US4879669A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sensor signal processor
Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co Ltd
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Filing: 1988-03-16
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Granted: 1989-11-07
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Expires: 2008-03-16
Abstract
Abstract A sensor signal processing apparatus for measuring a physical quantity through the use of a sensor. A data processor automatically provides an operation equation by applying two known physical quantities, at two points, to the sensor and storing the data at these two points in a pair of memories. The quantities in the memories are then converted in accordance with a sensor characteristics equation and displayed on a display unit. In addition, a battery is used to supply the data processor with power. If that battery's voltage level falls below a certain point an alarm is sounded, indicating that the battery should be replaced.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroyuki Kihara
- 👤 Kazuya Mitaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:59
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3206; G06F1/3228; G01; G01D; G01D18/00; G01D18/008; G01L; G01L19/00; G01L19/08; G01L19/083; G01L27/00; G01L27/002; G01L27/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
A sensor signal processing apparatus comprising: a power source unit including, a battery, a constant voltage circuit powered by said battery for supplying a constant voltage, and a voltage detector for detecting a voltage drop in said battery having a comparator for comparing a terminal voltage of said battery with the voltage supplied by said constant voltage circuit; a sensor for detecting physical information; an analog signal processor for inputting and processing a sensor signal output from said sensor which is driven by said constant voltage circuit; an A/D converter for converting the sensor signal, processed by said analog signal processor, into digital information data output and which is driven by said constant voltage circuit; a data processor for generating sensor information data from the digital information data output from said A/D converter including, first and second memories for storing first and second digital information data output from said A/D converter, respectively, sensor characteristic calculating means for calculating a sensor characteristic equation on the basis of the first and second digital information data stored in said first and second memories and converting the digital information data output from said A/D converter into the sensor information data by applying the sensor characteristic equation calculated by said sensor characteristic calculating means to the digital information data, and a control signal generator for generating control signals for controlling operations of said power source unit, said sensor, said analog signal processor, said A/D converter, and said data processor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
244 words
A sensor signal processing apparatus comprising: a power source unit including, a battery, a constant voltage circuit powered by said battery for supplying a constant voltage, and a voltage detector for detecting a voltage drop in said battery having a comparator for comparing a terminal voltage of said battery with the voltage supplied by said constant voltage circuit; a sensor for detecting physical information; an analog signal processor for inputting and processing a sensor signal output from said sensor which is driven by said constant voltage circuit; an A/D converter for converting the sensor signal, processed by said analog signal processor, into digital information data output and which is driven by said constant voltage circuit; a data processor for generating sensor information data from the digital information data output from said A/D converter including, first and second memories for storing first and second digital information data output from said A/D converter, respectively, sensor characteristic calculating means for calculating a sensor characteristic equation on the basis of the first and second digital information data stored in said first and second memories and converting the digital information data output from said A/D converter into the sensor information data by applying the sensor characteristic equation calculated by said sensor characteristic calculating means to the digital information data, and a control signal generator for generating control signals for controlling operations of said power source unit, said sensor, said analog signal processor, said A/D converter, and said data processor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said data processor includes terminals for inputting a control signal for writing the digital information, data output from said A/D converter in said first and second memories.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second memories are nonvolatile memories.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
174 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said voltage detector comprises: a first resistor R1 , one end of which is connected to a reference potential; a second resistor R2 connected between the other end of said first resistor R1 and a terminal of said battery: a third resistor R3, one end of which is connected to the reference potential; a fourth resistor R4 connected between that other end of said third resistor R3 and an output terminal of said constant voltage circuit; and a comparator for differentially inputting a voltage at a junction between said first and second resistors R1 and R2 and a voltage at a junction between said third and fourth resistors R3 and R4, and a relationship between said first, second, third, and fourth resistors R1, R2, R3, and R4 is given as the following equations: nR1=R3 V.sub.sen /V.sub.reg =n(R1+R2)/(R3+R4) V sen is a detection voltage predetermined in accordance with a battery voltage, V reg is an output voltage of said constant voltage circuit, and n is a positive constant.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
159 words
A sensor signal processing apparatus comprising: a power source unit; a sensor for detecting physical information; a sensor driver for driving said sensor; an analog signal processor for inputting and processing a sensor signal output from said sensor including a sample-and-hold circuit for sampling-and-holding the sensor signal and supplying the signal to an A/D converter; an A/D converter for converting the sensor signal processed by said analog signal processor into digital information data; data processor for generating sensor information data from the digital information data output from said A/D converter; and a control signal generator for generating control signals for controlling operations of said power source unit, said sensor, said sensor driver, said analog signal processor, said A/D converter, and said data processor, said analog signal processor and for generating a control signal for operating said sensor driver and said A/D converter at different timing and for operating said sample-and-hold circuit within a driving period of said sensor driver.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
159 words
A sensor signal processing apparatus comprising: a power source unit; a sensor for detecting physical information; a sensor driver for driving said sensor; an analog signal processor for inputting and processing a sensor signal output from said sensor including a sample-and-hold circuit for sampling-and-holding the sensor signal and supplying the signal to an A/D converter; an A/D converter for converting the sensor signal processed by said analog signal processor into digital information data; data processor for generating sensor information data from the digital information data output from said A/D converter; and a control signal generator for generating control signals for controlling operations of said power source unit, said sensor, said sensor driver, said analog signal processor, said A/D converter, and said data processor, said analog signal processor and for generating a control signal for operating said sensor driver and said A/D converter at different timing and for operating said sample-and-hold circuit within a driving period of said sensor driver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said analog signal processor further includes an amplifier, provided before said sample-and-hold circuit, for amplifying the sensor signal, said amplifying operating in synchronism with said sensor driver in response to a control signal from said control signal generator.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-11-06 | 1993-05-08 | 1993-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-11-06 | 1997-05-08 | 1997-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-11-06 | 2001-05-08 | 2001-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |