Granted Patent B2

US 12,579,326 · App. 18/314,573 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Inventors: Christian Hoferer (Offenburg, DE); Manuel Kaufmann (Berghaupten, DE)

Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG

G06F21/74

Abstract

Claims (31)

1 . A level sensor configured to activate and/or deactivate a safe operating state, comprising:

an input interface configured to receive a first activation command to start a first activation method to activate the safe operating state; and

a control device connected to the input interface, configured to perform the first activation method after receiving the first activation command,

wherein the first activation method further comprises a sensor restart,

wherein the first activation method further comprises loading additional program code for the safe operating state, and

wherein the first activation method further comprises preventing execution of program code exclusive to the non-safe operating state.

2 . The level sensor according to claim 1 ,

wherein the control device is further configured to output a fault message on one safety-relevant interface of the level sensor until the first activation method is completed.

3 . The level sensor according to claim 1 ,

wherein the control device is further configured to output a fault message on all safety-relevant interfaces of the level sensor until the first activation method is completed.

4 . The level sensor according to claim 1 , further configured to activate a non-safe operating state,

wherein the input interface is further configured to receive a second activation command for starting a second activation method for activating the non-safe operating state, and

wherein the control device is arranged to perform the second activation method after receiving the second activation command.

5 . The level sensor according to claim 1 ,

wherein, in the safe operating state, a first control program is active which provides commissioning, diagnostics, parameterization protection of the level sensor, and/or safe measurement operation such that the level sensor meets safety integration level (SIL) requirements.

6 . The level sensor according to claim 1 ,

wherein a second control program is active in the non-safe operating state, providing higher availability and/or faster measurement rate.

7 . The level sensor according to claim 1 ,

wherein the input interface comprises a button or switch on the level sensor and/or an operator terminal connected to the level sensor.

8 . The level sensor according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first activation method comprises a persistent storage of information that a safe operating state is to be achieved,

wherein the first activation method further comprises a reset of customer-side parameterization,

wherein the first activation method further comprises loading additional program code for safe commissioning,

wherein the first activation method further comprises activating additional hardware functions, and/or

where the first activation method includes protection of the parameterization against changes.

9 . A method for activating and/or deactivating a safe operating state of a measuring device, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first activation command to start a first activation method to activate the safe operating state; and

performing the first activation method after receiving the first activation command.

10 . A nontransitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer program instructions stored therein, which, when executed on a control unit of a measuring device, causes the measuring device to perform the following steps of:

receiving a first activation command to start a first activation method to activate a safe operating state; and

performing the first activation method after receiving the first activation command.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (23)