Transducer in-situ testing apparatus and method
First Claim
1. In a measurement system comprising a transducer, a charge amplifier having a feedback element, coupled to the transducer and a signal processing circuit coupled to an output of the amplifier, a method of testing the transducer in-situ comprising:
- a. coupling a test signal to the transducer;
b. disabling the amplifier while leaving the feedback element in place; and
c. analyzing the response of the transducer to the test signal with the signal processing circuit.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for a measurement system for the testing of transducers, and more particularly to the testing of piezoelectric transducers. The measurement system includes a transducer, a feedback amplifier coupled to the transducer and a signal processing circuit coupled to the output of the amplifier. The method of testing the transducer includes coupling the test signal to the transducer, disabling the amplifier, and measuring the response of the transducer to the test signal with the test processing circuit. The circuit itself used for performing this method includes a piezoelectric transducer, an amplifier, including a feed-back circuit coupled to the amplifier for amplifying the output of the transducer, a power source coupled to the amplifier, a signal source generating a test signal having a frequency spectrum at least overlapping the self resonant frequency of the transducer coupled to the transducer, and a switch coupled to the amplifier capable of disabling the amplifier.
35 Citations
21 Claims
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1. In a measurement system comprising a transducer, a charge amplifier having a feedback element, coupled to the transducer and a signal processing circuit coupled to an output of the amplifier, a method of testing the transducer in-situ comprising:
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a. coupling a test signal to the transducer; b. disabling the amplifier while leaving the feedback element in place; and c. analyzing the response of the transducer to the test signal with the signal processing circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a measurement system comprising a transducer, an amplifier comprising a feedback element, coupled to the transducer and a signal processing circuit coupled to an input of the amplifier, a method of testing the transducer in-situ comprising:
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a. coupling a test signal to the transducer; b. disabling the amplifier while leaving the feedback element in place; and c. analyzing the response of the transducer to the test signal with the signal processing circuit.
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17. In a measurement system comprising a transducer, an amplifier having a feedback element coupled to the transducer and a signal processing circuit coupled to an output of the amplifier, a method of testing the transducer in-situ comprising:
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a. coupling a test signal to the transducer; b. disabling the amplifier while leaving the feedback element in place; c. analyzing the response of the transducer to the test signal with the signal processing circuit; and d. comparing a measured response of the transducer to a signature response wherein the signature response comprises a measured response of an unmounted transducer. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification