Sensor and transducer apparatus

• US 5,279,163 A
• Filed: 12/03/1990
• Issued: 01/18/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nicholas F D'Antonio
• Original Assignee: Nicholas F D'Antonio
• Inventors: D'Antonio, Nicholas J., D'Antonio, Nicholas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOODIEL, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US07/621,653
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 73/861.71, 73/722, 73/728, 73/861.74, 128/725, 336/30
• US Class Current: 73/728
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5058 Sensors or detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5071 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/005 with feedback for the user
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/243 influencing the phase or frequency of ac
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/28 by drag-force, e.g. vane type or impact flowmeter
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/383 with electrical or electro-mechanical indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 5/46 with electric conversion means for final indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 15/00 Devices or apparatus for measuring two or more fluid pressure values simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0007 Fluidic connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0028 Force sensors associated with force applying means G01L5/0052, G01L5/0057, G01L5/0061 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/0058 of pressure sensitive conductive solid or liquid material, e.g. carbon granules
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/007 using variations in inductance
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/0072 using variations in capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/04 of resistance-strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/10 by making use of variations in inductance , i.e. electric circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/12 by making use of variations in capacitance , i.e. electric circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/038 by using fluidic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 : with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/11 : by inductive pick-up

Abstract

A sensing system including a sensing device with cooperating electrical components which move relative to each other in response to a sensed environmental parameter to yield a reactance signal, which is transmitted to a remotely located processor having an oscillator for receiving the transmitted signal and generating a transduced signal whose value corresponds to the value of the environmental parameter.

Claims

1. A force sensing system for a respiratory spirometer for generating an intelligible output signal corresponding to an air flow parameter, said system comprising:

sensing means having a stationary first portion and a second portion movable in response to air flow relative to the first portion for generating an electric reactance signal corresponding to the air flow parameter;

first supporting means connected to a housing or conduit for supporting said first portion of said sensing means;

second supporting means for supporting said movable second portion of said sensing means, said second supporting means being deflectable in response to air flow;

securing means for securing said first and second supporting means in a movable relationship, said first and second supporting means being movable relative to each other in response to the occurrence of said air flow parameter to move said movable second portion with respect to said stationary first portion of said sensing means to generate said electric reactance signal in accordance with said air flow parameter; and

processing means including reactance controlled square wave generator means for receiving said reactance signal and for generating a corresponding variable period pulse train transduced signal, said processing means processing said transduced signal into an intelligible output signal.

2. A force sensing system for a respiratory spirometer for generating an intelligible output signal corresponding to an air flow parameter, said system comprising:

sensing means having a stationary first portion and a second portion movable in response to air flow relative to the first portion for generating an electric reactance signal corresponding to the air flow parameter;

first stationary supporting means connected to a housing or conduit for supporting said first portion of said sensing means;

second supporting means for supporting said second portion of said sensing means for movement relative to said first stationary supporting means in response to the occurrence of said air flow parameter, to move said second portion to generate said electric reactance signal;

processing means located remotely from said sensing means, said processing means including reactance controlled Schmitt trigger logic inverter square wave generator network means for receiving said reactance signal and for generating a corresponding variable period pulse train transduced signal, said processing means processing said transduced signal into an output signal; and

transmitting means for transmitting said electric reactance signal from said remote sensing means to said processing means.

3. A spirometer comprising:

conduit means for transporting inhaled air or exhaled air;

sensing means having a first portion and a second portion movable relative to the first portion for generating an electric reactance signal corresponding to the pressure of the inhaled or exhaled air;

first supporting means for supporting said first portion of said sensing means;

second supporting means for supporting said second portion of said sensing means; and

securing means for securing said first and second supporting means in a movable relationship, said first and second supporting means being movable relative to said first supporting means in response to the value of said inhaled or exhaled air pressure to move said second portion of said sensing means with respect to said first portion to generate electric reactance signal for transmission to a remote location.

4. A spirometer according to claim 3 and further comprising:

processing means located remotely from said sensing means, said processing means including oscillator means for receiving said reactance signal and for generating a corresponding transduced signal, said processing means processing said transduced signal into an intelligible output signal; and

transmitting means for transmitting said electric reactance signal to said processing means.

5. A spirometer according to claim 4 wherein said oscillator means is a reactive controlled Schmitt trigger logic inverter square wave generator means for receiving said reactance signal and for generating a corresponding variable period pulse train transduced signal.