Signal processing unit for a pressure switch or the like
First Claim
1. A pressure switch comprising:
- i) a sensor element to supply an analog electrical signal corresponding to a pressure,ii) a signal processing unit which is connected downstream of the sensor element to amplify the analog electrical signal, andiii) a control unit for electrical switches which is connected downstream of the signal processing unit for switching external loads, for a display unit, for production interfaces and the like,wherein the signal processing unit comprises a chopper amplifier, which switches or balances the polarity of the analog electrical signal present at an input to the signal processing unit supplied by the sensor element, and the analog electrical signal present at an output of the signal processing unit, at the same clock rate,the output of the signal processing unit supplies a voltage with a magnitude corresponding to a measured quantity sensed by the sensor, andthe output of the signal processing unit is connected upstream of an analog/digital converter which samples the voltage in a first phase and a second phase and converts them into numerical values and enables subtraction of the two values in a unit connected downstream the converter output.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A signal processing unit for a pressure switch or the like, comprising a sensor element, such as a strain gauge bridge, to supply an analog electrical signal that corresponds to a pressure; a signal processing unit which is connected downstream of the sensor element to amplify and digitize the analog signal; and a control unit for electrical switches which is connected downstream of the signal processing unit to switch external loads or the like. According to the invention, the signal processing unit comprises a chopper amplifier, which switches or balances the polarity of the analog electrical signal present at its input and supplied by the sensor element, and the amplified analog electrical or digitized signal present at its output, at the same clock rate.
30 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A pressure switch comprising:
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i) a sensor element to supply an analog electrical signal corresponding to a pressure, ii) a signal processing unit which is connected downstream of the sensor element to amplify the analog electrical signal, and iii) a control unit for electrical switches which is connected downstream of the signal processing unit for switching external loads, for a display unit, for production interfaces and the like, wherein the signal processing unit comprises a chopper amplifier, which switches or balances the polarity of the analog electrical signal present at an input to the signal processing unit supplied by the sensor element, and the analog electrical signal present at an output of the signal processing unit, at the same clock rate, the output of the signal processing unit supplies a voltage with a magnitude corresponding to a measured quantity sensed by the sensor, and the output of the signal processing unit is connected upstream of an analog/digital converter which samples the voltage in a first phase and a second phase and converts them into numerical values and enables subtraction of the two values in a unit connected downstream the converter output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electronic switch means including:
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i) a sensor element to supply an analog electrical signal corresponding to a measured quantity; ii) signal processing means connected downstream of the sensor element to amplify the analog electrical signal, and iii) control means connected downstream of the signal processing means to interface with external electrical components; the signal processing means comprising a chopper amplifier, which switches or balances the polarity of the signal supplied to an input to the signal processing means by the sensor element, and the signal provided at an output of the signal processing means, at the same clock rate, the output of the signal processing means supplies a voltage with a magnitude corresponding to a measured quantity sensed by the sensor element, and the output of the signal processing means is connected upstream of an analog/digital converter which samples the voltage in a first chase and a second chase and converts them into numerical values and enables subtraction of the two values in a unit connected downstream the converter output. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification