EP4077630A1

EP4077630A1 - Bioreactor, end plate for a bioreactor and data communication unit for an end plate

Info

Publication number: EP4077630A1
Application number: EP20820945.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Guido ERTEL
Original assignee: Eppendorf SE
Current assignee: Eppendorf SE
Priority date: 2019-12-18
Filing date: 2020-12-10
Publication date: 2022-10-26
Also published as: JP2023506662A; CN114901797A; EP3839035A1; WO2021122334A1; US20230024281A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a bioreactor (1) having a container (13), an end plate (11), an agitator, a drive unit (15) and at least one field device (50, 50a, 50b), arranged in the interior (14), with field device electronics and a data communication unit arranged on the end plate (11), having a motor head piece (40), which can be signal-connected to an evaluating unit and is coupled to the drive unit (15) for energy transfer, comprising motor head electronics, and at least one communication unit signal-connected to the motor head piece (40), comprising: an adapter piece (20, 20a, 20b) with adapter electronics, which are electrically connected to the field device electronics of the field device (50, 50a, 50b), wherein the adapter electronics and/or the communicator electronics comprise a signal converter, and a communicator piece (20, 20a, 20b) with communicator electronics, which are electrically connected to the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics, wherein the adapter piece (20, 20a, 20b) and the communicator piece (20, 20a, 20b) are designed as separate components which can be coupled together, wherein the motor head piece (40) is designed as a separate component which can be coupled to the communication units.

Description

Bioreactor, head plate for a bioreactor and data transmission unit for a head plate

The invention relates to a bioreactor, in particular for cultivating microorganisms and / or cell cultures, a head plate for closing such a bioreactor and a data transmission unit for this head plate. The invention also relates to a method for providing a data transmission unit. Bioreactors, often also referred to as fermenters, are containers in which certain microorganisms, cells or plants are cultivated, preferably under optimal, controlled and reproducible conditions, in order to obtain cells themselves or parts of them or one of their metabolic processes. For this purpose, bioreactors enclose a reaction space in which a culture medium can be taken up. A bioreactor on a laboratory scale, especially in screening, can have a volume of a few milliliters up to several thousand cubic meters on a production scale. On a laboratory scale, in particular for research and development purposes, bioreactors with a volume of up to ten liters are preferably used. The laboratory-scale bioreactors differ from a production-scale bioreactor in terms of power input and mass and substance transport as well as the materials used. Bioreactors on a laboratory scale are often made of glass and / or metal, in particular stainless steel, since the bioreactors have to be sterilized between different uses, preferably by hot steam sterilization in an autoclave. As an alternative to reusable bioreactors you can Disposable bioreactors can also be used. Disposable bioreactors are used to carry out a single biological or biotechnological process and are then disposed of. By providing a new, disposable bioreactor, preferably sterilized during the manufacturing process, for each individual process, the risk of contamination can be reduced and, at the same time, there is no need to carry out a cleaning and sterilization process.

Bioreactors usually have an agitator whose agitator shaft can be set in rotation by a drive unit. As a result, a stirrer element connected to the stirrer shaft in a torsionally rigid manner can also be set in rotation and the substances present in the reaction space, in particular the culture medium, can be mixed. In particular, two or more stirring elements, preferably axially spaced apart, can also be arranged on the stirring shaft and connected to it. The stirring element or elements can also be formed in one piece with the stirring shaft. In addition, bioreactors often have several connections, primary and secondary substances as well as various instruments, such as sensors and / or actuators, which can be introduced into the reaction space. Fluid lines, in particular gas lines such as gas supply or exhaust lines, can preferably also be connected via these connections. With the help of the sensors and / or the actuators, an optimal product yield can be aimed for. For this purpose, sensors are used as a rule that the conditions in the reaction space, in particular a pH value, a redox potential, an O2 content in the culture medium and optionally the exhaust air, a C02 content in the exhaust air, a temperature, an optical density of the Culture medium, a foam development, a glucose content, a glycerol content and / or a lactate content, monitor. Furthermore, various actuators, such as Peltier coolers and / or light sticks, can be provided in order to create the best possible cultivation conditions.

The sensors and the actuators - if present - are each connected to a corresponding measuring module and / or an evaluation unit and / or a control unit via a cable. These cables are usually well shielded and specially designed to ensure the integrity of the data, which can be significantly disrupted by external influences such as electromagnetic fields. The number of cables with several sensors and / or actuators can lead to a high level of confusion. Furthermore, the number of cables limits the handling of the bioreactor. The restriction in handling is particularly noticeable in the case of bioreactors that have a smaller scale, for example in the 300 ml range.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing an improved solution which addresses at least one of the problems mentioned. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a solution which is improved with regard to the handling of the bioreactor and at the same time enables robust data transmission.

According to a first aspect, the above-mentioned object is achieved by a bioreactor, in particular for cultivating microorganisms and / or cell cultures, with a container, a top plate which is designed to close the container, an agitator with a through the top plate in an interior of the container guided stirring shaft and a stirring element connected to the stirring shaft in the interior of the container, a drive unit arranged on the head plate and coupled to the stirring shaft and at least one field device with field device electronics arranged in the interior, the head plate comprising: an inner side and an outside opposite the inside, an agitator connection device which is designed to guide the agitator shaft through the top plate and to connect the drive unit, at least one field device connection device which is designed to connect the field device to the inside, and one to de Data transmission unit arranged on the outside, with a motor head piece, which can be coupled with an evaluation unit for signaling purposes and is coupled with the drive unit in terms of energy, comprising motor head electronics, and at least one communication unit coupled with the motor head piece for signaling purposes, comprising: an adapter piece with adapter electronics that are connected to the field device electronics of the Field device is electrically connected, and a Ko mmuni kato rstü ck with a communicator electronics, which is electrically connected to the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics, wherein the adapter electronics is set up to communicate signals between the field device electronics and the communicator electronics, the signals field device information and measurement information and / or carry control information, wherein the communicator electronics are set up to communicate the signals between the adapter electronics and the engine head electronics, the data transferring The carrying unit further comprises a signal converter, which is preferably designed as part of the adapter electronics and / or as part of the communicator electronics, the adapter piece and the communicator piece as separate, interconnectable Components are formed, wherein the motor head piece is designed as a separate component that can be coupled to the communication unit.

In a preferred embodiment, a bioreactor, in particular for the cultivation of microorganisms and / or cell cultures, is provided with a container, a top plate which is designed to close the container, an agitator with an agitator guided through the top plate into an interior of the container Stirring shaft and a stirring element connected to the stirring shaft in the interior of the container, a drive unit arranged on the head plate, coupled to the stirring shaft and at least two field devices arranged in the interior, each with field device electronics, the head plate comprising: an inside and an inside opposite Outside, an agitator connection device that is designed to guide the agitator shaft through the top plate and to connect the drive unit, at least two field device connection devices that are designed to connect one of the field devices on the inside, and one to the outside arranged data transmission unit, with a motor head piece, which can be coupled with an evaluation unit for signaling purposes and is coupled with the drive unit in terms of energy, comprising motor head electronics, and at least two communication units, each signal-coupled to the motor head piece, each comprising: an adapter piece with adapter electronics, which with the field device electronics of one of the field devices is electrically connected, and a Ko mmuni kato rstü ck with a communicator electronics, which is electrically connected to the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics, wherein the adapter electronics is set up 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 set up to ko the signals between the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics The data transmission unit further comprises a signal converter, which is preferably designed as part of the adapter electronics and / or as part of the communicator electronics, the adapter piece and the communication piece being designed as separate components that can be coupled to one another, the motor head piece as a a separate component that can be coupled to the communication units is formed.

In the solution described here, the bioreactor is provided with the head plate and the data transmission unit arranged on the outside of the head plate, which enables signal transmission between the field device (s) and the evaluation unit. Such a bioreactor includes the container through the Head plate can be closed and its interior preferably defines a reaction space. The bioreactor further comprises the agitator, which can be driven by means of the drive unit, in particular in order to mix a culture medium within the reaction space. To monitor and / or set desired reaction conditions, the bioreactor further comprises a field device or two or more field devices, in particular sensors and / or actuators, which is / are arranged in the interior. The field device (s) is / are arranged on the field device connection devices of the top plate. The data transmission unit is arranged on the outside of the head plate and designed to communicate between the field device (s) and the evaluation unit. The data transmission unit comprises the motor head, the at least one adapter piece and the at least one communicator piece. The motor head can preferably be mounted on the drive unit.

The bioreactor, in particular the head plate, can preferably be equipped with different field devices, in particular with different sensors and / or actuators. A field device can be designed, for example, as a sensor, actuator or other component of a bioreactor. The bioreactor can preferably comprise field devices in order to monitor parameters which can preferably be recorded during a cultivation of bacterial, animal and human cells. Such parameters can preferably be temperature, pH value, dissolved oxygen content and actual values of actuators such as pumps, stirrers, Peltier coolers, glow sticks and / or gassing. In addition, further field devices can be provided in order to determine data such as, for example, live cell density, nutrient concentration and / or metabolite concentration. A field device designed as a sensor can be designed, for example, as a pH sensor, redox potential sensor, temperature sensor, dissolved oxygen content sensor, etc. A field device designed as an actuator can be designed, for example, as a pump, stirrer, Peltier cooler and / or light stick, etc.

According to the field devices, a suitable adapter piece can be selected and / or manufactured, the adapter pieces of which are designed to receive signals from the field device and / or to send signals to this field device.

The communicator electronics of a communication unit are electrically connected to the motor head electronics in order to receive signals from a field device, in particular via an adapter piece, and to send them to the motor head electronics and / or to receive signals from the motor head electronics and, in particular, via an adapter piece, to the To send field device. As a result, the engine head electronics can receive signals from the individual field devices and / or send signals to them.

The signal converter is designed to convert the signals. The signal converter can preferably be designed as part of the adapter electronics and / or as part of the communicator electronics and / or both the adapter electronics and the

Communicator electronics can each include a signal converter.

Analog signals from a field device are preferably first converted into standardized signals (for example 0 V to 4.095 V) and then converted into digital signals (for example 0 to 4095). This conversion or conversion takes place preferably in the communication unit, in particular in the adapter electronics and / or in the

Communicator electronics. The adapter electronics can preferably be designed to receive signals from the communicator electronics, to convert or convert them by means of the signal converter and to send them to the adapter electronics. For example, the conversion or conversion of the signals can take place entirely in the adapter electronics. The signals can also be converted or converted entirely in the communicator electronics. The conversion or conversion of the signals also takes place partly in the adapter electronics and partly in the communicator electronics. For example, analog signals from a field device can be converted into analog standardized signals in the adapter electronics, and the analog standardized signals can be converted into digital signals in the communicator electronics.

The bioreactor can be individually adapted to customer requirements using different adapter pieces that are configured according to the field devices. Particularly preferably, the bioreactor can be produced individually for customer needs.

A particularly advantageous construction of the bioreactor can be achieved through this configuration. In particular, a cable layer on the bioreactor can be reduced. Overall, this leads to tidier laboratory workplaces and easier handling of the bioreactor.

Configurations are also possible in which a common communicator piece is provided for two or more field devices, each with an associated adapter piece. In such an embodiment, the communicator piece, in particular the communicator electronics, is then preferably designed to communicate with the adapter electronics of two or more adapter pieces. The drive unit can preferably comprise drive electronics which are designed to communicate with the engine head electronics. The drive electronics and the motor head electronics can preferably be electrically connected to one another in a wireless manner, in particular by radio, or by means of a cable. In particular, the energy supply can be contact-bound, preferably wired, or wireless, in particular inductively. The preferred inductive energy supply can preferably be fed from an inductive source in the motor head piece.

The drive electronics are preferably designed to control the drive unit. The drive electronics can preferably be arranged spatially separated from the drive unit. For example, the drive electronics can be arranged together with the evaluation unit and / or with a control unit.

The motor head can, for example, be coupled with the drive unit in terms of energy in order to supply it with energy. The drive unit can also be supplied with energy independently of the motor head. The agitator comprises the agitator shaft, which is passed through the top plate into the interior and has agitating elements. The agitator shaft is coupled to the drive unit arranged on the top plate. The drive unit can preferably act on an upper end of the agitator shaft. The agitator shaft can preferably be mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation in a bearing. In particular, the stirring elements can be attached to the stirring shaft in a torsionally rigid manner.

The agitator shaft can preferably be arranged essentially vertically and form the agitator with the agitator elements. The stirring elements can preferably each move in a horizontal plane. Particularly preferably, the stirring elements can have an inclination relative to the vertical, in particular relative to the stirring shaft. The agitating elements can preferably have different inclinations relative to the vertical, in particular relative to the agitator shaft. The bioreactor can preferably also have two or more agitators.

The container can preferably be made of plastic or glass. Particularly preferably, the container can be designed to be dimensionally stable. The container can preferably have a base and a wall surrounding the base. With this configuration, the container can be cleaned and sterilized so that it can be used again. The bioreactor can preferably also be designed as a single-use bioreactor. In particular, the container can be designed to be flexible, preferably as a bag. With this configuration, the need for complex sterilization and cleaning processes can be avoided. Furthermore, the risk of a falsified or unusable result due to incomplete sterilization and a consequent disruption of a process can be reduced, in particular avoided.

The container can preferably have an entry device for supplying input materials and a removal opening for removing an end product and / or a sample. The entry device can preferably be arranged in an upper region of the container and the removal opening in a lower region of the container.

The evaluation unit can particularly preferably be designed as a reactor control. The reactor control can preferably collect, preferably visualize and preferably save the data from the field devices. These data can preferably also be stored together with process data in a central database. As a result, the data can be available in particular for process development within the reactor control and can preferably be used for control and / or process management. In particular, the data can be evaluated and used to control actuators depending on the recorded data.

For further advantages, design variants and design details of this first aspect and its possible further developments, reference is also made to the description given below for the corresponding features and further developments of the second aspect and the third aspect. According to a second aspect, the aforementioned object is achieved by a head plate for closing a bioreactor, comprising an inner side and an outer side opposite the inner side, an agitator connection device which is designed to pass an agitator shaft through the top plate and to connect a drive unit that can be coupled to the agitator shaft At least one field device connection device which is designed to connect a field device on the inside, a data transmission unit arranged on the outside, with a motor head piece that can be coupled with an evaluation unit for signaling purposes and with the drive unit, which can be arranged on a head plate of a bioreactor, for energy purposes , Comprising motor head electronics, and at least one communication unit coupled to the motor head piece for signaling purposes, comprising: an adapter piece with adapter electronics that can be electrically connected to field device electronics of the field device, and a communicator piece with communicator electronics that is electrically connected to the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics, wherein the adapter electronics are set up 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 set up to communicate the signals between the adapter electronics and the engine head electronics, wherein the data transmission unit further comprises a signal converter which is preferably designed as part of the adapter electronics and / or as part of the communicator electronics, the adapter piece and the Communicator piece are designed as separate components that can be coupled to one another, the motor head piece being designed as a separate component that can be coupled to the communication unit.

A head plate is preferably provided for closing a bioreactor, comprising an inside and an outside opposite the inside, an agitator connection device which is designed to guide a stirrer shaft through the top plate and to connect a drive unit that can be coupled to the agitator shaft, at least two field device connection devices that are designed In order to connect a field device on the inside, a data transmission unit arranged on the outside, with a motor head piece, which can be coupled with an evaluation unit in terms of signal technology and with the drive unit, which can be arranged on a head plate of a bioreactor, in terms of energy, comprising motor head electronics, and at least two communication units, each coupled to the motor head piece for signaling purposes, each comprising: an adapter piece with adapter electronics which electrically connect to field device electronics of one of the field devices is ndbar, and a Komuni kato rstü ck with communicator electronics, which is electrically connected to the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics, wherein the adapter electronics are set up to communicate signals between the field device electronics and the communicator electronics, the signals field device information and measurement information and / or carry control information, the communicator electronics being set up to communicate the signals between the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics, the adapter piece and the communicator piece being designed as separate components that can be coupled to one another, the data transmission unit further comprising a signal converter, which is preferably used as a Part of the adapter electronics and / or is designed as part of the communicator electronics, wherein the motor head piece is designed as a separate component that can be coupled to the communication units.

In the solution described here, the head plate for closing the bioreactor and the data transmission unit arranged on the outside of the head plate, which enables signal transmission between the connectable field device (s) and the signal-technically couplable evaluation unit, are provided. Such a head plate has the inside and the outside. The head plate can preferably be attached and fastened to a container of the bioreactor in such a way that the inside faces an interior of the container and delimits the interior. The outside can preferably be formed opposite the inside and in particular face away from the interior of the container. The head plate further comprises the agitator connection device in order to fasten an agitator with the agitator shaft on the head plate and to connect the drive unit to the agitator shaft. In addition, the top plate has field device connection device (s) in order to connect one or more field devices, in particular sensors and / or actuators, to it.

The field device connection devices can preferably be all devices for fastening field devices. In particular, the field devices can be attached to these field device connection devices in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner. A field device connection device can preferably have a membrane which closes off, preferably seals off, the interior space. The membrane can be designed to guide a field device from outside the bioreactor through the membrane and to introduce it into the interior. As a result of the sterility achieved with the provision of a membrane, bioreactors can be equipped and / or upgraded and / or converted particularly easily with field devices as required. Furthermore, this allows field devices to be exchanged particularly easily in the event of a defect.

For further advantages, design variants and design details of this second aspect and its possible further developments, reference is also made to the description below for the corresponding features and further developments of the third aspect as well as to the previously made description of the corresponding features and further developments of the first aspect. According to a third aspect, the above-mentioned object is achieved by a data transmission unit for a head plate of a bioreactor with a motor head piece, which can be coupled in terms of signal technology with an evaluation unit and with a drive unit that can be arranged on a head plate of a bioreactor, including motor head electronics, and At least one communication unit coupled to the motor head piece for signaling purposes, comprising: an adapter piece with adapter electronics that can be electrically connected to field device electronics of a field device, and a communicator piece with communicator electronics that is electrically connected to the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics, the adapter electronics being set up to communicate signals between the field device electronics and the communicator electronics, the signals carrying field device information and measurement information and / or control information, the communi katorelektronik is set up to communicate the signals between the adapter electronics and the engine head electronics, the data transmission unit further comprising a signal converter, which is preferably designed as part of the adapter electronics and / or as part of the communicator electronics, the adapter piece and the communicator piece as separate, with each other couplable components are formed, wherein the motor head piece is formed as a separate component that can be coupled to the communication unit. Preferably, a data transmission unit for a head plate of a bioreactor is provided with a motor head piece, which can be coupled with an evaluation unit for signaling purposes and with a drive unit that can be arranged on a head plate of a bioreactor in terms of energy technology, comprising motor head electronics and at least two, each with the motor head piece Coupled communication units, each comprising: an adapter piece with an adapter electronics, which is electrically connectable to a field device electronics of a field device, and a communicator piece with a communicator electronics, which is electrically connected to the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics, wherein the adapter electronics is set up to transmit signals between the To communicate 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 set up is to communicate the signals between the adapter electronics and the engine head electronics, the data transmission unit further comprising a signal converter, which is preferably designed as part of the adapter electronics and / or as part of the communicator electronics, the adapter piece and the communicator piece as separate components that can be coupled to one another are formed, wherein the motor head piece is designed as a separate component that can be coupled to the communication units.

The invention is based, inter alia, on the knowledge that the signals from the field devices, in particular sensor signals, are often susceptible to interference. Mostly, field devices are used that are designed to send and / or receive analog signals. Analog signals can be particularly susceptible to interference. For this reason, transmission of these signals using long cables, preferably using cables with a length of at least 100 cm, can be disadvantageous.

Furthermore, the invention is based on the knowledge that in known solutions, each field device is often individually connected to an evaluation unit via a cable in order to transmit a signal. If more than a single field device is used, the cabling of the individual field devices can lead to confusion and negatively affect the manageability, in particular of the data transmission unit, preferably in the context of an installation and / or during use. In addition, the direct connection of a field device to the evaluation unit means that a suitable module or corresponding evaluation electronics must be developed for each field device in order to receive and evaluate signals from the various field devices and / or to be able to send signals to the various field devices. For this reason, with previously known solutions, when a new field device is used, the corresponding evaluation electronics or a suitable module must be developed. This can often lead to longer waiting times before the new field devices are used.

In the solution described here, a data transmission unit with the motor head piece and at least one communication unit, preferably with at least two communication units, is provided. A communication unit comprises the adapter piece and the communicator piece. By coupling the motor head piece with the evaluation unit and the adapter piece in each case with the field device, a robust signal transmission between the field device and the evaluation unit can be made possible by means of the data transmission unit.

Depending on the field devices that are to be used, a specially configured adapter piece can preferably be selected and / or manufactured for each field device. These adapter pieces each include adapter electronics which are designed to receive signals from the corresponding field device and / or to send signals to this field device. Different field devices are usually set up to send different signals that carry field device information and measurement information and / or to receive different signals that carry control information. For example, field devices can send and / or receive digital or analog signals. In particular, field devices can send and / or generate analog signals in a specific frequency range or in the direct current range. For this reason, it is advantageous to use appropriately configured adapter pieces in order to be able to convert these signals and send them to the communicator piece and / or to be able to receive these signals from the communication device, convert them and send them to the field device. By sending signals that carry field device information and measurement information, measurement data that were captured with the aid of the field device, and preferably data on the field device, such as information about which field device this measurement data is captured by, can be sent to the controller be transmitted. The field device information can preferably communicate a field device type to the communicator electronics.

By communicating the field device type, properties of the field device can be transmitted. These properties can include a sensor type and / or an actuator type and whether these transmit signals digitally or analogously and / or the like.

The field device can be controlled by receiving signals that carry control information and sending these signals to the field device. In particular, the field device can thereby be activated and / or deactivated and / or adjusted and / or calibrated.

In contrast to the adapter piece, the communication unit can preferably be embodied in the same way for each communication unit. The communicator pieces can therefore preferably be configured uniformly. The communicator electronics of each communicator piece is electrically connected to the motor head electronics in order to receive signals from the field device via the adapter piece and to send them to the motor head electronics and / or to receive signals from the motor head electronics and to send them to the field device via the adapter piece send. As a result, the engine head electronics can receive signals from the individual field devices and / or send signals to them.

The motor head piece can be coupled to the evaluation unit at least in terms of signaling. In particular, the engine head electronics can be equipped with evaluation electronics of the Evaluation unit are electrically connected. The motor head piece can preferably be designed to be coupled in terms of energy to the evaluation unit. As a result, the evaluation unit can preferably also supply the engine head electronics with energy. The motor head piece is connected at least in terms of energy to the drive unit and is designed to supply the drive unit with energy. In particular, the engine head electronics can be electrically connected to drive electronics of the drive unit. The motor head piece can preferably be designed to be coupled with the drive unit for signaling purposes. A signaling and / or energy-related coupling of two components can preferably be understood to mean that the corresponding electronics of these components are electrically connected to one another and are preferably designed to transmit signals and / or energy. A transmission of signals and / or energy can preferably be understood as sending and / or receiving signals and / or energy.

The motor head piece, the adapter pieces and the Kom m u n i kato rstü cke are each separate components that can be coupled to one another. Each communicator piece can preferably be combined with the adapter pieces.

The data transmission unit can be individually adapted to customer requirements using different adapter pieces that are configured according to the field devices.

The proposed solution means that there is no need for the evaluation unit to include its own evaluation electronics for each field device. By sending, preferably standardized, signals that carry measurement information and field device information, in particular the signals that are sent via the various communication units and the motor head piece can be evaluated, preferably with a single evaluation electronics.

Due to the proposed solution with adapted adapter pieces, only an appropriately configured adapter piece has to be designed on the hardware side - the hardware-side effort to integrate a new field device into a system is therefore significantly lower. By using the adapter piece in the immediate vicinity of the field device and in particular by converting signals directly at the point of origin into less susceptible analog and / or digital signals, the processing of the signals can be made more robust. Another advantage of this solution is that the adapter piece can achieve a type of standardization that simplifies the processing of the signals. In addition, components that are required for processing the signals can be reduced.

The motor head can preferably be electrically connectable or connected to a supply cable. This supply cable can preferably, in addition to any existing wires for supplying energy to the drive unit, comprise four wires, two for supplying energy, in particular the motor head electronics, and two for data transmission. The wires for data transmission can, for example, correspond to the RS485 standard. This enables particularly robust communication that is not susceptible to errors.

The engine head electronics can preferably be designed to send signals to the evaluation unit, for example via Modbus, or to receive them from it. The motor head electronics can also be designed to work in bridge mode between the field devices and the evaluation unit or a control unit and additionally as a hub for field devices on a bioreactor.

The data transmission unit can particularly preferably comprise the evaluation unit, the evaluation unit being coupled with the motor headpiece for signaling purposes.

The evaluation unit can preferably be designed to receive signals, preferably from the data transmission unit, and to evaluate them. Furthermore, the evaluation unit can be designed to generate signals and to send them to the data transmission unit. These signals can preferably be used to control and / or calibrate the field devices. Particularly preferably, the evaluation unit can receive signals from the data transmission unit, evaluate these signals and, as a function of these signals, generate signals and send them to the data transmission unit. The evaluation unit can preferably have an operator interface which enables the data transmission unit to be operated by operating personnel. As a result, field devices can preferably be controlled manually and / or data can be read out. Furthermore, the drive unit can thereby preferably be controlled by the operating personnel.

The data transmission unit for a head plate of a bioreactor can preferably be the motor head piece, which is signal-based with an evaluation unit and with a

Drive unit, which can be arranged on a head plate of a bioreactor, can be coupled in terms of energy, comprising motor head electronics, and a single communication unit coupled for signaling to the motor head piece, comprising: an adapter piece with adapter electronics that can be electrically connected to field device electronics of a field device, and a Ko mmuni kato rstü ck with a communicator electronics, which is electrically connected to the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics, wherein the adapter electronics comprises a signal converter and is set up to convert signals between the field device electronics and the

To communicate communicator electronics, wherein the signals carry field device information and measurement information and / or control information, wherein the communicator electronics are set up to communicate the signals between the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics, wherein the adapter piece and the communicator piece are designed as separate components that can be coupled to one another, wherein the motor head piece is designed as a separate component that can be coupled to the communication unit.

According to a preferred development of the data transmission unit, the adapter piece comprises a field device interface and a communicator interface, the adapter electronics being connected between the field device interface and the communicator interface, being electrically connectable to the field device electronics via the field device interface and being electrically connected to the communicator electronics via the communicator interface, and the communicator piece comprises an adapter interface and a motor head interface, the communicator electronics being connected between the adapter interface and the motor head interface, being electrically connected to the adapter electronics via the adapter interface and being electrically connected to the motor head electronics via the motor head interface.

The adapter electronics can preferably be designed to send and / or to send signals via the field device interface and / or the communication interface receive. Here, the adapter electronics can be designed in particular to convert signals from the field device interface into signals from the communicator interface. Furthermore, the adapter electronics can in particular be designed to convert signals from the communicator interface into signals from the field device interface. The communicator electronics can preferably be designed to send and / or receive signals via the adapter interface and / or the motor head interface. Here, the communicator electronics can in particular be designed to convert signals from the adapter interface into signals from the motor head interface. Furthermore, the communicator electronics can in particular be designed to convert signals from the motor head interface into signals from the adapter interface.

The field device interface and / or the communicator interface and / or the adapter interface and / or the motor head interface can preferably be hardware interfaces that are designed to connect physical systems in electrical engineering and electronics to one another. In this way, the individual components, in particular the electronics of the individual components, can preferably be electrically connected to one another.

The field device interface and / or the communicator interface and / or the adapter interface and / or the motor head interface can preferably be designed as analog and / or digital interfaces. In particular, the field device interface and / or the communicator interface and / or the

The adapter interface and / or the motor head interface can be designed as USB, FireWire, EIA-232, PCI-Express, SRI, I2C, RS232, RS485, DMX, Serial ATA or Profibus. The field device interface and / or the

Communicator interface and / or the adapter interface and / or the M oto rko pfschn ittste 11e be designed as an RS485 interface.

The adapter electronics can preferably be accommodated on a printed circuit board. The circuit board can preferably have pins. The circuit board can preferably have at least two pins that are configured to enable an electrical connection between the adapter electronics and the field device electronics, these pins preferably being set up as outputs and / or inputs. In addition, the circuit board can preferably have two pins that are set up for the energy supply. The circuit board can in particular have two spring contacts that enable an electrical connection between the adapter electronics and the communicator electronics.

Further configured pins can be permanently coded on the circuit board of the adapter electronics and pass on corresponding bit patterns to the communicator electronics. As an alternative or in addition, this transfer can also take place via a corresponding protocol, in which case digital signals are then preferably already present in the adapter electronics.

Furthermore, the communicator electronics can preferably be accommodated on a printed circuit board and / or the motor head electronics can be accommodated on a printed circuit board.

The data transmission unit particularly preferably comprises at least a first group of first adapter pieces and a second group of second adapter pieces, the adapter electronics of the first adapter pieces being designed to communicate the signals between the field device electronics of a first field device and the communicator electronics, the adapter electronics of the second adapter pieces is designed to communicate the signals between the field device electronics of a second field device and the communicator electronics, the adapter piece of each communication unit being selected depending on a field device to be coupled from at least the first group of first adapter pieces and the second group of second adapter pieces.

In accordance with this preferred embodiment, a modular system is provided. This system preferably comprises different groups of adapter pieces, which are preferably configured according to different field devices. The adapter pieces can in particular be selected as a function of a field device and coupled to it. This means that different field devices can be used. The communicator pieces can preferably be substantially identical and configured to be coupled to each of the adapter pieces.

In particular, a data transmission unit can thus be provided which is individually adapted to customer needs. It is also advantageous that a data processing unit can also be converted and / or upgraded. According to a further preferred embodiment variant, the adapter piece comprises a field device coupling which is designed to mechanically, preferably detachably, connect the field device to the adapter piece. The adapter piece can particularly preferably be screwed onto the field device. The field device coupling can preferably be formed on the field device interface. In particular, the field device can thereby be connected to the adapter piece both electrically and mechanically.

As a result, the adapter piece can be connected to the field device in a particularly simple manner. Furthermore, the mechanical connection of these components enables a particularly compact field device adapter piece unit, which enables simple handling.

The releasable connection of the adapter piece to the field device can preferably enable the field device and / or the adapter piece to be exchanged.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the communicator piece comprises an adapter coupling which is designed to mechanically, preferably detachably, connect the adapter piece to the comunicator piece.

The adapter coupling can preferably be formed on the adapter interface. Particularly preferably, the communicator piece can thereby be connected to the adapter piece both electrically and mechanically. This allows the communicator piece to be connected to the adapter piece in a particularly simple manner. Furthermore, the mechanical connection of these components enables a particularly compact communicator piece / adapter piece unit, which enables simple handling.

The detachable connection of the comunicator piece with the adapter piece can preferably enable the comunicator piece and / or the adapter piece to be exchanged.

In particular, it is preferred that the adapter piece comprises a field device coupling which is designed to connect the field device to the adapter piece mechanically, preferably detachably, and / or that the communication device is an adapter coupling which is designed to mechanically, preferably releasably, connect the adapter piece to the communicator piece.

The field device coupling can particularly preferably be designed to connect the field device to the adapter piece by means of a bayonet, screw or click connection. The field device coupling can preferably be formed on an adapter piece housing. In particular, the field device can have an adapter coupling which is designed to be brought into engagement with the field device coupling.

The adapter coupling can particularly preferably be designed to connect the communicator piece to the adapter piece by means of a bayonet, screw or click connection. Preferably, the adapter coupling can be on one

Communicator piece housing be formed. In particular, the adapter piece can have a communicator coupling which is designed to be brought into engagement with the adapter coupling.

According to a further preferred embodiment variant, the signal converter is an analog-digital converter. Furthermore, the adapter electronics and / or the

Communicator electronics and / or the signal converter set up to receive analog signals, to convert them into standardized analog signals and to convert the standardized analog signals into digital signals and to send the digital signals and / or vice versa. This embodiment variant enables analog signals, which are preferably generated by the field device electronics and sent to the adapter electronics, to be converted into digital signals in the adapter electronics and / or the communicator electronics. Digital signals are generally less susceptible to interference during transmission, since the signal level of the digital signals can still be assigned a correct value with a certain tolerance. Differential digital signals in particular are particularly robust here against external interference.

The communicator electronics can preferably include a repeater and / or signal conditioner and be designed to receive digital signals, to prepare the digital signals by means of the repeater and / or the signal conditioner, and to send the conditioned digital signals. As a result, errors can be corrected if necessary, in particular unwanted noise can be removed. The advantage of this is that by processing the digital signals in the communicator electronics, preferably only the useful signal can be sent to the motor head electronics.

In particular, the engine head electronics can also include a repeater and / or signal processor in order to process the digital signals received from the communicator pieces.

By converting analog signals into digital signals, more robust signal transmission can be made possible.

The signal converter can preferably also comprise a repeater and / or signal processor which is set up to process digital signals. This embodiment variant is particularly advantageous when the adapter piece is set up to receive digital signals from the field device and / or to receive digital signals from the comunicator piece and to send them to the field device.

Preferably, current signals, in particular 0 mA - 20 mA or with offset zero point 4 mA - 20 mA, or voltage signals, in particular <0 V - 5 V, 0 V - 10 V, with offset zero point 1 V - 5 V, can be used for analog transmission offset zero point 2 V - 10

V or with or without offset zero point -10 V - 10 V.

The current signals can particularly preferably be used as normalized signals. These are particularly insensitive to electromagnetic interference and voltage losses. In particular, analog sensor signals from the field device can be converted into standardized signals (for example 0 V to 4.095 V) and sent on as converted digital signals (for example 0-4095).

Furthermore, it is preferred if the communicator electronics and / or the motor head electronics are set up to receive the signals contactless or contact-bound, preferably wired, convert the signals into radio signals and send them by radio or wired and / or vice versa. As a result, the signal transmission between the communicator electronics and the motor head electronics can take place wirelessly. With this configuration, a cable layer on the data transmission unit can be reduced or avoided. This also makes the Manageability and in particular the attachment of the data transmission unit, in particular to the head plate of the bioreactor, is particularly simplified.

According to this embodiment variant, the communicator piece and / or the motor head piece can have an antenna which is set up to transmit and / or receive the radio signals. The antenna can preferably be flexible. As a result, the best possible closure of the fields between the motor head piece and the communicator piece can be achieved.

The conversion into radio signals can take place, for example, by means of modulation. In particular, the original signal or the information of the original signal can be recovered by demodulation and, if necessary, forwarded and / or further processed.

With this variant, no electrical cables have to be laid between the communicator piece and the motor head piece.

It is further preferred if the adapter electronics are set up to receive the signals in a contactless or contact-bound manner, preferably in a wired manner, to convert the signals into radio signals and to send them by radio or by cable and / or vice versa. As a result, the signal transmission between the adapter electronics and the communicator electronics can take place wirelessly. With this configuration, a cable layer on the data transmission unit can be reduced or avoided. This also improves the manageability and, in particular, the attachment of the

Data transmission unit particularly simplified to the head plate of the bioreactor.

According to this embodiment variant, the communicator piece and / or the adapter piece can have an antenna which is set up to send and / or receive the radio signals. The antenna can preferably be flexible. As a result, the best possible closure of the fields between the adapter piece and the communicator piece can be achieved. Another possible form is an integrated antenna on the circuit board of the communicator electronics and / or on the circuit board of the adapter electronics. The conversion into radio signals can take place, for example, by means of modulation.

In particular, the original signal or the information of the original signal can be recovered and, if necessary, forwarded and / or further processed.

With this variant, no electrical cables have to be laid between the communicator piece and the adapter piece. A modem can be used to convert the signals, preferably the digital signals, into radio signals and / or vice versa. The communicator electronics and / or the adapter electronics can preferably have the modem which is set up to convert digital signals into radio signals and / or vice versa.

Furthermore, the adapter electronics and / or the communicator electronics can preferably be designed to receive radio signals, to convert them into original, digital signals and to transmit the original, digital signals.

The signals can preferably be transmitted between the adapter electronics and the communicator electronics in a contact-bound, preferably wired, or wireless manner and / or vice versa. Particularly preferably, the signals between the communicator electronics and the motor head electronics can be contact-bound, preferably wired, or transmitted by radio and / or vice versa.

In general, radio signals can preferably be based on a Bluetooth protocol or a protocol modified therefrom, in particular Bluetooth Low Energy, ZigBee, 6L0WPAN and / or a (different) wireless protocol. In particular, a radio connection with a very short range and thus a low transmission power can take place.

In general, a wired connection can preferably be implemented using a very short, in particular semi-flexible, cable. In particular, a cable can be used which is attached to the communicator by means of a plug that is to be fixed, preferably screwable. For example, an opposite side of the cable could be coupled to the motor head piece or to the adapter piece, preferably by means of a plug, for example tapering in a wedge shape, and / or in the form of a spring contact. The connection between the cable and the motor head is preferably secured in a detachable manner, for example by means of a latching connection and / or a magnetic connection. This enables a quick and easy coupling and on the one hand on the other hand, a manual release of a lock achieved by the latching mechanism can be guaranteed.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment variant, the data transmission unit can be the motor head piece, which can be coupled in terms of energy technology to the evaluation unit and to the drive unit, which can be arranged on the head plate of the bioreactor, comprising the motor head electronics, and the at least two communication units each coupled to the motor head piece for signaling purposes each comprising: the adapter piece with the adapter electronics, which can be electrically connected to the field device electronics of the field device, and the communicator piece with the communicator electronics, which is electrically connected to the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics, the adapter electronics comprising the analog-to-digital converter and is set up to receive analog signals, to convert them into digital signals and to send the digital signals and / or vice versa in order to communicate the signals between the field device electronics and the communicator electronics n, the signals carrying field device information and measurement information and / or control information, the communicator electronics being set up to communicate the signals between the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics, the adapter piece and the Ko mmuni kato rstü ck being designed as separate components that can be coupled to one another , wherein the motor head piece is designed as a separate component that can be coupled to the communication units.

This refinement enables field devices to be used that generate analog and, in particular, particularly sensitive signals and send them to the adapter piece. This allows the adapter pieces to be connected to conventional field devices that cannot generate digital signals. By converting this signal at the point of origin, a signal transmission, in particular more robust, can be made possible. The digital signals are clearer than analog signals and precisely defined. This means that they are easier to reconstruct, have a high level of interference immunity and enable flexible further processing.

According to an alternative, particularly preferred embodiment, the data transmission unit can be the motor head piece, which can be coupled in terms of energy technology to the evaluation unit and to the drive unit, which can be arranged on the head plate of the bioreactor, comprising the motor head electronics, and the at least two, each coupled to the motor head piece for signal purposes Have communication units, each comprising: the adapter piece with the adapter electronics, which can be electrically connected to the field device electronics of the field device, and the communicator piece with the communicator electronics, which is electrically connected to the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics, the adapter electronics comprising the analog-to-digital converter and is set up to receive analog signals, to convert them into normalized signals and to send the normalized signals and / or vice versa in order to transmit the signals between the field device electronics and the

Communicate communicator electronics, wherein the signals carry field device information and measurement information and / or control information, wherein the communicator electronics is set up to communicate the signals between the adapter electronics and the engine head electronics, the adapter piece and the

Communicator piece are designed as separate components that can be coupled to one another, the motor head piece being designed as a separate component that can be coupled to the communication units. This refinement enables field devices to be used that generate analog and, in particular, particularly sensitive signals and send them to the adapter piece. This allows the adapter pieces to be connected to conventional field devices that cannot generate digital signals.

By converting the signals from the field device into standard signals, these can be passed on and processed. In addition, standardized communicator pieces can be used due to the standardization, which can communicate with different adapter pieces.

Current signals can particularly preferably be used as normalized signals. These are particularly insensitive to electromagnetic interference and voltage losses. This enables a more robust signal transmission. Furthermore, the analog-digital converter itself can be permanently supplied with energy as a result.

According to an alternative, particularly preferred embodiment, the data transmission unit can be the motor head piece, which can be coupled in terms of energy technology to the evaluation unit and to the drive unit, which can be arranged on the head plate of the bioreactor, comprising the motor head electronics, and the at least two, each coupled to the motor head piece for signal purposes Have communication units, each comprising: the adapter piece with the Adapter electronics that can be electrically connected to the field device electronics of the field device, and the communicator piece with the communicator electronics that is electrically connected to the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics, the adapter electronics including the signal converter, preferably the analog-to-digital converter, and being set up to To communicate signals between the field device electronics and the communicator electronics, preferably to receive analog signals, convert them into standardized signals and send the standardized signals and / or vice versa, the signals carrying field device information and measurement information and / or control information, the communicator electronics carrying the analog Digital converter comprises and is configured to receive analog signals, to convert them into digital signals and to send the digital signals and / or vice versa in order to communicate the signals between the adapter electronics and the engine head electronics, the adapter piece and the communicator piece are designed as separate components that can be coupled to one another, the motor head piece being designed as a separate component that can be coupled to the communication units.

Each of the above particularly preferred embodiment variants ensures a more robust signal transmission. Robust signal transmission and the associated exact transmission of information are of paramount importance in bioprocess technology. When cultivating microorganisms and / or cell cultures, every single parameter is crucial. For example, the composition of the culture medium, its pH value and temperature are of particular importance. Even small fluctuations can have an impact on the growth curve. It should also be borne in mind that the microorganisms and / or cell cultures consume nutrients from the culture medium. There is therefore a need to precisely monitor the nutrient concentrations, preferably in real time, in order to be able to regulate a nutrient supply. Furthermore, microorganisms and / or cell cultures can result in different foaming due to the metabolism. In particular, in order to avoid excessive foam formation, which can also result in overflowing of the bioreactor, the foam formation must be monitored in real time in order to control it by setting other parameters.

According to an alternative, particularly preferred embodiment, the data transmission unit can be the motor head piece, which can be coupled in terms of energy technology to the evaluation unit and to the drive unit, which can be arranged on the head plate of the bioreactor, comprising the motor head electronics, and the at least two, each coupled to the motor head piece for signal purposes Have communication units, each comprising: the adapter piece with the adapter electronics, which can be electrically connected to the field device electronics of the field device, and the communicator piece with the communicator electronics, which is electrically connected to the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics, the adapter electronics comprising the signal converter and being set up, in order to communicate the signals between the field device electronics and the communicator electronics, the signals carrying field device information and measurement information and / or control information, the communicator electronics being set up to receive the signals contact-bound, preferably wired, to convert the signals into radio signals and to transmit them by radio send and / or vice versa in order to communicate the signals between the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics, the adapter piece and the communicator piece being designed as separate components that can be coupled to one another, whereby i the motor head piece is designed as a separate component that can be coupled to the communication units. According to this preferred embodiment, the signal converter can preferably be an analog-digital converter or a repeater and / or signal processor. In particular in the event that the adapter piece can be connected to an analog sensor, the signal converter can be designed as an analog-digital converter. In particular in the event that the adapter piece can be connected to a digital sensor, the signal converter can be designed as a repeater and / or signal processor.

Alternatively, for example, the signal converter can be an analog-to-digital converter. Here, the communicator electronics can include an analog-to-digital converter and be set up to receive standardized analog signals, convert them into digital signals and convert the digital signals into radio signals. This preferred embodiment variant combines the advantages mentioned above with regard to the different configuration of the signal converters and the advantages of radio transmission. In particular, a cable layer on the

Data transmission unit can be reduced or avoided. This also particularly simplifies the handling and in particular the attachment of the data transmission unit, in particular to the top plate of the bioreactor.

According to a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that the field device interface and / or the communicator interface and / or the The adapter interface and / or the motor head connector 11e is designed as a connection to a cable, the cable preferably having a maximum length of 20 cm.

The connection can in particular be designed as a plug arranged on a cable. The cable can preferably have a maximum length of 50 cm, 20 cm, 15 cm, 10 cm, 8 cm, 6 cm, 5 cm or 4 cm. The maximum length of the cable is preferably dependent on the dimensions of the bioreactor.

The cables with a particularly short length can, on the one hand, improve the manageability since no unnecessarily long cables are used and therefore a cable layer is reduced. This can preferably also result in a neat appearance. In addition, the signal transmission can be improved.

It is particularly preferred that the motor head piece is energy-technically coupled to the communicator piece, wherein the motor head electronics are set up to supply the communicator electronics with energy, in particular current, and / or the com m u n i kato rstü ck is energy-technically coupled with the adapter piece, the

Communicator electronics is set up to supply the adapter electronics with energy, in particular current, and / or the adapter piece can be coupled with the field device in terms of energy, the adapter electronics being set up to supply the field device electronics with energy, in particular current, whereby preferably the current is contact-bound, preferably wired, and / or transmitted inductively.

The preferred inductive energy supply can preferably be fed from an inductive source in the motor head piece.

The motor head electronics and / or the communicator electronics and / or the adapter electronics can preferably comprise supply electronics. The motor head piece can in particular be set up as a power distributor in order to supply all communicator electronics that are electrically connected to the motor head electronics with power. A particularly simple structure of the data transmission unit can thereby be ensured. In particular, the individual components, that is to say preferably the adapter piece and / or the communicator piece, can be designed in a particularly simple manner. This also eliminates the need to electrically connect individual components with a supply line or to provide other energy sources in the components.

With this configuration, the field devices can also be supplied with energy, for example. According to a further preferred embodiment variant, the motor headpiece comprises a communication interface that is electrically connected to the communicator electronics, and a feed interface to which a feed cable can be electrically connected, the feed interface being electrically connectable to evaluation electronics of the evaluation unit, the motor head electronics between the communication interface and the feed line interface is connected, wherein the engine head electronics are set up to transmit signals between the

Communication interface to communicate electrically connected communicator electronics and evaluation electronics that can be electrically connected to the feed line interface. The feed line interface serves in particular to connect an evaluation unit, in particular its evaluation electronics, to the motor head piece, in particular its motor head electronics, preferably via a feed cable.

The engine head electronics can preferably be designed to send and / or receive signals via the communication interface and / or the feed line interface. Here, the motor head can be designed in particular to convert signals from the communication interface into signals from the feed line interface. Furthermore, the adapter electronics can be designed in particular to convert signals from the feed line interface into signals from the communication interface.

It is also preferred if the motor head electronics are set up to send signals based on a bus protocol via a bus system or several bus systems to the communicator electronics of the communicator pieces or to receive them from the communicator electronics of the communicator pieces. As a result of this configuration, all communication units can be electrically connected to the motor head piece via a bus line. As a result, the motor head piece can receive signals from the communication units via this one bus line and / or send signals to the communication units via this one bus line. It is also advantageous that the signals can be transmitted over the bus line at the same time. It can also be two or several bus lines can be provided, in particular also two or more different bus systems.

In one variant, the motor head piece can be set up to be coupled with the evaluation unit for signaling purposes via a bus line. In one variant, the motor head piece can be coupled to a drive unit for signaling purposes and can be designed to control the drive unit.

The adapter piece and / or the communicator piece and / or the motor head piece can preferably have a memory unit which is designed to store signals. According to a preferred embodiment, the adapter piece can comprise a polymer, a plastic, a glass fiber reinforced nylon, a glass fiber reinforced acetyl, aluminum or an aluminum alloy or consist of a polymer, a plastic, a glass fiber reinforced nylon, a glass fiber reinforced acetyl, aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The communicator piece can preferably comprise a polymer, a plastic, a glass fiber reinforced nylon, a fiber reinforced acetyl, aluminum or an aluminum alloy or consist of a polymer, a plastic, a glass fiber reinforced nylon, a glass fiber reinforced acetyl, aluminum or an aluminum alloy . The engine head piece can preferably comprise a polymer, a plastic, a glass fiber reinforced nylon, a glass fiber reinforced acetyl, anodized metal, aluminum or an aluminum alloy or made of a polymer, a plastic, a glass fiber reinforced nylon, a glass fiber reinforced acetyl, anodized metal, aluminum or an aluminum alloy consist. The communication units can particularly preferably each include a field device, the adapter electronics being electrically connected to the field device electronics of the field device.

For further advantages, design variants and design details of this third aspect and its possible refinements, refer to the previously made description of the referring to corresponding features and developments of the first aspect and the second aspect.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the object mentioned at the beginning is achieved by the use of a data transmission unit for a top plate and / or for a bioreactor.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the aforementioned object is achieved by a method for providing a data transmission unit with the following steps: providing a motor head piece which can be coupled in terms of signal technology to an evaluation unit and to a drive unit which can be arranged on a head plate of a bioreactor, in terms of energy technology, Comprising motor head electronics, and assembling communication units, comprising the steps of: selecting adapter pieces each with adapter electronics depending on the field devices to be coupled with these adapter pieces, providing communication pieces each with communicator electronics, coupling the adapter pieces with one communicator each the communicator pieces and each electrical connection of the adapter electronics with the communicator electronics, each electrical connection of the communicator electronics with the motor head electronics.

Thanks to the modular system, the adapter pieces can be selected as a function of a field device and coupled to it. This system preferably comprises different groups of adapter pieces, which are preferably configured according to different field devices.

The communicator pieces can preferably be substantially identical and configured to be coupled to each of the adapter pieces.

In particular, a data transmission unit can thus be provided which is individually adapted to customer needs. It is also advantageous that a

Data processing unit can also be converted and / or upgraded.

For further advantages, design variants and design details of these further aspects and their possible further developments, reference is also made to the description given above for the corresponding features and further developments of the first aspect, the second aspect and the third aspect. Preferred exemplary embodiments are explained by way of example with the aid of the accompanying figures. Show it:

1 shows a section of a bioreactor;

2 shows a data transmission unit with a communication unit; 3 shows an adapter piece that can be coupled to a field device and a section of a field device; and

4 shows exemplary method steps for providing a data transmission unit.

Identical or essentially functionally identical or similar elements are denoted by the same reference symbols in the figures.

FIG. 1 shows a section of a bioreactor 1 with a container 13 and a head plate 11 which closes the container 13. The container 13 or its wall and the top plate 11 enclose an interior space 14. The interior space 14 can define a reaction space of the bioreactor 1. The bioreactor 1 further comprises a stirrer shaft 12 which is guided into the interior space 14 and is coupled to a drive unit 15 which is arranged on the head plate 11. By means of the drive unit 15, the agitator shaft 12 and thus an agitator of the bioreactor 1 can be set in rotation in order to thoroughly mix a content, preferably a reaction medium. The bioreactor 1 shown in FIG. 1 further comprises two field devices 50a, 50b which are each coupled to a communication unit. The communication units are components of the data transmission unit.

Configurations with only one field device and only one communication unit or with more than two field devices and correspondingly more than two communication units are also possible. Furthermore, configurations are possible in which two or more field devices, each with an adapter piece, are connected to a common communicator piece. The data transmission unit comprises a motor head piece 40 which is mounted on the drive unit 15 and is coupled to it at least in terms of energy. The motor head piece 40 is therefore designed to supply the drive unit 15 with energy. In particular, engine head electronics can be electrically connected to drive electronics of drive unit 40. The motor head piece 40 can preferably be designed to be coupled with the drive unit 15 for signaling purposes. As a result, the engine head electronics can preferably also control the drive unit.

A feed cable 43 is connected to the motor head piece 40. This feed cable 43 can preferably comprise at least four wires, two for power supply and two for data transmission. The motor head piece 40 can be electrically connected to an evaluation unit via the feed cable 43. The signal-carrying wires can, for example, enable data transmission according to the EIA485 / RS485 standard. By using a differentially based transmission technology, a particularly robust and error-proof communication can be made possible.

The evaluation unit can preferably be designed to receive signals, preferably from the data transmission unit, and to evaluate them. Furthermore, the evaluation unit can be designed to generate signals and to send them to the data transmission unit. These signals can preferably serve to control and / or calibrate the field devices 50a, 50b. Particularly preferably, the evaluation unit can receive signals from the data transmission unit, evaluate these signals and, as a function of these signals, generate signals and send them to the data transmission unit.

The communication units each comprise an adapter piece 20a, 20b and a respective communicator piece 30a, 30b. The adapter piece 20a, 20b comprises adapter electronics which are electrically connected to the field device electronics of one of the field devices 50a, 50b. The communication unit 20a, 20b comprises communicator electronics which are electrically connected to the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics of the motor head 40. The motor head piece 40 shown in FIG. 1 is connected by cable to the communicator pieces 30a, 30b. For this purpose, the motor head piece 40 has sockets 42, each of which is designed as a communication interface. The motor head interfaces 31a, 31b of the communicator piece 30a, 30b are each designed as a connection to a cable 32, the cable 32 being connected to the

Motor head interfaces 31a, 31b can be attached permanently or detachably. The connection is designed as a plug which is set up to be connected to contacts of the socket 42 on the motor head piece 40.

This configuration allows signals between the field devices 50a, 50b and the adapter pieces 20a, 20b and between the adapter pieces 20a, 20b and the

Communicator pieces 30a, 30b and between the communicator pieces 30a, 30b and the motor head piece 40 are communicated. The adapter electronics (not shown in FIG. 1) each include a signal converter to convert the signals from the field device 50a, 50b, preferably into standardized signals, and to send them to the communicator electronics of the communicator part 30a, 30b. The adapter electronics can preferably be designed to receive signals from the communicator electronics, convert them by means of the signal converter and send them to field device electronics.

The field devices 50a, 50b, the adapter pieces 20a, 20b, the com m u n i kato rstü cke 30a, 30b and the motor head piece 40 are separate components which are coupled to one another.

By signaling coupling of the motor head piece 40 to the evaluation unit and the adapter piece 20a, 20b to the field device 50a, 50b, a signal transmission between at least two field devices 50a, 50b and the evaluation unit can be made possible by means of the data transmission unit. Different field devices 50a, 50b are generally set up to send different signals that carry field device information and measurement information and / or to receive different signals that carry control information. For example, field devices 50a, 50b can send and / or receive digital or analog signals. In particular, field devices 50a, 50b can generate analog signals. For this reason, it is necessary to use appropriately configured adapter pieces 20a, 20b in order to convert these signals and send them to the communicator piece 30a, 30b and / or receive these signals from the communication device 30a, 30b, convert them and send them to the field device 501, 50b to be able to send. The communicator piece 30a, 30b, in contrast to the adapter piece 20a, 20b, can preferably be designed identically for each communication unit. The communicator pieces 30a, 30b can therefore preferably be configured uniformly. A

Communicator electronics of each Ko mmuni kato rstü cks 30a, 30b is electrically connected to the engine head electronics to receive signals from the field device 50a, 50b via the adapter 20a, 20b and to send them to the engine head electronics and / or to receive signals from the engine head electronics and via to send the adapter piece 20a, 20b to the field device 50a, 50b. As a result, the engine head electronics can receive signals from the individual field devices 50a, 50b and / or send signals to them. The bioreactor 1, in particular the data transmission unit, can be individually adapted to customer requirements by means of different adapter pieces 20a, 20b, which are configured in accordance with the field devices 50a, 50b. As a result, only a correspondingly configured adapter piece 20a, 20b has to be designed on the hardware side - the effort to integrate a new field device 50a, 50b into the bioreactor 1 is therefore significantly less. FIG. 2 shows, on the left, a communication unit coupled to a field device 50 with an adapter piece 20 and a communication unit 30. According to the exemplary embodiment shown here, the adapter piece 20 is mounted directly on the field device 50 and is electrically connected to it. Likewise, the communicator piece 30 is mounted directly on the adapter piece 20 and connected to it. The communicator piece 30 has a motor head connector 11e 31, which is designed as a connection on a cable. The connection is designed as a plug which is set up to be connected to contacts 44 of a socket 42 on the motor head piece. The socket 42 is formed on a housing 41 of the engine head piece.

FIG. 3 shows a field device 50 with a connection interface 51 which can be coupled to an interface device 22 of the adapter piece 20. The connection interface 51 and the field device interface 22 enable the field device 50 to be coupled to the adapter piece 20. The adapter electronics (not shown in FIG. 3) are accommodated on a printed circuit board, a PCBA, 24.

The adapter piece 20 has a field device interface 22 which is designed as pins 23 on the circuit board 24. According to the example shown here, the circuit board has a total of six pin pairs. Of these, for example, at least two pins can be configured to enable an electrical connection between the adapter electronics and the field device electronics, these pins 23 preferably as outputs and / or entrances are set up. In addition, the printed circuit board 24 can preferably have two pins 23 which are set up for the energy supply. The circuit board can in particular have two spring contacts which enable an electrical connection between the adapter electronics and the communicator electronics. The circuit board could, for example, have the following sample assignment: + 24 V, GND, RS485 +, RS485-, Analog "!, Analog2.

The pins 23 can preferably have a partial metallization of the contact surfaces, in particular a gold plating.

FIG. 4 shows exemplary method steps for providing a data transmission unit. In a step 110, a motor head piece, which can be coupled with an evaluation unit for signaling purposes and with a drive unit that can be arranged on a head plate of a bioreactor, including motor head electronics, is selected or provided. In a further step 120, communication units are put together. The step 120 of assembling the communication units further comprises a step 121 of selecting adapter pieces each with adapter electronics depending on the field devices to be coupled with these adapter pieces, and a step 122 of providing communication units each with one communicator electronics, as well as one Step 123 of coupling the adapter pieces with in each case a communicator piece of the Ko mmuni kato rstü cke and in each case a step 124 of electrically connecting the

Adapter electronics with the communicator electronics. Furthermore, the communicator electronics are electrically connected to the engine head electronics in a step 130.

Reference list

I bioreactor

I I headstock

12 agitator shaft 13 container

14 Interior of the container

15 Drive unit

20 adapter piece

20a first adapter piece 20b second adapter piece

21 PCB / PCBA

22 Field device interface

23 pins

24 Printed circuit board / PCBA 30 com m u n i cator pieces

30a first communicator piece 30b second communicator piece

31 Motor head interface

31a motor head interface 31b motor head interface

32 cables

40 motor head piece

41 Housing of the motor head piece

42 Socket on the motor head piece 43 Supply cable

44 contacts on the socket

50 field device / sensor / actuator 50a first field device / first sensor / first actuator 50b second field device / second sensor / second actuator 51 connection interface 110 selecting a motor head piece

120 Compiling communication units

121 Selecting Adapter Pieces

122 Preparing Co m m u n i cato rs

123 Coupling the adapter pieces

124 electrical connection of the adapter electronics with the communicator electronics

130 electrical connection of the communicator electronics with the motor head electronics

Claims

EXPECTATIONS

1 . Bioreactor (1), in particular for cultivating microorganisms and / or cell cultures, with

- a container (13),

- a head plate (11) which is designed to close the container (13),

- An agitator with o an agitator shaft (12) guided through the top plate (11) into an interior (14) of the container (13) and o an agitator shaft (12) connected to the interior (14) of the container (13) Stirring element,

- A drive unit (15) arranged on the head plate (11) and coupled to the agitator shaft (12)

- At least one field device (50, 50a, 50b) arranged in the interior space (14) with field device electronics, the top plate (11) comprising:

- an inside and an outside opposite the inside,

- an agitator connection device which is designed to o guide the agitator shaft (12) through the top plate (11) and o connect the drive unit (15),

- At least one field device connection device which is designed to connect the field device (50, 50a, 50b) on the inside, and

- A data transmission unit arranged on the outside, with o a motor head piece (40), which can be coupled with an evaluation unit for signaling purposes and is coupled in terms of energy to the drive unit (15), comprising motor head electronics, and o at least one communication unit coupled with the motor head piece (40) for signal purposes , full:

^■ an adapter piece (20, 20a, 20b) with an adapter electronics, which is electrically connected to the field device electronics of the field device (50, 50a, 50b), and ^■ a comuni cato piece (30, 30a, 30b) with a

Communicator electronics, which are electrically connected to the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics, the adapter electronics being configured to communicate signals between the field device electronics and the communicator electronics, the signals carrying field device information and measurement information and / or control information, the communicator electronics being configured to the To communicate signals between the adapter electronics and the engine head electronics, wherein the data transmission unit further comprises a signal converter, which is preferably designed as part of the adapter electronics and / or as part of the communicator electronics; wherein the adapter piece (20, 20a, 20b) and the Ko m m u n i kato rstü ck (30, 30a, 30b) are designed as separate components that can be coupled to one another, the motor head piece (40) as a separate, with the

Communication unit couplable component is formed.

2. Head plate (11) for closing a bioreactor (1), comprising

- an inside and an outside opposite the inside,

- an agitator connection device which is designed to o guide an agitator shaft (12) through the top plate (11) and o to connect a drive unit (15) that can be coupled to the agitator shaft (12),

- At least one field device connection device which is designed to connect a field device (50, 50a, 50b) to the inside,

- A data transmission unit arranged on the outside, with o a motor head piece (40) which can be coupled in terms of signal technology to an evaluation unit and to the drive unit (15), which can be arranged on a head plate (11) of a bioreactor (1), in terms of energy, comprising a Motor head electronics, and o at least one communication unit coupled for signaling to the motor head piece (40), comprising: ^■ an adapter piece (20, 20a, 20b) with an adapter electronics, which is electrically connectable to a field device electronics of the field device (50, 50a, 50b), and

^■ a comuni cato piece (30, 30a, 30b) with a communicator electronics, which with the adapter electronics and the

Motor head electronics is electrically connected, the adapter electronics being configured to communicate signals between the field device electronics and the communicator electronics, the signals carrying field device information and measurement information and / or control information, the communicator electronics being configured to transmit the signals between the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics communicate, wherein the data transmission unit further comprises a signal converter, which is preferably designed as part of the adapter electronics and / or as part of the communicator electronics, the adapter piece (20, 20a, 20b) and the Ko mmuni kato rstü ck (30, 30a, 30b) are designed as separate components that can be coupled to one another, the motor head piece (40) being designed as a separate component that can be coupled to the communication unit.

3. Data transmission unit for a head plate (11) of a bioreactor (1) with

- a motor head piece (40) which can be coupled with an evaluation unit for signaling purposes and with a drive unit (15) which can be arranged on a head plate (11) of a bioreactor (1) in terms of energy, comprising motor head electronics, and at least one with the motor head piece (40) signal-technically coupled

Communication unit, each comprising: o an adapter piece (20, 20a, 20b) with adapter electronics which can be electrically connected to field device electronics of a field device (50, 50a, 50b), and o a communicator piece (30, 30a, 30b) with communicator electronics that is electrically connected to the adapter electronics and the motor head electronics, wherein the adapter electronics are set up 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 set up to transfer the signals between the

To communicate adapter electronics and the motor head electronics, wherein the data transmission unit further comprises a signal converter, which is preferably designed as part of the adapter electronics and / or as part of the communicator electronics, wherein the adapter piece (20, 20a, 20b) and the communicator piece (30, 30a,

30b) are designed as separate components that can be coupled to one another, the motor head piece (40) being designed as a separate component that can be coupled to the communication units.

4. Data transmission unit according to at least claim 3, wherein the adapter piece (20, 20a, 20b) has a field device interface and a

Comprises communicator interface, wherein the adapter electronics is o connected between the field device interface and the communicator interface, o can be electrically connected to the field device electronics via the field device interface and o is electrically connected to the communicator electronics via the communicator interface, and the communicator piece (30, 30a, 30b) has an adapter interface and a motor head interface, wherein the communicator electronics are o connected between the adapter interface and the motor head interface, o are electrically connected to the adapter electronics via the adapter interface and o are electrically connected to the motor head electronics via the motor head interface.

5. Data transmission unit according to at least one of claims 3 or 4, comprising at least a first group of first adapter pieces and a second group of second adapter pieces, the adapter electronics of the first adapter pieces (20a) being designed to transmit the signals between the field device electronics of a first field device ( 50a) and the

Communicate communicator electronics, wherein the adapter electronics of the second adapter pieces (20b) is designed to communicate the signals between the field device electronics of a second field device (50b) and the communicator electronics, the adapter piece (20, 20a, 20b) to each communication unit depending on one coupling field device (50, 50a, 50b) is selected from at least the first group of first adapter pieces (50a) and the second group of second adapter pieces (50b).

6. Data transmission unit according to at least one of claims 3 to 5, wherein - the adapter piece (20, 20a, 20b) comprises a field device coupling which is designed to connect the field device (50, 50a, 50b) to the adapter piece (20, 20a, 20b ) to connect mechanically, preferably detachably, and / or

- That the communicator piece (30, 30a, 30b) comprises an adapter coupling which is designed to mechanically, preferably releasably, connect the adapter piece (20, 20a, 20b) to the communicator piece (30, 30a, 30b).

7. Data transmission unit according to at least one of claims 3 to 6,

- wherein the signal converter is an analog-to-digital converter, and / or - wherein the adapter electronics and / or the communicator electronics and / or the

Signal converter is set up to receive analog signals, to convert them into standardized analog signals and to convert the standardized analog signals into digital signals and to send the digital signals and / or vice versa.

8. Data transmission unit according to at least one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the communicator electronics and / or the motor head electronics are set up to receive the signals contactless or contact-bound, preferably wired, to convert the signals into radio signals and to send them by radio or wired and / or the other way around.

9. Data transmission unit according to at least one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the adapter electronics is configured to receive the signals contactless or contact-bound, preferably wired, convert the signals into radio signals and send them by radio or wired and / or vice versa.

10. Data transmission unit according to at least claim 4 and one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the field device interface and / or the communicator interface and / or the adapter interface and / or the motor head interface is designed as a connection to a cable, the cable preferably having a maximum length 50 cm.

11. Data transmission unit according to at least one of claims 3 to 10, wherein

- the motor head piece (40) with the communicator piece (30, 30a, 30b) is energy-technically coupled, wherein the motor head electronics are set up to supply the communicator electronics with power, and / or - the communicator piece (30, 30a, 30b) with the adapter piece (20, 20a, 20b) is coupled in terms of power, the communicator electronics being set up to supply the adapter electronics with power, and / or

- The adapter piece (20, 20a, 20b) can be coupled with the field device (50, 50a, 50b) in terms of energy, the adapter electronics being set up to supply the field device electronics with power, the power preferably being contact-bound, preferably wired, and / or is transmitted inductively.

12. Data transmission unit according to at least one of claims 3 to 11, wherein the motor head piece (40) comprises:

- a communication interface that is electrically connected to the communicator electronics, and - A feed line interface to which a feed cable can be electrically connected, the feed line interface being electrically connectable to evaluation electronics of the evaluation unit, the motor head electronics being connected between the communication interface and the feed line interface, the motor head electronics being set up to electrically transfer signals between the one with the communication interface connected communicator electronics and an evaluation electronics that can be electrically connected to the feed line interface.

13. Data transmission unit according to at least one of claims 3 to 12, wherein the engine head electronics is set up to send signals based on a bus protocol via a bus system or several bus systems to the communicator electronics of the communicator pieces (30, 30a, 30b) or from the To receive communicator electronics of the communicator pieces (30, 30a, 30b).

14. Use of a data transmission unit according to one of claims 3 to 13 for a head plate (11), in particular according to at least claim 2, and / or for a bioreactor (1), in particular according to at least claim 1.

15. A method for providing a data transmission unit comprising the steps of: providing a motor head piece (110) which can be coupled in terms of signal technology to an evaluation unit and to a drive unit which can be arranged on a head plate of a bioreactor, comprising motor head electronics, and

- Compiling at least one communication unit (120), comprising the steps: o selecting an adapter piece (121) with adapter electronics depending on the field device to be coupled with this adapter piece, o providing a communicator piece (122) with communicator electronics, o Coupling of the adapter piece (123) with the communicator piece and electrical connection of the adapter electronics with the communicator electronics (124),

- electrically connecting the communicator electronics to the motor head electronics (130).