Detection device

• US 7,132,825 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2002
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Université de Liège
• Original Assignee: Université de Liège
• Inventors: Martin, Nicolas
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITTINGTON, KENNETH
• Application Number:
  US10/486,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20040169507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,554 Days
• Field of Search: 324/207.11, 324/207.13, 32420715-20718, 32420723-20726, 324/160, 324/163, 324/173, 324/178, 324/67, 324/326, 310/168
• US Class Current: 324/207.17
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2013 by a movable ferromagnetic element, e.g. a core G01D5/2033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2266 specially adapted circuits therefor

Abstract

A device for detecting the displacement of an object comprising a ferromagnetic material, comprises a magnetic circuit generator provided with first and a second cores made of ferromagnetic material and an excitation coil and a measurement coil. The magnetic circuit generator is connected to a detecting unit designed to detect a reluctance variation brought about in the circuit by the displacement of the object and to deduce therefrom its position. In the device, the magnetic circuit generator comprises first and second transformers with open magnetic circuit, the transformers being juxtaposed and comprise each an axis extending across their respective core, the axes extending substantially perpendicular to the path. The excitation coil comprises two coils connected in series which form the primary windings of the first and second transformers. The measurement coil comprises two coils connected in series which form the secondary windings of the first and second transformers, the primary and secondary windings being connected in opposite phase.

Claims

1. A device for detecting movement of an object which contains ferromagnetic material and can move along a path, such device includes a magnetic circuit generator which has a first and a second elongated and straight cores made of ferromagnetic material, an excitation coil and a measuring coil, said generator is connected to a detection unit adapted to detect a reluctance variation produced in the circuit by the movement of the object and to deduce a position of the object therefrom, which device is characterised in that the magnetic circuit generator comprises a first and a second open magnetic circuit transformers, said first transformer including the first core and the second transformer including the second core, said transformers being juxtaposed and each having an axis that extends through its respective core, said axes extending substantially perpendicularly to said path, said excitation coil comprising a connection in series of two coils that form the primary coils of the first and second transformers, and said measuring coil comprising a connection in series of two coils that form the secondary coils of the first and second transformers, said secondary coils being connected in phase opposition and a capacitor being in parallel connection with the secondary coils;

characterised in that the transformers are separated from the object by a metal wall that is a poor conductor of electrical current.

2. The detection device according to claim 1, characterised in that said object is mounted on an amagnetic material support.

3. The detection device according to claim 1, characterised in that each transformer includes a ferrite screw on each of said axes and adapted to compensate any difference of magnetic characteristic in the magnetic circuit of each transformer.

4. A device for detecting movement of an object which contains ferromagnetic material and can move along a path, such device includes a magnetic circuit generator which has a first and a second elongated and straight cores made of ferromagnetic material, an excitation coil and a measuring coil, said generator is connected to a detection unit adapted to detect a reluctance variation produced in the circuit by the movement of the object and to deduce a position of the object therefrom, which device is characterised in that the magnetic circuit generator comprises a first and a second open magnetic circuit transformers, said first transformer including the first core and the second transformer including the second core, said transformers being juxtaposed and each having an axis that extends through its respective core, said axes extending substantially perpendicularly to said path, said excitation coil comprising a connection in series of two coils that form the primary coils of the first and second transformers, and said measuring coil comprising connection in series of two coils that form the secondary coils of the first and second transformers, said secondary coils being connected in phase opposition and a capacitor being in parallel connection with the secondary coils;

characterised in that said primary coils are connected to a first input of the detector and the secondary coils are connected in phase opposition to a second input of the detector, which includes an operational amplifier connected to the second input and an output of which is connected via a phase shifter to a first input of a multiplier which has a second input connected to the first input of the detector, an output of the multiplier being connected to a low-pass filter.

5. The detection device according to claim 4, characterised in that the detector includes linearization means connected to the output of the low-pass filter and adapted to linearize the output signal of the filter.

6. The detection device according to claim 4, characterised in that it includes an AC voltage source driven by an oscillator and connected to the primary coils.

7. The detection device according to claim 6, characterised in that said oscillator is adapted to produce a frequency from 3 kHz to 6 kHz.