Boots – shoes – and leggings
Patent
1994-02-01
1995-12-19
Voeltz, Emanuel T.
Boots, shoes, and leggings
364560, 32420711, 32420713, 32420718, 34087036, G01B 714, G01B 700, G01D 302, G01D 522
Patent
active
054774730
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a method of driving a sensor and processing a signal, wherein on the primary side a preferably oscillating input signal is supplied to the sensor, and on the secondary side the output signal of the sensor is demodulated, if need arises, filtered and amplified.
The sensors to be driven may be any desired displacement pickups or displacement measuring sensors. They may include in this instance linear, inductive displacement pickups and measuring scanners which operate by the principle of a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT). Likewise, they may include noncontacting displacement pickups on the eddy-current basis, noncontacting inductive displacement pickups, and noncontacting capacitive displacement pickups. Essential is by all means that the sensors receive on their primary side an input signal, and that on the secondary side the output signal of the respective sensor is processed or conditioned in the broadest meaning.
When using an LVDT sensor, in conventional systems the primary side of the LVDT coil is supplied with an oscillating signal via an oscillator. The demodulation of the secondary output signal and an often required compensation for linearity and transverse sensitivity cause a considerable expenditure of circuitry in the analog evaluation of the output signal from the secondary side. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the basic circuit of an analog LVDT electronics. In practice, the circuit illustrated therein is problematic for various reasons. Thus, it is not possible, or possible only at a great expenditure of electronic devices, to compensate for linearity errors caused by the sensor geometry. In particular, in the case of LVDT sensors, the ratio of housing length to measuring range is quite considerably restricted by the linear displacement measuring range of the sensor. Finally, in analog signal processing, limits are set to a miniaturization, cost reduction, and stable configuration.
It is therefore the object of this invention to describe a sensor-drive and signal-processing method, which allows to use the smallest designs especially for the evaluation electronics, while simultaneously lowering the costs and maintaining stabilization or stability.
The method of driving a sensor and processing a signal in accordance with the invention accomplishes the foregoing object with the characteristic features of claim 1. Accordingly, the method of the initially described kind is developed such that the signal conditioning or processing on the secondary side occurs in digital form.
This invention has recognized that a further miniaturization of evaluation electronics is favored in that the signal conditioning or processing on the secondary side occurs from the beginning in digital form. In a very particularly advantageous manner, both the sensor drive and the signal conditioning or processing is effected by means of a microcontroller. Consequently, no microchip with fixed input data is used, but preferably a software controlled controller. Only this allows to realize with simplest electronic devices a sensor having bus capabilities.
The microcontroller serving to both drive the sensor drive and condition or process the signal is preferably a single-chip microcontroller, which permits to reduce the size of the evaluation electronics quite significantly. Simultaneously, the quasi monolithic module allows to create a very significant stability of the electronics.
With respect to a coordination between the input signal on the primary side and the output signal on the secondary side of the sensor, it is of a very special advantage, when the sensor is fed directly by a signal generated by the microcontroller. The signal as supplied is preferably a square-wave signal, i.e. square-wave supply. To generate the square-wave signal, a timer as is present in almost all common controllers may be used. Likewise, it is conceivable that the input signal is generated by a software controlling the microcontroller. In other words, the sensor is no longer energized via an osci
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Electrical Design News, "LVDT interface chip's functional blocks offer versatility", Bd. 31, No. 11, May 29, 1986, pp. 159-166 and 168.
Electronic Engineering, "Monolithic signal conditioner simplifies displacement sensing", Bd. 62, No. 759, Mar. 1990, pp. 41, 42, 44, and 46.
IEEE, "A Multi-Channel Digital Demodulator For LVDT and RVDT Position Sensors", May 1989, pp. 20.5.1-20.5.5.
Baumann Heinrich
Mandl Roland
Kemper M.
Micro-Epsilon Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
Voeltz Emanuel T.
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