Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Caterpillar Inc.

David J Urbanc

William Pickering

George G Codina

Thomas W Herrick

An apparatus for determining the position of a work implement relative to an earthworking machine. An antenna is mounted to the machine and is oriented to transmit a high frequency signal toward the implement and receive a reflected signal back from the implement. An oscillator is electrically coupled to the antenna and energizes the antenna with electrical energy to generate the high frequency signal. The oscillator produces an output signal having a frequency responsive to the inductance of the antenna. A microprocessor based circuit receives the output signal of the oscillator and responsively determines the position of the work implement relative to the machine. The position of the work implement is a function of the frequency of the output signal.

Apparatus for determining the position of a work implement

Apparatus for determining the ratio of two signal repetition rates

A compensated measurement system utilizing dual sensing elements (10, 12) and a single variable frequency oscillator (14). A common operative association between the sensing elements (10, 12) and the oscillator (14) is achieved by multiplexing. Temperature and supply voltage variations are compensated by generating an output (f.sub.0) which is proportional to the ratio of the two generated frequencies (f.sub.1, F.sub.2).

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

David J Urbanc