Position sensing system and method
First Claim
1. A method of determining the linear position of a moving mechanical component, the method comprising:
- sensing a plurality of values of a quantity using a plurality of sensors, the sensed values indicative of the linear position of the mechanical component;
converting the plurality of sensed values into a plurality of best linear position estimates concerning the mechanical component;
applying one or more compensations to at least some of the plurality of best linear position estimates, each of the compensations being applied to account for a relative positioning of one of the plurality of sensors with respect to the others;
determining a plurality of weighting factors associated with each of the plurality of best linear position estimates;
determining the position of the mechanical component using the plurality of best linear position estimates and the plurality of weighting factors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The linear position of a moving mechanical component is determined. A plurality of values of a quantity using a plurality of sensors is sensed and the sensed values are indicative of the linear position of the mechanical component. The plurality of sensed values are converted into a plurality of best linear position estimates concerning the mechanical component. One or more compensations are applied to at least some of the plurality of best linear position estimates. Each of the compensations are applied to account for a relative positioning of one of the plurality of sensors with respect to the others. A plurality of weighting factors associated with each of the plurality of best linear position estimates are determined. The position of the mechanical component is determined using the plurality of best linear position estimates and the plurality of weighting factors.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of determining the linear position of a moving mechanical component, the method comprising:
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sensing a plurality of values of a quantity using a plurality of sensors, the sensed values indicative of the linear position of the mechanical component; converting the plurality of sensed values into a plurality of best linear position estimates concerning the mechanical component; applying one or more compensations to at least some of the plurality of best linear position estimates, each of the compensations being applied to account for a relative positioning of one of the plurality of sensors with respect to the others; determining a plurality of weighting factors associated with each of the plurality of best linear position estimates; determining the position of the mechanical component using the plurality of best linear position estimates and the plurality of weighting factors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for determining the linear position of a moving mechanical component, the apparatus comprising:
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an interface having an input and an output, the input receiving sensed values of a quantity related to a linear position of the moving mechanical component; a memory that stores a plurality of weighting factors; a controller coupled to the interface and the memory, the controller configured to convert the plurality of sensed values received at the input of the interface into a plurality of position estimates indicative of the linear position of the moving mechanical component, the controller being further configured to apply one or more compensations to at least some of the plurality of best estimates of the linear position, each of the compensations being applied to account for a relative positioning of the each of the plurality of sensors with respect to the others, the controller being further configured to select and obtain a plurality of weighting factors from the memory, the selected weighting factors associated with the plurality of best linear position estimates, the controller being further configured to determine the linear position of the mechanical component using the plurality of best estimates and the plurality of weighting factors. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification