Dynamic range sensor and method of detecting near field echo signals
US6573732B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 5, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jun 3, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 5, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60K2015/03217
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
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 temp…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.