System for connecting a sensor to a controller

• US 20080150611A1
• Filed: 12/07/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BWI Company Limited SA (Shougang Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BWI Company Limited SA (Shougang Corporation)
• Inventors: Degoul, Paul, Disser, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US11/999,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20080150611A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 327/518
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/02 in which the signal transmitted is magnitude of current or voltage G08C19/36, G08C19/38 take precedence

Abstract

A sensor to controller connection system including a power source, a controller in communication with the power source, and a sensor in communication with the power source and the controller, the sensor including sensor electronics and a current source, the current source having a control input and an output, the control input being applied by the sensor electronics and the output being applied to the controller, wherein the current source controls an electric signal communicated to the controller from the sensor based upon the control input.

Claims

1. A sensor to controller connection system comprising:

a power source;

a controller in communication with said power source; and

a sensor in communication with said power source and said controller, said sensor including sensor electronics and a current source, said current source having a control input and an output, said control input being applied by said sensor electronics and said output being applied to said controller, wherein said current source controls an electric signal communicated to said controller from said sensor based upon said control input.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said power source is a battery.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said current source includes a differential amplifier and a transistor.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said controller and said sensor are connected to a negative terminal of said power source.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said communication between said controller and said sensor is made over a single wire.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said controller includes a low pass filter adapted to process said electric signal.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said electric signal is an electric current.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor electronics includes a potentiometer.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor further includes a voltage regulator in communication with said power source, said current source and ground.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said voltage regulator provides a regulated voltage to said sensor and said current source at a voltage potential substantially at a positive terminal of said power source.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said controller monitors said electric signal at a voltage potential substantially at a negative terminal of said power source.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said voltage regulator provides a regulated voltage to said sensor and said current source at a voltage potential substantially at a negative terminal of said power source.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said controller monitors said electric signal at a voltage potential substantially at a positive terminal of said power source.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor is in direct communication with said power source.

15. A sensor to controller connection system comprising:

a battery;

a controller in communication with said battery; and

a sensor in communication with said controller by way of a single wire connection, said sensor including sensor electronics, a current source and a voltage regulator, said voltage regulator being in communication with said battery and said current source, said current source having a control input and an output, wherein said control input includes a voltage applied by said sensor electronics, and wherein said output controls an electric current communicated to said controller from said sensor.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said current source includes a differential amplifier and a transistor.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said controller and said sensor are connected to the negative terminal of said battery.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein said sensor electronics includes a potentiometer.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein said sensor is in direct communication with said voltage regulator.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein said battery includes a positive terminal and a negative terminal and said voltage regulator is connected to said positive terminal.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said controller monitors said electric current at said negative terminal.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein said battery includes a positive terminal and a negative terminal and said voltage regulator is connected to said negative terminal.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said controller monitors said electric current at said positive terminal.