Passive tuned magnetic flux rate feedback sensing and control arrangement

• US 5,420,741 A
• Filed: 11/15/1993
• Issued: 05/30/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alliedsignal Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alliedsignal Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Hahn, Eric, Scruggs, Michael K., Mathisen, Eric C., Ushiyama, Randall K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US08/151,618
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 361/139, 361/143, 361/146, 324/207.12, 324/207.16, 324/207.17, 324/207.24, 324/207.25, 324/207.26, 324/225, 324/233, 324/239, 324/258, 324/259, 324/260, 310/51, 318/623, 318/632, 318/652, 318/653, 340/568
• US Class Current: 361/146
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/02 Measuring direction or magnitude of magnetic fields or magnetic flux G01R33/20 takes precedence

Abstract

An arrangement for obtaining flux rate information in a magnetic: circuit including passive means connected across a flux rate sensor for implementing control of said flux rate. The passive means being a tuned magnetic flux rate feedback sensing and control arrangement wherein impedance is tuned and the energy loss characteristic is adjustable. The selection of inductance and capacitance values provides tuning and the selection of resistance affects the energy loss characteristics.

Claims

1. A passive tuned magnetic flux rate feedback sensing and control arrangement, comprising:

a magnetic circuit including a rotor and a stator separated by a gap, the stator carrying a drive coil and a sensor coil;

the stator and the rotor cooperatively arranged so that a signal is induced in the sensor coil and the sensor coil provides a signal proportional to the rate of change of flux in the magnetic circuit;

means for providing a command signal;

means for providing a signal for energizing the drive coil;

means for combining the signal for energizing the drive coil and the command signal for providing a combined signal;

means connected to the means for providing the combined signal for applying current compensation to the combined signal and for providing a compensated signal;

the means for providing a signal for energizing the drive coil connected to the means for applying current compensation to the combined signal and responsive to the compensated signal therefrom for providing the signal for energizing the drive coil; and

passive tuned means connected across the sensor coil for implementing control of flux rate.

2. An arrangement as described by claim 1, wherein:

the passive tuned means is tuned to a predetermined range of frequencies of the signal provided by the sensor coil whereby signals within said range of frequencies are provided by the sensor.

3. An arrangement as described by claim 1, wherein the passive tuned means includes:

a resistor, an inductor and a capacitor serially connected across the sensor coil.

4. An arrangement as described by claim 3, wherein:

the inductor and the capacitor are selected commensurate with predetermined tuning characteristics; and

the resistor is selected commensurate with flux variations due to variations in the gap separating the rotor and the stator.

5. An arrangement as described by claim 2, wherein the passive tuned means includes:

a resistor, an inductor and a capacitor serially connected across the sensor coil.

6. An arrangement as described by claim 5, wherein:

the inductor and the capacitor are selected commensurate with predetermined tuning characteristics; and

the resistor is selected commensurate with flux variations due to variations in the gap separating the rotor and the stator.

7. An arrangement as described by claim 4, wherein:

the effect of flux gap variations is attenuated when N²₂ /L is above a predetermined limit, and not attenuated when N²₂ /L is below said predetermined limit, where N₂ is the number of turns of the sensor coil and L is the value of the inductor.

8. An arrangement as described by claim 6, wherein:

the effect of flux gap variations is attenuated when N²₂ /L is above a predetermined limit and is not attenuated when N²₂ /L is below said predetermined limit, where N₂ is the number of turns of the sensor coil and L is the value of the inductor.

9. A passive tuned method for sensing and controlling flux rate in a magnetic circuit, comprising:

supporting a drive coil and a sensor coil on a stator;

arranging the stator and a rotor in a magnetic circuit and separating said stator and rotor by a gap;

providing a command signal;

providing a signal for energizing the drive coil whereby the sensor coil provides a signal proportional to the rate of change of flux in the magnetic circuit;

combining the energizing signal and the command signal;

applying current compensation to the combined signal;

providing the energizing signal in response to the current compensated combined signal; and

connecting passive tuned means across the sensor coil for implementing control of flux rate.

10. A method as described by claim 9, wherein:

connecting passive tuned means across the sensor coil provides tuning to a predetermined range of frequencies of the signal provided by the sensor coil, whereby signals within said range of frequencies are provided by the sensor.

11. A method as described by claim 10 wherein connecting passive tuned means across the sensor coil includes:

serially connecting a resistor, an inductor and a capacitor across the sensor coil.

12. A method as described by claim 11, including:

selecting the inductor and the capacitor commensurate with predetermined tuning characteristics; and

selecting the resistor commensurate with flux variations due to variations in the gap separating the rotor and the stator.

13. A method as described by claim 12, including:

attenuating the effect of flux gap variations when N²₂ /L is above a predetermined limit and not attenuating said effect of flux gap variations when N²₂ /L is below said predetermined limit, where N₂ is the number of turns of the sensor coil and L is the value of the inductor.