Measuring and determination device for calculating an output determination based on a mathematical relationship between multiple different input responsive transducers
First Claim
1. An electronic measuring device, comprising:
- first transducer means for supplying a first signal having a first predetermined relationship to a first input variable sensed by said first transducer means;
second transducer means for supplying a second signal having a second predetermined relationship to a second input variable sensed by said second transducer means;
computer means including memory means containing linearizing information stored therein related to the first and second predetermined relationships;
means for selectively conducting the first and second signals from said first and second transducer means, respectively, to said computer means; and
said computer means operatively (a) calculating a first linearized signal utilizing the first signal and the stored linearizing information relating to the first predetermined relationship, and (b) calculating a second linearized signal utilizing the second signal and the stored linearizing information relating to the second predetermined relationship, and (c) calculating an output signal following a predetermined mathematical relationship of both the first and second linearized signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic measuring device utilizes multiple different transducers for supplying signals exhibiting predetermined and typically nonlinear relationships to the multiple input variables sensed by the transducers. The measuring device includes a microcomputer containing stored linearizing information therein relating to the predetermined nonlinear relationship of the signals supplied by the transducers and the variables sensed by the transducers. The microcomputer linearizes each of the signals supplied by the transducers and thereby obtains highly accurate signals indicative of the variables sensed. Depending upon the ultimate determination to be obtained by the device, the linearized signals representative of the input variables may be employed in a polynomial equation calculation conducted by the computer to obtain the output determination. The polynomial equation includes a plurality of constants, and different values of the constants are stored in memory for various segments of the curve defined by the polynomial equation. The values of the constants also constitute stored linearizing information and the different values are available for use in the calculation to obtain the best accuracy of simulating the mathematical curve of the polynomial equation to the actual curve of the quantity under determination. The device is particularly useful as an electronic thermometer employing a thermocouple for measuring temperature and a thermistor for measuring the cold electrical connection junction of the thermocouple. The device is also advantageously used to measure density altitude, dew point and superheat temperature, among other things.
81 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An electronic measuring device, comprising:
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first transducer means for supplying a first signal having a first predetermined relationship to a first input variable sensed by said first transducer means; second transducer means for supplying a second signal having a second predetermined relationship to a second input variable sensed by said second transducer means; computer means including memory means containing linearizing information stored therein related to the first and second predetermined relationships; means for selectively conducting the first and second signals from said first and second transducer means, respectively, to said computer means; and said computer means operatively (a) calculating a first linearized signal utilizing the first signal and the stored linearizing information relating to the first predetermined relationship, and (b) calculating a second linearized signal utilizing the second signal and the stored linearizing information relating to the second predetermined relationship, and (c) calculating an output signal following a predetermined mathematical relationship of both the first and second linearized signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An electronic thermometer, comprising:
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temperature measuring means comprising a thermocouple, circuit conductors electrically connecting said thermocouple to elements of said thermometer, said thermocouple being electrically connected at a cold junction to the circuit conductors, and a temperature-variable resistive device operatively positioned for sensing the temperature at the cold junction, said temperature-variable resistive device being electrically connected to circuit conductors other than the circuit conductors to which the thermocouple is electrically connected; means electrically connected to said thermocouple for deriving a first analog electrical signal therefrom; means electrically connected to said temperature-variable resistive device for deriving a second analog electrical signal therefrom; said thermocouple creating a first predetermined nonlinear relationship between the first electrical signal and the temperature experienced by said thermocouple; said temperature-variable resistive device creating a second predetermined nonlinear relationship between the second electrical signal and the temperature experienced by said temperature-variable resistive device; first analog to digital convertor means electrically connected to receive the first electrical signal, said first analog to digital converter means being operative in response to command signals to convert the first electrical signal into a corresponding first digital signal; second analog to digital converter means electrically connected to receive the second electrical signal, said second analog to digital converter means being operative in response to command signals to convert the second electrical signal into a corresponding second digital signal; computer means electrically connected to supply command signals to said analog to digital converter means and to receive the first and second digital signals form said converter means, said computer means including memory means containing linearizing information stored therein relating to the first and second predetermined relationships, said computer means operatively (a) calculating a first linearized signal utilizing the stored linearizing information relating to the first predetermined relationship and the first digital signal, and (b) calculating a second linearized signal utilizing the stored linearizing information relating to the second predetermined relationship and the second digital signal, and (c) calculating an output signal by adding the first linearized signal and the second linearized signal; and display means for displaying a visual indication corresponding to the output signal, said display means being electrically connected to receive the output signal from said computer means. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. Apparatus for determining density altitude, comprising:
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first temperature transducer means for supplying a first signal having a first predetermined nonlinear relationship to temperature sensed by said temperature transducer means; pressure transducer means for supplying a second signal having a second predetermined relationship to the pressure sesnsed by said pressure transducer means; first converter means operatively connected for receiving the first signal from said temperature transducing means and for supplying a first digital signal corresponding to the first signal; second converter means operatively connected for receiving the second signal from said pressure transducer means and for supplying a second digital signal corresponding to the second analog signal; computer means operatively connected for receiving the first and second corresponding digital signals from said converter means, said computer means including memory means containing linearizing information stored therein relating to the first predetermined relationship, said memory means also containing linearizing information stored therein relating to at least one value of a constant of a polynomial equation defining density altitude based on a predetermined relationship between temperature and pressure, said computer means operatively (a) calculating a first linearized signal utilizing the first digital signal and the stored linearizing information relating to the first predetermined relationship, and (b) calculating an output signal in accordance with the polynomial equation representative of density altitude utilizing the stored information relating to the value of the constant in the polynomial equation and the first linearized signal and a signal related to the second digital signal; and display means electrically connected to receive the output signal from said computer means and to visually display an indication of the output signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification