# US 12,190,719 B2 · Sensor device and expansion module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,190,719 B2 - Document ID: US12190719B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/787,502 - Filed: 2019-12-20 - Published: 2023-01-26 - Granted: 2025-01-07 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-20 - Assignees: VEGA Grieshaber KG - Applicants: VEGA Grieshaber KG - Inventors: Karl Griessbaum; Roland Welle - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12190719B2 ## CPC - G08C 19/00: Electric signal transmission systems (G08C17/00 takes precedence) - G01D 21/00: Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for - G01D 21/02: Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass - G05B 19/0428: {Safety, monitoring (G05B19/0423 takes precedence)} - G05B 2219/25428: Field device - G05B 2219/50193: Safety in general - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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 sensor device for process variable determination in an industrial environment, comprising a sensor base and a first expansion module. The sensor base includes circuitry that determines the process variable, a first mechanical interface for mechanically accommodating a first expansion module and a first communication interface to the first expansion module for transmitting measurement and/or control data. In this case, the first expansion module has a second mechanical interface to the sensor base, a third mechanical interface for mechanically accommodating a second expansion module, a second communication interface to the sensor base for transmitting measurement and/or control data, and a third communication interface to the second expansion module for transmitting measurement and/or control data. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sensor device for process variable determination in an industrial environment, comprising: a sensor base and a first expansion module, the sensor base including: processing circuitry configured to determine the process variable, a first mechanical interface that mechanically receives the first expansion module, and a first communication interface that interfaces to the first expansion module and that transmits measurement and/or control data, wherein the first expansion module includes: a second mechanical interface that interfaces to the sensor base, a third mechanical interface that mechanically receives a second expansion module, a second communication interface that interfaces to the sensor base and that transmits measurement and/or control data, and a third communication interface that interfaces to the second expansion module and that transmits measurement and/or control data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the first expansion module is attached to a side of the sensor base and is configured to receive the second expansion module as a final expansion module or a stack of further expansion modules. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the first mechanical interface includes a thread. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the first communication interface is optical, electrical, electromagnetic or inductive. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor base further includes a first electrical interface that interfaces to the first expansion module for providing power, and wherein the first expansion module further includes: a second electrical interface that interfaces to the first expansion module for providing power, and a third electrical interface that interfaces to the second expansion module for providing power. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The sensor device according to claim 5, wherein the first electrical interface is inductive or wired, and receives power from the first expansion module. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the first expansion module is arranged to provide power to the sensor base as a wired power connection module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sensor device according to claim 1, comprising a topmost extension module of a stack of extension modules as a final module a photovoltaic sensor, an operating device and/or a display device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the first expansion module is configured to receive, as an expansion adapter, a contactless sensor module. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the first expansion module includes a data memory and/or a communication circuit operating as an external communication link. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the first expansion module includes an acceleration sensor, a pressure sensor, a geomagnetic field sensor, a gas sensor, a distance sensor, a brightness sensor and/or a temperature sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein a stack of expansion modules includes a cover. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine a pressure, a filling level, a limit level or a density. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the first expansion module is arranged to provide power to the sensor base as a battery module. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical interfaces of the expansion modules of a stack of expansion modules have a tightness value. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the first mechanical interface includes a snap-on device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 5) The sensor device according to claim 5, wherein the first electrical interface is inductive or wired, and delivers power to the first expansion module.