Variable reluctance transducer processing circuit for providing an output unaffected by low frequency components

• US 5,012,207 A
• Filed: 10/04/1989
• Issued: 04/30/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Edwards, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Snow, Walter E.
• Application Number:
  US07/416,775
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 324/166, 324/173, 324/207.11, 324/207.12, 324/207.13, 324/207.15, 324/207.24, 324/207.25, 324/225, 324/234, 324/236, 324/239
• US Class Current: 324/166
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/4802 by using electronic circuits in general
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/488 delivered by variable reluctance detectors

Abstract

A circuit for processing a high frequency output signal from a variable reluctance transducer, this signal including an unwanted low frequency component, comprises a comparator having a first input receiving the transducer signal and a second input receiving the same transducer signal but via a low pass filter. The comparator therefore provides an output representing the high frequency variations in the transducer signal and substantially unaffected by the low frequency component. Alternatively, the transducer signal may be applied to a circuit providing a first output signal varying as the low frequency component and also providing a second output signal varying as the high frequency variations in the received transducer signal, the first output signal being used as a feedback control which tends to render the second output signal free of low frequency variations.

Claims

1. A circuit for processing an output signal from a variable reluctance transducer, the transducer output signal varying at high frequency but possibly including a low frequency component, the circuit comprising an input receiving said transducer output signal from the variable reluctance transducer (VR), and a comparing means having a first input receiving said transducer signal and a second input receiving said transducer signal via a low pass filter so that the comparing means provides an output representing the high frequency transducer signal and substantially unaffected by any said low frequency component therein, in which the comparing means comprises an integrator which integrates the difference between the signals applied to its two inputs.

2. A circuit for processing an output signal from a variable reluctance transducer, the transducer output signal varying at high frequency but possibly including a low frequency component, the circuit comprising an input receiving said transducer output signal from the variable reluctance transducer (VR), and a comparing means having a first input receiving said transducer signal and a second input receiving said transducer signal via a low pass filter so that the comparing means provides an output representing the high frequency transducer signal and substantially unaffected by any said low frequency component therein, further comprising an output circuit which produces a square wave from the output signal from the comparing means, in which said output circuit comprises a pair of active clamps and a bistable circuit having SET and RESET inputs controlled by respective ones of said active clamps.

3. A circuit for processing an output signal from a variable reluctance transducer, the transducer output signal varying at high frequency but possibly including a low frequency component, the circuit comprising an input receiving said transducer output signal from the variable reluctance transducer (VR), and a comparing means having a first input receiving said transducer signal and a second input receiving said transducer signal via a low pass filter so that the comparing means provides an output representing the high frequency transducer signal and substantially unaffected by any said low frequency component therein, in which the low pass filter includes a shunt capacitor, and in which a window detector is provided to monitor the capacitor voltage.