Wireless tachometer receiver

• US 8,823,423 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2013
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Terry Pennisi
• Original Assignee: Terry Pennisi
• Inventors: Pennisi, Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): POOS, JOHN W
• Application Number:
  US13/872,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20130285707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 327/108, 327/109, 327/112, 455/127.1, 455/131, 340/441
• US Class Current: 327/108
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves

Abstract

Apparatus for a wireless tachometer receiver. The wireless tachometer receiver includes a receiver and a signal conditioner that drives a conventional tachometer. Conventional tachometers require an input consisting of pulses at the operating voltage of the vehicle, which is typically 12 Vdc. Conventional receivers have an alternating current output that is substantially less than the operating voltage of the vehicle, which is insufficient to trigger the tachometer reliably. The signal conditioner converts the receiver output to a signal that allows for reliable operation of the conventional tachometer. In one embodiment, the signal conditioner is an amplifier that has a gain to drive the amplifier output between zero and the operating voltage of the vehicle. In another embodiment, the signal conditioner is a step-up transformer that has a ratio sufficient to produce an output at the operating voltage of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus for receiving a wireless signal and driving a conventional tachometer, said apparatus comprising:

a receiver responsive to the wireless signal, said wireless signal including a series of pulses corresponding to a rotational speed of a device, said receiver having a receiver output with a receiver output level corresponding to a signal level of said wireless signal, said receiver output level limited to an alternating current peak-to-peak voltage of one half of an operating voltage of said receiver; and

a signal conditioner connected to said output of said receiver, said signal conditioner having a conditioned output with a conditioned output level substantially equal to said operating voltage of said receiver wherein said conditioned output is sufficient to drive a tachometer, said signal conditioner including one of an amplifier or a transformer wherein said amplifier has a gain sufficient to drive said conditioned output of said amplifier to an output level substantially equal to said operating voltage of said receiver, said transformer has a turns ratio sufficient to produce a conditioned output level substantially equal to said operating voltage of said receiver, and said transformer is connected as a step up transformer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including said tachometer connected to said conditioned output of said signal conditioner, said tachometer operating with an input level substantially equal to said operating voltage of said receiver.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said amplifier is an operational amplifier with said receiver output connected to a non-inverted input of said operational amplifier.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said turns ratio of said transformer is at least 3:

1.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a transmitter configured to send said wireless signal to said receiver.

6. An apparatus for receiving a wireless signal corresponding to a rotational speed of a device and driving a conventional tachometer, said apparatus comprising:

a receiver responsive to the wireless signal, said receiver having an operating voltage, said receiver having an output varying with a maximum voltage of one half of said operating voltage of said receiver; and

a signal conditioner having an input connected to said output of said receiver, said signal conditioner having an output compatible with a tachometer;

said signal conditioner including an amplifier, and said amplifier having a gain sufficient to drive said output of said signal conditioner to an output level substantially equal to said operating voltage of said receiver.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further including said tachometer connected to said output of said signal conditioner, said tachometer operating with an input level substantially equal to said operating voltage of said receiver.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said amplifier is an operational amplifier with said output of said receiver connected to a non-inverted input of said operational amplifier.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 further including a transmitter configured to send the wireless signal to said receiver.

10. An apparatus for driving a conventional tachometer with a wireless signal, said apparatus comprising:

a transmitter configured to send the wireless signal, said wireless signal including a series of pulses corresponding to a rotational speed of a device;

a receiver responsive to the wireless signal, said receiver having an operating voltage, said receiver having an output varying with a maximum voltage no more than one half of said operating voltage of said receiver; and

a signal conditioner connected to said output of said receiver, said signal conditioner having an output level substantially equal to said operating voltage of said receiver, and said signal conditioner being a step up transformer with a turns ratio sufficient to produce said output level of said signal conditioner.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further including said tachometer connected to said output of said signal conditioner, said tachometer operating with an input level substantially equal to said operating voltage of said receiver.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said turns ratio of said step up transformer is at least 3:

1.

13. An apparatus for receiving a wireless signal corresponding to a rotational speed of a device and driving a conventional tachometer, said apparatus comprising:

a receiver responsive to the wireless signal, said receiver having an operating voltage, said receiver having an output varying with a maximum voltage of one half of said operating voltage of said receiver; and

a signal conditioner having an input connected to said output of said receiver, said signal conditioner having an output compatible with a tachometer;

said signal conditioner being a transformer with a turns ratio sufficient to produce an output level substantially equal to said operating voltage of said receiver, and said transformer is connected as a step up transformer.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said turns ratio of said transformer is at least 3:

1.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 further including a transmitter configured to send the wireless signal to said receiver.

16. An apparatus for driving a conventional tachometer with a wireless signal, said apparatus comprising:

a transmitter configured to send the wireless signal, said wireless signal including a series of pulses corresponding to a rotational speed of a device;

a receiver responsive to the wireless signal, said receiver having an operating voltage, said receiver having an output varying with a maximum voltage no more than one half of said operating voltage of said receiver; and

a signal conditioner connected to said output of said receiver, said signal conditioner having an output level substantially equal to said operating voltage of said receiver, signal conditioner including an amplifier, and said amplifier having a gain sufficient to produce said output level of said signal conditioner.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said amplifier is an operational amplifier with said receiver output connected to a non-inverted input of said operational amplifier.