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US 12,729,360 B2Granted
Bioreactor, end plate for a bioreactor and data communication unit for an end plate
AssigneeEppendorf AG
InventorGuido Ertel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bioreactor has a container, an end plate, an agitator, a drive unit, and at least one field device arranged in the interior, field device electronics, a data transmission unit arranged on the end plate, and a motor head piece coupled in terms of energy to the drive unit. At least one communication unit is coupled in terms of signaling to the motor head piece and includes an adapter piece, having adapter electronics which are electrically connected to the field device electronics of the field device, and a communicator piece. The adapter piece and the communicator piece are separate components which can be coupled to one another, wherein the motor head piece is a separate component which can be coupled to the communication units.
Claims20
A bioreactor for culturing microorganisms and/or cell cultures, comprising:
- a container;
- an end plate adapted to close the container;
- an agitator further comprising:
- an agitator shaft guided through the end plate into an interior of the container;
- and
- an agitator element connected to the agitator shaft in the interior of the container;
- a drive unit disposed on the end plate and coupled to the agitator shaft;
- and
- at least one field device disposed in the interior and which further comprises field device electronics, wherein the end plate comprises:
- an inner side and an outer side opposite the inner side;
- an agitator connection device adapted to:
- guide the agitator shaft through the end plate;
- and
- connect the drive unit;
- at least one field device connection device adapted to connect the field device on the inner side;
- and
- a data transmission unit disposed on the outer side and which further comprises:
- a motor head piece communicatively coupled to an evaluation unit and electrically coupled to the drive unit, comprising motor head electronics;
- and
- at least one communication unit communicatively coupled to the motor head piece, the at least one communication unit comprising:
- an adapter piece having adapter electronics which are electrically connected to the field device electronics of the field device;
- and
- a communicator piece having communicator electronics which are electrically connected to the adapter electronics and to the motor head electronics;
- wherein the adapter electronics are configured to communicate signals between the field device electronics and the communicator electronics, wherein the signals carry field device information and measurement information and/or control information;
- wherein the communicator electronics are configured to communicate the signals between the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics;
- and
- wherein the data transmission unit also comprises a signal converter which is part of the adapter electronics and/or part of the communicator electronics;
- wherein the adapter piece and the communicator piece are in the form of separate components coupled to one another;
- and
- wherein the motor head piece is in the form of a separate component coupled to the communication unit.
27 more elements
An end plate for closing a bioreactor, comprising:
- an inner side and an outer side opposite the inner side;
- an agitator connection device adapted to:
- guide an agitator shaft through the end plate;
- and
- connect a drive unit to the agitator shaft;
- and
- at least one field device connection device adapted to connect a field device on the inner side;
- a data transmission unit disposed on the outer side and having:
- a motor head piece communicatively coupled to an evaluation unit and electrically coupled to the drive unit disposed on the outer side, the motor head piece comprising motor head electronics;
- and
- at least one communication unit communicatively coupled to the motor head piece, comprising:
- an adapter piece having adapter electronics be electrically connected to field device electronics of the field device;
- and
- a communicator piece having communicator electronics which are electrically connected to the adapter electronics and to the motor head electronics;
- wherein the adapter electronics are adapted to communicate signals between the field device electronics and the communicator electronics, wherein the signals carry field device information and measurement information and/or control information;
- wherein the communicator electronics are adapted to communicate the signals between the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics;
- wherein the data transmission unit also comprises a signal converter which is part of the adapter electronics and/or part of the communicator electronics, wherein the adapter piece and the communicator piece are in the form of separate components coupled to one another;
- and
- wherein the motor head piece is in the form of a separate component coupled to the communication unit.
16 more elements
A data transmission unit for an end plate of a bioreactor, having:
- a motor head piece communicatively coupled to an evaluation unit and electrically coupled to a drive unit disposed on an end plate of a bioreactor, the motor head piece comprising motor head electronics;
- and
- at least one communication unit communicatively coupled to the motor head piece, respectively comprising:
- an adapter piece having adapter electronics electrically connected to a field device electronics of a field device;
- and
- a communicator piece having communicator electronics which are electrically connected to the adapter electronics and to the motor head electronics;
- wherein the adapter electronics are adapted to communicate signals between the field device electronics and the communicator electronics, wherein the signals carry field device information and measurement information and/or control information;
- wherein the communicator electronics are adapted to communicate the signals between the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics;
- wherein the data transmission unit also comprises a signal converter which is part of the adapter electronics and/or part of the communicator electronics;
- wherein the adapter piece and the communicator piece are in the form of separate components coupled to one another;
- and
- wherein the motor head piece is in the form of a separate component coupled to the at least one communication unit.
9 more elements
A method for providing a data transmission unit, having the steps of:
- providing a motor head piece communicatively coupled to an evaluation unit and electrically coupled to a drive unit disposed on an end plate of a bioreactor, the motor head piece comprising motor head electronics;
- and
- assembling at least one communication unit, comprising the steps of:
- selecting an adapter piece having adapter electronics on the basis of a field device to be coupled to this adapter piece;
- providing a communicator piece having communicator electronics;
- coupling the adapter piece to the communicator piece and electrically connecting the adapter electronics to the communicator electronics;
- and
- electrically connecting the communicator electronics to the motor head electronics.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.