Sensor excitation in systems where remote sensor signal processing is performed

A sensor control arrangement may comprise a host controller, a remote sensor interface, a power/data bus extending between the host controller and the remote sensor interface, and an electromagnetic sensor configured to receive an AC signal from the host controller via the power/data bus, and send an a sensor signal to the remote sensor interface via the power/data bus.

FIELD

The disclosure generally relates to electrical sensing systems, and more particularly to the design of a sensor control system for remote sensors.

BACKGROUND

Electromagnetic sensors typically use significant interconnect for sensor excitation and sensor information recovery. In some systems, to reduce the amount of interconnect from the sensor to other portions of the system, sensor excitation synthesis may be done remotely at the location of the sensor. However, the size and weight of the circuitry for exciting the sensor may be excessive, resulting in excessive circuitry at the remote location of the sensor.

SUMMARY

A sensor control arrangement is disclosed herein, in accordance with various embodiments. The sensor control arrangement may comprise a host controller, a remote sensor interface, a power/data bus extending between the host controller and the remote sensor interface, and an electromagnetic sensor. The electromagnetic sensor may be configured to receive an AC signal from the host controller via the power/data bus, and send a sensor signal to the remote sensor interface via the power/data bus.

In various embodiments, the remote sensor interface may receive the AC signal. The host controller may comprise a first data communication interface, an excitation signal synthesizer in electronic communication with the first data communication interface, and an amplifier. The remote sensor interface may comprise an AC to DC power conditioner, a signal processor, and a second data communication interface. The AC to DC power conditioner may receive the AC signal and may convert the AC signal into a DC power signal. The signal processor and/or the second data communication interface may be powered by the DC power signal. At least three wires may extend between the sensor and the signal processor. The electromagnetic sensor may comprise a linear variable differential transformer. The electromagnetic sensor may comprise a rotary variable differential transformer. The power/data bus may comprise less than five wires.

A sensor control arrangement is disclosed herein, in accordance with various embodiments. The sensor control arrangement may comprise a host controller located at a first location, a remote sensor interface located at a second location, wherein the second location is spaced apart from the first location by a distance, a power/data bus extending between the host controller and the remote sensor interface, and an electromagnetic sensor in electronic communication with the remote sensor interface, wherein the host controller is configured to send an alternating current (AC) signal to the remote sensor interface via the power/data bus, wherein the electromagnetic sensor is configured to receive the AC signal, and wherein the remote sensor interface is configured to receive an analog sensor signal from the electromagnetic sensor, convert the analog sensor signal to a digital sensor signal, and send the digital sensor signal to the host controller via the power/data bus.

In various embodiments, the remote sensor interface may be configured to convert the AC signal to a direct current (DC) signal. The electromagnetic sensor may be in electronic communication with the remote sensor interface via at least three wires. The electromagnetic sensor may comprise a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT). The electromagnetic sensor may comprise a rotary variable differential transformer (RVDT). The distance may comprise at least two feet. The AC signal and the digital sensor signal may be sent via the same wires of the power/data bus.

A method for exciting an electromagnetic sensor is disclosed herein, in accordance with various embodiments. The method may comprise generating, by a host controller, an alternating current (AC) signal, sending, by the host controller, the AC signal to a remote sensor interface, via a power/signal bus, sending, by the host controller, the AC signal to the electromagnetic sensor, via the power/signal bus, receiving, by the host controller, a sensor feedback signal from the remote sensor interface, and adjusting, by the host controller, a parameter of the AC signal, in response to the sensor feedback signal.

In various embodiments, the method may further comprise powering, by the host controller, the remote sensor interface via the AC signal. The method may further comprise powering, by the host controller, the electromagnetic sensor via the AC signal.

The foregoing features, elements, steps, or methods may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated herein otherwise. These features, elements, steps, or methods as well as the operation of the disclosed embodiments will become more apparent in light of the following description and accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, “electronic communication” means communication of electronic signals with physical coupling (e.g., “electrical communication” or “electrically coupled”) or without physical coupling and via an electromagnetic field (e.g., “inductive communication” or “inductively coupled” or “inductive coupling”). In that regard, use of the term “electronic communication” includes both “electrical communication” and “inductive communication.”

With reference toFIG. 1, a sensor control arrangement100is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments. Sensor control arrangement100may comprise a host controller110, a power/data bus120, and a remote sensor interface130. Host controller110may comprise a data communication interface (also referred to herein as a first data communication interface)122, an excitation signal synthesizer124, and an amplifier126. Remote sensor interface130may comprise an AC/DC power conditioner132, a signal processor134, and a data communication interface (also referred to herein as a second data communication interface)136. Sensor control arrangement100may further comprise an electromagnetic sensor140.

In various embodiments, remote sensor interface130may be located remotely from host controller110. In this regard, power/data bus120may comprise a length102. In various embodiments, length102may be at least two feet (0.6096 m), and in various embodiments, length102may be up to 328 feet (100 m) or longer, for example. In this regard, it may be desirable to reduce the number of interconnects between remote sensor interface130and host controller110to reduce the weight and/or size of sensor control arrangement100. In various embodiments, power/data bus120may comprise a plurality of wires. In various embodiments, power/data bus120may comprise less than five wires.

In this regard, host controller110may be located at a first location104and remote sensor interface130may be located at a second location106. First location104and second location106may be separated by a distance being less than or equal to length102.

In various embodiments, excitation signal synthesizer124may generate an alternating current (AC) signal125via amplifier126. Host controller110may send AC signal125to remote sensor interface130.

With combined reference toFIG. 1,FIG. 2A, andFIG. 2B, electromagnetic sensor140may be similar to linear variable differential transformer (LVDT)240or rotary variable differential transformer (RVDT)260. LVDT240may comprise a primary coil242, a first secondary coil244, a second secondary coil246, and a ferromagnetic core245. LVDT240may comprise two primary coil leads (i.e., first primary lead251and second primary lead252). Primary coil242may be excited in response to an excitation signal (e.g., AC signal250) received via first primary lead251and second primary lead252. LVDT240may comprise three secondary coil leads (i.e., first secondary lead253, second secondary lead254, and third secondary lead255). In various embodiments, first primary lead251, second primary lead252, first secondary lead253, second secondary lead254, and third secondary lead255may comprise wires. RVDT260may comprise a primary coil262, a first secondary coil264, a second secondary coil266, and a ferromagnetic core265. RVDT260may comprise two primary coil leads (i.e., first primary lead271and second primary lead272). Primary coil262may be excited in response to an excitation signal (e.g., AC signal250) received via first primary lead271and second primary lead272. RVDT260may comprise four secondary coil leads (i.e., first secondary lead273, second secondary lead274, third secondary lead275, and fourth secondary lead276). In various embodiments, first primary lead271, second primary lead272, first secondary lead273, second secondary lead274, third secondary lead275, and fourth secondary lead276may comprise wires.

In this regard, electromagnetic sensor140may comprise a plurality of secondary leads. Said secondary leads may be coupled between electromagnetic sensor140and signal processor134. Signal processor134may be located in close proximity to electromagnetic sensor140. For example, the distance between signal processor134and sensor140may be less than half of the length102, and in various embodiments, less than a tenth of the length102. In various embodiments, the distance between signal processor134and sensor140may be less than 3.28 feet (1 m). By placing signal processor134in close proximity to electromagnetic sensor140, as opposed to placing signal processor134at location104for example, the weight of the plurality of leads extending between signal processor134and electromagnetic sensor140may be reduced. In this regard, electromagnetic sensor140may comprise at least three wires extending between electromagnetic sensor140and signal processor134. In this regard, the number of wires of power/data bus120may be reduced.

In various embodiments, with reference toFIG. 1, AC signal125may be received by electromagnetic sensor140. Electromagnetic sensor140may sense the position of an adjacent component. Electromagnetic sensor140may output a sensor signal142. Sensor signal142may comprise an analog signal. In this regard, sensor signal142may be referred to herein as an analog sensor signal. Sensor signal142may be received by signal processor134. Signal processor134may process sensor signal142and generate a sensor signal (also referred to herein as a sensor feedback signal)144. Sensor signal144may comprise a digital signal. In this regard, sensor signal144may be referred to herein as a digital sensor signal. Sensor signal144may comprise information regarding parameters of sensor signal142(e.g., magnitude, frequency, etc.) as well as position information. Sensor signal144may be sent to data communication interface136whereby it may be sent to data communication interface122via power/data bus120. Excitation signal synthesizer124may receive sensor signal144via data communication interface122and may adjust one or more parameters (e.g., magnitude) of AC signal125based upon sensor signal144. For example, excitation signal synthesizer124may determine that the amplitude of sensor signal142is below a threshold value and may increase the amplitude of AC signal125to increase the power received by electromagnetic sensor140, which may in turn increase the amplitude of sensor signal142.

In various embodiments, AC/DC power conditioner132may receive AC signal125via power/data bus120. AC/DC power conditioner132may convert AC signal125into a DC power signal138. Data communication interface136and/or signal processor134may be powered via DC power signal138. DC power signal138may comprise, for example, between one and five volts. In this regard, both data and power may be transmitted between host controller110and remote sensor interface130. In this regard, power/data bus120may direct AC signal125and sensor signal144. Stated differently, the power and data signals (i.e., AC signal125and sensor signal144) may be transmitted through physically the same wires of power/data bus120. In this regard, the power bus and the data bus may be the same bus.

With reference toFIG. 3, a method300for exciting an electromagnetic sensor is provided, in accordance with various embodiments. Method300includes generating an AC signal (step310). Method300includes sending the AC signal to a remote sensor interface (step320). Method300includes sending the AC signal to the electromagnetic sensor (step330). Method300includes powering the remote sensor interface via the AC signal (step340). Method300includes powering the electromagnetic sensor via the AC signal (step350). Method300includes receiving a sensor feedback signal from the remote sensor interface (step360). Method300includes adjusting a parameter of the AC signal in response to the sensor feedback signal (step370).

In various embodiments, with combined reference toFIG. 1andFIG. 3, step310may include generating, by host controller110, AC signal125. Step320may include sending, by host controller110, AC signal125to remote sensor interface130, via power/signal bus120. Step330may include sending, by host controller110, AC signal125to electromagnetic sensor140, via power/signal bus120. Step340may include powering, by host controller110, remote sensor interface130via AC signal125. Step350may include powering, by host controller110, electromagnetic sensor140via AC signal125. Step360may include receiving, by host controller110, a sensor feedback signal (i.e., sensor signal144) from remote sensor interface130. Step370may include adjusting, by host controller110, a parameter (e.g., amplitude) of AC signal125, in response to the sensor feedback signal (i.e., sensor signal144).