Eaton Corporation

Eaton Coroporation

Michael G Taranowski

Lawrence J Ryczek

Eugene F Duncan

Ruth E Hubbell

David L McClanahan

James E Hansen

Steven Christopher Schmalz

James J Kinsella

Joseph Charles Zuercher

Edwin D Lorenz

Michael R Larsen

George F Jambor

Denis J Leveque

Charles J Turner

Edward J Hummelt

Peter J McGinnis

Brian Thomas Pier

David S Totten

Richard A Baumann

Kenneth A Langland

Edward G Lewis

Arlene M Klumb

Constance L Williams

Douglas E Wickert

Isaac Gruber

Lewis J Gohde

Albert Y Chang

A self-powered wireless transducer is disclosed for monitoring external physical conditions, such as excessive vibrations in a bearing. The transducer includes an energy conversion source, such as a piezoelectric sensor to sense the external physical condition and create a power and characteristic signal that is used to power an RF transmitting circuit. A transmitter is provided to transmit signals indicative of the external physical condition, or changes in that physical condition, such as increased vibrations in a bearing to detect bearing faults before a breakdown. In this manner, the monitored machinery can be shutdown in an orderly manner and preventative maintenance can be completed. The self-powered wireless transducer includes an voltage storage device to receive electrical voltage from the piezoelectric sensor and a voltage detector to detect the level of voltage on the voltage storage device. Once the voltage detector detects a level of voltage at a predetermined level, an oscillating transmitting circuit is activated for a brief hysteresis period of the voltage detector. The information transmitted not only includes any fault detection, it also includes an address of the origin of the transmission.

Self-powered wireless transducer

A planar transformer having windings on a printed circuit board coupled by a high frequency ferrite core driven by a high frequency operational amplifier based relaxation oscillator controlling a switch for pulsing a primary winding of the transformer at a set frequency. The secondary of the transformer powers a lamp circuit which is isolated from the electrical supply, and a test input is connected in a logic OR arrangement with the electrical supply.

Isolated power supply for indicator light

A system for enabling a vehicle operator to control the speed or rate of raising and lowering of a powered lift window. The actuator or switch includes a pressure responsive variable impedance device comprising a variable resistance in one embodiment and a variable capacitance in another embodiment. Increasing force directly on the variable impedance device by the user's finger or an actuator decreases the impedance which is sensed by a voltage divider which outputs a voltage which increases with increasing force. This latter voltage is compared with the output of a triangle wave oscillator and the output of the comparator is a pulse width modulated signal with pulse-width proportional to applied force. The pulses are applied to a power device (Mosfet) which modulates the duty cycle (%) of the current to the window lift mechanism drive motor to give variable motor speed.

Power window switch which incorporates express up/down and window motor

A multiple position or continuously variable capacitive switch which operates by producing a series of discernable changes in the capacitance between a pair of conductors (14,16) disposed in a spaced coplanar relationship on a surface of a non-conductive substrate (12). A dielectric layer (18) is applied over the conductors (14,16) and exposed areas of the substrate (12) surface. A resilient conductive pad (20) is positioned atop the dielectric layer (18) and a user movable actuator (28) is moved to controllably increase the capacitance between the conductors (14,16) by creating progressively greater areas of compression between conductive pad (20) and dielectric layer (18).

Continuously variable capacitive switch

In an electro-optic voltage transducer utilizing a crystal exhibiting birefringence in a fast axis and a slow axis mutually orthogonal to an optic axis in the presence of an electric field produced by the voltage to be measured, the crystal is mounted for angular adjustment relative to the direction of propagation of a light beam passing through the crystal and polarized at an angle to the fast and slow axes to provide adjustment of the effective half-wave voltage of the crystal. Preferably, the crystal is a disk mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the optic axis by temperature sensitive mounts extending perpendicular to radii of the disk in order to provide temperature compensation. Greater angular adjustment, which extends unambiguous voltage measurement above the natural half-wave voltage of the crystal, is provided by securing the temperature responsive mounts to a rotatable support disk. An analyzer measures the relative retardation between the fast and slow components of the polarized light beam emerging from the crystal for generating an output representing the value of the applied voltage.

Electro-optic voltage transducer with extended range and temperature

A capacitance change switch with a resiliently deformable conductive pad compressible against a dielectric coating on the surface of a pair of spaced coplanar thin foil plates formed on a refractory substrate. The pad forms with the plates a pair of capacitors electrically in series. User movement of an actuator causes pad compression and a significant electrically detectible change in capacitance for effecting a switching function. In one embodiment the pad is formed of conductive elastomer and in another embodiment the pad is formed of non-conductive elastomer with a conductive foil covering.

Capacitive switching assembly

An improved optical sensor includes a light source from which light is projected onto an object. A photodetector detects the light reflected from the object. A refraction element is movable relative to the photodetector to vary the range of the optical sensor. The position of the light source relative to the photodetector can be varied.

Optical sensor with movable refraction element to adjust sensor range

A light transmitting source for a color sensor utilizes a plurality of light emitting diodes emitting light in a predetermined narrow range of wavelength whose emitted light strikes a surface of a lightpipe whereupon the light is reflected and refracted and directed to a common reflection point and where each emitted light is attenuated by the reflection and refraction a desired amount and directed to illuminate an object whose color is to be measured.

Color sensor illumination source employing a lightpipe and multiple LEDs

A device (1) for photoelectrically sensing the color of an object (18) includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (4, 6, 8) emitting light in a narrow range of wavelengths and where the light is transmitted through a corresponding fiber optic bundle (10, 12, 14) with a diameter in proportion to the transmission loss of the bundle and in inverse proportion to the emitted light energy of the corresponding light emitting diode and in proportion to the spectral response of a receiving photodiode (24). A receiving section (22) utilizes a PIN type photodiode (24) with an input section (40) that matches the shape of a receiving optical fiber bundle termination (42) where the photodiode (24) converts the reflected light from the object (18) into electrical signals which are then processed by a microprocessor (28) which also controls the activation of the light emitting diodes (4, 6, 8) and outputs a signal indicative of the color of the object (18).

Color sensor employing optical fiber bundles with varied diameters

At least one pair of light emitting diodes (LEDs) is disposed to direct a beam of common discrete chromaticity each to a separate target area located at different distances from a centrally disposed photodetector. Upon pulsing of the diodes at a common time, the photodetector receives the sum of the diffused light reflected from a target disposed at a location between the separate target areas to substantially reduce the affects of variation in distance of a target from the photodetector. The photodetector output is corrected for the effects on the LEDs of variations in ambient temperature.

Photoelectric color sensor

Pivotal movement of a switch actuator drives a finger projecting from the actuator against a convexly bowed leaf spring, depressing an intermediate portion of the leaf spring to an unstable concave condition. The leaf spring resists the actuator movement, initially with an increasing force but changing to a decreasing force at a predictable point in actuator movement to provide tactile feedback at an operator affixed to the actuator. The leaf spring is a flat beam. The spring force and point of changeover can be readily and predictably varied during manufacture by selecting springs having different widths, thicknesses or other variable parameters. A modular block holds the spring in the bowed condition and is positioned relative to the actuator finger by a support plate. The actuator finger drives the spring against a conductive rubber block, compressing the block against spaced conductors on a printed circuit to complete the circuit. A plurality of such switches are made in a common package by layering a printed circuit, insulator sheet, conductive rubber sheet with raised bosses, detent support plate and a plurality of detent blocks with bowed springs, between a base and a cover. Back lit illumination is provided by a light pipe trapped against the cover as an additional layer. A microprocessor board, connected to the internal printed circuit, is attached to the switch housing exteriorly of the base.

Growing community of inventors

Milwaukee, WI, United States of America

Michael G Taranowski