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:
Mar. 04, 1997
Filed:
May. 23, 1995
Barbara A Allen, Rockford, IL (US);
David A Klein, Freeport, IL (US);
Hongzhi Kong, Freeport, IL (US);
Honeywell Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A sensor system is provided with an amplifier that has as an input signal received from a light sensitive component. The output of the amplifier is determined by its gain factor. The output of the amplifier is continually monitored to determine whether it is in acceptable limits. When a change is required, a variable potentiometer is affected to change its resistance. The variable potentiometer is included as part of a feedback loop of the amplifier and, therefore, a change in its resistance will change the gain factor of the amplifier and achieve the appropriate magnitude of output signal from the amplifier. The system can be operated in either a pushbutton mode or an automatic gain control mode. In the pushbutton mode, the system responds to an operator request for a setup procedure to be accomplished. In the automatic gain control mode, the system determines when an object is not present within a detection zone and, using the presently received signal magnitudes, determines the necessary change in gain factor to achieve a signal with an acceptable magnitude. A digital potentiometer is affected in order to change its resistance which is included as an incremental part of the feedback loop of an amplifier.