Becs Technology, Inc.

Sporlan Valve Company

Bfcs Technology, Inc.

David C Macke, Sr

Roger Dean Chamberlain

William J Stewart

Richard A Livingston

Joseph H Heffner

G Thomas Seener

Timothy Lee Bell

John C Bell

Jon G Metcalf

Theodore James Eckert

A three-wire sensor interface for field wiring of conventional on/off type control sensors that delivers power to the sensor, provides a normally open control output from the sensor and, concurrently, provides a normally closed control output from the sensor. The sensor interface includes a plurality of external terminals including a normally open external terminal for electrically connecting to zero, one, or more normally open load devices to control the operation of the normally open load device, and a normally closed external terminal for electrically connecting to zero, one, or more normally closed load devices to control the operation of the normally closed load device. A plurality of interface terminals are preferably electrically coupled between the sensor interface and the sensor and include a normally open control terminal and a normally closed control terminal. The sensor interface further includes an interface circuit adapted to receive the control signals from the sensor subsystem through the normally open and normally closed control terminals and to couple these control signals to the appropriate normally open or normally closed external terminals for controlling the external load devices.

Three wire interface for field wiring of on/off sensors

A proximity detection system for detecting the proximity of conventionally hard-to-detect materials having a complex permittivity and/or a complex permeability is disclosed. The system includes an oscillator for producing an output signal, the oscillator having a transistor with an open and a closed loop gain and a base-emitter junction that rectifies resonant signals at the collector to produce the output signal. The oscillator includes negative feedback including a resistive element coupled to the emitter for reducing the sensitivity of the closed loop gain to variations in the transistor's open loop gain and a capacitive element coupling the resistive element to the collector for stabilizing the frequency of the oscillator. The detection system further includes a sensor coupled to the oscillator for varying the level of the oscillator output signal in response to certain electrical properties of the material. Control means are also included operatively coupled to the oscillator to receive the oscillator output signal and respond to variations of predetermined magnitudes of the amplitudes of the oscillator output signal for detecting the presence or level of the material. The sensor is designed to reposition the polarization orientation of the electric field lines extending therefrom such that the field lines extend a greater distance outwardly from the surface of the sensor.

Proximity detector for hard-to-detect materials

Proximity detector

A sensor package for proximity detectors adapted for use with materials having a significant angle of repose. The sensor package includes a hollow housing defining a cylindrical main body adapted to house proximity detection circuitry and a non-planar tip disposed on one end of the housing adjacent the main body. The tip portion is preferably tapered in its diameter from a dimension generally equal to the diameter of the main body to a dimension less than the diameter of the main body. The tip is adapted to house a sensing element electrically coupled to the proximity detection circuitry and disposed on an inner bottom surface of the tip portion. Preferably, the taper of the tip is selected to substantially match the angle of repose of the materials to be sensed, and may take on a wide variety of shapes including cone, frustum, pyramid, round and hemispherical. One particularly preferred tip is frustum-shaped and comprises a flat end surface having a diameter less than the diameter of the main body and a tapered side portion that extends from the outer edge of the flat end surface outwardly to the main body along a predetermined angle. In this embodiment the sensing element is substantially frustum-shaped and comprises a flat end and a side portion tapered along an angle substantially equivalent to the predetermined angle of the tapered side portion of the tip.

Sensor package for proximity detectors

A user input device is disclosed adapting the electronic components of a time-domain reflectometry material level sensor to replace traditional user input devices such as push-buttons, control knobs, and variable sliders. An electrical conductor is arrayed beneath an input panel, such that when a high permittivity or high conductivity material is placed in proximity to the conductor, the characteristic impedance of the conductor is altered at that point, reflecting electronic pulses transmitted through the conductor. The reflected electronic pulse is received by the associated electronics, and the position of the material along the conductor subsequently determined. By segmenting the conductor into virtual regions, each corresponding to an individual 'button', discrete input may be received by the device based upon the placement of the material within specific virtual regions. Alternatively, the conductor may function as an infinitely variable 'slider' control, with movement of the material along the conductor producing a proportionally varying output signal.

Time-domain reflectometry user input device

This oil level control device is for a refrigeration system, the control device being attached between the compressor and the oil supply. The control device includes a housing having an inlet communicating with the oil supply and an outlet communicating with a compressor sump; and a solenoid valve controlling flow from the oil supply into the compressor sump. A sensing chamber having a fixed probe providing a proximity detection system detects the oil level in the sump and responds to a change in the complex permittivity of the oil as the oil level rises and falls to generate a signal that controls the supply of oil to maintain the oil level in the compressor. Circuitry is provided having an input connected to the output of the sensor and an output connected to the solenoid valve.

Growing community of inventors

Glendale, MO, United States of America

David C Macke, Sr