Non-contact power supply for height sensor with single cable

• US 9,694,640 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2014
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infinity Engineered Products, LLC
• Original Assignee: Stemco Kaiser Incorporated (Enpro Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: May, Lutz
• Primary Examiner(s): Momper, Anna
• Application Number:
  US14/248,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20140306388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/27 wherein the fluid is a gas
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/019 characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/111 on pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/17 Magnetic/Electromagnetic
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/02 using gas only or vacuum F16F9/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/04 in a chamber with a flexible wall producing hollow articles of plastics, e.g. air bellows, B29D22/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/3292 Sensor arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/102 Height gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/14 for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures G01B7/30 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention reveals a distance sensor comprising: a signal receiving unit, an electromagnetic wave transmitting unit, and a magnetic signal transmitting unit; wherein the signal transmitting unit is adapted to transmit to the signal receiving unit a sensed distance between the signal receiving unit and the magnetic signal transmitting unit, wherein the magnetic signal transmitting unit further comprises an electromagnetic wave receiving unit and an electromagnetic wave-to-electric power converter, and wherein the electromagnetic wave receiving unit receives electromagnetic waves transmitted from the electromagnetic wave transmitting unit to operate the magnetic signal transmitting unit.

Claims

1. A distance sensor comprising:

a signal receiving unit,

an electromagnetic wave transmitting unit, and

a magnetic signal transmitting unit;

wherein the magnetic signal transmitting unit is adapted to transmit to the signal receiving unit a sensed distance between the signal receiving unit and the magnetic signal transmitting unit,

wherein the magnetic signal transmitting unit further comprises an electromagnetic wave receiving unit and an electromagnetic wave-to-electric power converter,

wherein the electromagnetic wave receiving unit receives electromagnetic waves transmitted from the electromagnetic wave transmitting unit to operate the magnetic signal transmitting unit,

wherein the electromagnetic wave transmitting unit is a photon-based energy wave transmitting unit adapted to transmit only a single source of energy to the electromagnetic wave receiving unit; and

wherein the electromagnetic wave transmitting unit and the electromagnetic wave receiving unit operate within the wavelength range of about 700 nanometers to 1100 nanometers.

2. The distance sensor according to claim 1, wherein the signal receiving unit includes the electromagnetic wave transmitting unit.

3. The distance sensor according to claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic wave transmitting unit and the electromagnetic wave receiving unit operate within the wavelength range of about 850 nanometers to 950 nanometers.

4. The distance sensor according to claim 1 wherein the magnetic signal transmitting unit comprises an energy storing element fed by the electromagnetic wave-to-electric power converter to store energy for operating the magnetic signal transmitting unit.

5. The distance sensor according to claim 1 wherein the distance sensor further comprises a lens which is adapted for focusing electromagnetic waves from the electromagnetic wave transmitting unit onto the electromagnetic wave receiving unit.

6. The distance sensor according to claim 1 wherein the distance sensor further comprises at least one mirror which is adapted for focusing electromagnetic waves from the electromagnetic wave transmitting unit onto the electromagnetic wave receiving unit.

7. The distance sensor according to claim 1 wherein the distance sensor further comprises a reflector which is adapted for reflecting electromagnetic waves from the electromagnetic wave transmitting unit onto the electromagnetic wave receiving unit.

8. The distance sensor according to claim 7 wherein the reflector is a rubber surface which is coated with a reflective material.

9. An air spring comprising:

a top plate,

a bottom plate,

a flexible member, and

a distance sensor comprising;

a magnetic signal receiving unit,

an electromagnetic wave transmitting unit, and

a magnetic signal transmitting unit;

wherein the magnetic signal transmitting unit is adapted to transmit to the magnetic signal receiving unit a sensed distance between the magnetic signal receiving unit and the magnetic signal transmitting unit,

wherein the magnetic signal transmitting unit further comprises an electromagnetic wave receiving unit and an electromagnetic wave-to-electric power converter,

wherein the electromagnetic wave receiving unit receives electromagnetic waves transmitted from the electromagnetic wave transmitting unit to operate the magnetic signal transmitting unit,

wherein the electromagnetic wave transmitting unit is a photon-based energy wave transmitting unit adapted to transmit only a single source of energy to the electromagnetic wave receiving unit, and

wherein the electromagnetic wave transmitting unit and the electromagnetic wave receiving unit operate within the wavelength range of about 700 nanometers to 1100 nanometers.

10. The air spring according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic signal receiving unit includes the electromagnetic wave transmitting unit.

11. The air spring according to claim 9 wherein the magnetic signal transmitting unit comprises an energy storing element fed by the electromagnetic wave-to-electric power converter to store energy for operating the magnetic signal transmitting unit.

12. The air spring according to claim 9 wherein the distance sensor further comprises a lens which is adapted for focusing electromagnetic waves from the electromagnetic wave transmitting unit onto the electromagnetic wave receiving unit.

13. The air spring according to claim 9 wherein the distance sensor further comprises at least one mirror which is adapted for focusing electromagnetic waves from the electromagnetic wave transmitting unit onto the electromagnetic wave receiving unit.

14. The air spring according to claim 9 wherein the distance sensor further comprises a reflector which is adapted for reflecting electromagnetic waves from the electromagnetic wave transmitting unit onto the electromagnetic wave receiving unit.

15. The air spring according to claim 14 wherein the flexible member has an inside surface which is coated with a material which reflects the electromagnetic waves.

16. An air spring comprising

a piston,

a top plate,

a flexible member, and

a distance sensor, wherein the flexible member is affixed to the piston and the top plate,

wherein the piston, the top plate and the flexible member define a pressurizable chamber,

wherein the distance sensor comprises a signal receiving unit, an electromagnetic wave transmitting unit, and

a magnetic signal transmitting unit;

wherein the magnetic signal transmitting unit is adapted to transmit to the signal receiving unit a sensed distance between the signal receiving unit and the magnetic signal transmitting unit,

wherein the magnetic signal transmitting unit comprises an electromagnetic wave receiving unit and an electromagnetic wave-to-electric power converter,

wherein the electromagnetic wave receiving unit receives electromagnetic waves transmitted from the electromagnetic wave transmitting unit to operate the magnetic signal transmitting unit,

wherein the electromagnetic wave transmitting unit is a photon-based energy wave transmitting unit adapted to transmit only a single source of energy to the electromagnetic wave receiving unit,

wherein the signal receiving unit, the electromagnetic wave transmitting unit, and the magnetic signal transmitting unit are situated within the pressurizable chamber, and

wherein the electromagnetic wave transmitting unit and the electromagnetic wave receiving unit operate within the wavelength range of about 700 nanometers to 1100 nanometers.