Transducer with integral memory
First Claim
1. A servo-controlled scanning transducer system of the type having a transducer including a transducer element to be scanned, means for sensing the position of the element in its scan path and means responsive to the position sensed by said sensing means for controlling the movement of said element, a means for compensating for errors in transducer element scanning, comprising:
- memory means for storing correcting information for said errors; and
means for mounting the memory means integral with the transducer element;
said means for controlling including means for generating a reference signal, means for comparing the position of the transducer element sensed by said position sensing means at a point in time with the reference signal for the corresponding point in time, drive means responsive to a difference output from the means for comparing for controlling the scanning of the transducer element, and means for utilizing the correcting information stored in said memory means to warp the reference signal in a manner to permit a substantially uniform scan speed for said transducer element.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A memory means is provided which is adapted to be mounted integral with the transducer element used in a transducer system. The memory may store nonlinearity error information or other information concerning errors in the positioning or scan control for the particular transducer, which information may be utilized by the transducer system to compensate for such errors. The memory may also be utilized to store selected information concerning the measured output characteristics of the transducer element which may be utilized by the transducer system to assure that a desired output level is achieved from the transducer element or that the output otherwise is in conformance with that desired. One or more bytes may be provided in the memory which may be utilized to inhibit use of the associated transducer element for particular fields of use or classes of service. The memory element may also store other selected information concerning the particular transducer element, including various operating constants for the element, which information may be utilized by the transducer system to control the operation of the transducer element, to evaluate responses obtained from the transducer, for service, or for other selected purposes. If an erasable memory is used, an area of the memory may also be utilized to store information concerning the operation of the transducer element, such as its duration of use, which information is periodically updated in the memory by the processor.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A servo-controlled scanning transducer system of the type having a transducer including a transducer element to be scanned, means for sensing the position of the element in its scan path and means responsive to the position sensed by said sensing means for controlling the movement of said element, a means for compensating for errors in transducer element scanning, comprising:
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memory means for storing correcting information for said errors; and means for mounting the memory means integral with the transducer element; said means for controlling including means for generating a reference signal, means for comparing the position of the transducer element sensed by said position sensing means at a point in time with the reference signal for the corresponding point in time, drive means responsive to a difference output from the means for comparing for controlling the scanning of the transducer element, and means for utilizing the correcting information stored in said memory means to warp the reference signal in a manner to permit a substantially uniform scan speed for said transducer element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A transducer system having a transducer element adapted to generate a scanning output signal, a means for controlling the output power of said scanning output signal, comprising:
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memory means for storing an indication of the output power characteristic from said transducer element for selected driving signals applied thereto; means for mounting the memory means integral with the transducer element; and means for utilizing the output power characteristic indication stored in said memory means to control the output power of the scanning output signal from said transducer element. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A transducer system having a servo-controlled scanning transducer element, a means for providing selected current information concerning the operation of the transducer element, comprising:
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memory means for storing the selected information concerning the transducer element, said memory means being a read-write memory at least in the area thereof in which said selected information is stored; means for mounting the memory means integral with the transducer element; and means responsive to the operation of the transducer element for periodically updating the selected information stored therein to keep such information current. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. In a servo-controlled scanning transducer system of the type having a transducer element to be scanned, the transducer system including at least one element adapted for use in controlling the scanning of the transducer element which one element has a measurable error characteristic, a method for compensating for errors in transducer element scanning comprising the steps of:
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storing integral with the transducer element correcting information for said error characteristic; generating a reference signal; continuously sensing the position of the transducer element; comparing the position sensed for the transducer element at a point in time with the reference signal for the corresponding point in time; utilizing the difference in output from the comparing step to control the scanning of the transducer element; reading the stored correcting information; and utilizing the stored correcting information to warp the reference signal in a manner to permit a substantially uniform scan speed for the transducer element. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. In a transducer system having a scanning transducer element adapted to generate a scanning output signal, a method for controlling the output power of the scanning output signal comprising the steps of:
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storing integral with the transducer element an indication of the output power characteristic for the transducer element for selected driving signals applied thereto; and utilizing the stored output power characteristic indication to control the output signal power of the scanning output signal from the transducer element.
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21. In a transducer system having a servo-controlled scanning transducer element, a method for providing current selected information concerning the operation of the transducer element comprising the steps of:
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storing the selected information concerning the operation of the transducer element in a read-write memory means mounted integral with the transducer element; and selectively updating the selected information stored in the memory means in response to the operation of the transducer element to keep such information current. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification