Pulsed waveguide sensing device and method for measuring a parameter
First Claim
1. A low power measurement system for measuring a parameter comprising:
- a medium where the parameter to be measured affects the medium;
a first transducer coupled to the medium at a first location where the first transducer emits a pulsed energy wave into the medium in response to a pulse;
a second transducer coupled to the medium at a second location where the pulsed energy wave propagates through the medium to the second location and where the second transducer generates a signal in response to the pulsed energy wave; and
a pulsed system including;
an edge detect circuit for detecting an edge of the signal from the second transducer; and
a first pulse circuit for generating a pulse to initiate a subsequent measurement sequence in response to a detected edge by the edge detect circuit where a transit time of the pulsed energy wave propagating from the first location to the second location is measured and the transit time or change in transit time corresponds to the parameter where the system includes an amplifier having an input coupled to an output of the edge detect circuit and an output coupled to the first transducer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
At least one embodiment is directed to a sensor for measuring a parameter. A signal path of the system comprises an amplifier (612), a sensor element, and an amplifier (620). The sensor element comprises a transducer (4), a waveguide (5), and a transducer (30). A parameter such as force or pressure applied to the sensor element can change the length of waveguide (5). A pulsed energy wave is emitted by the transducer (4) into the waveguide (5) at a first location. The transducer (30) is responsive pulsed energy waves at a second location of the waveguide (5). The transit time of each pulsed energy wave is measured. The transit time corresponds to the pressure or force applied to the sensor element.
34 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A low power measurement system for measuring a parameter comprising:
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a medium where the parameter to be measured affects the medium; a first transducer coupled to the medium at a first location where the first transducer emits a pulsed energy wave into the medium in response to a pulse; a second transducer coupled to the medium at a second location where the pulsed energy wave propagates through the medium to the second location and where the second transducer generates a signal in response to the pulsed energy wave; and a pulsed system including; an edge detect circuit for detecting an edge of the signal from the second transducer; and a first pulse circuit for generating a pulse to initiate a subsequent measurement sequence in response to a detected edge by the edge detect circuit where a transit time of the pulsed energy wave propagating from the first location to the second location is measured and the transit time or change in transit time corresponds to the parameter where the system includes an amplifier having an input coupled to an output of the edge detect circuit and an output coupled to the first transducer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of measuring a parameter comprising the steps of:
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emitting pulsed energy waves into a first location of a medium with a first transducer; detecting pulsed energy waves at a second location of the medium with a second transducer where the step of detecting further includes the steps of; generating a pulse with an edge detect circuit from a signal provided by the second transducer responsive to each pulsed energy wave at the second location; shaping each pulse with an amplifier; impedance matching for efficient transfer of each shaped pulse to the first transducer; and coupling each shaped pulse to the first transducer where the first transducer emits a pulsed energy wave into the medium in response to each shaped pulse; maintaining more than one pulsed energy wave in a the medium subjected to the parameter being measured; initiating measurement by providing a fixed integer number of pulse energy waves to the medium using a counter; measuring the transit time of the fixed integer number of pulsed energy waves with a timer; and relating the transit time and material properties of the medium to the parameter being measured. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification