Non-contact tachometer and sensor
First Claim
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1. A non-contact tachometer and sensor system, comprising:
- a first coaxial cable;
a signal processor module;
a digital attenuator connected to the signal processor module;
a sensor module communicably coupled to the signal processor module via the first coaxial cable over which the sensor module sends signals to the signal processor module, the sensor module comprising a current mode loop with a plurality of turns of wire wrapped around a fixed object having a length and width of approximately 2 to 4 inches, and wherein the sensor module is configured to detect electromagnetic signals generated by active engine operation of an internal combustion engine; and
a second coaxial cable communicably coupled to the signal processor module which sends a timed pulse train in which each pulse of the timed pulse train corresponds to at least one of;
a revolutions per minute of an engine, and a valid ignition/injector pulse, wherein the timed pulse train is created based on the electromagnetic signals measured by the sensor module, and a frequency of the pulse train is larger than a frequency of the electromagnetic signals generated by the active engine operation, andwherein the signal processor module is configured to measure a time of arrival of a most recently received pulse from among the timed pulse train, and the signal processor module is also configured to compare the time of arrival to a plurality of previous time of arrival measurements to determine whether the time of arrival is out of range with the previous time of arrival measurements and whether to change a current operating state of the digital attenuator.
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Abstract
A non-contact tachometer and sensor system comprises a signal processor module, a sensor module communicably coupled to the signal processor module via a first coaxial cable over which the sensor module sends signals to the signal processing module, and a second coaxial cable communicably coupled to the signal processor module which sends a timed pulse train in which each pulse corresponds to at least one of: a revolutions per minute of an engine, and a valid ignition/injector pulse.
23 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A non-contact tachometer and sensor system, comprising:
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a first coaxial cable; a signal processor module; a digital attenuator connected to the signal processor module; a sensor module communicably coupled to the signal processor module via the first coaxial cable over which the sensor module sends signals to the signal processor module, the sensor module comprising a current mode loop with a plurality of turns of wire wrapped around a fixed object having a length and width of approximately 2 to 4 inches, and wherein the sensor module is configured to detect electromagnetic signals generated by active engine operation of an internal combustion engine; and a second coaxial cable communicably coupled to the signal processor module which sends a timed pulse train in which each pulse of the timed pulse train corresponds to at least one of;
a revolutions per minute of an engine, and a valid ignition/injector pulse, wherein the timed pulse train is created based on the electromagnetic signals measured by the sensor module, and a frequency of the pulse train is larger than a frequency of the electromagnetic signals generated by the active engine operation, andwherein the signal processor module is configured to measure a time of arrival of a most recently received pulse from among the timed pulse train, and the signal processor module is also configured to compare the time of arrival to a plurality of previous time of arrival measurements to determine whether the time of arrival is out of range with the previous time of arrival measurements and whether to change a current operating state of the digital attenuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A non-contact tachometer and sensor system, comprising:
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a first coaxial cable; a signal processor module; a digital attenuator connected to the signal processor module; a sensor module communicably coupled to the signal processor module via the first coaxial cable over which the sensor module sends signals to the signal processor module, the sensor module comprising a current mode loop with a plurality of turns of wire wrapped around a fixed object having a length and width of approximately 2 to 4 inches, and wherein the sensor module is configured to detect electromagnetic signals generated by active engine operation of an internal combustion engine; and a second coaxial cable communicably coupled to the signal processor module which sends a timed pulse train in which each pulse of the timed pulse train corresponds to at least one of;
a revolutions per minute of an engine, and a valid ignition/injector pulse, wherein the timed pulse train includes transistor to transistor logic level signals and wherein each pulse has a duration of 3 microseconds, wherein the timed pulse train is created based on the electromagnetic signals measured by the sensor module, and a frequency of the pulse train is larger than a frequency of the electromagnetic signals generated by the active engine operation, andwherein the signal processor module is configured to measure a time of arrival of a most recently received pulse from among the timed pulse train, and the signal processor module is also configured to compare the time of arrival to a plurality of previous time of arrival measurements to determine whether the time of arrival is out of range with the previous time of arrival measurements and whether to change a current operating state of the digital attenuator.
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20. A non-contact tachometer and sensor system, comprising:
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a first coaxial cable; a signal processor module; a sensor module communicably coupled to the signal processor module via the first coaxial cable over which the sensor module sends signals to the signal processor module, the sensor module comprising a current mode loop with a plurality of turns of wire wrapped around a fixed object having a length and width of approximately 2 to 4 inches, and wherein the sensor module is configured to detect electromagnetic signals generated by active engine operation of an internal combustion engine; and a second coaxial cable communicably coupled to the signal processor module which sends a timed pulse train in which each pulse of the timed pulse trains corresponds to at least one of;
a revolutions per minute of an engine, and a valid ignition/injector pulse, wherein the sensor module contains a printed circuit board which includes a capacitor that is located adjacent to a central portion of the printed circuit board, and four posts at each respective corner of the printed circuit board, wherein the timed pulse train is created based on the electromagnetic signals measured by the sensor module, and a frequency of the pulse train is larger than a frequency of the electromagnetic signals generated by the active engine operation, andwherein the signal processor module is configured to measure a time of arrival of a most recently received pulse from among the timed pulse train, and the signal processor module is also configured to compare the time of arrival to a plurality of previous time of arrival measurements to determine whether the time of arrival is out of range with the previous time of arrival measurements and whether to change a current operating state of the digital attenuator.
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Specification