AC transducers, methods and systems

Claim 2

A pressure transducing device comprising a movable wall to receive at least one variable applied pressure to be measured, and movable in response thereto, magnet means associated with said movable wall for movement therewith, and a toroidal inductor adjacent thereto, the position of said magnet means being generally radial of said toroidal inductor and being directly related to the applied pressure, said toroidal inductor comprising a toroidal core upon which is wound coil means of suitable inductance, said coil means being configured to allow sinusoidal excitation of a portion thereof from an external source and formed as a transformer, wherein an applied pressure will cause said magnet to continuously variably coerce the magnetic flux contained within the aforementioned toroidal core to effect a measurement of the variable pressure, the variation in such coercion being dependent upon the radial separation of said magnet means and said toroidal core thereby continuously varying the toroidal inductor output amplitude from a second portion of said coil means when said first coil portion is excited.

Claim 3

A pressure transducing device comprising a movable wall to receive at least one applied pressure, and movable in response thereto, magnet means associated with said movable wall for movement therewith, and a toroidal inductor adjacent thereto, the position of said magnet means being generally radial of said toroidal inductor and being directly related to the applied pressure, said toroidal inductor comprising a toroidal core upon which is wound coil means of suitable inductance, said coil means being configured to allow excitation of a portion thereof from an external source and formed as a transformer, wherein an applied pressure will cause said magnet to variably coerce the magnetic flux contained within the aforementioned toroidal core, the variation in such coercion being dependent upon the radial separation of said magnet means and said toroidal core thereby varying the toroidal inductor output amplitude from a second portion of said coil means when said first coil portion is excited, and the allowing monitoring of differential pressures further comprising means defining plural cavities separated by said movable wall.

Claim 4

A pressure transducing device comprising a movable wall to receive at least one applied pressure, and movable in response thereto, magnet means associated with said movable wall for movement therewith, and a toroidal inductor adjacent thereto, the position of said magnet means being generally radial of said toroidal inductor and being directly related to the applied pressure, said toroidal inductor comprising a toroidal core upon which is wound coil means of suitable inductance, said coil means being configured to allow excitation of a portion thereof from an external source and formed as a transformer, wherein an applied pressure will cause said magnet to variably coerce the magnetic flux contained within the aforementioned toroidal core, the variation in such coercion being dependent upon the radial separation of said magnet means and said toroidal core thereby varying the toroidal inductor output amplitude from a second portion of said coil means when said first coil portion is excited, and the allowing monitoring of differential pressures further comprising means defining plural cavities separated by said movable wall.

Claim 5

Device according to claim 1, further comprised of a suitable housing, and a connecting cable.

Claim 6

Device according to claim 1 wherein said toroidal inductor is encapsulated in a non-conductive material offering improved electrical isolation.

Claim 7

Device according to claim 1 wherein said transformer is an auto-transformer.

Claim 8

Device according to claim 1 wherein said transformer is an isolation transformer.

Claim 9

Device according to claim 1 wherein said movable wall is a diaphragm.

Claim 10

Device according to claim 1 wherein said toroidal core is comprised of a high permeability magnetically soft material.

Claim 11

Device according to claim 1 wherein said toroidal core comprises a material having the characteristics of ferrite.

Claim 12

Device according to claim 1 whrein said magnet means comprises a permanent cobalt magnet.

Claim 13

Device according to claim 1 wherein said core has a permeability from about 10 mu to about at least 5000 mu.

Claim 14

Device according to claim 1 wherein said magnet means comprises a disk magnet arranged as a monopole facing said toroidal core generally radially thereof.

Claim 15

Device according to claim 12 wherein said magnet has a field strength of at least about 9000 gauss.

Claim 16

Transducer for movement or position measuring using coercive forces and a toroidal inductor wound as a transformer that transduces an applied variable, force or pressure to be measured to continuously variable output amplitudes, comprising a magnet, and means responsive to the applied variable force or pressure to be measured for moving said magnet generally radially adjacent said inductor within a range providing generally linear coupling changes between the windings of said inductor and a generally linearly varying output therefrom when excited generally sinusoidally to effect a measurement of the applied force or pressure.

Claim 17

Transducer for movement or position measuring using coercive forces and a toroidal inductor wound as a transformer that transduces an applied variable, force or pressure to be measured to continuously variable output amplitudes, comprising a magnet, and means responsive to the applied variable force or pressure to be measured for moving said magnet generally radially adjacent said inductor within a range providing generally linear coupling changes between the windings of said inductor and a generally linearly varying output therefrom when excited generally sinusoidally to effect a measurement of the applied force or pressure.

Claim 18

A position or motion transducing device comprising a movable wall the position and motion of which is to be measured, magnet means associated with said movable wall for movement therewith, and a toroidal inductor adjacent thereto, the position of said magnet means being generally radial of said toroidal inductor, said toroidal inductor comprising a toroidal core upon which is wound coil means of suitable inductance, said coil means being configured to allow sinusoidal excitation of a portion thereof from an external source and formed as a transformer, wherein said magnet will continuously variably coerce the magnetic flux contained within the aforementioned toroidal core to effect a measurement of the variable pressure dependent upon the position of the magnet generally radial to the core, the variation in such coercion being dependent upon the radial separation of said magnet means and said toroidal core thereby continuously varying the toroidal inductor output amplitude from a second portion of said coil means when said first coil portion is excited.

Claim 19

A position or motion transducing device comprising a movable wall the position and motion of which is to be measured, magnet means associated with said movable wall for movement therewith, and a toroidal inductor adjacent thereto, the position of said magnet means being generally radial of said toroidal inductor, said toroidal inductor comprising a toroidal core upon which is wound coil means of suitable inductance, said coil means being configured to allow sinusoidal excitation of a portion thereof from an external source and formed as a transformer, wherein said magnet will continuously variably coerce the magnetic flux contained within the aforementioned toroidal core to effect a measurement of the variable pressure dependent upon the position of the magnet generally radial to the core, the variation in such coercion being dependent upon the radial separation of said magnet means and said toroidal core thereby continuously varying the toroidal inductor output amplitude from a second portion of said coil means when said first coil portion is excited.

Claim 20

Device according to claim 15 wherein said toroidal inductor is encapsulated in a non-conductive material offering improved electrical isolation.

Claim 21

Device according to claim 15 wherein said transformer is an auto-transformer.

Claim 22

Device according to claim 15 wherein said transformer is an isolation transformer.

Claim 23

Device according to claim 15 wherein said movable wall is a diaphragm.

Claim 24

Device according to claim 15 wherein said toridal core is comprised of a high permeability material.

Claim 25

Device according to claim 15 wherein said magnet means comprises a disk magnet arranged as a monopole facing said toroidal core generally radially thereof.

Claim 26

Transducer for movement or position measuring using coercive forces and a toroidal inductor wound as a transformer that transduces applied force or pressure to be measured to continuously variable output amplitudes, comprising a magnet, means responsive to the applied variable force or pressure to be measured for moving said magnet adjacent said inductor and means for encapsulating said inductor within a range providing generally linear coupling changes between the windings of said inductor and a generally linearly varying output therefrom when excited generally sinusoidally to effect a measurement of the applied force or pressure while enabling said magnet to coerce said inductor variably dependent upon the radial spacing thereof.

Claim 27

Transducer for movement or position measuring using coercive forces and a toroidal inductor wound as a transformer that transduces applied force or pressure to be measured to continuously variable output amplitudes, comprising a magnet, means responsive to the applied variable force or pressure to be measured for moving said magnet adjacent said inductor and means for encapsulating said inductor within a range providing generally linear coupling changes between the windings of said inductor and a generally linearly varying output therefrom when excited generally sinusoidally to effect a measurement of the applied force or pressure while enabling said magnet to coerce said inductor variably dependent upon the radial spacing thereof.

Claim 28

Posiiton and motion transducer comprising means for providing a generally unipolar permanent magnetic field radially movable adjacent an appropriately oriented toroidal transformer within a range providing generally linear coupling changes between the windings of said toroidal transformer and a generally linearly varying output therefrom when excited generally sinusoidally.

Claim 29

Posiiton and motion transducer comprising means for providing a generally unipolar permanent magnetic field radially movable adjacent an appropriately oriented toroidal transformer within a range providing generally linear coupling changes between the windings of said toroidal transformer and a generally linearly varying output therefrom when excited generally sinusoidally.

Claim 30

Transducer defined in claim 23 wherein said means for providing the permanent magnetic field comprises a disk magnet with its surface pole facing generally radially of the toroidal transformer.

Claim 31

Transducer of claim 23 together with means providing appropriate sinusoidal excitation of one winding of the toroidal transformer to enable readout equipment connected with the other winding to generally linearly indicate the position and movement of the magnet relative the toroidal transformer.

Claim 32

Position and motion transducer comprising a diaphragm, magnet means for providing a permanent magnetic field adjacent an appropriately oriented sinuosoidally excited toroidal transformer together with means for mounting the magnet means on for movement with the diaphragm to enable variable fluid pressures applied thereto to be measured.

Claim 33

Position and motion transducer comprising a diaphragm, magnet means for providing a permanent magnetic field adjacent an appropriately oriented sinuosoidally excited toroidal transformer together with means for mounting the magnet means on for movement with the diaphragm to enable variable fluid pressures applied thereto to be measured.

Claim 34

A pressure transducing system comprising a movable wall to receive at least one applied variable pressure to be measured, and movable in response thereto, magnet means associated with said movable wall for movement therewith, and a toroidal inductor adjacent thereto, the position of said magnet means being generally radial of said toroidal inductor and being generally radially directly related to the applied pressure, said toroidal inductor comprising a toroidal core upon which is wound coil means of suitable inductance, said coil means being configured to allow sinusoidal excitation of a first portion thereof from an external source and formed as a transformer, wherein an applied pressure will cause said magnet to continuously variably coerce the magnetic flux contained within the afoementioned toroidal core to effect a measurement of the variable pressure, the variation in such coercion being dependent upon the radial separation of said magnet means and said toroidal core thereby continuously varying the toroidal inductor output amplitude from a second portion of said coil means when said first coil portion is excited together with means for exciting said first coil and means for measuring the voltage induced in said second coil portion and relating said second voltage to the applied pressure.

Claim 35

A pressure transducing system comprising a movable wall to receive at least one applied variable pressure to be measured, and movable in response thereto, magnet means associated with said movable wall for movement therewith, and a toroidal inductor adjacent thereto, the position of said magnet means being generally radial of said toroidal inductor and being generally radially directly related to the applied pressure, said toroidal inductor comprising a toroidal core upon which is wound coil means of suitable inductance, said coil means being configured to allow sinusoidal excitation of a first portion thereof from an external source and formed as a transformer, wherein an applied pressure will cause said magnet to continuously variably coerce the magnetic flux contained within the afoementioned toroidal core to effect a measurement of the variable pressure, the variation in such coercion being dependent upon the radial separation of said magnet means and said toroidal core thereby continuously varying the toroidal inductor output amplitude from a second portion of said coil means when said first coil portion is excited together with means for exciting said first coil and means for measuring the voltage induced in said second coil portion and relating said second voltage to the applied pressure.

Claim 36

A pressure transducing system comprising a movable wall to receive at least one applied pressure, and movable in response thereto, magnet means associated with said movable wall for movement therewith, and a toroidal inductor adjacent thereto, the position of said magnet means being generally radial of said toroidal inductor and being generally radially directly related to the applied pressure said toroidal inductor comprising a toroidal core upon which is wound coil means of suitable inductance, said coil means being configured to allow excitation of a first portion thereof from an external source and formed as a transformer, wherein an applied pressure will cause said magnet to variably coerce the magnetic flux contained within the aforementioned toroidal core, the variation in such coercion being dependent upon the radial separation of said magnet means and said toroidal core thereby varying the toroidal inductor output amplitude from a second portion of said coil means when said first coil portion is excited together with means for exciting said first coil and means for measuring the voltage induced in said second coil portion and relating said second voltage to the applied pressure, and the allowing monitoring of differential pressures further comprising means defining plural cavities separated by said movable wall.

Claim 37

A pressure transducing system comprising a movable wall to receive at least one applied pressure, and movable in response thereto, magnet means associated with said movable wall for movement therewith, and a toroidal inductor adjacent thereto, the position of said magnet means being generally radial of said toroidal inductor and being generally radially directly related to the applied pressure said toroidal inductor comprising a toroidal core upon which is wound coil means of suitable inductance, said coil means being configured to allow excitation of a first portion thereof from an external source and formed as a transformer, wherein an applied pressure will cause said magnet to variably coerce the magnetic flux contained within the aforementioned toroidal core, the variation in such coercion being dependent upon the radial separation of said magnet means and said toroidal core thereby varying the toroidal inductor output amplitude from a second portion of said coil means when said first coil portion is excited together with means for exciting said first coil and means for measuring the voltage induced in said second coil portion and relating said second voltage to the applied pressure, and the allowing monitoring of differential pressures further comprising means defining plural cavities separated by said movable wall.

Claim 38

System according to claim 27, wherein said means for excitation comprises a sine wave generator.

Claim 39

System according to claim 27 wherein said toroidal inductor is encapsulated in a non-conductive material offering improved electrical isolation.

Claim 40

System according to claim 27 wherein said transformer is an auto-transformer.

Claim 41

System according to claim 27 wherein said transformer is an isolation transformer.

Claim 42

System according to claim 27 wherein said movable wall is a diaphragm.

Claim 43

System according to claim 27 wherein said toroidal core is comprised of a high permeability material.

Claim 44

System according to claim 27 wherein said magnet means comprises a disk magnet arranged as a monopole facing said toroidal core generally radially thereof.

Claim 45

Transducer system for movement or position measuring using coercive forces and a toroidal inductor wound as a transformer that transduces applied, variable force or pressure to be measured to continuously variable output amplitudes, comprising a magnet, means responsive to the applied force or pressure to be measured for moving said magnet adjacent said inductor and means for exciting at least one coil portion of said toroidal inductor sinusoidlly in a non-saturating mode so that the current induced in another portion of said toroidal inductor is generally linearly continuously dependent upon the generally radial distance separating said magnet and said toroidal inductor.

Claim 46

Transducer system for movement or position measuring using coercive forces and a toroidal inductor wound as a transformer that transduces applied, variable force or pressure to be measured to continuously variable output amplitudes, comprising a magnet, means responsive to the applied force or pressure to be measured for moving said magnet adjacent said inductor and means for exciting at least one coil portion of said toroidal inductor sinusoidlly in a non-saturating mode so that the current induced in another portion of said toroidal inductor is generally linearly continuously dependent upon the generally radial distance separating said magnet and said toroidal inductor.

Claim 47

Position and motion transducer system comprising a permanent magnet the position of which is to be measured, an appropriately oriented toroidal transformer, the magnet disposed adjacent the transformer, which can be either an isolation transformer or an auto-transformer, said permanent magnet comprising a disk magnet with a surface mono-pole facing generally radially the torus, and means providing generally sinusoidal excitation of one winding of the toroidal transformer to enable readout equipment connected with another winding thereof to generally linearly continuously indicate the position and movement of the magnet relative the toroidal transformer.

Claim 48

Position and motion transducer system comprising a permanent magnet the position of which is to be measured, an appropriately oriented toroidal transformer, the magnet disposed adjacent the transformer, which can be either an isolation transformer or an auto-transformer, said permanent magnet comprising a disk magnet with a surface mono-pole facing generally radially the torus, and means providing generally sinusoidal excitation of one winding of the toroidal transformer to enable readout equipment connected with another winding thereof to generally linearly continuously indicate the position and movement of the magnet relative the toroidal transformer.

Claim 49

Method of movement, position or pressure transducing comprising providing movable magnet means and a toroidal inductor adjacent thereto, the position of said magnet means being generally radial relative to said toroidal inductor and being directly related radially to the applied force pressure to be measured, said toroidal inductor comprising a toroidal core upon which is wound coil means of suitable inductance, said coil means being configured to allow sinusoidal excitation of a portion thereof from an external source and formed as a transformer, enabling an applied force, movement, position or pressure to cause said magnet to continuously variably coerce the magnetic flux contained within the aforementioned toroidal core, the variation in such coercion being dependent upon the radial separation of said magnet means and said toroidal core and exciting a portion of said toroidal inductor and thereby generally linearly continuously varying the toroidal inductor output amplitude from a second portion of said coil means dependent upon the force or pressure applied.

Claim 50

Method of movement, position or pressure transducing comprising providing movable magnet means and a toroidal inductor adjacent thereto, the position of said magnet means being generally radial relative to said toroidal inductor and being directly related radially to the applied force pressure to be measured, said toroidal inductor comprising a toroidal core upon which is wound coil means of suitable inductance, said coil means being configured to allow sinusoidal excitation of a portion thereof from an external source and formed as a transformer, enabling an applied force, movement, position or pressure to cause said magnet to continuously variably coerce the magnetic flux contained within the aforementioned toroidal core, the variation in such coercion being dependent upon the radial separation of said magnet means and said toroidal core and exciting a portion of said toroidal inductor and thereby generally linearly continuously varying the toroidal inductor output amplitude from a second portion of said coil means dependent upon the force or pressure applied.

Claim 51

Method defined in claim 38 wherein said step of exciting comprises exciting with an A-C sine wave signal.

Claim 52

Method of movement, position or pressure transducing comprising providing movable magnet means and a toroidal inductor adjacent thereto, the position of said magnet means being generally radial relative said toroidal inductor and being directly related radially to the applied force, movement, position or pressure, said toroidal inductor comprising a toroidal core upon which is wound coil means of suitable inductance, said coil means being configured to allow excitation of a portion thereof from an external source and formed as a transformer, enabling an applied force, movement, position or pressure to cause said magnet to variably coerce the magnetic flux contained within the aforementioned toroidal core, the variation in such coercion being dependent upon the radial separation of said magnet means and said toroidal core and exciting a portion of said toroidal inductor and thereby varying the toroidal inductor output amplitude from a second portion of said coil means dependent upon the force, movement, position, or pressure applied, said step of exciting comprises exciting said transformer in a non-resonant, non-saturating mode.

Claim 53

Method of movement, position or pressure transducing comprising providing movable magnet means and a toroidal inductor adjacent thereto, the position of said magnet means being generally radial relative said toroidal inductor and being directly related radially to the applied force, movement, position or pressure, said toroidal inductor comprising a toroidal core upon which is wound coil means of suitable inductance, said coil means being configured to allow excitation of a portion thereof from an external source and formed as a transformer, enabling an applied force, movement, position or pressure to cause said magnet to variably coerce the magnetic flux contained within the aforementioned toroidal core, the variation in such coercion being dependent upon the radial separation of said magnet means and said toroidal core and exciting a portion of said toroidal inductor and thereby varying the toroidal inductor output amplitude from a second portion of said coil means dependent upon the force, movement, position, or pressure applied, said step of exciting comprises exciting said transformer in a non-resonant, non-saturating mode.