# US 12,007,266 B2 · Add-on module for manipulation protection of a sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,007,266 B2 - Document ID: US12007266B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/967,964 - Filed: 2022-10-18 - Published: 2023-04-20 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-10-18 - Assignees: VEGA Grieshaber KG - Applicants: VEGA Grieshaber KG - Inventors: Florian Kraemer; Patrick Heizmann; Stefan Allgaier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007266B2 ## CPC - G01F 23/292: Light {, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet} - G01F 23/2967: {for discrete levels} - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME ## Abstract An add-on module for a sensor, such as a fill and/or limit level sensor, comprising a coupling unit, which is arranged to be communicatively couplable to at least one predetermined sensor, and a control unit, which is configured to enable and/or disable data processing of the at least one predetermined sensor. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a sensor unit for detecting a fill level and/or limit level, comprising at least one sensor, and such an additional module, as well as a method for controlling such a sensor unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An add-on module for a fill level and/or limit level sensor, comprising: coupling circuitry configured to be communicatively coupled to at least one predetermined sensor; and control circuitry configured to enable and/or disable data processing of the at least one predetermined sensor, wherein the add-on module is configured to retrofit the at least one predetermined sensor to extend functions of the at least one predetermined sensor with tamper protection. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The add-on module according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to enable and/or disable an operation and/or a parameterization of the at least one predetermined sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The add-on module according to claim 1, further comprising validation circuitry configured to check a coupling to the at least one predetermined sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The add-on module according to claim 1, further comprising encryption circuitry configured to encrypt the data received from the at least one predetermined sensor and/or to provide the at least one predetermined sensor with a digital forgery-proof signature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The add-on module according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to enable and/or disable data processing from a plurality of sensors. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The add-on module according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A sensor group configured to detect a filling level and/or limit level, comprising: the at least one predetermined sensor; and the add-on module according to claim 1, wherein the add-on module is configured to enable and/or disable the data processing of the at least one predetermined sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The sensor group according to claim 7, wherein the add-on module is configured as on-site operating circuitry or as remote operating circuitry. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The sensor group according to claim 7, wherein the add-on module and/or the at least one predetermined sensor include a visual indicator configured to indicate a sensor protection status. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The sensor group according to claim 7, further comprising a plurality of sensors configured to communicate with at least the one predetermined sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The sensor group according to claim 10, wherein the add-on module is further configured to enable and/or disable data processing of the plurality of sensors. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The sensor group according to claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to change a control assignment of the add-on module to one of the plurality of sensors and of the at least one predetermined sensor at freely definable time intervals and/or on request. ### Claim 13 A method for controlling a sensor group configured to detect a filling level and/or limit level including at least one predetermined sensor and an add-on module, wherein the add-on module is configured to enable and/or disable data processing of the at least one predetermined sensor, wherein the add-on module is configured to retrofit the at least one predetermined sensor to extend functions of the at least one predetermined sensor with tamper protection, the method comprising: operating the at least one predetermined sensor in normal operation; coupling the add-on module to the at least one predetermined sensor; checking whether the add-on module and the at least one predetermined sensor are assigned to each other; enabling sensor setting and/or data processing of the at least one predetermined sensor when the add-on module and the at least one predetermined sensor are associated with each other. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising: activating a tamper-proof state of the at least one predetermined sensor, wherein at least sending of data received from the at least one predetermined sensor is inhibited. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the add-on module is for a fill level and/or limit level sensor and includes: coupling circuitry configured to be communicatively coupled to at least one predetermined sensor; and control circuitry configured to enable and/or disable data processing of the at least one predetermined sensor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The add-on module according to claim 2, further comprising validation circuitry configured to check a coupling to the at least one predetermined sensor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) The add-on module according to claim 2, further comprising encryption circuitry configured to encrypt the data received from the at least one predetermined sensor and/or to provide the at least one predetermined sensor with a digital forgery-proof signature. ### Claim 18 (depends on 3) The add-on module according to claim 3, further comprising encryption circuitry configured to encrypt the data received from the at least one predetermined sensor and/or to provide the at least one predetermined sensor with a digital forgery-proof signature. ### Claim 19 (depends on 2) The add-on module according to claim 2, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to enable and/or disable data processing from a plurality of sensors. ### Claim 20 (depends on 3) The add-on module according to claim 3, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to enable and/or disable data processing from a plurality of sensors.