The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 10, 1980
Filed:
Sep. 27, 1978
Gordon B Spellman, Mequon, WI (US);
Stanley V Jaskolski, Sussex, WI (US);
Herman P Schutten, Elm Grove, WI (US);
Robert W Lade, Waukesha, WI (US);
Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
A transducer is disclosed which provides a digital indication of a sensed analog condition without the need of an analog to digital (A/D) converter or a comparator. A condition responsive element having a true abrupt switching characteristic at a known breakover voltage as a function of a condition being sensed is biased by a voltage source preferably supplying a periodic voltage as a known function of time. The point during the voltage source cycle at which the condition responsive element switches to its other state is determined by the sensed condition. Preferably, a clock of known frequency is enabled when the condition responsive element is in one of its states, whereby clock pulses are counted during an interval whose duration is determined by the sensed condition. The number of clock pulses counted is a digital value of the analog condition being sensed because: (i) the clock frequency is known; (ii) the voltage/time relation of the voltage source is known; and (iii) the voltage/sensed condition relation of the condition responsive element is known. A thermally sensitive thyristor is specifically disclosed for the condition responsive element.