Patent ID: 8478558

Claim:
A method for processing a PWM signal output from a sensor, the sensor having a signal converter and a sensing element, the sensor located on and sensing an operating parameter of an apparatus, said method comprising: obtaining the PWM signal from the sensor, wherein the PWM signal has a characteristic that varies non-linearly and non-exponentially with changes in the operating parameter being sensed, and the PWM signal is pulse width modulated to indicate the operating parameter being sensed; defining an exponential equation that specifies a relationship between the PWM signal from the sensor and the operating parameter of the apparatus, wherein the exponential equation contains a term for a value of the PWM signal and a term for an initial value of the operating parameter; receiving the PWM signal from the sensor at a processor; measuring the characteristic of the PWM signal, with the processor, to produce the value of the PWM signal; and using the value of the PWM signal to solve the exponential equation which produces a current value for the operating parameter of the apparatus.