System and method for adaptive variable magnetic field generator

• US 6,911,904 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Issued: 06/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Nantz, John S., Ghabra, Riad, King, Ronald O., Tang, Qingfeng, Lemense, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US10/233,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20040041699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 340/448, 340/445, 340/502, 340/505, 340/3.5, 340/3.7, 340/825.52, 340/504
• US Class Current: 340/448
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/044 Near field triggers, e.g. magnets or triggers with 125 KHz
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 7/00 Regulating magnetic variables details of apparatus for measuring magnetic variables involving magnetic resonance G01R33/28

Abstract

A system for controlling a magnetic field strength includes a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field for receipt by a responsive device and a controller in communication with the magnetic field generator for determining a strength of the magnetic field to a level sufficient for use in controlling the responsive device.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a magnetic field strength, the system comprising:

a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field for receipt by a responsive device, wherein the responsive device comprises a tire monitor device; and

a controller in communication with the magnetic field generator for determining a strength of the magnetic field and generating a control signal operative to adjust the strength of the magnetic field to a level sufficient for use in controlling the responsive device, wherein the magnetic field generator comprises a driver circuit and the control signal is operative to adjust the magnetic field strength to the level sufficient for use in controlling the responsive device by incrementally increasing the magnetic field until the responsive device responds.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the generator comprises a low frequency initiator.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the initiator comprises the controller.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the generator includes a coil and the controller includes a current sensor for sensing current in the coil to determine the magnetic field strength.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the magnetic field comprises a carrier frequency for use in conveying information to the responsive device and the control signal is operative to adjust the strength of the magnetic field by varying a pulse width modulation of the carrier frequency.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control signal is operative to adjust the strength of the magnetic field by selectively varying the carrier frequency period.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the strength of the magnetic field is selectively varied on a cycle by cycle basis.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the driver circuit comprises first and second sections and the control signal is operative to adjust the magnetic field strength by selective activation of either one or both of the first and second sections.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the control signal is operative to adjust the magnetic field strength by varying a delay between activation and deactivation of the driver circuit.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the magnetic field strength is selectively varied by placing an output of the driver in a high impedance state.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the magnetic field strength is variable and is at least a minimum level sufficient for use in controlling the responsive device.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the magnetic field strength level sufficient for use in controlling the responsive device remains constant with varying input voltage to the magnetic field generator.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the magnetic field strength level is varied in response to operating conditions where the system is implemented.

14. A method for controlling a magnetic field strength, the method comprising:

generating a magnetic field for receipt by a responsive device, wherein the responsive device comprises a tire monitor device;

determining a strength of the magnetic field;

generating a control signal; and

adjusting the strength of the magnetic field to a level sufficient for use in controlling the responsive device, wherein the magnetic field is generated using a generator comprising a driver circuit and the control signal is operative to adjust the magnetic field strength to the level sufficient for use in controlling the responsive device by incrementally increasing the magnetic field until the responsive device responds.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the magnetic field is generated by a low frequency initiator.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the magnetic field comprises a carrier frequency for use in conveying information to the responsive device and adjusting the strength of the magnetic field comprises varying a pulse width modulation of the carrier frequency.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein adjusting the strength of the magnetic field further comprises selectively varying the carrier frequency period.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the carrier frequency is selectively varied on a cycle by cycle basis.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein adjusting the magnetic field strength comprises varying a delay between activation and deactivation of the driver circuit.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein adjusting the magnetic field strength comprises selectively placing the driver in a high impedance state.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the driver circuit comprises first and second sections and adjusting the magnetic field strength comprises selectively activating one of either or both of the first and second sections.