Patent US5121118A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5121118A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for achieving controlled supplemental signal processing during analog-to-digital signal conversion
Assignee: EM Microelectronic Marin SA
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Filing: 1989-11-13
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Granted: 1992-06-09
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Expires: 2009-11-13
Abstract
Abstract A transducer-system that corrects the actual output of each transducer (11) in the system so as to approximate a desired transducer output, i.e., one where the measured variable such as pressure is directly proportional to the actual physical variable. A connector (15) to each transducer (11) includes special calibration indicators for identifying any innacuracies in its output signal, and monitoring and correction circuitry (13) is selectively attachable to any of the transducers (11), to read the calibration indicators and appropriately adjust the transducers output signal, thereby correcting the identified inaccuracies. A preferred form for the calibration indicators is a set of eight resistors (R1-R8). Subsets of this set correct for zero level, span, and linearity of the transducer (11).
Inventors
- 👤 Jurgen Hermann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:02
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W74/00; H10W74/01; G; G01; G01D; G01D3/00; G01D3/02; G01D3/022; G01L; G01L1/00; G01L1/20; G01L1/22; G01L1/2268; G01L1/2281
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
Apparatus for measurement signal compensation and/or shaping of analog measurement signals comprising: an analog-to-digital converter operating in a dual slope integration mode, said converter including an integrator having an input port for receiving the analog measurement signal and a comparator connected thereto downstream of said integrator; a programmable means connected to a second input port of said integrator for providing a preselectable zero point compensation voltage to said integrator and for providing a preselectable reference voltage during a positive slope phase of integration; a programmable counter for providing a selectable time of integration for said analog-to-digital converter during a negative slope phase; and said programmable means being microprocessor controlled and including a digital-to-analog converter for producing said zero point compensation and reference voltages in response to digital data provided by a data memory or via an interface device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
Apparatus for measurement signal compensation and/or shaping of analog measurement signals comprising: an analog-to-digital converter operating in a dual slope integration mode, said converter including an integrator having an input port for receiving the analog measurement signal and a comparator connected thereto downstream of said integrator; a programmable means connected to a second input port of said integrator for providing a preselectable zero point compensation voltage to said integrator and for providing a preselectable reference voltage during a positive slope phase of integration; a programmable counter for providing a selectable time of integration for said analog-to-digital converter during a negative slope phase; and said programmable means being microprocessor controlled and including a digital-to-analog converter for producing said zero point compensation and reference voltages in response to digital data provided by a data memory or via an interface device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said second input port of the integrator includes a capacitor which is charged to said preselectable zero point compensation voltage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said memory is connected to said digital-to-analog converter and the data stored therein includes digital zero point compensation values.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the data stored in said memory includes digital reference voltage values.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as in claim 4 further including a multiplexer connected between said memory and said digital-to-analog converter for transmitting the digital zero compensation and reference voltage values stored in said memory.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said memory is electrically erasable and programmable read-only memory device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said memory is an electrically erasable and programmable read-only memory device which is integrated on a semiconductor board with the remainder of said apparatus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein temperature compensation values measured as temperature-equivalent bridge-feed voltages are stored in said data memory, said data memory comprising an electrically erasable and programmable read-only memory device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 further including a programmable voltage source for power supply and range selection of plural input sensors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein an additional power supply voltage is provided, through which input signal contamination caused by voltage fluctuations is compensated.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for measurement signal compensation and/or shaping of analog measurement signals, said method comprising: providing an analog-to-digital converter operating in a dual slope integration mode, said converter including an integrator having an input port for receiving the analog measurement signal and a comparator connected thereto; providing under programmable microprocessor control a preselectable zero point compensation voltage to a second input port of said integrator for setting the integration starting point; providing via a programmable counter a selectable time of integration for the voltage difference at said integrator ports during a negative slope phase of integration; and providing under programmable microprocessor control a preselectable reference voltage for application to said second port of said integrator during a positive slope phase of integration, wherein digital data is provided under control of said microprocessor from a data memory or an interface device and said data are representative of said preselectable zero point compensation and reference voltages and said data are converted to analog voltages before being applied to said integrator.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for measurement signal compensation and/or shaping of analog measurement signals, said method comprising: providing an analog-to-digital converter operating in a dual slope integration mode, said converter including an integrator having an input port for receiving the analog measurement signal and a comparator connected thereto; providing under programmable microprocessor control a preselectable zero point compensation voltage to a second input port of said integrator for setting the integration starting point; providing via a programmable counter a selectable time of integration for the voltage difference at said integrator ports during a negative slope phase of integration; and providing under programmable microprocessor control a preselectable reference voltage for application to said second port of said integrator during a positive slope phase of integration, wherein digital data is provided under control of said microprocessor from a data memory or an interface device and said data are representative of said preselectable zero point compensation and reference voltages and said data are converted to analog voltages before being applied to said integrator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 11 wherein prior to analog conversion of said digital data representative of zero point compensation and reference voltages said data is stored in an electrically erasable and programmable memory device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 11 further including the step of multiplexing the transmission of said digital data to a digital to analog converter for producing said preselectable zero point compensation and reference voltages.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 11 wherein said preselectable zero point compensation voltage is applied to said integrator by charging a capacitor connected to said second port.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method as in claim 11 further including the step of scale range adjustment of the analog-to-digital converter output in accordance with the following: CLCADA=(ADCOUT-OFSSRD)(HS-LS)/(FS-OS)+LS wherein CLCADC=computed ADC value (analog digital converter value) ADCOUT=ADC output value HS=nominal high signal input value LS=nominal low signal input value FS=rated value for the ADC output in the case of FC=(nominal full scale value) OS=rated value for the ADC output in the case of LS OFSSRD=ADC output value in the case of LS.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus for accomplishment of the processing of analog measurement signals wherein an integrator in an analog-to-digital converter is operated in the positive slope phase with a discretely preselectable reference voltage; means for adjusting the reference voltage through a digital intermediate storage unit, and a digital-to-analog converter is connected to an intermediate storage unit to create an analog reference signal for full-scale coarse adaptation of the converter relative to said analog measurement signals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus for accomplishment of the processing of analog measurement signals wherein an integrator in an analog-to-digital converter is operated in the positive slope phase with a discretely preselectable reference voltage; means for adjusting the reference voltage through a digital intermediate storage unit, and a digital-to-analog converter is connected to an intermediate storage unit to create an analog reference signal for full-scale coarse adaptation of the converter relative to said analog measurement signals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
93 words
Apparatus for accomplishment of the processing of analog measurement signals wherein an integrator in an analog-to-digital converter is operated in the positive slope phase with a discretely preselectable reference voltage; means for adjusting the reference voltage through a digital intermediate storage unit, and a digital-to-analog converter is connected to an intermediate storage unit to create an analog reference signal for full-scale coarse adaptation of the converter relative to said analog measurement signals and wherein the digital-to-analog converter is inserted down-stream from the intermediate storage unit for creation of an analog null-point compensation value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
93 words
Apparatus for accomplishment of the processing of analog measurement signals wherein an integrator in an analog-to-digital converter is operated in the positive slope phase with a discretely preselectable reference voltage; means for adjusting the reference voltage through a digital intermediate storage unit, and a digital-to-analog converter is connected to an intermediate storage unit to create an analog reference signal for full-scale coarse adaptation of the converter relative to said analog measurement signals and wherein the digital-to-analog converter is inserted down-stream from the intermediate storage unit for creation of an analog null-point compensation value.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for accomplishment of the processing of analog measurement signals wherein an integrator in an analog-to-digital converter is operated in the positive slope phase with a discretely preselectable reference voltage; means for adjusting the reference voltage through a digital intermediate storage unit, and a digital-to-analog converter is connected to an intermediate storage unit to create an analog reference signal for full-scale coarse adaptation of the converter relative to said analog measurement signals and a multiplexer provided as a commutator to the input of said digital-to-analog converter, the input of the multiplexer being connected with an output port of a cycle counter and said reference voltage storage.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for accomplishment of the processing of analog measurement signals wherein an integrator in an analog-to-digital converter is operated in the positive slope phase with a discretely preselectable reference voltage; means for adjusting the reference voltage through a digital intermediate storage unit, and a digital-to-analog converter is connected to an intermediate storage unit to create an analog reference signal for full-scale coarse adaptation of the converter relative to said analog measurement signals and a multiplexer provided as a commutator to the input of said digital-to-analog converter, the input of the multiplexer being connected with an output port of a cycle counter and said reference voltage storage.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for carrying out the processing of analog measurement signals with an analog-digital converter, including an integrator and a comparator inserted downstream, in which the analog measurement is applied to one input port of the integrator and at a second input port of the integrator a preselectable voltage signal for signal processing is applied so that the integrator is driven in the negative slope phase of integration for a preselected time and so that the integrator is driven in the positive slope phase of integration by a separately preselected reference voltage of opposite polarity at said second input port, and wherein the preselected signal processing values are called up from an electrically erasable and programmable constant storage unit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for carrying out the processing of analog measurement signals with an analog-digital converter, including an integrator and a comparator inserted downstream, in which the analog measurement is applied to one input port of the integrator and at a second input port of the integrator a preselectable voltage signal for signal processing is applied so that the integrator is driven in the negative slope phase of integration for a preselected time and so that the integrator is driven in the positive slope phase of integration by a separately preselected reference voltage of opposite polarity at said second input port, and wherein the preselected signal processing values are called up from an electrically erasable and programmable constant storage unit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the preselected signal processing values are called up from an electrically erasable and programmable constant storage unit which is integrated on a semiconductor plate with the remainder of said apparatus.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 further including an interface for the connection of an external microprocessor to control said signal processing of the digitized measurement signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein a programmable voltage source is provided for power supply and range selection of plural input sensors.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein temperature compensation values, which are measurable as temperature-equivalent bridge-feed voltages, are stored in an electrically erasable and programmable constant storage unit.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein an additional power supply voltage is provided, through which input signal contamination caused by voltage fluctuations is compensated.
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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) | 1995-06-09 | 1995-12-09 | 1996-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-09 | 1999-12-09 | 2000-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-09 | 2003-12-09 | 2004-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |