Terminal Block, Connection Apparatus Formed Therewith, and Field Device with such a Connection Apparatus

Abstract

A terminal block serves for electrically connecting a connection line and extending externally of an electronics housing. The terminal block comprises a platform composed at least partially of an electrically insulating, synthetic material, a connection terminal arranged on a first side of the platform forming a first connection side of the terminal block and serving for connection of a conductor of the connection line as well as at least one connection terminal arranged on the first side of the platform. A connection contactor. Arranged within the platform, especially for the purpose of forming a circuit output meeting European standard EN 60947 5 6:2000, are a resistance element as well as a resistance element. A first connection of the resistance element is electrically connected with the connection terminal and a second connection of the resistance element is electrically connected with the connection contactor.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A terminal block for electrically connecting a connection line having at least two conductors, especially a connection line extending externally of an electronics housing, which terminal block comprises:
 a platform composed at least partially of an electrically insulating, synthetic material, especially a synthetic material having a dielectric strength sufficient to meet European standard EN 60947-1;   a first connection terminal arranged on a first side of said platform forming a first connection side of the terminal block and serving for connection of a first conductor of the connection line;   at least a second connection terminal arranged on the first side of said platform, laterally spaced from said first connection terminal and serving for connection of a second conductor of the connection line;   a first connection contactor arranged on a second side of said platform forming a second connection side of said terminal block, especially a first connection contactor embodied as a contact pin or as a contact jack;   a second connection contactor arranged on said second side of said platform and laterally spaced from said first connection contactor, especially a second connection contactor embodied as a contact pin or as a contact jack;   a first resistance element arranged within said platform, especially a first resistance element embedded in synthetic material, wherein a first connection of said first resistance element is electrically connected with said first connection terminal and a second connection of said first resistance element is electrically connected with said first connection contactor; as well as   a second resistance element arranged within the platform, especially a second resistance element embedded in synthetic material, wherein a first connection of said second resistance element is electrically connected with said first connection terminal or with said first connection contactor and a second connection of said second resistance element is electrically connected both with said second connection terminal as well as also with said second connection contactor.   
     
     
         16 . The terminal block as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein:
 said first resistance element has an ohmic resistance of greater than 0.9 kΩ and less than 1.1 kΩ; and/or   said second resistance element has an ohmic resistance of greater than 9 kΩ and less than 11 kΩ; and/or   said second resistance element has an ohmic resistance, which is greater than 9 times an ohmic resistance of said first resistance element and less than 11 times the ohmic resistance of said first resistance element.   
     
     
         17 . A connection apparatus for electrically connecting a field device circuit, which is accommodated in an electronics housing, with a connection line extending externally of the electronics housing, which connection apparatus comprises:
 a terminal block as claimed in  claim 15  as well as;   a connection base for said terminal block, which connection base is composed at least partially of an electrically insulating, synthetic material.   
     
     
         18 . The connection apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein:
 said connection base comprises:   a platform composed at least partially of an electrically insulating, synthetic material;   a first connection contactor arranged on a first side of said platform forming a first connection side of said connection base and complementary to said first connection contactor of said terminal block; as well as   at least a second connection contactor arranged on the first side of said platform, laterally spaced from said first connection contactor, and complementary to said second connection contactor of said terminal block.   
     
     
         19 . The connection apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein:
 said connection base and said terminal block are mechanically connected with one another to form a pluggable, especially releasable, galvanic connection between said first connection contactor of said terminal block and said first connection contactor of said connection base as well as between said second connection contactor of said terminal block and said second connection contactor of said connection base; and/or   each of the two connection contactors of said connection base is electrically connected, especially by material bonding, with a line of an electronic circuit, especially a line formed as a conductive trace on a circuit board.   
     
     
         20 . A field device, especially a measuring and/or switch device, comprising:
 a connection apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 ; and   an electronic circuit electrically connected with said connection apparatus.   
     
     
         21 . The field device as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein:
 said electronic circuit has two connection contactors embodied, especially, in each case, at least sectionally as a conductive trace on a circuit board and/or at least sectionally as a conductive wire;   a first connection contactor is electrically connected with a first connection contactor of said connection base and a second connection contactor is electrically connected with a second connection contactor of said connection base, especially by means of soldered connections.   
     
     
         22 . The field device as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising:
 an electronics housing, wherein:   both said connection apparatus as well as also said electronic circuit are accommodated within said electronics housing.   
     
     
         23 . The field device as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a measuring transducer for producing at least one measurement signal dependent on a physical, measured variable to be registered.   
     
     
         24 . The field device as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein:
 said electronic circuit has a circuit output, especially one formed by means of a transistor and/or passive circuit output, with a first output contactor electrically connected with a first connection contactor of said connection base and with a second output contactor electrically connected with a second connection contactor of said connection base; especially in such a manner that, by means of the circuit output, said connection base and said terminal block, a switch output conforming to European standard EN 60947 5 6:2000 is formed.   
     
     
         25 . The field device as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein:
 said electronic circuit has a bipolar transistor with a collector connection, especially a collector connection forming a first connection contactor of said electronic circuit, and with an emitter connection, especially an emitter connection forming a second connection contactor of said electronic circuit.   
     
     
         26 . The field device as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein:
 especially for forming a circuit output meeting European standard EN 60947 5 6:2000, the collector connection of said bipolar transistor is electrically connected with a first connection contactor of a connection base, consequently via a first resistance element with a first connection terminal of a terminal block; and the emitter connection of said bipolar transistor is electrically connected with a second connection contactor of a connection base, consequently with a second connection terminal of said terminal block.   
     
     
         27 . The field device as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein:
 said electronic circuit has a field effect transistor with a drain connection, especially a drain connection forming the first connection contactor of said electronic circuit, and with a source connection, especially a source connection forming the second connection contactor of said electronic circuit.   
     
     
         28 . The field device as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein:
 especially for forming a circuit output meeting European standard EN 60947 5 6:2000, the drain connection of the field effect transistor is electrically connected with the first connection contactor of the connection base, consequently via first resistance element with the first connection terminal of the terminal block; and the source connection of the field effect transistor is electrically connected with the second connection contactor of the connection base, consequently with the second connection terminal of the terminal block.