MODULAR SENSOR ASSEMBLY INCLUDING REMOVABLE SENSING MODULE
First Claim
1. A modular sensor assembly, comprising:
- a signal processing module configured to be connected to an end-user device and configured to produce a conditioned output signal from a raw or partially conditioned output signal, the signal processing module comprising a signal conditioning block;
a sensing module housed separately from and removably mechanically coupled to the signal processing module, the sensing module comprising at least one transducer or sensor for sensing a physical parameter and a local memory configured to retain a set of conditioning coefficients specific to the at least one transducer or sensor of the sensing module, the sensing module configured to generate a raw or partially conditioned output signal; and
wherein the signal conditioning block is configured to download all or some of the conditioning coefficients stored in the local memory of the sensing module, and the signal conditioning block is configured to utilize the downloaded conditioning coefficients to produce the conditioned output signal from the raw or partially conditioned output signal.
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Abstract
A modular sensor assembly in which a sensing module may be packaged and provided separately from a signal processing module and which, in some applications, may facilitate disposal and/or replacement of the sensing module when exposed to a “dirty” or “contaminated” environment without requiring disposal and/or replacement of the entire sensor assembly. In certain applications, the sensing module may include at least one transducer or sensor and a local memory containing a set of conditioning coefficients. The sensing module may be removably coupled to a signal processing module which, in some cases, may be configured to download the set of conditioning coefficients stored in the local memory of the sensing module, and to use the set of conditioning coefficients to produce a substantially linearized output signal.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A modular sensor assembly, comprising:
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a signal processing module configured to be connected to an end-user device and configured to produce a conditioned output signal from a raw or partially conditioned output signal, the signal processing module comprising a signal conditioning block; a sensing module housed separately from and removably mechanically coupled to the signal processing module, the sensing module comprising at least one transducer or sensor for sensing a physical parameter and a local memory configured to retain a set of conditioning coefficients specific to the at least one transducer or sensor of the sensing module, the sensing module configured to generate a raw or partially conditioned output signal; and wherein the signal conditioning block is configured to download all or some of the conditioning coefficients stored in the local memory of the sensing module, and the signal conditioning block is configured to utilize the downloaded conditioning coefficients to produce the conditioned output signal from the raw or partially conditioned output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A modular sensor assembly, comprising:
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a signal processing module configured to be connected to an end-user device and configured to produce a substantially linearized output signal from a raw or partially conditioned output signal, the signal processing module comprising a signal conditioning block; and a sensing module housed separately from and coupled to the signal processing module, the sensing module comprising at least one sensor or transducer for sensing a physical parameter and a local memory configured to store a set of conditioning coefficients specific to the at least one sensor or transducer, the sensing module configured to generate a raw or partially conditioned output signal; and wherein the signal conditioning block is configured to download some or all of the conditioning coefficients stored in the local memory of the sensing module, and the signal conditioning block is configured to utilize the downloaded conditioning coefficients to produce the substantially linearized output signal from the raw or partially conditioned output signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of using a modular sensor assembly to sense a physical parameter comprising:
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mechanically coupling a separately housed sensing module to a signal processing module, wherein the sensing module is configured to generate a raw or partially conditioned output signal and comprises at least one sensor or transducer for sensing a physical parameter, the sensing module also including a local memory configured to retain a set of conditioning coefficients specific to the at least one sensor or transducer, and wherein the signal processing module comprises a signal conditioning block and is configured to produce a conditioned output signal from the raw output signal; sensing a physical parameter using the at least one sensor or transducer; generating a raw or partially conditioned output signal indicative of the sensed physical parameter; downloading some or all of the conditioning coefficients to the signal processing module from the local memory of the sensing module to the signal processing module when the sensing module is mechanically coupled to the signal processing module; producing a conditioned output signal using the downloaded conditioning coefficients; and mechanically disconnecting the sensing module from the signal processing module. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification