Nip press sensing system including a sensor strip having sensor interface electronics associated therewith and methods of operating the same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for determining characteristics of two rolls configured in a nip press, comprising:
- a strip configured to be placed in the nip press;
a plurality of sensors embedded in the strip that is configured to generate signals representative of the pressure and/or the nip width between the two rolls, the plurality of sensors being configured in a plurality of sensor banks;
interface circuitry that facilitates addressing of individual ones of the plurality of sensors via a data processing system, the interface circuitry comprising a plurality of multiplexer circuits respectively coupled to the plurality of sensor banks, each of the multiplexer circuits being responsive to a sensor address to select an output signal of one sensor contained on the respective sensor bank coupled thereto; and
a plurality of processors respectively coupled to the plurality of multiplexer circuits that is responsive to a multiplexer selection address to selectively enable one of the plurality of multiplexer circuits;
wherein the plurality of sensors embedded in the strip that are configured to generate signals provide a substantially continuous representation of the pressure and/or the nip width along a length of the two rolls.
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Abstract
According to some embodiments of the present invention, a system for determining characteristics of two rolls configured in a nip press includes a strip configured to be placed in the nip press. A plurality of sensors embedded in the strip is configured to generate signals representative of the pressure and/or the nip width between the two rolls. Interface circuitry facilitates addressing of individual ones of the plurality of sensors via a data processing system.
53 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A system for determining characteristics of two rolls configured in a nip press, comprising:
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a strip configured to be placed in the nip press; a plurality of sensors embedded in the strip that is configured to generate signals representative of the pressure and/or the nip width between the two rolls, the plurality of sensors being configured in a plurality of sensor banks; interface circuitry that facilitates addressing of individual ones of the plurality of sensors via a data processing system, the interface circuitry comprising a plurality of multiplexer circuits respectively coupled to the plurality of sensor banks, each of the multiplexer circuits being responsive to a sensor address to select an output signal of one sensor contained on the respective sensor bank coupled thereto; and a plurality of processors respectively coupled to the plurality of multiplexer circuits that is responsive to a multiplexer selection address to selectively enable one of the plurality of multiplexer circuits; wherein the plurality of sensors embedded in the strip that are configured to generate signals provide a substantially continuous representation of the pressure and/or the nip width along a length of the two rolls. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for determining characteristics of two rolls configured in a nip press, comprising:
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a strip configured to be placed in the nip press; a plurality of sensors embedded in the strip that is configured to generate signals representative of the pressure and/or the nip width between the two rolls, the plurality of sensors being configured in a plurality of sensor banks; interface circuitry that facilitates addressing of individual ones of the plurality of sensors via a data processing system, the interface circuitry comprising a plurality of multiplexer circuits respectively coupled to the plurality of sensor banks, each of the multiplexer circuits being responsive to a sensor address to select an output signal of one sensor contained on the respective sensor bank coupled thereto; and a plurality of processors respectively coupled to the plurality of multiplexer circuits that is responsive to a multiplexer selection address to enable the plurality of multiplexer circuits in parallel; wherein the plurality of sensors embedded in the strip that are configured to generate signals provide a substantially continuous representation of the pressure and/or the nip width along a length of the two rolls. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for determining characteristics of two rolls configured in a nip press, comprising:
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placing a strip in the nip press, the strip comprising a plurality of sensors embedded in the strip that is configured to generate signals representative of the pressure and/or the nip width between the two rolls and interface circuitry that facilitates addressing of individual ones of the plurality of sensors via a data processing system, the plurality of sensors being configured in a plurality of sensor banks and the interface circuitry comprising a plurality of multiplexer circuits respectively coupled to the plurality of sensor banks and a plurality of processors respectively coupled to the plurality of multiplexer circuits; using the data processing system to determine characteristics of the two rolls based on the signals; generating signals that provide a substantially continuous representation of the pressure and/or the nip width along a length of the two rolls; enabling one of the plurality of multiplexer circuits using one of the plurality of processors responsive to a multiplexer selection address; and selecting the output signal of one sensor contained on the sensor bank coupled to the enabled one of the plurality of multiplexer circuits responsive to a sensor address. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for determining characteristics of two rolls configured in a nip press, comprising:
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placing a strip in the nip press, the strip comprising a plurality of sensors embedded in the strip that is configured to generate signals representative of the pressure and/or the nip width between the two rolls and interface circuitry that facilitates addressing of individual ones of the plurality of sensors via a data processing system, the plurality of sensors being configured in a plurality of sensor banks and the interface circuitry comprising a plurality of multiplexer circuits respectively coupled to the plurality of sensor banks and a plurality of processors respectively coupled to the plurality of multiplexer circuits; using the data processing system to determine characteristics of the two rolls based on the signals; generating signals that provide a substantially continuous representation of the pressure and/or the nip width along a length of the two rolls; enabling the plurality of multiplexer circuits in parallel using the plurality of processors responsive to a multiplexer selection address; and selecting the output signals of sensors contained on the sensor banks sensor addresses. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A strip for use in a nip press between two rolls, comprising:
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a plurality of sensors embedded in the strip that is configured to generate signals representative of the pressure and/or the nip width between the two rolls, the plurality of sensors is configured in a plurality of sensor banks; interface circuitry that facilitates addressing of individual ones of the plurality of sensors via a data processing system, the interface circuitry comprising a plurality of multiplexer circuits respectively coupled to the plurality of sensor banks, each of the multiplexer circuits being responsive to a sensor address to select an output signal of one sensor contained on the respective sensor bank coupled thereto; and a plurality of processors respectively coupled to the plurality of multiplexer circuits that is responsive to a multiplexer selection address to selectively enable one of the plurality of multiplexer circuits; wherein the plurality of sensors embedded in the strip that are configured to generate signals provide a substantially continuous representation of the pressure and/or the nip width along a length of the two rolls; a plurality of processors respectively coupled to the plurality of multiplexer circuits that is responsive to a multiplexer selection address to selectively enable one of the plurality of multiplexer circuits. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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Specification