Data processing: measuring – calibrating – or testing – Calibration or correction system – Timing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-14
2001-05-15
Shah, Kamini (Department: 2857)
Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing
Calibration or correction system
Timing
C700S067000, C340S870030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233532
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to electronic devices in general, and more particularly to electronic sensors for sensing various physical conditions and reporting on the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electronic sensors are well known in the art for sensing various physical conditions and reporting on the same. By way of example but not limitation, electronic sensors have been developed for sensing temperature, pressure, flow, strain, voltage, current, pH, gases, vibration, light, humidity, motion and the like.
The typical electronic sensor is generally constructed so as to provide a low-level, un-calibrated analog output. In most situations, the output of the electronic sensor must generally be used by a digital controller which is in turn connected to various digital computer control equipment. Thus, it is generally necessary to provide an interface between the electronic sensor and the digital controller so as to properly transform the electronic sensor's analog output signal into a corresponding digital signal which may then be used as an input for the digital controller.
More particularly,
FIG. 1
shows a typical prior art construction for connecting the output of an electronic sensor
5
to a digital controller
10
. The low-level, un-calibrated analog output of digital sensor
5
is first passed to a signal conditioner
15
, where the analog output signal is amplified to a more robust, and hence usable, level. Next, this amplified analog signal is passed to an analog-to-digital converter (or “ADC”)
20
, where the analog signal is converted into a corresponding digital signal. Finally, this digital signal is passed to digital controller
10
, which is in turn connected to digital computer control equipment
25
. In this way, the analog output signal generated by electronic sensor
5
may be monitored by digital computer control equipment
25
.
Many different types of electronic sensors
5
, and many different types of digital controllers
10
, are currently available on the market. Thus, with the sort of construction shown in
FIG. 1
, the user must generally specify, purchase and calibrate the specific signal conditioner
15
, and the specific ADC
20
, which will be used to convert the low-level, un-calibrated analog output signal provided by electronic sensor
5
into the sort of digital input signal usable by digital controller
10
. This process of specification, purchase and calibration generally involves significant time and expense.
In addition to the foregoing, since each independent (or “stand-alone”) component in an electronic system is generally characterized by a limited degree of accuracy, the need to position multiple independent components between electronic sensor
5
and digital controller
10
tends to undermine the overall accuracy of the sensor data being reported to digital controller
10
. In other words, if a specific stand-alone signal conditioner
15
has an error range of + or −2%, and a specific stand-alone ADC
20
has an error range of + or −2%, a signal passing through those two stand-alone elements will have an error range of + or −4%. Furthermore, since wiring and/or other electrical connectors must generally be used to electrically interconnect stand-alone signal conditioner
15
and stand-alone ADC
20
between electronic sensor
5
and digital controller
10
, still other inaccuracies may be introduced into the overall system through the use of stand-alone signal conditioners and stand-alone ADC's.
Currently, digital controller
10
might comprise a so-called “custom” controller, or it might comprise a so-called programmable logic control (or “PLC”), or it might comprise a so-called “micro-PLC”. Some custom controllers and some PLC's are constructed so as to incorporate a dedicated ADC directly into the digital controller, whereby the digital controller can accept direct analog inputs. However, other custom controllers, other PLC's, and all of the micro-PLC's currently available on the market are constructed so that they do not incorporate a stand-alone ADC directly into the digital controller. In this situation, the digital controller cannot accept direct analog inputs, and a construction similar to that shown in
FIG. 1
must generally be used to connect electronic sensor
5
to digital controller
10
.
The present invention is directed to this latter situation, and particularly (but not exclusively) to the situation where digital controller
10
comprises a micro-PLC device.
A further consideration for the present invention relates to the fact that many electronic sensors must necessarily be deployed in harsh and/or hazardous environments. As a result, many of these electronic sensors must periodically be replaced with new electronic sensors. Such sensor replacement typically requires that the old electronic sensor be disconnected from the remainder of the system, the new electronic sensor connected up, and then the new electronic sensor properly calibrated with the remainder of the system. Unfortunately, this replacement process can be inconvenient and time-consuming with system constructions such as that shown in FIG.
1
.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a novel sensor assembly which addresses the foregoing problems.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel sensor assembly in which a dedicated signal conditioner and a dedicated ADC are integrated directly with an electronic sensor into a single pre-assembled and pre-calibrated package.
And another object of the present invention is to provide a novel sensor assembly in which the sensor assembly can adapt its output signal so as to properly match the specific requirements of a particular digital controller.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel sensor assembly which can help reduce overall system development time and cost, and which can increase overall system accuracy.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel sensor assembly which can be used in conjunction with a digital controller which comprises a micro-PLC device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel sensor assembly which is adapted so that it can be quickly and conveniently replaced by a like sensor assembly.
And another object of the present invention is to provide a novel sensor assembly which can incorporate electronic sensors for sensing a wide variety of different physical conditions including, but not limited to, temperature, pressure, flow, strain, voltage, current, pH, gases, vibration, light, humidity, motion and the like.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel sensor assembly in which at least a portion of the sensor assembly is incorporated into the cabling connecting the electronic sensor to the digital controller.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for sensing physical conditions and reporting on the same.
And another object is to provide an improved method for sensing physical conditions and reporting on the same, wherein the method remains the same regardless of the particular physical condition which is being sensed and the type of sensor used to sense the same.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects are addressed by the present invention, which comprises a novel sensor assembly and a novel method for sensing physical conditions and reporting on the same.
In one form of the invention, the novel sensor assembly comprises an electronic sensor, a dedicated signal conditioner and a dedicated ADC, all integrated directly with the electronic sensor into a single pre-assembled and pre-calibrated package.
Preferably the novel sensor assembly also comprises novel transponder apparatus for enabling the sensor assembly to adapt its output signal so as to properly match the specific input requirements of a particular digital controller. The sensor assembly's novel transponder apparatus preferably is constr
Boudreau Paul
Jarva Curt
Dover Associates, Inc.
Pandiscio & Pandiscio
Shah Kamini
LandOfFree
Sensor assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Sensor assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sensor assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2564185