Device For Counting the Rotations of an Object in a Referential, and Method For Controlling One Such Device

• US 20080246467A1
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission)
• Original Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission)
• Inventors: Vial, Franck, Beranger, Marc
• Application Number:
  US11/994,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20080246467A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/207.25
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2033 controlling the saturation of a magnetic circuit by means of a movable element, e.g. a magnet

Abstract

A device for counting rotations of an object in a referential, in which a magnetic sensor linked to the object measures a field associated with the referential in order to generate measuring signals at the rotational frequency of the object. The sensor also functions as an antenna for receiving an electromagnetic wave. A method for controlling a counting device includes receiving measurement signals and a radio-frequency triggering signal from a sensor and sending information representative of the numbering cycles in the measurement signals.

Claims

1. A device for counting rotations of an object in a frame of reference, wherein a magnetic sensor connected to the object measures a field associated with the frame of reference in order to generate measurement signals at the rotation frequency of the object,

wherein the sensor also operates as an antenna for receiving electromagnetic waves.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a coil.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is coupled to radio-frequency signal receiver means.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising first filter means disposed between the sensor and the receiver means.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first filter means has a high impedance at the measurement frequencies of the sensor relative to their impedance for reception.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is coupled to counting means for counting cycles in the measurement signals.

7. The device according to claim 6, further comprising second filter means disposed between the sensor and the counting means.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the second filter means have a high impedance at the reception frequencies of the antenna relative to their measurement impedance.

9. The device according to claim 8, further comprising sender means for sending numerical information obtained from the measurement signals generated by the sensor.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the sender means are configured to send the numerical information on reception of triggering information by means of the receiving antenna.

11. A method of controlling a device for counting rotations of an object in a frame of reference, comprising the following steps;

receiving measurement signals at the rotation frequency of the object by means of a magnetic sensor linked to the object;

determining the number of cycles in said the measurement signals;

receiving a radio-frequency triggering signal by means of the magnetic sensor operating as an electromagnetic antenna; and

sending information representative of the number of cycles.