Mts Systems Corporation

Other

David Scott Nyce

Yuriy Nikitich Pchelnikov

Mauro G Togneri

Arnold F Sprecher, Jr

Stephen W Smith

Jacob Tellerman

Peter T Tola, Jr

Theophile Reginald Lerebours

Frank Bl&auml;sing

Wade D Peterson

Ralf B&ouml;bel

Lawrence J Russell

David E Shoff

Leonard Hillel Goldman

Alexander Raphalovitz

Norbert Bendicks

Richard S Bulkowski

J Russell Lawrence

A magnetostrictive position sensor achieves an improved signal to noise ratio by implementing several electronic control features, including: enclosing a waveguide within an approximately tubular return conductor, adjusting the energy of an interrogation pulse and then clamping the waveguide, tracking the peak voltage of a sensed signal, cutting off the signal of a pickup during the time period outside of a signal time frame, adjusting the pass band of a filter based on an interrogation rate and waveguide length, zeroing and scaling a signal without digitizing the signal, and avoiding noise from an interrogation voltage generator.

Position sensor with improved signal to noise ratio

A position sensing head combines a sensing element and a simplified electronic module to enable operation with one wire, in addition to a circuit common, for providing power and transmitting a signal, while separating the sensing head from signal conditioning circuits by over 10 meters. The simplicity of the electronic module allows the use of basic electronic components that operate at more than 225&#xb0; C. The signal is a variable frequency impressed onto the one wire, which can be read by a frequency meter. Another signal, such as a position or temperature, can be impressed onto the one wire at the same time as the first signal. The second signal is of a different frequency range so that it will not interfere with the first. A demodulator circuit can separate the two signals. The sensing element construction allows for locating up to three active elements measuring the same target.

Position sensing head with redundancy

A contactless sensor utilizes analog and digital circuitry to provide direct interchangeability with a simple potentiometric sensor, matching all of the electrical properties of a potentiometer, including supply voltage range, power supply current, output voltage range, and having three connection terminals. The contactless sensor operates with voltages from 2 to 30 volts direct current, which includes all of the common industrial sensor power supply voltages: 5V, 10V, 24V, and +/&#x2212; 15V. The contactless sensor utilizes a total current of less than 0.005 amperes, and its output voltage range includes the power supply rails. These improvements combine to enable the contactless sensor to be a direct replacement when a potentiometric sensor is removed from service.

Method and apparatus for simulating a potentiometer

An apparatus is disclosed for measuring a variable angular position of a movable part. The apparatus comprises at least two resonators formed by coupled slow-wave structures, and at least two movable targets having electrodynamic profiles, the targets also having a variable angular position. The angular position of the target is representative of the angular position of the movable part. An electromagnetic field is excited in the resonators at a frequency at which electromagnetic parameters of the resonators depend upon the position of the targets. A change in the angular position of the targets therefore causes a change in electrodynamic parameters of the resonators. The change in the electrodynamic parameters of the resonators is converted into a reading, such as an output voltage, which is indicative of the measured angular position.

Electromagnetic apparatus for measuring angular position

An apparatus is disclosed for measuring one or more parameters of a variable physical structure, at least one of the parameters being fluid level, position, velocity or acceleration. The apparatus includes an electromagnetic sensing element comprising at least two electrically conductive members that are electrically insulated from one another. A distributed capacitance and a distributed inductance are each formed along a length of the sensing element. The inductive reactance is at least ten percent of the capacitive reactance, thereby allowing the capacitance to be distributed, rather than acting as a 'lump capacitance'. The distributed capacitance enables shaping of the electric and magnetic fields around the electromagnetic sensing element so that disturbance by nearby electromagnetic fields, conductors, and dielectrics is minimized. When the apparatus is configured as a fluid level sensor, the capacitance is affected by the permittivity and the level of the measured fluid. A reference sensor can be used to compensate for changes in the permittivity of the fluid. When the apparatus is configured as a position sensor, the capacitance and/or inductance are affected by the position of an electrically conductive or dielectric target. The position measurement can be differentiated to obtain measurements of velocity or acceleration. Electronic circuits for operating the sensing element are also shown.

Distributed impedance sensor

A capacitive fluid level sensor is disclosed that operates without the use of a float, wherein coplanar sensing electrodes disposed onto a dielectric substrate and positioned proximate a dielectric wall of a vessel containing a fluid, form a fringing field capacitance that changes in accordance with changes in the level of the fluid. The electrodes are electrically insulated from the measured fluid. The electrodes are sized and spaced to maximize response of the capacitance to changes in the level of the fluid, while minimizing the effects of the dielectric wall. The sensor is fabricated such that it can be positioned against the outside of a dielectric wall of a vessel, or embedded within a dielectric material. A low permitivity spacer and shield assembly are taught which reduces sensitivity to electric fields external to the vessel. An interdigital comb configuration of the electrodes is also disclosed in which depressions or gaps are formed into the dielectric substrate in an area of spacing of the electrodes.

Isolated capacitive fluid level sensor

A method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring a linear position, such as the distance between a sensing element and a movable object, and/or related parameters, such as displacement, direction, speed, velocity, and/or acceleration. The method utilizes a sensing element and an electrically conductive portion of the movable object, or a conductive target coupled to the movable object. The apparatus includes at least one sensing element formed by a section of a coupled slow-wave structure. The sensing element is connected to an RF or microwave generator, and an electronic circuit that converts at least one electromagnetic parameter of the section of the coupled slow-wave structure into a position reading. Electric and magnetic fields excited in the sensing element are split so that most of the electric energy is concentrated inside of the sensing element, while most of the magnetic energy is concentrated outside of the sensing element. The distance that defines the linear position is measured as a resonant frequency, impedance, phase shift or other electromagnetic parameter.

Electromagnetic method and apparatus for the measurement of linear position

Inductive position sensors and circuit configurations are disclosed for the measurement of linear, rotary, or curved position along a motion axis. The simplified sensor structures combine one or two parts of a movable core element with a simple planar substrate having first and second inductances connected in series. Movement of the core element in parallel to the planar substrate causing the impedance of at least one of the inductances to change. Simple circuit configurations are taught by which the impedance change is converted into a useful output signal that indicates position along the motion axis.

Simplified inductive position sensor and circuit configuration

A magnetostrictive system is shown wherein there is included a wave guide but no return wire. The wave guide is folded and acts as the completed wire (whether solid or hollow) for conducting current for the current input pulse.

Folded magnetostrictive wave guide

A circuit is shown which outputs a pulse width having a duty cycle of less than 50% and the circuit having an oscillator providing a desired repetition rate controlled by a changing RC time constant.

Low duty cycle oscillator

A vehicle suspension strut is disclosed that includes a housing having a chamber and a piston slidably disposed in the chamber. A piston rod is connected to the piston and extends out of the housing. The piston rod includes a bore extending longitudinally therein. A magnetostrictive transducer provides an output signal indicative of the piston position with respect to the housing. The magnetostrictive transducer includes a magnetostrictive waveguide disposed in the bore and a magnet joined to the housing that is operably coupled to the magnetostrictive waveguide and the magnetostrictive waveguide abruptly terminates at one end.

Magnetostrictive linear displacement transducer for a vehicle strut suspension

An oscillating circuit is disclosed which is responsive to frequency variations caused by parameter changes in an associated slow wave structure sensitive element. A local oscillator and mixer circuit is used to subtract an offset frequency output to reset the oscillation frequency of the slow wave structure so that the output frequency will be in a range starting substantially at zero.

Slow wave structure sensor with zero-based frequency output

A magnetic-based sensor is disclosed which can detect a linear and rotary position of a shaft whose movement is to be measured. Such sensor can operate to yield linear displacement as well as rotation. A position magnet is mounted on the shaft for measuring linear motion. A spirally wound magnet is mounted on the shaft to detect rotational motion. Both of such motions are detected by a single magnetic-based sensor.

Linear and rotary magnetic sensor

A method and apparatus for monitoring one or more parameters of a variable physical structure, such as liquid level, is disclosed. The method and apparatus includes an electrodynamic element placed in proximity to a monitored structure and exciting within said element an alternating electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic field should be at a frequency at which the electromagnetic field penetrates into the monitored structure and then variations of the electromagnetic field parameters are measured for the element caused by a variation in the structure. The exciting of the electrodynamic element is by an electromagnetic field in the form of at least one slowed electromagnetic wave having suitable energy distribution of the electric and magnetic fields for the measuring of the electromagnetic field parameters.

Electromagnetic method of liquid level monitoring

A steering angle sensing system for measuring the angle position of a vehicle steering wheel is disclosed which uses at least one position magnet G G G coupled to the rotary movement of the steering wheel &prime; as a transducer, and a magnetostrictive transducer as a measuring device and a second measuring device for measuring the angular movement of the vehicle wheels. Magnetostrictive transducer includes an elongated, magnetostrictive waveguide extending over a defined arc section, with mode converter for detecting magnetostrictively generated voltage pulses at one end. The waveguide is stationary related to the rotary movement of at least one position magnet G G G so that, when turning the steering wheel &prime;, the magnet field of one position magnet G G G is applied to waveguide in different positions dependent of the position of the steering wheel &prime;. The second measuring device may measure gross changes to distinguish 360&deg; or less, for example 270&deg;, rotation whereas the steering wheel measuring device measures fine changes of the vehicle steering wheel

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Apex, NC, United States of America

David Scott Nyce