Position Transmitter
First Claim
1. A PEPS array for use with an electrically powered external controller that electrically energizes a combination of one of a plurality of row outputs and one of at least one column outputs as directed by internally generated address signals, generates an address active signal when an electrical status current exceeds an electrical reference current and is an active status current, and displays the address signal that corresponds to said address active signal in determining the position of a physical exciter moving along an intended path, comprising:
- a) a plurality of PEPS each of which achieves an active state and conducts said active status current only if electrically energized and physically excited, connected as a plurality of rows connected to said row outputs and at least one column connected to said column outputs such that each PEPS is electrically connected to a unique combination of one of said rows and one of said columns, electrically energized by said controller one of said PEPS at a time, such that each of said PEPS is electrically energized in turn; and
b) support means to fixedly support said plurality of PEPS in a spaced relationship along said intended path and in close proximity to said exciter such that said exciter physically excites only the nearest PEPS and only said nearest PEPS can achieve said active state thereby causing said controller to display the address signal that corresponds to said nearest PEPS whereby the position of said exciter is directly related to the address signal which is displayed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A digital position transmitter is disclosed which uses a fixed array of physicoelectric proximity switches to locate a physical exciter and transmit the position of the exciter as a hexadecimal coded number or as a string of pulses. The position transmitter uses solid state components, has no moving parts and requires less power than any one proximity operated alone. The transmitter attains moderate resolution while displaying excellent accuracy and precision. The transmitter is completely non-intrusive; there is no contact between the physical exciter and the switch array, making the transmitter particularly suited for determining the position of objects that must be completely isolated because of pressure, temperature, of chemical hazards. Further circuits are described for converting the inherently digital output signal to industrial standard 4-20 mA or voltage signals. Applications are described for determining the "fullness" of a constant pressure cylinder used in sampling liquids and gaseous materials from pipelines, the status of hydraulic valve positioners the liquid level contained in storage vessels, and differential pressure. Practical variations of the physicoelectric proximity switch array are described for applying the position transmitter to movements as small as one inch and as large as hundreds of feet.
40 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A PEPS array for use with an electrically powered external controller that electrically energizes a combination of one of a plurality of row outputs and one of at least one column outputs as directed by internally generated address signals, generates an address active signal when an electrical status current exceeds an electrical reference current and is an active status current, and displays the address signal that corresponds to said address active signal in determining the position of a physical exciter moving along an intended path, comprising:
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a) a plurality of PEPS each of which achieves an active state and conducts said active status current only if electrically energized and physically excited, connected as a plurality of rows connected to said row outputs and at least one column connected to said column outputs such that each PEPS is electrically connected to a unique combination of one of said rows and one of said columns, electrically energized by said controller one of said PEPS at a time, such that each of said PEPS is electrically energized in turn; and b) support means to fixedly support said plurality of PEPS in a spaced relationship along said intended path and in close proximity to said exciter such that said exciter physically excites only the nearest PEPS and only said nearest PEPS can achieve said active state thereby causing said controller to display the address signal that corresponds to said nearest PEPS whereby the position of said exciter is directly related to the address signal which is displayed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A position sensor for use with an electrically powered external controller that electrically energizes a combination of one of a plurality of row outputs and one of at least one column outputs as directed by internally generated address signals, generates an address active signal when an electrical status current exceeds an electrical reference current and is an active status current, and displays the address signal that corresponds to said address active signal, in determining the position of an object moving along an intended path, comprising:
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a) a plurality of PEPS each of which achieves an active state and conducts said active status current only if electrically energized and physically excited, connected as a plurality of rows connected to said row outputs and at least one column connected to said column outputs such that each PEPS is electrically connected to a unique combination of one of said rows and one of said columns, electrically energized by said controller one of said PEPS at a time, such that each of said PEPS is electrically energized in turn; b) support means to fixedly support said plurality of PEPS in a spaced relationship along said controlled path of said object; c) an exciter, joined to said object, arranged to move along a controlled path in close proximity to said plurality of PEPS, physically exciting only the nearest PEPS, only said nearest PEPS achieving said active state, thereby causing said controller to display the address signal that corresponds to said nearest PEPS whereby the position of said object is directly related to the address signal displayed. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A position sensor for use with an electrically powered external controller that supplies electric power, generates and transmits address signals, generates an address active signal when an electrical status current exceeds an electrical reference current and is an active status current, and displays the address signal being transmitted when said address active signal is generated, in determining the position of an object moving along an intended path, comprising:
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a) a plurality of PEPS each of which achieves an active state and conducts said active status current only if electrically energized and physically excited, connected as a plurality of rows and at least one column such that each PEPS is electrically connected to a unique combination of one of said rows and one of said columns; b) a support means to fixedly support said plurality of PEPS in a spaced relationship along said controlled path of said object; c) a driver, supported by said support means, electrically connected to said controller and to said plurality of PEPS at a plurality of rows and at least one column, receiving said sequence of address signals and said power, addressing a combination of one of said rows and one of said columns thereby electrically energizing the addressed PEPS, and directed by said sequence of address signals to electrically energize said plurality of PEPS, one PEPS at a time, such that each of said PEPS is electrically energized in turn; and d) an exciter, joined to said object, arranged to move along a controlled path in close proximity to said plurality of PEPS, physically exciting only the nearest PEPS, only said nearest PEPS achieving said active state, thereby causing said controller to display the address signal that corresponds to said nearest PEPS whereby the position of said object is directly related to the address signal displayed. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A position transmitter for use with an electrically powered external controller that supplies electric power, transmits a controller clock signal, receives a data signal as a string of data pulses followed by at least one missing pulse, and displays the number of data pulses in said string, in determining the position of an object moving along an intended path, comprising:
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a) a plurality of PEPS each of which achieves an active state and conducts an active status current only if electrically energized and physically excited, connected as a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns such that each PEPS is electrically connected to a unique combination of one of said rows and one of said columns; b) a support means to fixedly support said plurality of PEPS in a spaced relationship along said controlled path of said object; c) a processor, supported by said support means, receiving said controller clock signal, a data transmit signal and an address active signal, transmitting said data signal, a processor clock signal, a driver inhibit signal, and a counter reset signal, and including a set of digital building blocks to convert said address active signal to said counter reset signal, to convert said data transmit signal to said driver inhibit signal, to convert said controller clock signal to a processor clock signal and to transmit said processor clock signal as a data signal as directed by said data transmit signal; d) a counter, supported by said support means, receiving said processor clock signal and said counter reset signal, transmitting a repeating sequence of address signals, starting with a first address signal, progressing to successive address signals as successive clock signals are received, and returning to said first address signal, and returning to said first address signal as directed by said counter reset signal; e) a driver, supported by said support means, electrically connected to said plurality of PEPS at a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, receiving said sequence of address signals, said driver inhibit signal and said power, addressing a combination of one of said rows and one of said columns thereby electrically energizing the addressed PEPS, and directed by said sequence of address signals and said driver inhibit signal to electrically energize said plurality of PEPS, one PEPS at a time, such that each of said PEPS is electrically energized in turn; f) a converter in electrical interaction with said addressed PEPS, supported by said support means, receiving said processor clock signal and including an electric circuit wherein said active status current is converted into an address active signal that is transmitted to said processor and recognized by it as an indication that said addressed PEPS has acheived said active state; and g) an exciter, joined to said object, arranged to move along a controlled path in close proximity to said plurality of PEPS, physically exciting only the nearest PEPS, only said nearest PEPS achieving said active state, whereby said controller is connected to said transmitter and the position of said object is proportional to the number of said data pulses in said string. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A position transmitter for use with an electrically powered external controller that supplies electric power, receives an electrical data signal, and displays the value of said data signal, in determining the position of an object moving along an intended path, comprising:
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a) a plurality of PEPS each of which achieves an active state and conducts an active status current only if electrically energized and physically excited, connected as a plurality of rows and at least one column such that each PEPS is electrically connected to a unique combination of one of said rows and one of said columns; b) a clock signal generator, generating a clock signal as a stream of digital electrical pulses; c) a counter, receiving said clock signal and transmitting a repeating sequence of address signals, starting with a first address signal, progressing to successive address signals as successive clock signals are received, and returning to said first address signal; d) a driver, electrically connected to said plurality of PEPS at a plurality of rows and at least one column, receiving said sequence of address signals and said power, addressing a combination of one of said rows and one of said columns thereby electrically energizing the addressed PEPS, and directed by said sequence of address signals to electrically energize said plurality of PEPS, one PEPS at a time, such that each of said PEPS is electrically energized in turn; e) a converter in electrical interaction with said addressed PEPS, supported by said support means, receiving said clock signal and including an electric circuit wherein an address active signal is generated when an electrical status current exceeds an electrical reference current and is an active status current; f) a storage register, receiving said sequence of address signals and said address active signal to store the address signal that corresponds to said address active signal and continuously transmit the stored address signal as said data signal to said controller; g) a support means to fixedly support said plurality of PEPS in a spaced relationship along said controlled path of said object and to support said clock signal generator, said counter, said driver, said converter, and said storage register; and h) an exciter, joined to said object, arranged to move along a controlled path in close proximity to said plurality of PEPS, physically exciting only the nearest PEPS, only said nearest PEPS achieving said active state, whereby the position of said object is proportional to said stored address signal. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50)
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Specification