Distance estimation
AssigneeNicoventures Trading Limited
InventorAnton Korus
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method, apparatus and computer program are disclosed and can include applying a pulse edge to a resonant circuit including an inductive element (for inductively heating a susceptor) and a capacitor, wherein the applied pulse edge induces a pulse response between the capacitor and the inductive element of the resonant circuit, wherein the pulse response has a resonant frequency; determining a period or frequency of the resonant frequency of the pulse response; and converting the determined period or frequency into a distance based, at least in part, on a distance gradient and a first calibration measurement. The distance is based on a separation between the inductive element and the susceptor and the first calibration measurement includes the separation between the inductive element and the susceptor at a calibration temperature.
Claims24
A method comprising:
- applying a pulse edge to a resonant circuit comprising an inductive element for inductively heating a susceptor, and a capacitor, wherein the applied pulse edge induces a pulse response between the capacitor and the inductive element of the resonant circuit, wherein the pulse response has a resonant frequency;
- determining a period or a frequency of the resonant frequency of the pulse response;
- and
- converting the determined period or the determined frequency into a distance based, at least in part, on a distance gradient and a first calibration measurement, wherein the distance is based on a separation between the inductive element and the susceptor and the first calibration measurement comprises the separation between the inductive element and the susceptor at a first calibration temperature.
An apparatus comprising:
- a resonant circuit comprising an inductive element and a capacitor, wherein the inductive element is for inductively heating a susceptor;
- a circuit for applying a pulse edge to the resonant circuit, wherein the applied pulse edge induces a pulse response between the capacitor and the inductive element of the resonant circuit, wherein the pulse response has a resonant frequency;
- and
- a processor for determining a period or a frequency of the resonant frequency of the pulse response and converting the determined period or the determined frequency into a distance based, at least in part, on a distance gradient and a first calibration measurement, wherein the distance is based on a separation between the inductive element and the susceptor and the first calibration measurement comprises the separation between the inductive element and the susceptor at a first calibration temperature.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause an apparatus comprising the processor to perform at least the following:
- applying a pulse edge to a resonant circuit comprising an inductive element, for inductively heating a susceptor, and a capacitor, wherein the applied pulse edge induces a pulse response between the capacitor and the inductive element of the resonant circuit, wherein the pulse response has a resonant frequency;
- determining a period or a frequency of the resonant frequency of the pulse response;
- and
- converting the determined period or the determined frequency into a distance based, at least in part, on a distance gradient and a first calibration measurement, wherein the distance is based on a separation between the inductive element and the susceptor and the first calibration measurement comprises the separation between the inductive element and the susceptor at a first calibration temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.