Honeywell International Inc.

Honeywell G.m.b.h.

Stephen J Postma

Frederick W Hintz

Thomas J Wagener

Nick Anthony Demma

Paul E Bjork

Milford M Gesin

A sensor device is assembled by placing a sensor and a potentiometer within a sensor casing. An electrical connection extending from inside to outside the sensing casing has an interior portion inside the sensor casing and an exterior portion outside the sensor casing. The sensor and the potentiometer are coupled to the interior portion and are sealed within the sensor casing. A potentiometer setting apparatus is coupled to the exterior portion and is used to set the potentiometer. Then, the interior portion of the electrical connection is destroyed so that the potentiometer cannot be subsequently reset.

Method for setting electrical characteristics of sensors after assembly

A sensor, such as a proximity sensor, having its components sealed within a case, has its sensitivity adjusted with a remotely settable digital potentiometer after assembly of the sensor. The adjustment connection is then destroyed.

A proximity sensor is provided with a means for directly measuring parameters of a proximity sensor coil which permit the determination of both the AC and DC resistances of the coil. These parameters are then used to determine a discriminator value magnitude according to a mathematical relationship that has been predetermined through previous analysis of empirical data for the particular coil and application intended for the proximity sensor. In one particular application of the present invention, the rear AC resistance is utilized and is added to the DC resistance after the DC resistance has been mathematically altered by a preselected factor. Alternative embodiments of the present invention can also utilize the imaginary AC component of the impedance either by itself or in conjunction with the rear AC component of the impedance. Whether the real or imaginary AC components of the impedance are used individually or together, the DC resistance is used in the determination of the discriminator value magnitude because of its reliable relationship to the temperature of the coil.

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Pecatonica, IL, United States of America

Stephen J Postma