Patent ID: 6285719
Filing Date: 2001-09-04
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A method for processing signals from a transducer driven by an alternating current (AC) excitation signal, which transducer as output produces an amplitude-modulated signal containing the quantity to be measured, comprising the steps of:generating a first clocking signal of frequency n f for the sampling of the transducer signal and synchronized with said excitation signal, n being an even integer greater than or equal to 4,generating a second clocking signal of frequency f synchronized with said excitation signal,sampling the transducer output signal at a frequency n f controlled by said first clocking signal,producing half period averages by means of computing a weighted average of n/2 samples of the transducer AC output signal, the starting point of said averaging being in synchronism with said second clocking signal, thereby obtaining a reduction of measurement values corresponding to an optimal sampling at 2f,in a phase sensitive way rectifying and demodulating the sampled transducer signal by alternately changing the sign of said half period averages according to the logical value of said second clocking signal.