Abstract:
A magnetic flow transmitter (20) provides a coil driver output (46) at a selected fundamental to a coil (48) on a flow tube (22, 42) carrying a flow of a liquid (21). An amplifier (60) amplifies an electrode signal from the flow tube (42) and an A/D converter (66) converts the amplified electrode signal. A digital signal processor (DSP) (70) uses a spectral transform such as a Fourier type transform to generate a flow output (80) based on spectral components at or near the fundamental and a noise diagnosing output (82) based on components at or near a noise frequency.
Abstract:
Apparatus for determining the resonant frequency of a passive sensor, for example a saw device, comprises: means (5, 7, 3) for transmitting signals of a plurality of frequencies to said passive sensor (2); means (3, 7) for receiving signals from said passive sensor simultaneously with said transmitting of signals; means (7) for comparing the received signals with the transmitted signals to identify a characteristic change in the relationship between the received signals and the transmitted signals which occurs when the sensor is being driven at its resonant frequency. Typically, as the frequency at which the passive sensor is driven passes through the resonant frequency of the sensor the phase and/or amplitude of the signal generated by the passive sensor will change. By identifying this change of phase and/or amplitude the point at which resonance occurs can be detected. The frequency of the transmitted signal at the moment when the comparison indicates that the sensor is being driven at its resonant frequency is the resonant frequency of the sensor.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for the control and regulation of a driving unit for an inductive position sensor intended for the measurement of linear motion and compensation for temperature variations which arise in the sensor, in which a constant alternating current generator AC is used together with a constant direct current generator DC for supply of a circuit including a winding (1) which is part of a position sensor and a current measurement sensor (6) connected in series with the winding, whereby the voltage over the winding is measured both to partly obtain a signal which corresponds to the position of a sensor element (2) which moves relative to the winding and which influences the impedance of the winding, and to partly obtain a signal which corresponds to the temperature of the winding. In order to achieve a temperature compensation which is continuous, an alternating current AC which is superposed onto a direct current DC is used as drive signal for the inductive sensor and this signal is supplied in a current branch of the drive unit (5) which is common for both the winding (1) and the current measurement sensor (6), whereby the differential voltage of the component of the alternating voltage which appears across the winding is measured, and used to form the signal which corresponds to the position of the sensor element (2) relative to the winding (1), and the direct voltage component which appears across the winding is measured and used to form the signal which corresponds to the temperature appearing in the winding.
Abstract:
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for analyzing measurements. The invention provides a method for separating and analyzing the components of a distribution, such as deterministic and random components. The method performs the steps of collecting data from a measurement apparatus, constructing a histogram based on the data such that the histogram defines a distribution, fitting tails regions wherein deterministic and random components and associated statistical confidence levels are estimated.
Abstract:
A measurement system utilizes a sensor formed in a semiconductor on insulator structure that has an offset related to the time that power is applied. A controller applies power, obtains readings and removes power so as to minimize any effect of the offset.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a compensating element (4) for a sensor circuit which is equipped with strain gauges (2) in a bridge circuit (1). Said compensating element (4) consists of a metallic support plate (20) on which a structured resistance foil (24) is bonded in an insulating manner. Both the low-resistance trimming resistors (6, 16) and the high-resistance trimming resistors (13, 18) for compensating the temperature coefficient at zero (TKO) and the temperature coefficient at a characteristic value (TKK) are formed from the resistance foil (23) in a flat or grid form. The compensating element (4) can easily be connected to the sensor through the level support plate (20) with a suitable plastic and with good heat transfer. In the finished sensor, the compensating element is protected from mechanical damage by a sealing compound.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a measuring device with at least one microsensor (5). The at least one microsensor has at least two chambers (20, 30) which are filled with a gas. Said chambers (20, 30) are interconnected by at least one channel (40) and are sealed off in such a way that they are outwardly gas-tight. A detection device (70) for detecting a gas stream flowing through the at least one channel (40) is provided, said gas stream being caused by different pressures being present in the chambers. The invention also relates to a method for producing an inventive microsensor.
Abstract:
A process variable transmitter (50) which has a manual adjustment (60) for span and zero or the like. The adjustment (60) has a finer adjustment range where the output changes responsive to changes in the position of the adjustment. The adjustment has a coarse range where the transmitter output changes automatically as a function of time to provide coarser adjustment. An operator can move the adjustment back and forth between the adjustment ranges until a desired output value is observed. When adjustment is complete, the operator can manually select the desired transmitter output value and then a selection circuit (68) stores the setting in non-volatile memory (66, 13). After a setting is stored, the transmitter output is not sensitive to movement of the manual adjustment (60), but is instead controlled by the stored setting.
Abstract:
An addressable transducer interface which may be associated with a particular electrical transducer, comprises means (107) for storing correction data for the correction of errors as herein defined relating to that transducer so that on addressing of the interface by external control means, the correction data may be transmitted to the control means together with measurement data from the transducer. The storing means is arranged to store said correction data in digital form. The interface includes an analogue to digital converter circuit which comprises means (305, 306) for charging a capacitor (303) of a given value from a source of constant current of a given value, voltage comparator means (310, 311, 312) arranged to compare the value of an analogue voltage signal on an input with the charge voltage in said capacitor, a digital counter (301) arranged to start a count of cycles of a reference frequency when charging the capacitor is commenced from zero charge, a shift register (316, 317, 318) and a loading circuit arranged to cause the instantaneous count in said counter to be loaded into said shift register at the time when the charge in said capacitor is detected by said comparator as being equal to the value of the analogue signal.