Sensor for use in automation technology and method for transferring configuration data from an external computer to a sensor

A sensor for use in automation technology for detection of a measurand, comprising:

• a sensor element for measuring a physical variable;
• a control/evaluation unit for controlling the sensor element, for processing a measuring signal from the sensor element, and for outputting an output signal to a computer interface;
• wherein the control/evaluation unit includes a memory for storing at least configuration data and program data, the control/evaluation unit cooperating, in an operating mode, with the computer interface for connecting the sensor to a peripheral unit, and wherein the sensor is supplied with electrical energy by the peripheral unit, in the operating mode;
• wherein
• the computer interface is adapted for use in a configuring mode for direct connection of the sensor to an external computer;
• the sensor is supplied with electrical energy by the external computer via the computer interface, in the configuring mode;
• and
• the computer interface is adapted to transfer, in the configuring mode, configuration data differentially between the sensor and the external computer through two wires of a data line at a bandwidth of more than 1 MBit/s.

A method for transferring configuration data from an external computer to a sensor for automation technology,

• wherein the sensor is connected via a computer interface, in a configuring mode, directly to an external computer and is supplied with electrical energy by the external computer;
• wherein configuration data are differentially transferred between the sensor and the external computer in the configuring mode via two wires of a data line at a bandwidth of more than 1 MBit/s;
• wherein the same computer interface is adapted to connect the sensor to a peripheral unit in an operating mode;
• and
• wherein the sensor is supplied with electrical energy, in the operating mode, by the peripheral unit via the computer interface.