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US 10,852,142 B2Granted
Dual-axis electromagnetic speed sensor with depth
AssigneeAirmar Technology Corporation
InventorsDidier Caute, Danny J. Fladung, Craig Smith, Robert M. Cullen, William J. Letendre, Eric J. Beiswenger, Bruno Marie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-function sensor system comprises a dual-axis electromagnetic speed sensor and a depth transducer to enable various underwater or marine measurements to be achieved in a single unit thus reducing the space required on a vessel and the cost of having such multiple functions.
Claims22
A system for performing multiple measurement functions comprising:
- an electromagnetic speed sensor comprising:
- a coil;
- a dual-axis electrode subassembly positioned coaxially with the coil and having a first pair of electrodes spaced apart on a first axis and a second pair of electrodes spaced apart on a second axis at an angle relative to the first axis;
- a driver circuit electrically coupled to the coil for driving the coil with a coil drive signal to produce an electromagnetic force vector in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the first and second pairs of electrodes;
- and
- a data acquisition circuit electrically coupled to the dual-axis electrode subassembly and configured to acquire speed data based on a first voltage induced across the first pair of electrodes and a second voltage induced across the second pair of electrodes;
- a depth sensor comprising:
- a transducer;
- and
- a transceiver configured to drive the transducer with a transducer drive signal and to receive echo signals from the transducer to acquire depth data;
- and
- at least one controller configured to control the driver circuit, the data acquisition circuit and the transceiver, the at least one controller configured to interleave the speed data and the depth data acquired.
9 more elements
A method for performing multiple measurement functions comprising:
- at an electromagnetic speed sensor having a coil and a dual-axis electrode subassembly positioned coaxially with the coil and having a first pair of electrodes spaced apart on a first axis and a second pair of electrodes spaced apart on a second axis at an angle relative to the first axis,
- driving the coil with a coil drive signal to produce an electromagnetic force vector in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the first and second pairs of electrodes;
- acquiring speed data based on a first voltage induced across the first pair of electrodes and a second voltage induced across the second pair of electrodes;
- at a depth sensor having a transducer and a transceiver,
- driving the transducer with a transducer drive signal;
- and
- receiving echo signals from the transducer to acquire depth data;
- and
- by at least one controller, controlling the driving the coil, the acquiring the speed data, the driving the transducer, and the receiving the echo signals from the transducer, and interleaving the speed data and the depth data acquired.
6 more elements
A computer program product comprising:
- a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising one or more sets of computer executable instructions, the instructions, when loaded and executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
- at an electromagnetic speed sensor having a coil and a dual-axis electrode subassembly positioned coaxially with the coil and having a first pair of electrodes spaced apart on a first axis and a second pair of electrodes spaced apart on a second axis at an angle relative to the first axis,
- drive the coil with a coil drive signal to produce an electromagnetic force vector in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the first and second pairs of electrodes;
- acquire speed data based on a first voltage induced across the first pair of electrodes and a second voltage induced across the second pair of electrodes;
- at a depth sensor having a transducer and a transceiver,
- drive the transducer with a transducer drive signal;
- and
- receive echo signals from the transducer to acquire depth data;
- and
- by at least one controller, control the driving the coil, the acquiring the speed data, the driving the transducer, and the receiving the echo signals from the transducer, and interleave the speed data and the depth data acquired.
7 more elements
A method comprising:
- at a speed sensor, operating the speed sensor to acquire speed data in a first interval;
- at a depth sensor, operating the depth sensor to acquire depth data in a second interval;
- and
- interleaving the speed data and the depth data acquired.
1 more element
A computer program product comprising:
- a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising one or more sets of computer executable instructions, the instructions, when loaded and executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
- at a speed sensor, operate the speed sensor to acquire speed data in a first interval;
- at a depth sensor, operate the depth sensor to acquire depth data in a second interval;
- and
- interleave the speed data and the depth data acquired.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.