Patent US4963729A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4963729A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optically powered sensor system with improved signal conditioning
Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products Inc
•
Filing: 1989-03-03
•
Granted: 1990-10-16
•
Expires: 2009-03-03
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 William B. Spillman
- 👤 Richard P. Andresen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/22; G01F23/26; G01F23/263; G01F23/266; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/12; G01D5/14; G01D5/24; G01D5/2405
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
An optically powered sensor system comprising: an optical energy source for transmitting optical energy; an optical pathway for conveying the optical energy transmitted by said optical energy source; at least one sensor connected to said optical pathway for receiving optical energy from said optical energy source, said sensor including means for converting optical energy from said optical pathway to electricity and storing the electrical energy, a transducer having a capacitive characteristic that varies as a function of a parameter to be sensed, a reference component having a capacitance value that is independent of the parameter to be measured, circuit means for providing electrical energy from said converting and storing means to said transducer and said reference component for selectively integrating the capacitance values of said transducer and reference component to produce a multi-pulse output having first time attribute that is a function of the capacitance of said transducer and a second time attribute that is a function of the capacitance of said reference component.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
An optically powered sensor system comprising: an optical energy source for transmitting optical energy; an optical pathway for conveying the optical energy transmitted by said optical energy source; at least one sensor connected to said optical pathway for receiving optical energy from said optical energy source, said sensor including means for converting optical energy from said optical pathway to electricity and storing the electrical energy, a transducer having a capacitive characteristic that varies as a function of a parameter to be sensed, a reference component having a capacitance value that is independent of the parameter to be measured, circuit means for providing electrical energy from said converting and storing means to said transducer and said reference component for selectively integrating the capacitance values of said transducer and reference component to produce a multi-pulse output having first time attribute that is a function of the capacitance of said transducer and a second time attribute that is a function of the capacitance of said reference component.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The optically powered sensor system of claim 1, wherein said circuit means produces at least a first set of two pulses, the interpulse spacing of which is a function of the capacitance of said transducer, and another set of pulses, the interpulse spacing of which is a function of the capacitance said reference component.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The optically powered sensor system of claim 1, wherein said circuit means produces at least a first set of two pulses, the interpulse spacing of which is a function of the combined capacitance of said transducer and said reference component, and another set of pulses, the interpulse spacing of which is a function of the capacitance said reference component.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The optically powered sensor system of claim 3, wherein the pulses of said first and second sets of pulses are fixed-duration pulses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The optically powered sensor system of claim 1, wherein said circuit means comprises: an integrator having a feedback path and first switching means for selectively switching said transducer and reference component into said feedback path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The optically powered sensor system of claim 5, wherein said circuit means comprises: second switching means for selectively shunting said feedback path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The optically powered sensor system of claim 5, wherein said circuit means comprises: means responsive to first and second values of the output of said integrator to produce pulse outputs at said values.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The optically powered sensor system of claim 7, wherein said circuit means comprises: first and second comparators that switch output states at first and second values of the output of said integrator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The optically powered sensor system of claim 8, wherein said circuit means comprises: first and second pulse generators coupled, respectively, to said first and second comparators to produce pulse outputs at said first and second values.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The optically powered sensor system of claim 5, wherein said circuit means comprises: timing and control means coupled to said first switching means to selectively (a) switch said transducer and reference component in parallel circuit into said feedback path and (b) switch said transducer into said feedback path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optically powered sensor system of claim 1, wherein said transducer comprises: liquid level sensing probe.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optically powered sensor system of claim 1, further comprising: means for converting the pulse output of said circuit means to an optical pulse output.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The optically powered sensor system of claim 1, further comprising: means for converting the pulse output of said circuit means to an optical pulse output and for introducing the optical pulse output onto said optical pathway.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
121 words
An optically powered sensor comprising: means for converting optical energy from an optical energy source to electricity and storing the electrical energy, a transducer having a capacitive characteristic that varies as a function of a parameter to be sensed, a reference component having a capacitance value that is independent of the parameter to be measured, circuit means for providing electrical energy from said converting and storing means to said transducer and said reference component for selectively integrating the capacitance values of said transducer and reference component to produce a multi-pulse output having first time attribute that is a function of the capacitance of said transducer and a second time attribute that is a function of the capacitance of said reference component.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
121 words
An optically powered sensor comprising: means for converting optical energy from an optical energy source to electricity and storing the electrical energy, a transducer having a capacitive characteristic that varies as a function of a parameter to be sensed, a reference component having a capacitance value that is independent of the parameter to be measured, circuit means for providing electrical energy from said converting and storing means to said transducer and said reference component for selectively integrating the capacitance values of said transducer and reference component to produce a multi-pulse output having first time attribute that is a function of the capacitance of said transducer and a second time attribute that is a function of the capacitance of said reference component.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
The optically powered sensor of claim 14, wherein said circuit means produces at least a first set of two pulses, the interpulse spacing of which is a function of the capacitance of said transducer, and another set of pulses, the interpulse spacing of which is a function of the capacitance said reference component.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
The optically powered sensor of claim 14, wherein said circuit means produces at least a first set of two pulses, the interpulse spacing of which is a function of the combined capacitance of said transducer and said reference component, and another set of pulses, the interpulse spacing of which is a function of the capacitance said reference component.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optically powered sensor of claim 16, wherein the pulses of said first and second sets of pulses are fixed-duration pulses.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The optically powered sensor of claim 14, wherein said circuit means comprises: an integrator having a feedback path and first switching means for selectively switching said transducer and reference component into said feedback path.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optically powered sensor of claim 18, wherein said circuit means comprises: second switching means for selectively shunting said feedback path.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The optically powered sensor of claim 18, wherein said circuit means comprises: means responsive to first and second values of the output of said integrator to produce pulse outputs at said values.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The optically powered sensor of claim 20, wherein said circuit means comprises: first and second comparators that switch output states at first and second values of the output of said integrator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The optically powered sensor of claim 21, wherein said circuit means comprises: first and second pulse generators coupled, respectively, to said first and second comparators to produce pulse outputs at said first and second values.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
The optically powered sensor of claim 18, wherein said circuit means comprises: timing and control means coupled to said first switching means to selectively (a) switch said transducer and reference component in parallel circuit into said feedback path and (b) switch said transducer into said feedback path.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optically powered sensor of claim 14, wherein said transducer comprises: liquid level sensing probe.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The optically powered sensor of claim 14, further comprising: means for converting the pulse output of said circuit means to an optical pulse output.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4820916A
Cited
US4857727A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-10-15 | 1994-04-16 | 1994-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-10-15 | 1998-04-16 | 1998-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-10-15 | 2002-04-16 | 2002-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |