Automatic transducer selection system for pressure measurement

• US RE34,694 E
• Filed: 05/14/1993
• Issued: 08/16/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dynamic Engineering, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dynamic Engineering, Inc.
• Inventors: Weinstein, Leonard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOODIEL, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US08/060,979
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 73/756, 73/724, 73/726, 73/727, 73/718, 73/720, 73/721, 73/862.52, 73/747, 73/749, 73/722, 73/728, 73/736, 73/744, 73/745, 73/746, 73/754, 73/755 , 73/717, 73/723, 73/DIG. 4, 338/4, 338/42, 361/283, 336/30, 340/870.21, 340/870.16
• US Class Current: 73/756
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/02 Arrangements for preventing, or for compensating for, effects of inclination or acceleration of the measuring device; Zero-setting means for aneroid barometers G01L7/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/083 electrical

Abstract

An automatic transducer selection system for fluid pressure measurement functions by using two or more transducers wtih different .Iadd.measurement .Iaddend.ranges .[.of accuracy.]. and also by incorporating comparator circuitry which automatically selects the transducer reading nearer to full scale. An electronic signal or output from the comparator is preferably nested such that a continuous voltage is generated in accordance with the fluid pressure being measured, this making the system appear to function as a single transducer with a wide .Iadd.measurement .Iaddend.range of .Iadd.high .Iaddend.accuracy.

Claims

1. A fluid pressure measurement system comprising:

at least two pressure transducers having successively broader effective pressure sensing ranges, each of the pressure transducers being capable of being subjected to an overpressure equal to a maximum pressure of the sensing ranges without an adverse effect therein;

means for connecting the transducers in parallel to the fluid pressure being measured and to a reference fluid pressure; and

comparator circuit means for receiving an .Iadd.amplified analog .Iaddend.output signal from each of the transducers.[., said circuit.]..Iadd.;

said circuit .Iaddend. means functioning to .Iadd.automatically .Iaddend.select one of the transducer .Iadd.amplified analog .Iaddend.output signals which most closely approaches full-range output signal of .[.a.]. .Iadd.its .Iaddend.corresponding .[.transducer, said circuit means also functioning to generate an output signal from the selected transducer output signal..]..Iadd.transducer and to generate conditioned analog output signal from the automatically selected transducer output signal;

said circuit means further functioning to generate selectively either said conditioned analog output signal or an unconditioned amplified analog output signal corresponding to a manually selected transducer output signal, said correspnding output signal including identification of the manually selected transducer. .Iaddend.

2. The fluid pressure measurement system according to claim 1, wherein:

said comparator circuit means includes means for conditioning the output signal therefrom in accordance with .Iadd.automatically .Iaddend.selected one of the transducer output signals. .[.3. The fluid pressure measurement system according to claim 1, wherein;

said comparator circuit means functions to generate selectively either a conditioned output signal or an output signal corresponding to the selected transducer output signal, said corresponding output signal

4. by the comparator circuit means. 5. The fluid pressure measurement system according to claim 1, wherein:

5. said pressure transducers are strain gauge-type transducers. 6. The fluid pressure measurement system according to claim 1, wherein:

6. said pressure transducers are capacitive sensing transducers. 7. The fluid pressure measurement system according to claim 1, wherein:

said pressure transducers are inductive sensing transducers.

3. including identification of the selected transducer.].. 4. The fluid pressure measurement system according to claim .[.3.]. .Iadd.1.Iaddend., further comprising:

switch means for selecting .[.anΘ

.Iadd.one visually displayable or recordable .Iaddend.output signal from among the output signals generated