Position transducer for digital systems

Abstract

A position transducer for indicating the position of a core member of a linear variable differential transformer produces DC level output signals proportional to changes occurring in the excitation and core displacement. Pulse signals from a clock source are converted to sinusoidal signals of a predetermined frequency and applied to the transformer. Movement of the core member varies the amplitude of the secondary waveform. To extract the position information the primary and secondary waveforms are applied to sample and hold circuits. These circuits receive gating signals to ensure the outputs of the primary and secondary sample and hold circuits acquire peak values of the sinusoidal input signals. The gating signals are derived by applying the sinusoidal primary waveform to a phase shift network. The resultant waveform is squared and used to trigger a one shot to produce a pulse train whose pulse width is 1/14 the period of excitation frequency. The sample and hold outputs are read by a CPU which computes the ratio of the secondary sample and hold output to the primary sample and hold output to determine the linear variable differential transformer displacement.