Method of interfacing an LC sensor and related system
First Claim
1. A method of interfacing an LC sensor with a controller, the controller comprising first and second contacts and a clamping circuit defining an upper voltage threshold and a lower voltage threshold, the LC sensor being coupled between the first and second contacts, and a capacitor being coupled between the first contact and ground, the method comprising:
- starting an oscillation of the LC sensor;
monitoring a voltage at the second contact, the voltage at the second contact corresponding to a sum of a voltage at the first contact and a voltage associated with the LC sensor;
varying the voltage at the first contact so that the voltage at the second contact does not exceed the upper voltage threshold and does not fall below the lower voltage threshold;
during a first phase, connecting the first contact to ground so that the capacitor is discharged;
during a second phase, connecting the first contact to ground and connecting the second contact to a supply voltage so that the LC sensor is charged; and
during a third phase, placing the first contact and the second contact in a high impedance state so that the LC sensor oscillates and the voltage at the second contact is limited by charging or discharging the capacitor through the clamping circuit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of interfacing an LC sensor with a control unit is described. The control unit may include first and second contacts, and the LC sensor may be connected between the first and second contacts. The method may include starting the oscillation of the LC sensor, and monitoring the voltage at the second contact, in which the voltage at the second contact corresponds to the sum of the voltage at the first contact and the voltage at the LC sensor. The voltage at the first contact may be varied such that the voltage at the second contact does not exceed an upper voltage threshold and does not fall below a lower voltage threshold.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of interfacing an LC sensor with a controller, the controller comprising first and second contacts and a clamping circuit defining an upper voltage threshold and a lower voltage threshold, the LC sensor being coupled between the first and second contacts, and a capacitor being coupled between the first contact and ground, the method comprising:
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starting an oscillation of the LC sensor; monitoring a voltage at the second contact, the voltage at the second contact corresponding to a sum of a voltage at the first contact and a voltage associated with the LC sensor; varying the voltage at the first contact so that the voltage at the second contact does not exceed the upper voltage threshold and does not fall below the lower voltage threshold; during a first phase, connecting the first contact to ground so that the capacitor is discharged; during a second phase, connecting the first contact to ground and connecting the second contact to a supply voltage so that the LC sensor is charged; and during a third phase, placing the first contact and the second contact in a high impedance state so that the LC sensor oscillates and the voltage at the second contact is limited by charging or discharging the capacitor through the clamping circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 8)
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6. A method of interfacing an LC sensor with a controller, the controller comprising first and second contacts and a clamping circuit defining an upper voltage threshold and a lower voltage threshold, the LC sensor being coupled between the first and second contacts, and a capacitor being coupled between the first contact and ground, the method comprising:
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starting an oscillation of the LC sensor; monitoring a voltage at the second contact, the voltage at the second contact corresponding to a sum of a voltage at the first contact and a voltage associated with the LC sensor; varying the voltage at the first contact so that the voltage at the second contact does not exceed the upper voltage threshold and does not fall below the lower voltage threshold; during a first phase, connecting the first contact to a supply voltage so that the capacitor is charged; during a second phase, connecting the first contact to the supply voltage and connecting the second contact to ground so that the LC sensor is charged; and during a third phase, placing the first contact and the second contact in a high impedance state so that the LC sensor oscillates and the voltage at the second contact is limited by charging or discharging the capacitor through the clamping circuit. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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9. A system comprising:
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a controller comprising first and second contacts and a clamping circuit defining an upper voltage threshold and a lower voltage threshold; an LC sensor coupled between the first and second contacts; and a capacitor being coupled between the first contact and ground; said controller being configured to start an oscillation of said LC sensor, monitor a voltage at the second contact, the voltage at the second contact corresponding to a sum of a voltage at the first contact and a voltage associated with said LC sensor, vary the voltage at the first contact so that the voltage at the second contact does not exceed the upper voltage threshold and does not fall below the lower voltage threshold, during a first phase, connect the first contact to ground so that the capacitor is discharged, during a second phase, couple the first contact to ground and connect the second contact to a supply voltage so that the LC sensor is charged, and during a third phase, place the first contact and the second contact in a high impedance state so that the LC sensor oscillates and the voltage at the second contact is limited by charging or discharging the capacitor through the clamping circuit. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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14. A system comprising:
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a controller comprising first and second contacts and a clamping circuit defining an upper voltage threshold and a lower voltage threshold; an LC sensor coupled between the first and second contacts; and a capacitor being coupled between the first contact and ground; said controller being configured to start an oscillation of said LC sensor, monitor a voltage at the second contact, the voltage at the second contact corresponding to a sum of a voltage at the first contact and a voltage associated with said LC sensor, vary the voltage at the first contact so that the voltage at the second contact does not exceed the upper voltage threshold and does not fall below the lower voltage threshold, during a first phase, connect the first contact to a supply voltage so that the capacitor is charged; during a second phase, connect the first contact to the supply voltage and connect the second contact to ground so that the LC sensor is charged; and during a third phase, place the first contact and the second contact in a high impedance state so that the LC sensor oscillates and the voltage at the second contact is limited by charging or discharging the capacitor through the clamping circuit. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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20. A controller for use with an LC sensor, the controller comprising:
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first and second contacts, and a clamping circuit defining an upper voltage threshold and a lower voltage threshold, the LC sensor to be coupled between the first and second contacts, a capacitor to be coupled between the first contact and ground; and a processor coupled to the first and second contacts and configured to start an oscillation of the LC sensor, monitor a voltage at the second contact, the voltage at the second contact corresponding to a sum of a voltage at the first contact and a voltage associated with the LC sensor, vary the voltage at the first contact so that the voltage at the second contact does not exceed the upper voltage threshold and does not fall below the lower voltage threshold, during a first phase, connect the first contact to ground so that the capacitor is discharged, during a second phase, couple the first contact to ground and connect the second contact to a supply voltage so that the LC sensor is charged, and during a third phase, place the first contact and the second contact in a high impedance state so that the LC sensor oscillates and the voltage at the second contact is limited by charging or discharging the capacitor through the clamping circuit. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for a controller having first and second contacts for connecting an LC sensor therebetween and for connecting a capacitor between the first contact and ground, the controller further comprising a clamping circuit defining an upper voltage threshold and a lower voltage threshold, the computer-readable having computer-executable instructions for causing the controller to perform steps comprising:
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starting an oscillation of the LC sensor; monitoring a voltage at the second contact, the voltage at the second contact corresponding to a sum of a voltage at the first contact and a voltage associated with the LC sensor; varying the voltage at the first contact so that the voltage at the second contact does not exceed the upper voltage threshold and does not fall below the lower voltage threshold; during a first phase, connecting the first contact to ground so that the capacitor is discharged; during a second phase, connecting the first contact to ground and connecting the second contact to a supply voltage so that the LC sensor is charged; and during a third phase, placing the first contact and the second contact in a high impedance state so that the LC sensor oscillates and the voltage at the second contact is limited by charging or discharging the capacitor through the clamping circuit. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification