System and method for regulating bridge voltage in a discontinuous-time hot-wire anemometer

Abstract

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for regulating bridge voltage in a discrete-time hot-wire anemometer is provided. In a particular embodiment, the hot-wire anemometer includes a bridge circuit including a hot-wire resistor, first and second input terminals, and first and second output terminals, the hot-wire resistor having a resistance dependent at least in part on an airflow past the hot-wire resistor. The hot-wire anemometer further includes a first operational amplifier coupled to the output terminals of the bridge circuit, the first operational amplifier operable to generate an output signal in response to a voltage differential across the first and second output terminals of the bridge circuit, and a second operational amplifier operable to generate an output signal in response to the output signal of the first operational amplifier and to a discontinuous time control signal. A switching mechanism cycles a supply voltage to the input terminals of the bridge circuit in response to output signal of the second operational amplifier such that the supply voltage is intermittently connected to the input terminals the bridge circuit, and an inductor coupling the switching mechanism to the first input terminal of the bridge circuit operable to low-pass filter an output voltage of the bridge circuit.