Patent ID: 8976498
Filing Date: 2015-03-10
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A field device for determining and/or monitoring a physical or chemical, process variable in automation technology, comprising: at least one microcontroller; a supply unit of limited capacity as a primary voltage supply providing a supply voltage; and a detection circuit, which signals said at least one microcontroller of a failure of said supply-unit so early by means of a detection signal that sufficient time is available to take suitable safety measures, in order to avoid loss of data, wherein: said detection circuit is so embodied that a reference voltage which serves as a switching threshold required for detection of a voltage decline of said supply unit exhibits a predetermined offset from said supply voltage and in case of declining of said supply voltage the switching threshold becomes correspondingly smaller, and said predetermined offset from the supply voltage remains constant, and in the case said supply voltage abruptly subceeds said reference voltage, said detection circuit sends said detection signal to said at least one microcontroller.