Electronic self-calibration for sensor clearance

US8272246B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Emad Andarawis Andarawis · Ballston Lake, US
• Wayne Charles Hasz · Pownal, US
• David So Keung Chan · Niskayuna, US
• David Mulford Shaddock · Troy, US
• John Harry Down · Lanesborough, US
• Samhita Dasgupta · Niskayuna, US
• David Richard Esler · Gloversville, US
• Zhiyuan Ren · Malta, US
• Mahadevan Balasubramaniam · Ballston Lake, US
• Ibrahim Issoufou Kouada · Niskayuna, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 30, 2008
• Grant date: Sep 25, 2012
• Expiry date: Apr 3, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01B21/042
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Self-calibration of a multiple channel clearance sensor system, which in one embodiment includes at least one sensor for measuring at least one clearance parameter signal between a stationary object and a rotating object of a rotating machine. The sensor output is processed as a clearance parameter by an offset correction section configured to determine an offset error in the clearance parameter signal which is used by a level shifter. The level shifter is also switchably coupled to the clearance parameter signal wherein the output of the level shifter, which may be amplified and digitally converted, is processed by a signal level analyzer to determine a channel gain signal.