US5774378A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-validating sensors
Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA Inc
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Filing: 1996-08-30
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Granted: 1998-06-30
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Expires: 2016-08-30
Abstract
Abstract A sensor for provides a measurement and information about the validity of the measurement. The sensor includes a transducer for generating a data signal related to the value of a variable and a transmitter for receiving the data signal and generating output signals. The transmitter generates a first output signal related to the value of the variable. The transmitter also generates a second output signal based on a dynamic uncertainty analysis of the first output signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Janice Ching-Yi Yang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:40
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F15/00; G01F15/02; G01F15/022; G01F15/024; G01F1/00; G01F1/76; G01F1/78; G01F1/80; G01F1/84; G01F1/8409; G01F1/8436; G01F1/845; G01F1/8468; G01F1/8472; G01F1/8477
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of compensating for variations in a transfer function of a sensor, comprising: identifying a desired transfer function for the sensor; determining an actual transfer function for the sensor; receiving a measurement produced by the sensor; modifying the measurement based on the desired and actual transfer functions to produce a modified measurement; and providing the modified measurement as a measurement value for the sensor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of compensating for variations in a transfer function of a sensor, comprising: identifying a desired transfer function for the sensor; determining an actual transfer function for the sensor; receiving a measurement produced by the sensor; modifying the measurement based on the desired and actual transfer functions to produce a modified measurement; and providing the modified measurement as a measurement value for the sensor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the desired transfer function is identified from design criteria for the sensor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the actual transfer function varies with time, and wherein the step of determining the actual transfer function comprises determining the actual transfer function for a particular time or period of time for which a measurement value is to be produced.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the sensor comprises a thermocouple, and wherein the step of determining the actual transfer function comprises using current injection tests.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the actual transfer function varies with time, and wherein the step of determining the actual transfer function comprises determining the actual transfer function for a particular time or period of time for which a measurement value is to be produced.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the sensor comprises a thermocouple, and wherein the step of determining the actual transfer function comprises using current injection tests.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of modifying the measurement comprises modifying the measurement based on an inverse of the actual transfer function to produce a compensated measurement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the step of modifying the measurement comprises modifying the compensated measurement based on the desired transfer function to produce the modified measurement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising generating an uncertainty measure for the measurement value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the step of modifying the measurement comprises modifying the measurement based on an inverse of the actual transfer function to produce a compensated measurement and modifying the compensated measurement based on the desired transfer function to produce the modified measurement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the step of generating an uncertainty measure comprises generating a first uncertainty measure for the compensated measurement, generating a second uncertainty measure for the desired transfer function, and combining the first and second uncertainty measures to produce the uncertainty measure for the measurement value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the step of generating the first uncertainty measure for the compensated measurement comprises: generating a third uncertainty measure for the measurement produced by the sensor, generating a fourth uncertainty measure for the inverse of the actual transfer function, and combining the third and fourth uncertainty measures to produce the first uncertainty measure for the compensated measurement.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of compensating for variations in a transfer function of a sensor, comprising: identifying a desired transfer function for the sensor; determining an actual transfer function for the sensor; receiving a measurement produced by the sensor; modifying the measurement based on an inverse of the actual transfer function to produce a compensated measurement; modifying the compensated measurement based on the desired transfer function to produce a modified measurement; providing the modified measurement as a measurement value for the sensor; generating a first uncertainty measure for the compensated measurement; generating a second uncertainty measure for the desired transfer function; and combining the first and second uncertainty measures to produce an uncertainty measure for the measurement value.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of compensating for variations in a transfer function of a sensor, comprising: identifying a desired transfer function for the sensor; determining an actual transfer function for the sensor; receiving a measurement produced by the sensor; modifying the measurement based on an inverse of the actual transfer function to produce a compensated measurement; modifying the compensated measurement based on the desired transfer function to produce a modified measurement; providing the modified measurement as a measurement value for the sensor; generating a first uncertainty measure for the compensated measurement; generating a second uncertainty measure for the desired transfer function; and combining the first and second uncertainty measures to produce an uncertainty measure for the measurement value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the desired transfer function is identified from design criteria for the sensor design.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the actual transfer function varies with time, and wherein the step of determining the actual transfer function comprises determining the actual transfer function for a particular time or period of time for which a measurement value is to be produced.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the sensor comprises a thermocouple, and wherein the step of determining the actual transfer function comprises using current injection tests.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
73 words
A sensor for providing a measurement value, the sensor comprising: a transducer configured to generate a measurement, and a transmitter configured to: identify a desired transfer function for the transducer; determine an actual transfer function for the transducer; receive the measurement generated by the transducer; modify the measurement based on the desired and actual transfer functions to produce a modified measurement; and provide the modified measurement as a measurement value for the sensor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
73 words
A sensor for providing a measurement value, the sensor comprising: a transducer configured to generate a measurement, and a transmitter configured to: identify a desired transfer function for the transducer; determine an actual transfer function for the transducer; receive the measurement generated by the transducer; modify the measurement based on the desired and actual transfer functions to produce a modified measurement; and provide the modified measurement as a measurement value for the sensor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The sensor of claim 17, wherein the transmitter identifies the desired transfer function from design criteria for the sensor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The sensor of claim 18, wherein the actual transfer function varies with time, and wherein the transmitter determines the actual transfer function for a particular time or period of time for which the measurement value is to be produced.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The sensor of claim 19, wherein the transducer comprises a thermocouple, and wherein the transmitter determines the actual transfer function using current injection tests.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The sensor of claim 17, wherein the actual transfer function varies with time, and wherein the transmitter determines the actual transfer function for a particular time or period of time for which the measurement value is to be produced.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The sensor of claim 21, wherein the transducer comprises a thermocouple, and wherein the transmitter determines the actual transfer function using current injection tests.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The sensor of claim 17, wherein the transmitter modifies the measurement based on an inverse of the actual transfer function to produce a compensated measurement.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The sensor of claim 23, wherein the transmitter modifies the measurement based on the desired transfer function to produce the modified measurement.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sensor of claim 17, wherein the transmitter is further operable to generate an uncertainty measure for the measurement value.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
The sensor of claim 19, wherein the transmitter modifies the measurement based on an inverse of the actual transfer function to produce a compensated measurement and modifies the compensated measurement based on the desired transfer function to produce the modified measurement.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The sensor of claim 26, wherein the transmitter generates a first uncertainty measure for the compensated measurement, generates a second uncertainty measure for the desired transfer function, and combines the first and second uncertainty measures to produce the measurement value.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
52 words
The sensor of claim 27, wherein the transmitter generates the first uncertainty measure generating a third uncertainty measure for the measurement, generating a fourth uncertainty measure for the inverse of the actual transfer function, and combining the third and fourth uncertainty measures to produce the first uncertainty measure for the compensated measurement.
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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) | 2001-06-29 | 2001-12-29 | 2002-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-29 | 2005-12-29 | 2006-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-29 | 2009-12-29 | 2010-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |