Patent · US Expired

Linear oscillator for proximity sensor

US4068189A · kind A · utility

21Cited by
3References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 7, 1976
Grant dateJan 10, 1978
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 7, 1996

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K17/9547
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A linear oscillator circuit has a resonant circuit which develops an oscillating voltage V.sub.R having an amplitude proportional to a distance between a conducting body and the resonant circuit located within a probe. A control power drive circuit coupled to the output of the resonant circuit switches a current through the resonant circuit during each period of oscillation of the voltage V.sub.R. A reference current source is coupled to the control power drive circuit for drawing a current through the control power drive circuit and the resonant circuit. The magnitude of the current is equal to the magnitude of an independently established reference current. A detector circuit responsive to the value of the amplitude of oscillation may be provided to indicate the distance of the conductive body from the resonant circuit-containing probe.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.