Method for processing a temperature sensor signal
First Claim
1. A method for processing a PWM signal output from a sensor, the sensor having a signal converter and a sensing element, the sensor located on and sensing an operating parameter of an apparatus, said method comprising:
- obtaining the PWM signal from the sensor, wherein the PWM signal has a characteristic that varies non-linearly and non-exponentially with changes in the operating parameter being sensed, and the PWM signal is pulse width modulated to indicate the operating parameter being sensed;
defining an exponential equation that specifies a relationship between the PWM signal from the sensor and the operating parameter of the apparatus, wherein the exponential equation contains a term for a value of the PWM signal and a term for an initial value of the operating parameter;
receiving the PWM signal from the sensor at a processor;
measuring the characteristic of the PWM signal, with the processor, to produce the value of the PWM signal; and
using the value of the PWM signal to solve the exponential equation which produces a current value for the operating parameter of the apparatus.
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Abstract
A method for processing a pulse width modulated signal from a temperature sensor, wherein the signal varies non-linearly and non-exponentially with changes in temperature. An exponential equation is defined that is closely fitted to the relationship between a characteristic of the signal and the temperature. The signal from the sensor is processed by measuring the characteristic to produce a sensor value. That sensor value then is employed to solve the exponential equation which produces a value for the temperature.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for processing a PWM signal output from a sensor, the sensor having a signal converter and a sensing element, the sensor located on and sensing an operating parameter of an apparatus, said method comprising:
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obtaining the PWM signal from the sensor, wherein the PWM signal has a characteristic that varies non-linearly and non-exponentially with changes in the operating parameter being sensed, and the PWM signal is pulse width modulated to indicate the operating parameter being sensed; defining an exponential equation that specifies a relationship between the PWM signal from the sensor and the operating parameter of the apparatus, wherein the exponential equation contains a term for a value of the PWM signal and a term for an initial value of the operating parameter; receiving the PWM signal from the sensor at a processor; measuring the characteristic of the PWM signal, with the processor, to produce the value of the PWM signal; and using the value of the PWM signal to solve the exponential equation which produces a current value for the operating parameter of the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for processing a PWM signal from a temperature sensor on an engine, wherein the PWM signal has a characteristic that varies non-linearly and non-exponentially with engine temperature changes, said method comprising:
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defining an exponential equation that specifies a relationship between the PWM signal from the temperature sensor and the engine temperature, wherein the exponential equation contains a term for a value of the PWM signal and a term for the initial value of the operating parameter; receiving the PWM signal from the temperature sensor at a processor, wherein the signal is pulse width modulated to indicate the engine temperature; measuring the characteristic of the PWM signal, with the processor, to produce the value of the PWM signal; and using the value of the PWM signal to solve the exponential equation which produces a current value for the engine temperature. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for processing a pulse width modulated signal from a temperature sensor on an engine, wherein a portion of the signal has a duration that varies non-linearly and non-exponentially with engine temperature changes, said method comprising:
defining an exponential equation that specifies a relationship between variation of the signal from the temperature sensor and the engine temperature, wherein the exponential equation is given by; - View Dependent Claims (13)
Specification