Circuit arrangement for evaluating the output signal of an active sensor

• US 5,880,614 A
• Filed: 05/07/1997
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fey, Wolfgang, Zydek, Michael, Zinke, Olaf
• Primary Examiner(s): Lam, Tuan T.
• Application Number:
  US08/809,501
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 327/205, 327/206, 327/72-75, 327/77-82
• US Class Current: 327/205
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/48 by measuring frequency of generated current or voltage in general G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 5/088 modified by switching, e.g. by a periodic signal or by a signal in synchronism with the transitions of the output signal

Abstract

To evaluate the output signal of an active sensor which is configured as a binary current signal, a circuit arrangement is disclosed by which a proportional current is produced from the sensor current by way of a current mirror circuit. The current produced by a current mirroring operation is drawn from a stabilized voltage source by way of an ohmic resistance, and a binary voltage signal corresponding to the sensor output signal is generated thereby. The voltage signal is sent to a flipflop which compares the voltage signal with a reference value that is composed of a reference voltage and a hysteresis voltage. The change-over threshold of the flipflop is varied or adapted as a function of the actual sensor current, leakage currents, etc.

Claims

1. A circuit for evaluating an output signal of an active sensor which is configured as a binary current signal having a square-wave output signal with two different current levels, comprising:

means for producing a signal current proportional to the sensor output signal by way of a current mirror circuit,

the signal current induced by a first circuit branch of said current mirror circuit is drawn from a voltage source by way of an ohmic resistance, whereby a binary voltage signal corresponding to the sensor output signal is generated,

comparator means having a first input coupled to said binary voltage signal, wherein said comparator means includes hysteresis characteristics which are implemented by comparing the binary voltage signal with a reference signal, wherein said reference signal is composed of a serial connection of a reference voltage and a hysteresis voltage, wherein the change-over threshold of the comparator means is responsive to the reference value signal, wherein

the reference voltage is varied as a function of the sensor output signal, and wherein the reference voltage is produced by way of a capacitor which is connected to a second input of said comparator means.

2. Circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hysteresis voltage includes a constant voltage source whose output polarity alternates with each change-over of the comparator mean.

3. Circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the hysteresis voltage is produced by two constant current sources which increase or decrease the capacitor voltage responsive to the switch condition of the comparator means.

4. Circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the voltage source, from which the mirrored currents are drawn, is stabilized.

5. A circuit for evaluating an output signal of an active sensor which is configured as a binary current signal having a square-wave output signal with two different current levels, comprising:

means for producing a signal current proportional to the sensor output signal by way of a current mirror circuit,

the signal current induced by a first circuit branch of said current mirror circuit is drawn from a voltage source by way of an ohmic resistance, whereby a binary voltage signal corresponding to the sensor output signal is generated,

comparator means having a first input coupled to said binary voltage signal, wherein said comparator means includes hysteresis characteristics which are implemented by comparing the binary voltage signal with a reference signal coupled to a second input of said comparator mean, wherein said reference signal is composed of a serial connection of a reference voltage and a hysteresis voltage, wherein the change-over threshold of the comparator means is responsive to the reference signal, wherein

the reference voltage is varied as a function of the sensor output signal wherein the reference voltage is produced by way of a capacitor which is connected to a second circuit branch of the current mirror circuit by way of an ohmic resistance.

6. Circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the reference signal is provided by series connection of the reference voltage and a constant voltage source which furnishes the hysteresis voltage and has a polarity alternating with each change-over of the comparator means.

7. Circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the hysteresis voltage is produced by constant current sources which increase or decrease the capacitor voltage responsive to the switch condition of the comparator means.