Dynamic range sensor and method of detecting near field echo signals
First Claim
1. A near-field measurement sensor for measuring a value, the sensor comprising:
- a transducer; and
a controller coupled to the transducer, the controller operable to generate a first command signal for the transducer, detect a first echo signal from the transducer, determine whether the first echo signal was received by the transducer within a near-field time, and, if the first echo signal was received within the near-field time, detect a second echo signal of a predetermined magnitude, if a second echo signal is not detected within a predetermined amount of time, ignore the first echo signal and generate a second command signal different than the first command signal, and repeat the detection of a first echo signal, the detection of a second echo signal, and the generation of a second command signal until a second echo signal is detected within the predetermined amount of time, the controller further operable to convert the first echo signal or the difference between the first echo signal and the second echo signal to a measurement value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dynamic range sensor that measures the distance to a target or amount of material in a container. The sensor has a transducer and a controller that is coupled to the transducer. The controller generates a first command signal for the transducer, detects a first echo signal from the transducer, and determines whether the first echo signal was received by the transducer within a near-field time. If the first echo signal was received within the near-field time, the controller detects a second echo signal of a predetermined magnitude. If a second echo signal is not detected within a predetermined amount of time, the controller ignores the first echo signal and generates a second command signal different than the first command signal. The controller modifies the second command signal until a second echo signal is detected. The controller converts either the first echo signal or the difference between the first echo signal and the second echo signal to a distance measurement or volumetric representation of the amount of material in the container. Preferably, the transducer is driven at resonance with a series of pulses such that the frequency of the pulses matches the transducer'"'"'s temperature-dependent frequency characteristics.
79 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A near-field measurement sensor for measuring a value, the sensor comprising:
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a transducer; and
a controller coupled to the transducer, the controller operable to generate a first command signal for the transducer, detect a first echo signal from the transducer, determine whether the first echo signal was received by the transducer within a near-field time, and, if the first echo signal was received within the near-field time, detect a second echo signal of a predetermined magnitude, if a second echo signal is not detected within a predetermined amount of time, ignore the first echo signal and generate a second command signal different than the first command signal, and repeat the detection of a first echo signal, the detection of a second echo signal, and the generation of a second command signal until a second echo signal is detected within the predetermined amount of time, the controller further operable to convert the first echo signal or the difference between the first echo signal and the second echo signal to a measurement value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A near-field measurement sensor for measuring a value, the sensor comprising:
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a transducer;
a driver coupled to the transducer;
a temperature sensor; and
a controller coupled to the driver and to the temperature sensor, the controller operable to generate a command signal having a variable pulse width and a variable frequency, to deliver the command signal to the driver, to detect an echo signal from the transducer according to a timing scheme, and to continuously update the pulse width and frequency of the command signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A near-field measurement sensor comprising:
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a transducer; and
a controller coupled to the transducer, the controller operable to generate a first command signal for the transducer, detect a first echo signal from the transducer, determine whether the first echo signal was received by the transducer within a near-field time, and if the first echo signal was received within the near-field time, detect a second echo signal of a predetermined magnitude, if a second echo signal is not detected within a predetermined amount of time, ignore the first echo signal and generate a second command signal different than the first command signal, repeat the detection of a first echo signal, the detection of a second echo signal, and the generation of a second command signal until a second echo signal is detected within the predetermined amount of time, and convert the first echo signal or the difference between the first echo signal and the second echo signal to a linear distance representation of the distance to a target.
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Specification