# US 11,391,772 B2 · Signal transmission system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,391,772 B2 - Document ID: US11391772B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/944,264 - Filed: 2020-07-31 - Published: 2021-02-04 - Granted: 2022-07-19 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-02 - Assignees: Gesellschaft fur Geratebau mbH - Applicants: Gesellschaft für Gerätebau mbH - Inventors: Hans-Jörg Hübner; Frank Böttger; Erik Buck - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11391772B2 ## CPC - G01R 31/2879: {related to electrical aspects, e.g. to voltage or current supply or stimuli or to electrical loads} - G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) - G01R 31/2856: {Internal circuit aspects, e.g. built-in test features; Test chips; Measuring material aspects, e.g. electro migration [EM]} - G01R 31/2881: {related to environmental aspects other than temperature, e.g. humidity or vibrations} - G05B 2219/21018: Connect sensors to a concentrator, concentrators to bus - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## Abstract A signal transmission system with at least one signal encoder, a line, and a control and evaluation unit, wherein the signal encoder has an electronic unit and a power source, wherein the signal encoder feeds an imprinted current in the range between a preset first value and a preset second value into the line, in particular between 4 and 20 mA. The control and evaluation unit has a load and a microprocessor, and captures and evaluates a voltage that decreases via the load or a current that flows through the load. Additional information regarding the status of the components, can thus be captured and forwarded in a simple way, in that the load in the control and evaluation unit is connected in series to at least one electrical component at which a direct current appears when a current flows through the electrical component. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A signal transmission system, comprising: at least one signal encoder, a line, and a control and evaluation unit, wherein the signal encoder has an electronic unit and a power source, wherein the control and evaluation unit has a load and a microprocessor, wherein the signal encoder feeds an impressed current in a range between a preset first value and a preset second value into the line, and wherein a voltage that drops across the load or a current that flows through the load is captured and evaluated in the control and evaluation unit, wherein at least one electrical component is connected in series to the load in the control and evaluation unit, at which at least one electrical component a direct voltage drop appears when a current flows through the electrical component, wherein the at least one electrical component is bridgeable by a switch, and wherein a microprocessor compares a first voltage that drops across the load or the current that flows through the load when the electrical component is bridged to a second voltage that drops across the load or the current that flows through the load when the electrical component is connected in series to the load, and detects an error when a threshold is exceeded or fallen below. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The signal transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the signal encoder is a transducer and in addition has at least one sensor for capturing a measured value, and wherein the current that is fed into the line is proportional to the captured measured value. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The signal transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical component is a resistor, a diode, or a series connection of a resistor and a diode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The signal transmission system according to claim 1, wherein switching of the switch in the control and evaluation unit is carried out in a clocked manner, wherein the clock represents a preset serial data stream. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The signal transmission system according to claim 4, wherein the switch is controlled by the microprocessor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The signal transmission system according to claim 4, wherein the signal encoder has a comparator, wherein an input of the comparator is connected to the line, so that the serial data stream is captured from a voltage change impressed on the line, which change is caused by clocked switching of the switch in the control and evaluation unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The signal transmission system according to claim 6, wherein the signal encoder has a second microprocessor, which is connected to the output of the comparator or the output of a Schmitt trigger that is downstream from the comparator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The signal transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the signal encoder has a mixer, by means of which a clocked signal is superimposed on the impressed current, which signal represents a serial data stream so that a modulated current is fed into the line. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The signal transmission system according to claim 8, wherein the control and evaluation unit has a comparator, wherein an input of the comparator is connected to a connection point between the load and the at least one electrical component, so that a serial data stream is captured via the load from the voltage change that occurs based on the modulated current. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The signal transmission system according to claim 9, wherein the microprocessor of the control and evaluation unit is connected to the output of the comparator or to the output of a Schmitt trigger that is downstream from the comparator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The signal transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the range of the impressed current is between 4 and 20 mA. ### Claim 12 A transducer for a signal transmission system, comprising: a sensor for capturing a measured value, an electronic unit, a power source, and a comparator wherein the transducer is able to provide an impressed current in a range between 4 and 20 mA to an output connector and which is proportional to the captured measured value, wherein an input of the comparator is connected to the output connector, so that a serial data stream is derivable from a pulsing voltage that is present on the output connector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The transducer according to claim 12, further comprising a Schmitt trigger that has an input connected to an output of the comparator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The transducer according to claim 13, further comprising a microprocessor which is connected to the output of the comparator or to the output of the Schmitt trigger downstream from the comparator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The transducer according to claim 13, further comprising a mixer which superimposes a clocked signal on the measured value captured by the sensor, the clocked signal representing a serial data stream, so that an amplitude-modulated current is provided at the output connector. ### Claim 16 A control and evaluation unit for a signal transmission system, comprising: a load that is connected to a signal input and a microprocessor that captures and evaluates a voltage that drops across the load or a current that flows through the load, wherein the load is connected in series to at least one electrical component, at which a direct current appears when a current flows through the electrical component, wherein the at least one electrical component is bridgeable by a switch, and wherein the microprocessor compares the voltage that drops across the load or the current that flows through the load when the electrical component is bridged to the voltage that drops across the load or the current that flows through the load when the electrical component is connected in series to the load and detects an error when a threshold is exceeded or fallen below. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The control and evaluation unit according to claim 16, wherein the switch is controlled by the microprocessor and the switching of the switch is carried out in a clocked manner, wherein the clock represents a preset serial data stream. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The control and evaluation unit according to claim 16, further comprising a comparator and a Schmitt trigger that is downstream from the comparator, wherein an input of the comparator is connected to a connection point between the load and the at least one electrical component, and wherein the microprocessor is connected to an output of the comparator or an output of the Schmitt trigger.