36 retainer element of the display frame [0076] 37 receiving area for the display [0077] 40 display holder [0078] 41 retainer elements of the display holder [0079] 50 support plate, e.g. circuit board [0080] 60 normal vector to the receiving area