Optically powered and linked pressure transducer
First Claim
1. A pressure sensing system adapted for use in an EMI environment, the system comprising:
- (a) an EMI shielded sensor comprising;
(i) an electronic pressure transducer, the pressure transducer comprising means for receiving a fluid whose pressure is to be sensed, means for receiving DC electrical power, and means for producing an electronic output signal having a characteristic that encodes the pressure of said fluid;
(ii) first conversion means including means for receiving an optical power signal, means for converting the optical power signal into said DC electrical power, and means for coupling said DC electrical power to the pressure transducer; and
(iii) second conversion means including means for receiving the electronic output signal and means for converting the electronic output signal into a corresponding optical output signal;
(b) an EMI shielded controller comprising;
(i) means for generating the optical power signal; and
(ii) means for receiving the optical output signal; and
(c) fiber-optic cable means for coupling the optical power signal from the controller to the sensor and for coupling the optical output signal from the sensor to the controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pressure sensing system that is relatively immune to EMI. The system comprises a sensor and a controller linked to one another by a fiber optic cable. The sensor includes an electronic pressure transducer, and means for converting an optical power signal received from the controller via the fiber optic cable into DC electrical power for the transducer. The transducer produces an electronic output signal that encodes the pressure, and this output signal is converted into a corresponding optical output signal that is transmitted to the controller along the fiber optic cable. A preferred pressure transducer is a vibrating crystal pressure transducer, the output signal of which is converted to electronic form at the controller, and demodulated by a counter. The power signal is preferably a time invariant, and not a function of the output signal.
55 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A pressure sensing system adapted for use in an EMI environment, the system comprising:
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(a) an EMI shielded sensor comprising; (i) an electronic pressure transducer, the pressure transducer comprising means for receiving a fluid whose pressure is to be sensed, means for receiving DC electrical power, and means for producing an electronic output signal having a characteristic that encodes the pressure of said fluid; (ii) first conversion means including means for receiving an optical power signal, means for converting the optical power signal into said DC electrical power, and means for coupling said DC electrical power to the pressure transducer; and (iii) second conversion means including means for receiving the electronic output signal and means for converting the electronic output signal into a corresponding optical output signal; (b) an EMI shielded controller comprising; (i) means for generating the optical power signal; and (ii) means for receiving the optical output signal; and (c) fiber-optic cable means for coupling the optical power signal from the controller to the sensor and for coupling the optical output signal from the sensor to the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification