Self-powered magnetic tachometer for supplying a signal representative of rotational rate and absolute position
First Claim
1. A tachometer for supplying a signal representative of rotational rate and absolute position of a rotatable device, comprising:
- a plurality of detection magnets coupled to, and spaced around, the device, to thereby rotate with the device when the device is rotated;
an index feature associated with the rotatable device, to thereby rotate with the device when the device is rotated, wherein the index feature and the plurality of detection magnets are spaced evenly around the device;
a plurality of non-rotationally mounted magnetic circuits spaced evenly around the device, each magnetic circuit configured to supply a first electrical signal each time one of the detection magnets rotates past the magnetic circuit and a second electrical signal each time the index feature rotates past the magnetic circuit;
an energy harvester coupled to receive the first and second signals supplied by each of the magnetic circuits and configured, upon receipt thereof, to supply regulated electrical power; and
a signal conditioner coupled receive to the regulated electrical power and the first and second signals supplied by each of the magnetic circuits and configured, in response thereto, to supply a rate signal representatives of device rotational rate.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tachometer for supplying a signal representative of the rotational rate of a rotatable device includes a plurality of detection magnets, an index feature, and one or more non-rotationally mounted magnetic circuits. The detection magnets are coupled to, and spaced around, the device, to thereby rotate with the device when the device is rotated. The index feature is associated with the rotatable device, to thereby rotate with the device when the device is rotated. The index feature and the plurality of detection magnets are spaced evenly around the device. The magnetic circuits are spaced evenly around the device, and each magnetic circuit is configured to supply a first electrical signal each time one of the detection magnets rotates past the magnetic circuit and a second electrical signal each time the index feature rotates.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A tachometer for supplying a signal representative of rotational rate and absolute position of a rotatable device, comprising:
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a plurality of detection magnets coupled to, and spaced around, the device, to thereby rotate with the device when the device is rotated; an index feature associated with the rotatable device, to thereby rotate with the device when the device is rotated, wherein the index feature and the plurality of detection magnets are spaced evenly around the device; a plurality of non-rotationally mounted magnetic circuits spaced evenly around the device, each magnetic circuit configured to supply a first electrical signal each time one of the detection magnets rotates past the magnetic circuit and a second electrical signal each time the index feature rotates past the magnetic circuit; an energy harvester coupled to receive the first and second signals supplied by each of the magnetic circuits and configured, upon receipt thereof, to supply regulated electrical power; and a signal conditioner coupled receive to the regulated electrical power and the first and second signals supplied by each of the magnetic circuits and configured, in response thereto, to supply a rate signal representatives of device rotational rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A wireless tachometer for supplying a signal representative of rotational rate and absolute position of a rotatable device, comprising:
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a plurality of detection magnets coupled to, and spaced around, the device, to thereby rotate with the device when the device is rotated; an index feature associated with the rotatable device, to thereby rotate with the device when the device is rotated, wherein the index feature and the plurality of detection magnets are spaced evenly around the device; a plurality of non-rotationally mounted magnetic circuits spaced evenly around the device, each magnetic circuit configured to supply a electrical first signal each time one of the detection magnets rotates past the magnetic circuit and a second electrical signal each time the index feature rotates past the magnetic circuit; an energy harvester coupled to receive the first and second electrical signals supplied by each of the magnetic circuits and configured, upon receipt thereof, to supply regulated electrical power; a signal conditioner coupled to receive the regulated electrical power and the first and second electrical signals supplied by each of the magnetic circuits and configured, in response thereto, to (i) supply a rate signal representative of device rotational rate and (ii) determine and supply a position signal representative of absolute rotational position of the device; and a transmitter coupled to receive the regulated electrical power, the rate signal, and the position signal and configured, in response thereto, to wirelessly transmit a signal representative of rotatable device rotational rate and absolute rotational position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification